History · Kotor · Montenegro
6 historic sites to see in Kotor
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Kotor Old Town, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 9–12 hours across 2 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 9–12 hours
- Areas
- Old Town (Stari Grad) and Perast
Historic sites in Kotor
Neighbourhood · Old Town (Stari Grad)
1.Kotor Old Town
From there, marble lanes lead past Venetian palaces such as the Pima and Drago palaces to small squares named after flour, milk and bread. The triangular old town is small enough to wander in an hour but rewards a slow evening.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Castle · Old Town (Stari Grad)
2.City walls and San Giovanni Fortress
The path of about 1,350 uneven steps passes the Church of Our Lady of Remedy halfway up and ends with a sweeping view of the old town's rooftops and the bay.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
- History
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
3.Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
Its two bell towers frame a Romanesque façade, and inside are frescoes, a carved ciborium over the altar and a treasury with relics of the city's patron saint.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Island · Perast
4.Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Small boats cross from Perast's quay in about five minutes; the natural islet of Saint George, with its monastery and cypresses, sits beside it.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Couples
- Photo spot
- History
- Views
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
5.Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church
Beside it stands the much larger Serbian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas, completed in the early 20th century, with an iconostasis and dome.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Old Town (Stari Grad)
6.Maritime Museum of Montenegro
It explains why such small towns produced so many wealthy sea captains.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Stari Grad) | Kotor Old Town, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church and Maritime Museum of Montenegro | 2–3 hours + 2–3 hours + 45 minutes + 30 minutes + 1 hour |
| Perast | Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 4 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old Town (Stari Grad)): Kotor Old Town, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Old Town (Stari Grad)): City walls and San Giovanni Fortress → Cathedral of Saint Tryphon → Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Old Town (Stari Grad) and Perast): Maritime Museum of Montenegro → Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 11 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Wet and quiet, with the city's patron-saint feast and winter carnival bringing some life to the squares.
- January: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 12 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Mild but very wet, with heavy downpours; the old town is quiet and many restaurants close for the season.
- November: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 14 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The wettest time of year, with long rainy spells; many tourist businesses close for the winter.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old Town (Stari Grad) — Marble lanes, Venetian palaces and church squares inside the city walls
- Dobrota — Captains' stone mansions and swimming platforms along the bay north of town
- Muo and Prčanj — Fishing villages on the quieter western shore, facing Kotor's walls
- Škaljari — Residential district just south of the walls, near the bus station
- Perast — Baroque captains' town facing two island churches, 12 km from Kotor
More of Kotor
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kotor?
Kotor Old Town. Enter through the 16th-century Sea Gate onto the Square of Arms, with its clock tower and the pillar of shame in front.
+Which of these are free in Kotor?
Kotor Old Town and Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church.