Best Things to Do in the Old Town of Kotor, Montenegro

Want to discover a completely different corner of Europe? Kotor is located on the stunning bay of the same name in Montenegro and has a turbulent past. Today you will find here a remarkable mixture of Southeast European culture, exciting history with Austrian and Italian influences and a unique landscape! I’ll show you here the spots in Kotor that you shouldn’t miss!

The Old Town of Kotor / Stari Grad

From the first time I entered, I was enthralled by the small labyrinth of charming alleys and I was so glad to have chosen an accommodation in the middle of the old town of Kotor after all. (Was of course a little more expensive, but it’s worth it!)

Just being able to stroll undisturbed through the idyllic maze of alleys every morning was simply worth it. The old town must then be shared mostly only with the other, numerous inhabitants of Kotor: cats are here an indispensable part of the cityscape and are cared for and looked after by the locals.

But especially in the evening, when the cruise tourists have left the old town of Kotor again, it becomes really atmospheric and the Italian influence of the last centuries is particularly well felt: In the numerous romantically decorated restaurants you’ll find a huge variety of pizza, pasta and seafood!

The car-free Old Town is also where most of Kotor’s sights are located! Just walk through the narrow streets and you will discover most of the locations all by yourself. In this article, I’ll show you the most important locations!

The Best Places to See in Kotor

The Square of Arms (Trg od Oružja)

Probably the first place you’ll end up here is the Old Town: The Square of Arms, or Trg od Oružja, is located just behind the main gate through which most visitors enter the Old Town of Kotor. The large clock tower is particularly striking here. Many cafes line the square and events and concerts often take place here in the summer. The Square of Arms is the heart of Kotor, so to speak!

In case you wonder about the name, in the Middle Ages, when Kotor was under the influence of the Republic of Venice, weapons and ammunition were stored here. At that time, Kotor was a strategically important port, which the surrounding powers fought over – the Venetian or Italian influences from that time can still be found in the cityscape today!

Saint Tryphon Cathedral (Sveti Trifun)

The Cathedral of St. Tryphon is one of the centerpieces of the old town of Kotor and at the same time one of the oldest cathedrals on the Adriatic coast. Built in the 12th century, it is considered one of the most important sights of Cotor and its two church towers tower above the otherwise low-rise houses in the old town. Incidentally, the relics of St. Tryphon, the patron saint of Cotor, are also kept here.

Maritime Museum / Museum Maritimum

If you want to learn more about the exciting maritime history of Kotor and Montenegro, the Museum Maritimum is the place for you. Housed in an old baroque palace, the museum shows the long maritime history of the region. From old nautical charts to traditional uniforms, this museum offers you an interesting insight into the maritime culture of Kotor. Not only for history buffs, this museum is a location worth seeing in the old town!

St. Nicholas Church

Built only at the beginning of the 20th century, the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas does not have as long a history as the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, but it is still worth a look. You can recognize it by the two onion domes; inside you will find impressive decorations. Especially orthodox churches I always find very interesting, because they are usually very splendidly designed.

Kotor fortress

From the fortress of Kotor on the mountain San Giovanni you have an incomparable view of the bay and the surrounding mountains. On the way up you can see the old defensive walls and always enjoy the fascinating view over the bay. The way up drags quite a bit, but is also worth every effort!

The fortress itself is only ruins today, but the view from up there was really one of the highlights in Kotor for me.

Attention: The climb is not for everyone and especially in the hot summer months I recommend you to start very early. The slope is very rough and on the way there is almost no shade. The path up divides into well-trodden steps (mostly used by those descending) and a path covered in pebbles. Already at the entrance they warn you not to walk with flip-flops and you should really take that to heart. You’re really best equipped here with proper hiking boots or at least non-slip trail running shoes.

Very far up there was a water vendor; however, there is no place to stop (and no restrooms) all the way up and at the fortress. Therefore, take enough water with you!

There is still a rather unofficial way up to the fortress, climbing a rickety ladder through an old window in a fortification wall. This path has gained quite a bit of notoriety on social media in recent years; I haven’t used it, however, I have heard that this access has been closed due to the high risk of injury and you can no longer get to the fortress from this path. Many visitors wanted to save the entrance fee for the official route and get some exciting shots.

But the conventional way is exciting enough – I would not try to find the ladder :)

Access to the trail is quite well signposted in the old town; there is a ticket office at the foot of the hill, which is manned from 8 a.m., at least in summer. If you arrive earlier, that’s no problem either: you can just slide past the turnstile – but you’ll still have to pay if you can’t show a ticket after descending.

City gates and walls of Kotor

How well secured Kotor was during its heyday as an important trading port on the Adriatic is shown by the imposing city wall that surrounds the old town to this day. The old town can be entered through three city gates. Most impressive, however, is the main gate directly across from the harbor, where huge cruise ships seem to be anchored almost right next to the old town.

You can also partly enter the city wall.

