Kotor, a medieval old town located on the Montenegrin coastline, offers spectacular views and a great deal of history. Nestled between the bay and the hillside is the walled city filled with winding cobbled streets, boutiques, cafes, and churches.
This old town is over 2000 years old and its history is packed with culture. Kotor has previously been ruled by Romans, Illyrians, Venetians, Austrians, and French. This rich culture can be explored both inside and outside the walled city. The spring and summer months see the streets bustling with tourists as the ancient town is a popular hotspot for cruise liners.
Here’s your must do list to add to your Montenegro itinerary.
Wander through the cobbled streets of the old town
Start your day in Kotor within the walls of the city. Get lost wandering through the maze of cobbled streets lined with churches, shops, and cafes. You will find many family-run, quaint cafes and restaurants within the city walls that offer local Montenegrin dishes as well as wider European cuisines such as Italian and Hungarian. The old town also hosts many souvenir shops, crafts, and fashion stores, again mostly family-run and locally owned. Be sure to pick up some unique, handcrafted gifts.
Hike up to St. John’s Fortress
Looking over the walled city of Kotor, on the hillside, lies St John’s Fortress. The hike to the fortress is over 1350 stone steps and will take about 2.5 hours (to get up and down again). This is no easy hike and certainly requires sensible footwear as you navigate the ascending cobbles and uneven terrain. Make sure to consider the weather too as hiking in the mid-summer sun may also bring challenges. Don’t let this put you off however, as the panoramic views of the red rooftops of Kotor and the bay and mountains in the distance are spectacular and definitely worth the sweat!
If hiking isn’t really your thing, there is a small church located halfway up the hill and you still get the amazing views but with a bit less walking.
If you’re a cat person, Kotor is definitely for you. Hundreds of stray cats roam freely, making the most of the mass of tourists and locals giving them food and water. They will walk along the walls and keep you company on your hike.
Fresh food market
Located outside the city walls is the local fresh food market. Stalls filled with local Montenegrin delicacies will be open every day, but Saturday is the biggest and best of the market. If you are lucky enough to be in Kotor on a Saturday it is definitely worth checking out the huge array of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, nuts, wines, and liquors on offer.
Boat trip on the Bay of Kotor
Moving outside of the walls now is the Bay of Kotor itself. Surrounding Kotor are a number of other picturesque villages, including Perast. There are many boat companies and trip options available for you to choose the ideal day trip for you. Take a trip to the blue water caves which are known for the translucent, reflective waters. Take a boat trip to Perast, the neighbouring village to Kotor known for its beauty and charm. It has been described as a Venice lookalike with its waterside restaurants, cafes, and churches. From Perast you can get a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks island. The artificially built island has a very ‘Mamma Mia’-like feel with its stone church and anchored sailing boats.
When to visit Montenegro
Summer peak months in Montenegro are July and August which average temperatures of 27°C (81°C). These months are the busiest with the cruise ships docking. Winter months (November to April) have a milder temperature with averages of 7°C (44°C). It is the winter months that also have the highest rainfall.
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