14 Best Things To Do in Kotor, Montenegro (Don’t Miss These!)

Planning your dream trip to The Balkans but not sure if Kotor, Montenegro is worth a stop? You’re not alone! With so many coastal gems to choose from in both Montenegro and Croatia, it’s easy to wonder: is Kotor worth visiting? In my opinion, the answer is 100%, yes — and this post will show you exactly why! From cobbled streets and spectacular viewpoints to friendly locals and epic day trips, this ultimate guide to the best things to do in Kotor will show you all of the must-see places and hidden gems in this tiny Adriatic town.

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14 Best Things to Do in Kotor, Montenegro

1. Wander the Streets of Kotor Old Town (Stari Grad)

The old town of Kotor is like stepping back in time into a storybook and is a must-see on your Montenegro itinerary. You can truly lose track of time here, spotting the local cats and getting lost down tight alleyways. There’s something so magical about not knowing where exactly you’ll end up — and not needing to care because Kotor’s old town is so small you won’t ever truly be lost.

The best time to visit Kotor old town is early in the morning, before the cruise ships and day trippers arrive – and, to be honest, before most of the tourists staying within the old town walls wake up. I left my Airbnb, in the heart of Stari Grad, at around 8am and had a good hour where it felt like it was just me (and the locals, of course – both feline and human!)

During my trip, I visited Stari Grad during three different times of day: before 9am, at around 12pm, and in the evening (around 7pm,) and the early morning was the only time the streets weren’t completely overrun with people. I would also recommend taking a stroll in the evening for a completely different vibe – Kotor in the dark is just magical! But to get the most out of your visit and leave with the best experiences: visit as early in the morning as you can.

Katie’s Top Tip: Let yourself get lost – the best discoveries in this charming old town definitely aren’t found on the map.

But if (like me!) you’re a bit of a planner, here are the best things to see in Kotor old town:

• Saint Tryphon Cathedral
• Old Town Square
• St. Luka’s Church
• Church of St. Nicholas
• Sea Gate
• Walk the city walls

2. Climb to the Top of San Giovanni Fortress

San Giovanni is known as a must see in Kotor and is therefore very popular with visitors, thanks to its spectacular views across the bay. As a result, it is best to tackle the climb early in the morning (before the cruise ship passengers arrive,) or later in the afternoon. This is also important in terms of heat, as there is no shade from the sun during the hike.

It is important to note that this hike is not easy, as there are 1300 steep steps (that are often slippery,) to get to the top. You do also have to pay in cash to use the main trail.

If you don’t fancy it or feel unable to complete the hike, you can get equally spectacular (and, in my opinion, less crowded!) views from:

Kotor Cable Car: The cable car costs 18 euros per adult and takes 11 minutes to reach the top. The cable car can be most easily reached by taxi or car, as its lower station is outside the city centre.

Drive the Serpentine Road: Just 20 minutes from Kotor is the hair-raising Serpentine road, which consists of 16 (!!) hairpin turns. There are viewpoints to stop off at along the way, offering spectacular views of Kotor and the Bay of Kotor. To get to Montenegro’s Serpentine Road you can drive a private car (if you dare!) or take a guided tour. This full day guided tour that I took during my trip to Montenegro includes either the cable car or the Serpentine Road (with photo stops,) and also takes in the spectacular Lovcen and Lake Skadar National Park’s.

Katie’s Top Tip: If you’re going to complete the hike, be sure to visit early or late in the day to avoid the worst of the crowds and the unrelenting midday heat!

3. Take a Boat to Explore Boka Bay

One of the highlights of my trip to Montenegro and, in my opinion, one of the very best things to do in Kotor was the boat trip I took to explore Boka Bay.

The tour I chose offered a small group, small boat experience, and took us to all of the top sights along the bay. This included a detour to see the former fortified prison and concentration camp Mamula, a visit to the iconic Blue Cave, a stop with free time in Porto Montenegro, and a stop at Our Lady of the Rocks Church – with skip the line entrance included.

As well as the named attractions, be prepared to take A LOT of photos – of everything! The scenery is unmatched throughout the bay and there is always a new photo opportunity around the corner. Plus, even though I visited in late September, it was still warm enough to sunbathe on deck and swim off the back of the boat.

