If you are lacking ideas for things to do in Kotor and surroundings, read on to discover fun activities, hikes, and short trips that will make you fall in love with Montenegro.
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Nestled in the farthest corner of Kotor Bay, the walled city of Kotor is a lively and picturesque place and a must-see in the Balkans. I spent one week in Kotor in mid-June and fell in love with its cute little alleys, the surrounding nature, and the gorgeous bay enclosed within the mountains.
I found the city to be unexpectedly lively. There was live music playing at nearly every corner in the evenings, and restaurants and cafès were filled with people. Not to mention the cats sleeping in the shade or wandering around the city, a distinguishable feature of the Balkans.
Aside from visiting the old town, there are plenty of things to do in Kotor and its surroundings. The nature around the city is amazing. Kotor really has it all, crystal clear waters, lots of greenery, and jaw-dropping views from the surrounding mountains. And if that is not enough, in less than one hour you can reach lots of other towns around the bay and on the Adriatic coast.
Wander around the Old Town
Before adventuring outside of Kotor to explore the surroundings, it’s worth spending some time getting to know the Old Town. The walled city of Kotor is entirely pedestrian, so walking around is very pleasant.
Wander around the narrow streets, admire the typical stone houses with colorful window blinds, visit some of the beautiful churches in town, stop at one of the many cafès, and check out the little shops.
Walking around in the late evening will give you a chance to experience Kotor’s nightlife. I was surprised by how much was going on every night. If you visit in summer, you’ll get the chance to listen to live music every night. From jazz to rock and traditional Montenegrin music, there’s something for everyone’s taste.
Visit St. John’s Fortress
Visible from virtually all over town, St. John’s Fortress towers over Kotor from the height of 280 meters above sea level.
If you visit the fortress via the official access, you must pay for a ticket during opening hours. During the summer months, the official entry is open from 8 AM to 8 PM. Access is from the Old Town, and the climb only takes about 20 minutes.
However, there are two ways to avoid paying the entrance fee. One way is to enter through the official gate before opening time or after closing. This is probably the most convenient option, especially in summer when at 9 AM it can be already pretty hot!
I went much earlier than necessary, but I wanted to avoid the heat and have the place to myself. I started climbing at 4.45 AM when the entire town was still sleeping, and the sky was just starting to change colors. The only other beings around were the cats that you can see all over Kotor.
Another way to avoid the entrance fee is to climb the Ladder of Kotor, starting just outside the Old Town. This way is longer, but you can start the climb at any time, and you don’t have to pay an entrance fee.
Climb the Ladder of Kotor
If you’ve still got energy and time, after visiting St. John’s Fortress continue climbing up on the Ladder of Kotor. Alternatively, you can start the climb on a different occasion from just outside the walls of the city, in the northeastern corner. If you continue from the fortress, you need to exit through a window and descend a ladder. The exact spot can be a bit tricky to find, but if you check the trail on Google Maps you’ll find it.
The hiking trail goes up in a zig-zag, reaches Saint John’s Fortress and the small church Sveti Juraj, and then continues upwards. You can climb as much as you feel like, but I recommend going all the way up to the top of the “ladder”. While there is no sign at the top, you will notice that the trail takes a turn and continues around the mountain. If you keep walking, you can potentially go all the way to Cetinje, Montenegro’s former royal capital.
Like the visit to St. John’s Fortress, the Ladder of Kotor is better climbed in the early morning or late afternoon. When I visited Kotor in mid-June, the temperatures were still too high even at sunset, so the best time was in the morning. Until around 9 AM, the sun is still hiding behind the mountain, so the entire hike is in the shade.
Take a boat trip around the bay
As soon as you step foot outside the walls of Kotor, you’ll be offered boat tours around the bay. Take the offer! Doing a boat tour is one of the best ways to experience the bay of Kotor, not to mention a fun one if you get the right Captain.
You have quite a few options to choose from, but two of them are the most popular. A shorter one of one hour and a half includes visits to the island Our Lady of the Rock and the town of Perast for 15€.
But my recommendation is to do the three-hour tour that will take you out of the bay, to the so-called Blue Cave. There you can swim in crystal clear waters that will make you feel like you’re in a tropical destination or some remote little Greek island, but with far fewer people.
On the way to the cave, you’ll pass by Mamula island, once a prison and concentration camp. The island has sadly been recently bought by some Russian billionaire who is building a five-star hotel with casino and whatnot. I’ll skip the polemic on this one and move on.
Before leaving the bay, you will also enter one of the tunnels excavated in the side of the cliff. These used to be hideouts for submarines and were built by the Yugoslav army. Quite a spooky sight if you ask me, but definitely cool to see.
On the way back, you’ll make a stop on the tiny island Our Lady of the Rock, where you can visit the small church and see the bay from a different perspective. The island offers a gorgeous view over the nearby town of Perast.
If you want to spend the entire day on a boat around the bay, you can also take a tour like this Kotor Cruise. The full-day tour includes welcome drinks, a professional tour guide, and a lunch stop at an authentic restaurant.
