One day in Kotor

Day by day

1. Day 1: Kotor Old Town and City walls and San Giovanni Fortress

   Kotor Old Town, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, Cathedral of Saint Tryphon and Ladder of Kotor trail, then Sunset from the walls in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kotor Old Town

      Explore before about 9am or after 6pm on days when cruise ships are docked, when the lanes are calm. Allow 2–3 hours.

   2. Late morning

      City walls and San Giovanni Fortress

      Start at sunrise or in the hour before sunset; in summer the climb is fully exposed to the sun, so carry plenty of water. Allow 2–3 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Njeguši prosciutto

      Restaurants across Kotor, the green market, and family smokehouses in Njeguši itself on the Lovćen road.

   4. Afternoon

      Cathedral of Saint Tryphon

      Climb to the upper-level treasury for a close look at the silver reliquaries and a view down into the nave. Allow 45 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Ladder of Kotor trail

      Allow two to three hours up to the higher switchbacks and wear proper shoes; the stone is loose in places. Allow Half a day.

   6. Evening

      Sunset from the walls

      Climb towards San Giovanni Fortress in the late afternoon and watch the light fade over the bay.

If it rains

• Swap in Maritime Museum of Montenegro (Old Town (Stari Grad)): A good stop in the midday heat or on a rainy day, and a useful introduction before visiting Perast.
• Swap in Cats of Kotor and the Cats Museum (Old Town (Stari Grad)): Children enjoy a 'cat hunt' through the old town; the squares near St Luke's are reliable spots.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–11 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.1 hours in December to 15.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking is the only way around the old town, and the waterfront path north through Dobrota is ideal for an evening stroll.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Kotor
• 3 days in Kotor

Questions travellers ask