There is also a guide on board to answer questions and offer commentary when required – although this wasn’t overbearing like on some boat trips, so there is plenty of time to relax too! You can take a look at the exact Boka Bay boat tour I booked here.

4. Walk Kotor’s City Walls

Kotor is surrounded by old stone walls, built in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, that offer spectacular birds eye views of the old town, bay of Kotor and harbour. However, unlike in Dubrovnik, you cannot walk around the entire town using the walls. This is due to unstable stonework and crumbling sections in some places. Despite this, I still believe it is one of the best things to do in Kotor, and you shouldn’t miss it during your visit!

The parts of the walls still accessible to visitors are:

• Gurdic Bastion: Offers a view of the bay, accessible from the southern side of Kotor old town.
• Kampana Tower: The largest section of walls to walk on, accessible from Kotor’s North Gate.
• Valier Basition: Next to Kampana Tower, accessible from there or from steps next to Sea Gate.

5. Sleep Inside the Old Town Walls

Waking up in a UNESCO-listed fairy tale? Yes, please!

Every morning, I woke up to the sound of the bells of St Tryphon Cathedral, and when I opened my shutters there she was, in all her glory, staring right back at me! While every evening, I sat on my tiny balcony, watching the hustle and bustle below my feet and listening to the live music from the nearby restaurants. Staying in the old town made my whole Kotor experience feel so much more vivid and magical!

The Airbnb I stayed in is Casa di Cattaro, which is located opposite St Tryphon Cathedral. The accommodation is a spacious studio with a private bathroom, double bed, kitchenette and – my favourite – the small balcony with seating overlooking the square!

Katie’s Top Tip: Make sure you book your accommodation early, as the best properties will always fill up fast, especially during the peak summer season.

6. Shop For Authentic Kotor Souvenirs

As you wander the streets of Kotor’s old town, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to small, independent shops selling handmade, quirky souvenirs. If you’re tight for time, one of the most popular (but also touristy) stores for local souvenirs is the Kotor Bazaar. However, I would recommend wandering where your feet take you and dedicating time in your Kotor itinerary simply to browse. There is always a gem to be found!

7. Try Montenegrin Cuisine at a Local Konoba

Sometimes, the best way to get to know and truly experience a place is by tasting it (and, of course, drinking it! Don’t forget to sample some Montenegrin wine during your trip!)

A Konoba is a traditional Montenegrin restaurant and you can find a wide variety of these throughout Kotor’s old town, to suit every taste and budget. One of the most popular is Konoba Scala Santa, in the heart of Stari Grad.

Katie’s Top Tip: If you’re staying in a staffed hotel or an Airbnb, ask the locals where they eat – not where they send tourists – for truly unique (and delicious) recommendations.

8. Stroll Along the Waterfront Promenade

Make time to wander the stunning waterfront promenade just outside the old town walls of Kotor. Walking a little way to the left out of Sea Gate (the main gate of Kotor,) is especially scenic, with panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor and any cruise ship that may be moored out in the bay.

There isn’t far to walk until you get to the Port of Kotor (to the right of Sea Gate) or to the iDEA supermarket (to the left,) but there are benches to sit on and take in the view. Plus, the view from the bridge next to the Gurdic Bastion and Gate is particularly beautiful, so well worth the time in your Montenegro itinerary.

Katie’s Top Tip: Grab an ice cream while you walk and don’t forget to go slow and enjoy the scenery – we are on Montenegro time, after all!

9. Take a Day Trip to Perast

I’ve got to be honest, I hopped on the local bus to Perast with zero expectations, desperate to escape the crowds thronging off the multi-thousand passenger cruise ship just docked in the bay! But I ended up staying in this tiny little town for hours.

Perast, while small, feels like you’re stepping into the pages of a fairytale, with quiet churches, Baroque architecture, lazy waterfront cafes and an uninterrupted view of the bay. In fact, many of the buildings lining the waterfront in Perast were actually the palaces of the 12 noble families of Perast, just adding to the grandeur and charm of the place.