Visit the nearby town of Perast
Catch the bus outside the Old Town and head to the lovely town of Perast. The bus ride takes about 20 minutes to get there, and runs roughly every hour, except on Sundays when it’s every two hours. You can ask for the bus schedule at the tourist information point by the Sea Gate.
Perast is a small town and a popular tourist destination, but for good reason. The picturesque town has a small but lovely Old Town, with the tower of the Church of Saint Nicholas towering over the small houses. From the northernmost part of the town, you can enjoy a stunning view of the Old Town against the mountains in the background. The view is possibly even more beautiful in the sunset light.
You can easily see the entire town in less than two hours, including the viewpoints in the upper part of town. If you spend even just two days in Kotor, make time for a short visit to Perast.
Walk along the bay to Dobrota or even to Orahovc
If you’re up for a longer walk, start outside Kotor Old Town and head in the direction of Dobrota, along the bay. The pleasant walk will reward you with some stunning views of Kotor Bay. If you’re visiting in summer, stop at one of the tiny “beaches” along the way and take a dip.
Walking from Kotor to Dobrota will take roughly 40 minutes without any stops. The walk all the way to Orahovac will take about one hour and a half. If you want to avoid taking public transportation and get those daily steps in, this is a perfect way to do it. And if you’re too tired to walk back, you can always jump on the first bus back to Kotor.
If you make it to the small fishing village of Orahovac, check out the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. George. The impressive church, featuring a beautiful Orthodox cemetery, is built at the top of a massive rock. While I couldn’t access the church, the view from outside was truly incredible, make sure not to miss it.
Take a day trip to Budva and Sveti Stefan
If you have some extra time, there are a few day trips you can do from Kotor. If you could only choose one, I would recommend heading to Budva, roughly half an hour by bus from Kotor. Budva is a popular beach destination, but in my opinion, the small old town is delightful.
In a smaller version of Kotor Old Town, Budva Old Town has narrow alleys lined with shops and cafes, gorgeous stone houses, and the ever-present cats strolling around or sleeping in the shade. I would tell you to get lost exploring the alleys, but you’ll always find yourself back in some familiar spot.
It takes roughly one hour to explore virtually every angle of the walled old town, leaving you with plenty of time to go to the beach or move on to another destination. If you’re looking for a place to have a coffee and recharge your energy, I recommend North Coffee Shop, the coffee there is delicious!
Once you’re done exploring Budva, catch the local bus to get to Sveti Stefan. The bus ride is just one euro and takes around twenty minutes. The small seaside town is famous for a tiny island connected to the mainland by a bridge. The curious thing about the island is that it’s entirely occupied by a 5-star hotel resort.
While you can only access the island of Sveti Stefan if you are a hotel guest, you can admire beautiful views from the upper side of the town. Once you descend to the shore, you can walk the bridge to the gate of the hotel and, if the weather allows it, take a dip in the transparent waters and sunbathe on the beaches on both sides of the bridge.
Take a day trip to Petrovac
Another day trip you can take from Kotor is to the lovely town of Petrovac, on the coast further south of Budva. I did Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac all in one day, but it may be a bit of a stretch.
There are quite a few things you can do and see in Petrovac. The main landmark in town is Kastio Castle, a fortress extending into the sea in the northern part of the town. From there, you get a stunning view over the sea and the St. Nedjelja Church on a small islet off the coast.
From the fortress, walk uphill to find a gorgeous promenade with spectacular sea views. You’ll walk in the shade of pine trees and through tunnels excavated in the mountain, all the way to Perazica Do beach. The entire walk takes around half an hour.
Back in town, stroll along the marina and maybe stop to eat at one of the restaurants facing the sea. While you can’t really see the sunset from the marina, you can still enjoy beautiful views of the tiny islets in front of Petrovac as the sky changes color from blue to orange and purple.
Getting to and staying in Kotor
You have several options to reach Kotor. If you want to fly directly to Montenegro, the nearest airport is Tivat. The main airport near the capital city of Podgorica is roughly two hours away by car. By bus, it may take a bit longer, depending on traffic. I recommend checking flights from your preferred destination using WayAway to get great deals from multiple airlines.
Flights to Montenegro can sometimes be expensive depending on where you are flying from. I chose to fly to Dubrovnik in Croatia and took a bus from there to Kotor. The bus ride took less than three hours and cost just under 20 USD. If you are planning to also visit Croatia, this is a great option.
In Kotor, you have plenty of accommodation options. I chose to stay in a hostel in the Old Town, and it was just perfect. Check out Montenegro Hostel B&B Kotor if you’re looking for something cheap and friendly, but not too fancy. While the rooms were quite small, I enjoyed the lovely common area with the view over Trg Bokeljske mornarice.
I spent one week in Kotor because I was also working and wanted to take it slow. Even if you plan on doing everything I mentioned, four or five days are enough.
If you’re looking to visit more places in the Balkans, I highly recommend checking out Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your trip to Montenegro! Also, let me know in the comments your favorite spot in Kotor!
