KOTOR, MONTENEGRO – With cruise ship crowds reaching capacity in nearby Dubrovnik, the Montenegrin town of Kotor has emerged as a hugely popular port of call on Mediterranean cruises.
The Bay of Kotor
With dramatic cliffs rising out of the glimmering Adriatic, ancient towns packed with history and thrilling vistas, an undeveloped ruggedness unlike anything in Croatia, and a twisty road to tie it all together, the Bay of Kotor represents the best of Montenegro.
Arriving in Kotor
The Bay of Kotor is Montenegro’s most beautiful and convenient destination for Dubrovnik residents. The Montenegrin border is about 40 minutes south of Dubrovnik.
By Cruise Ship
Reaching Kotor by cruise ship is easy. Ships dock or embark at a long pier that extends directly in front of the Old Town. All passengers disembark through the same harbor entrance, with the Old Town directly ahead. As you exit the harbor, look to your left: you’ll find an ATM in a freestanding orange kiosk. Alternatively, you can continue on to the Old Town’s main square.
By Car
Approaching town, you’ll first see Kotor’s substantial wall, which overlooks a canal. You can park in one of three pay lots, which are all priced around 3 Eur/hour. Look for ”Parking Riva” along the bay immediately across from the main gate, ”Parking Benovo” or ”Parking Urc”.
By Plane
The closest airport to Kotor is the International airport in the neighboring little town of Tivat located 40 minutes drive time from the Kotor center. It has connection with all major cities in Europe during the high season.
Best time to visit Kotor
The best time to visit Kotor is May or September for a balance of great weather and fewer crowds. The summer spanning June to August, is the peak season with the hottest weather, but also the largest crowds and highest prices. The shoulder seasons of April and October offer pleasant weather, while winter is quiet, budget-friendly, and good for cultural immersion, though it can be cold and rainy.
History of Kotor
Despite its long and illustrious history, today Kotor is a time capsule heaven for travelers seeking an unspoiled Adriatic city.
The ancient city of Katarum, named after the Roman word meaning “narrow” or “squeezed” due to the violent sea currents at this point in the fjord, was first mentioned in the 1st century AD. Like much of the region, the island experienced a colorful history over the next two millennia, falling under Venetian, Napoleonic, Austrian, and finally Montenegrin rule.
Each group has left its mark, and Kotor is home to both Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Over the centuries, Kotor has escaped the ravages of war, but it has been hit by earthquakes, including the one that destroyed Dubrovnik in 1667, and a devastating earthquake in 1979, after which the city is still recovering.
With a very friendly old town built for aimless wandering, Kotor is an idyllic place to spend a few hours. Although sometimes called “little Dubrovnik“, Kotor is more discreet, less ambitious, less historic, flatter and much smaller than its more famous neighbour.
Places of interest in Old Town of Kotor
At the edge of steep cliffs, hidden in calm seas, at the foot of naturally sheltered coastlines and interspersed with ramparts, lies beautiful and well-preserved little town of Kotor.
With its winding alleys and irregular street layout, Kotor seems larger than it actually is. But after a few minutes of walking, you’ll notice that you’re walking in a circle and that it’s actually quite compact. As you walk, take note of the key attractions, which are briefly summarized below.
Main Town Gate
A spacious expanse, overlooking the bay and the coast, now welcomes visitors. But for centuries it served just the opposite. As the main entrance to the heavily fortified city, this was the last line of defense. The water reached this gate before the dam was built, and only one ship could dock at a time.
See the Pink Gate and the oldest part of the town that dates back to 1555. It once featured the Venetian lion, and later the double-headed eagle of the Habsburg Empire. Today, however, the symbolism of the Pink Gate is largely reminiscent of Tito’s communism.
Kotor Old style Architecture
Walk around the central square, surrounded by artifacts that testify to the city’s complex history, and admire the medieval architecture that surrounds the center of Kotor.
Rector’s Palace
Looking to the left, you will see a long building with cafés on either side. This was once the palace of the Rector, who ruled Kotor on behalf of Venice.