This is one of the most popular day trips from Kotor, so don’t expect to be alone in this charming town. But even with a cruise ship docked just up the coast, when I visited in mid-September, it didn’t feel too busy.

Best Things To Do in Perast, Montenegro

• Stroll along the waterfront promenade
• Admire the many Baroque palaces: Bujović Palace, Lučić-Kolović-Matikola Palace, Smekja Palace, Brajković-Martinović Palace, Visković Palace, Balović Palace, Šestokrilović Palace and Bronza Palace.
• See Perast’s magnificent churches: the Church of St. John the Baptist, St Nicholas’ Catholic Church and Saint Mark’s Church.
• Visit the Perast Museum, located in the stunning Bujović Palace.
• Take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks on the man-made island of Ostrvo. You can get a water taxi from Perast and the journey takes just a few minutes.

How to Get to Perast From Kotor?

There are a few different ways to get to Perast from Kotor, including by bus, car, taxi, ferry and guided tour.

By Car: The drive to Perast is stunning and only takes around 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. There is parking down the hill from the main road in Perast, although keep in mind that spaces will fill up quickly in peak season.

By Bus: The local Blue Line bus takes around 30 minutes and stops in front of St. Nicholas’ Church in the centre of Perast. There is no official timetable for the bus, but it runs pretty regularly, even when I visited in September. Make sure you bring cash for the bus fare, which costs just a couple of euros.

By Ferry: During the peak season, you can take a 40 minute scenic ferry ride from Kotor to Perast. Don’t forget your camera!

On a Guided Tour: This half day boat tour combines Perast with Our Lady of the Rocks, with the additional benefit of a local guide sharing the areas’ extensive history.

By Taxi: The final option is by taxi. Popular taxi companies in Montenegro include Red Taxi and Dijr Taxi.

10. Get to Know the Locals

(And by locals, I mean the cats!)

Cats are a big part of Montenegrin culture, especially in Kotor, where locals believe that cats saved the town during the Austro-Hungarian revolt in 1918.

Today, you can see cats around every corner in Kotor’s old town, and they are treated like feline royalty – sunbathing on steps, walking the cobbles and even in the middle of the (pedestrianised) streets, getting in the way of all the passers-by! You will also see bowls of food and water throughout the city, as these cats are well looked after by a large number of local volunteers.

So where is the best place to see Kotor’s cats? As I said, you can see them anywhere inside the city walls. But if you want to spend some more time with these very friendly locals, I recommend heading to the small park on Trg od drva (just behind the Church of St. Mary Collegiate.) When the cruise ships are in, like everywhere in Kotor, this quiet spot does get busy, so I would recommend visiting early in the morning, late in the day or when a ship isn’t in port. You can check whether a cruise ship will be in port during your visit here.

There is also an entire museum dedicated to Kotor’s cats, which also one of the best things to do in Kotor – plus you’ll be supporting the cats!

Katie’s Top Tip: Visiting the Kotor cat museum will further help to support the local strays as proceeds help care for them.

11. Take a Day Trip to Durmitor National Park

There is so much more to Montenegro than what’s inside Kotor’s old town walls – and one of my favourite day trips was to Durmitor National Park.

Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a stunning, raw beauty to it. My favourite place to visit in this spectacular national park is the famous Black Lake, which is both a photographer’s and walker’s dream! Another top attraction to see in the national park is the Tara Canyon Bridge, where you can walk the length of the bridge for spectacular views of the river below or, for thrill seekers, even take a zipline over the canyon. And if you fancy a detour from the national park, don’t skip Ostrog Monastery, built into the mountainside. It is still a very popular religious site for pilgrims to this day.

How to Get to Durmitor National Park From Kotor

There are a few different ways to get to Durmitor National Park from Kotor, including private car and by taking a guided tour.

By Car: By car, the drive to Durmitor National Park’s Black Lake takes around 2.5 hours, depending on traffic. The drive to Tara Canyon Bridge then takes around 45 minutes. And the Ostrog Monastery will take a further 2.5 hours to get to. The journey back to Kotor will take you around 2 hours.