Gurdic Bastion

The Gurdic bastion is part of the southern city wall and shows particularly well how robust the defenses were built at that time. Here you can also find the Gurdic Gate or South Gate, one of the three city gates into the Old Town.

Kampana Tower

At the other end of the old town you will find the Kampana Tower, from which you have a beautiful view of the bay. This piece of the city wall is super nicely designed with lots of park benches.

There is also a fancy restaurant. As far as food goes, it’s probably more of a tourist trap, but a romantic drink at sunset is definitely worth it with the atmospheric lighting and great views here.

Around the Bay of Kotor

Not only Kotor is worth seeing, but also the surrounding area is really impressive. Montenegro is a small country and impresses also in the hinterland with great landscapes. Around the Bay of Kotor you will also find small, charming towns that are also worth a visit.

Perast and the island of Our Lady of the Rocks

The charming village of Perast and the offshore island of Our Lady of the Rocks are a perfect half-day excursion. The artificial island with its picturesque chapel is a real eye-catcher and can be reached by speedboats from Perast.

Perast can be easily reached by public bus from Kotor: The bus stops near the main gate and leaves about every hour. However, there is no exact stop sign as well as timetables, best ask the locals.

Lovćen National Park

For nature lovers, Lovćen National Park is a must. Here you can hike, picnic and experience the diverse flora and fauna of Montenegro.

If you are not traveling with your own car, camper or rental car, you can also experience the Lovcén National Park and other great corners of the country as part of a guided tour. I can definitely recommend this tour here: really great guide, small group and great locations!

Tour of Lovcén National Park with mausoleum & boat trip*

Blue Grotto and Mamula Island

In the Blue Grotto, the water is said to shimmer in a surreal blue hue; in addition, a boat tour is usually taken to the historic Mamula Island, which once served as a fortress.

BlueGrotto Tour*

Where to eat in Kotor

This was my first time in Montenegro, and I was rather expecting southeastern European cuisine – so I was all the more surprised to find mostly Italian restaurants in Kotor. However, the Italian influence from Kotor’s history is still so great that Kotor seems like Little Italy within Montenegro, even in terms of culinary arts.

However, I found many restaurants to be very bland, so I went in search of some more unusual locations! Here are my tips:

Pier 65 By chance I stumbled into the cute alley with Pier 65, right in the middle of the old town and yet chilled. The cuisine here doesn’t provide culinary highs, but I would describe it as solid comfort food. Super nice service and really nice ambience.

Rooftop Bar Hotel Hippocampus* Even locals recommended me the breakfast in the Rooftop Bar of the Hotel Hippocampus! The Hippocampus itself is a beautifully designed boutique hotel, and from the rooftop terrace you can enjoy views over the rooftops of the old city while enjoying a sprawling breakfast.

Restobar Taraca Located just outside the old town; fresh cuisine and good value for money. Also many vegetarian and vegan options.

Platanus Located on the seafront in Dobrota and perfect destination for a walk along the water. Pleasant ambience, especially outside on the terrace overlooking the water.

Moritz Eis Due to the Italian influences, there is ice cream on every corner in Kotor, but the extraordinary variations at Moritz Eis are especially good. Bit expensive, but really worth it!

I also recommend a visit to the small weekly market, which is located on the outside of the city wall between the Sea Gate (main gate) and the Gurdic Gate. Here you will find Montenegrin delicacies such as cheese, ham and fruits and vegetables from the region.

Overnight stay in Kotor

Most of the accommodation in Kotor can be found in the suburb of Dobrota. There, along the beach promenade and the main street behind it, many vacation homes are bustling.

However, if you can do without being near the water and don’t need a parking space for a rental car, I advise you to stay in the old town. Especially if you don’t have a car, the way to the old town can be very long. Personally, I wasn’t particularly impressed with Dobrota either – I liked the vibe in the cute old town around my little old apartment much better.

I can recommend this apartment in the old town of Kotor; right in the middle and still very cozy:

UNA Apartments in Kotor*

Especially in the high season, popular accommodations in the old town are quickly booked up. These accommodations here, for example, are also in high demand:

Kotor Nest Coliving* Montenegro as well as Kotor have become very popular with digital nomads in recent years. Rooms are tastefully decorated.

Hotel Hippocampus* Boutique hotels are a bit rare in Kotor, and if you don’t just want to enjoy brunch on the rooftop terrace, you might as well book a room at Hotel Hippocampus: stylish ambience, right in the middle of the old town.

Beaches in Kotor

Is there a beach in Kotor? Yes. And no. Because at the city beach in Dobrota at the gates of the old town I would rather not want to swim. The next section of the beach is relatively small and consists of pebbles. Far more uncomfortable, however, are the cruise ships that pass relatively close by and dock just a short distance away in the harbor.

In addition, the bay of Kotor is pretty closed, so that I always had the impression that a lot of residue from the ships simply remains in the bay for the time being – or, to say it with the words of a local, who advised me against bathing in the bay: You won’t need tanning oil when bathing here.