The Princess could watch the ceremonies from a long balcony overlooking the square, which was the town hall. Later, this palace became the Kotor Town Hall.
French Theater
Behind the long building, two buildings stand out in the square. The building on the right is the Venetian armory, after which the square takes its name. The building on the left is called the “French Theater” after Napoleon’s reign.
Bell Tower
As soon as you enter the main square, you’ll see the town clock tower, one of Kotor’s symbols. The strange triangular structure at its foot was once the town pillar, where criminals were chained and subjected to rather brutal torture.
Hotel Vardar
To the right of it is the small, secluded, square, half-timbered Hotel Vardar, with the longest copper roof in town. Exit through the long door directly in front of the Hotel Vardar, and walk straight ahead down a wide, sloping alley paved with red-and-white striped tiles, reminiscent of the old mansions of Kotor.
Cathedral of St. Triphun
Cross the square and turn left at the end of the alley, and you’ll find St. Tryphon Square a block away.
Although most of Kotor’s modern residents are Orthodox, the city’s most important church is Catholic. Admire the cathedral’s facade. This church was rebuilt after four earthquakes, the most notable being the 1667 earthquake, giving it its current appearance, a mix of Renaissance and Baroque styles.
The Legend of the Relics of St. Tryphon
According to legend, in 809, Venetian merchants sailed from Nicaea along the coast with the relics of St. Tryphon, a 3rd-century martyr and patron saint of gardeners. As they approached the Bay of Kotor, they were caught in a storm and forced to take refuge here. Each time they tried to leave, the weather worsened, and finally they received news that the remains of Saint Tryphon might be in Kotor.
Maritime Museum of Montenegro
Like many Adriatic towns, life in Kotor is closely linked to the sea. This modest museum, spread over three floors, highlights this important heritage. As you climb the stairs, you’ll find maps and engravings that vividly illustrate Kotor’s past.
Portraits of warriors in salt armor, traditional costumes, and 98 coats of arms of the noble families that once lived here recall Kotor’s rich history. Guns, swords, and numerous ship models are also on display.
The museum is housed in the Gregorina Palace, one of dozens of noble residences scattered throughout the old town.
Karampana
Until the early 20th century, this fountain was the only public water tap in Kotor. Like an office water cooler, it was also a ‘’gossip den’’. It’s said that mentioning your name here means you’ve arrived in Kotor. These days, the market square is quiet, but the town’s gossip magazine, known as “Carampana,” still exists.
St. Luke’s Square
This beautiful square is home to two Serbian Orthodox churches, both of which have typical Orthodox features: a compact layout, narrow windows, and high domes.
The small Church of St. Luke in the center of the square dates back to the 12th century. Locals have long and heatedly argued whether St. Luke was originally built as a Catholic or Orthodox church. Regardless of its origins, the church served as a place of worship for both churches during the Venetian period.
Church of St. Nicholas
The larger and much newer Church of St. Nicholas was built in 1909. Its neo-Byzantine style gives it similar domes and clerestory windows. Before entering, notice how the Orthodox crosses on the towers of St. Nicholas differ from the crosses found in Roman Catholic churches, the so-called Latin cross.
Orthodox Liturgy
In addition to the regular cross, Orthodox crosses often have a second, smaller cross at the top, symbolizing the I.N.R.I. sign that was above Jesus’ head.
Sometimes Orthodox crosses also have a third, slanted cross at the bottom. Many believe that Jesus’ feet were not nailed directly to the cross, but to this cross to prolong His suffering.
The slanted cross symbolizes Jesus’ forgiveness of the crucified thief on His right and indicates the place where the unrepentant thief on His left eventually ended up.
When you enter these or other Orthodox churches, you will immediately notice several significant differences from Catholic churches:
- the lack of pews; parishioners stand during the service as a sign of reverence;
- tall, narrow candles, symbolizing prayer;
- the iconostasis in the center of the church, facing east and separating the material world from the holy myrrh.