On a Guided Tour: A guided tour of the Durmitor National Park is what I would recommend, as there is a lot of driving involved in this trip and some of the roads are narrow and steep. During my visit, I chose this tour (which I would 100% recommend – even though you should be prepared for a very long day!) The tour includes photo stops along the way to break up the journey, as well as plenty of free time to explore the Black Lake, Tara Canyon Bridge and Ostrog Monastery.

12. Explore St. Tryphon Cathedral

St. Tryphon Cathedral is one of the top attractions in Kotor and also one of the most recognisable – and for good reason. The cathedral, built in 1166, is a stunning example of Romanesque architecture. It is characterised by it’s beautiful bell towers, housing bells that sound across the entire old town of Kotor to signal the hour. You can visit the interior of this spectacular cathedral every day between 9am and 6pm. At the time of writing, entrance costs 3 euros per person and is payable in cash.

13. Visit Kotor’s Old Churches

While St. Tryphon Cathedral is the most well-known historic church in Kotor’s Stari Grad, it is definitely not the only one you should put on your Kotor itinerary. St. Nicholas Church, Sveti Nikola Church, Sveti Luka Church and St Ana Church are all equally beautiful and well worth a visit. Plus, they are also a lot quieter if you would like your visit to involve more time for peaceful reflection without the tourist crowds.

If you don’t want to go inside all of these churches, they are equally impressive to admire from the outside – and chances are you will pass them (perhaps several times,) as you wander the cobbled streets of Kotor old town.

14. Take a Day Trip to Lovcen National Park

The final stop on my list of best things to do in Kotor is another spectacular day trip! This one explores another one of Montenegro’s famous national parks – Lovcen National Park.

Lovcen National Park and the area surrounding it is home to some of Montenegro’s top tourist attractions, including Mount Lovcen and Njegos Mausoleum, Kotor’s Serpentine Road and the beautiful town of Cetinje. 1.5 hours outside of Lovcen National Park, you can also find the famous Lake Skadar National Park.

One of the highlights of a trip to Lovcen National Park is the view from Njegos Mausoleum, which is reachable by climbing 461 steps – which is a lot, but still much fewer than Kotor’s 1300 steps to reach the San Giovanni Fortress!

How to Get to Lovcen National Park From Kotor?

There are a few different ways to get to Durmitor National Park from Kotor, including private car and by taking a guided tour.

By Car: By car, the drive to Lovcen National Park’s Njegos Mausoleum takes around 1 hour, depending on traffic. This drive will also take you via the famous Serpentine Road, with viewpoints looking out across the bay and Kotor. The drive onto Lake Skadar National Park will then take around 1.5 hours. And the town of Cetinje will take a further 50 minutes to get to. The journey back to Kotor from Cetinje will take around 1 hour

On a Guided Tour: A combined guided tour of both Lovcen National Park and Skadar Lake National Park is what I would recommend, as there is a lot of driving involved in this Kotor day trip and the Serpentine Road is narrow and steep, with 16 hairpin turns. During my visit, I chose this full day tour that covers all of the key sites of both national parks. I had an amazing day and 100% recommend the tour.

Let’s Wrap Up This List of the Best Things To Do in Kotor!

If you’ve made it this far, you already know the answer to the question: is Kotor worth visiting? The answer isn’t just in the views across the bay or the fascinating museums or the cobbled streets just waiting to be explored (though all three are equally amazing!) It’s in the why this place makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time, into the pages of a fairy tale. So whether you’re climbing the fortress walls, day-tripping through wider Montenegro or simply sitting by the bay and taking in the views, these moments – the best things to do in Kotor, Montenegro – are more than just photo ops. They’re memories that will last you a lifetime!

Which of these 14 best things to do in Kotor are you most excited to experience for yourself? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear which part of this town you can’t wait to explore!

Discover More of Beautiful Montenegro:

• The 17 Best Things to Do in Budva for First-Time Visitors
• 10 Magical Things To Do in Perast, Montenegro in One Day
• Is Kotor Safe for Solo Female Travellers? My Honest Take
• Is Montenegro Safe for Solo Female Travellers? An Honest Guide
• How to Plan the Perfect Montenegro Day Trip from Dubrovnik

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