Suitable beaches are more likely to be found in Budva, which is also popular for mass tourism and is about a half-hour drive from Kotor.

On the road in Montenegro

Maybe you are traveling longer in Montenegro or don’t want to depend on organized tours. Then you can also rent a car at the airport in Tivat. A German driver’s license is sufficient in Montenegro, and probably from other European countries as well.

Book your rental car in Montenegro here*

By the way, the roads around the bay are very narrow and cannot withstand the rush of tourists, especially in summer – traffic jams on the access roads to Kotor are normal.

I had also considered renting a car – but when I saw the really crazy serpentines in the mountains around Kotor on a tour, I was then very happy not to have to drive myself. Only something for experienced drivers or if you enjoy winding roads!

Helpful information for Kotor & Montenegro

How many days do you need for Kotor?

The old town of Kotor is relatively small and everything is within walking distance. Outside of the old town, there is still a spruced up waterfront, but all in all, you can skip it and you won’t miss much. For the old town itself, one day is easily enough.

However, Kotor is also relatively often visited by large cruise ships in the summer, which usually flood the old town only during the day. An overnight stay is therefore overnight stay is simply because you can experience the old town relatively empty early in the morning and enjoy the evening atmosphere in one of the restaurants.

How to get to Kotor?

By plane

From Germany you can now fly directly to Kotor. Many airlines fly to Tivat airport, which is only about 20 minutes by car from the old town. Direct flights are available, for example, from Eurowings, but Austrian Airlines also offers regular connections to Tivat or the Montenegrin capital Podgorica via Vienna.

By rental car/car in Kotor

You can get rental cars at the airports. Montenegro itself is relatively small – so you can easily plan a short road trip through the country. However, if you are staying in the old town of Kotor, a car is generally a hindrance. The old town is car-free and you will have to park your car outside. By the way, the roads in the mountains can be very curvy and narrow – only something for safe drivers!

By bus from Dubrovnik/Croatia

Scheduled buses are also available, for example, from Dubrovnik to Kotor and the surrounding towns – lasts due to the border controls between Croatia and Montenegro, though, and you need some flexibility when it comes to punctuality; but the bus connections are definitely an alternative if you are not traveling in the region with a rental car or your own camper.

When is the best time to visit Kotor?

May and June are among the best months to travel in Kotor. I was there in July, when good weather and sunshine is almost guaranteed, but Kotor is then also particularly well visited.

Especially the many large cruise ships that call at Kotor ensure a rush of visitors in the summer months, which the tranquil old town often seems to be unable to cope with. If possible, plan your visit around the ships.

Here you can check when cruise ships anchor in Kotor

In autumn it rains more and the winters in Kotor are not very cold, but wet – and the old town with its rustic cobblestones then turns into a slide. Moreover, the landscape around the bay, so impressive in sunny weather, loses much of its charm.

What to consider when staying in Kotor?

Montenegro is not part of the EU

Montenegro is not part of the European Union, so it is advisable to check the entry requirements beforehand. I didn’t read them beforehand, unfortunately, so I only found out about this small speciality in Kotor itself!

I entered by plane, went through passport control at the airport like usual and got an entry stamp in my passport.

Registration for tourists

If you are entering Montenegro as part of a package tour, you don’t need to worry about anything else. However, if you travel to Montenegro on your own and organize your own accommodation, as I did, you must register at one of the tourist offices in Kotor within 24 hours of entering the country. Otherwise, fines of up to 200€ are to be threatened upon departure. (Whether this is actually enforced in the end, I do not know. Online you will find reads about the most diverse experiences with non-compliance with this regulation).

How to register as a tourist in Montenegro

For registration you need your passport with the entry stamp and the name or address of your accommodation; for private accommodation such as vacation apartments also the name of the landlord. Registration costs 1€ per day and is done in a few minutes. Then you will be issued a certificate of registration, which is best kept with your passport.

You always need this registration certificate in Montenegro as soon as you stay longer than 24 hours in a municipality. I didn’t understand the sense of it, the whole system is quite shady, and nobody was really interested in my registration certificate; besides, I registered only 3 days after my entry, which was no problem either.

Here you can find the official information about registration as a tourist in Montenegro

Is a trip to Kotor from Dubrovnik worth it?

Dubrovnik is considered one of the new hotspots on the Croatian Adriatic coast and is only 60 kilometers away from Kotor. From there you can often find tour operators offering day trips from Dubrovnik. Basically, one day is enough to explore Kotor.

Book a day trip from Dubrovnik to the Bay of Kotor here*

However, on the way from Croatia to Montenegro you have to pass a border control, because Montenegro is not part of the EU. Often in summer there are long waiting times at the border crossings and especially if it is a larger group, it can take time until a coach is cleared. So it’s best to inquire about group size beforehand and avoid day trips from Dubrovnik in the summer.