Town Walls
If you’re in good shape, consider climbing the walls and towers above the old town. Kotor’s fortifications begin with mighty ramparts along the coastline and then climb a dizzying zigzag of cliffs behind the town. Imagine the effort it took to build this “Great Wall of Kotor.” The wall is nearly five kilometers long and traverses extremely challenging terrain.
History of the City Walls
The wall was built repeatedly over a millennium, from the 9-th to the 19-th century, although most of it was completed during the Venetian occupation in the 17-th and 18-th centuries. The fortified city survived numerous attacks, including a two-month Ottoman siege in 1657.
Its thickness ranges from 1.8 to 15 meters, with the highest sections reaching 19 meters. The higher parts of the hill, with thinner walls built before the Gunpowder Age, are the oldest, while the thick walls along the water are the latest.
Kotor surrounding
If you have time, you might want to travel further afield. The easiest way is to reach Perast, where you can explore the seaside village and take a small boat to one of the islands in the fjord.
Perast
Perast, known as the ”Pearl of Venetian Baroque,” is a convenient and scenic place to stretch your legs and consider a boat ride. During high season, tourists must pay to park near the town’s entrance and then walk 10 minutes or take the free shuttle bus into the town center. Parking near the church is free during the low season. Remember that Perast, with its cannons pointing at the Verige Strait across the bay, was an important link in the Bay of Kotor’s defense system.
In exchange for this important duty, Venice rewarded Perast with privileged tax-free status, and the town became extremely wealthy. Ornate mansions proliferated here during its 17th and 18th century heyday. But after Venice fell to Napoleon, and the Bay of Kotor’s economy changed, Perast’s singular defensive role disappeared.
Without industry, land, or natural resources, Perast remained stagnant, becoming a veritable open-air museum of Venetian architecture.
Church of St. Nicholas
Visit the town’s tallest tower, which overlooks a long, narrow square by the harbor. In the heart of Perast stands the enormous half-timbered Church of St. Nicholas, dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen. It was originally designed to face the sea. However, Napoleon’s troops arrived before the builders could reach the site, so they were torn down, and this enormous half-timbered church was simply annexed to the modest existing church.
Food & Beverage in Kotor
Njeguši Pršut
The Italian-influenced cuisine of the Kotor coast is very similar to Croatian cuisine: seafood, pasta and pizza. There are several local delicacies worth trying, and at the top of the list is Njeguši Pršut – a delicious smoked ham from the village of Njeguši, located high in the mountains above the city.
While prosciutto is beloved in the Balkans, the rich, salty and smoky flavour of Njeguši Pršut is perhaps the best. It goes perfectly with the local smoked cow’s milk cheese.
Local wine
Montenegro produces surprisingly good wines. The country’s largest producer, and one of the largest in the Balkans, is Plantaze Podgorica, which buys around 20 million bottles a year. While this volume is often no guarantee of quality, Plantaze grapes are very good and worth trying. The most popular red grape variety is the dry, medium-bodied Vranac, a distant relative of Italian Primitivo, Californian Zinfandel and Croatian Plavak Mali. For white wine, a dry, fruity Krstach is used, similar to Riesling.
Restaurants in Kotor
As for restaurants in Kotor, there’s little to recommend. Truly exquisite food is rare here – I prefer something simple and beautiful. For a high-quality and memorable dinner in a romantic setting, travelers should consider Konoba Katovica Mlini or Restaurant Stari Mlini.
City Restaurant
This restaurant, with spacious outdoor seating next to the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, offers a wonderful shaded area. Beautifully painted picnic tables are set in a small grove in the old town, and the small square in front offers even more tables.
Fish Restaurant Cesarica
This restaurant offers simple fish dishes in a simple stone interior, located in the heart of the old town.
Our Favorite Kotor Tour
Martha_D, Oct 2025
Tour Kotor – Perast Old Town – Island Our Lady of the Rocks – Every 2 hours
“Excellent service from VIATOR ! Everything was perfect, very professional and attentive. Highly recommended!”
Plan on about four hours for the round trip to Perast and the island. Cruisers visiting Kotor can enjoy a breathtaking cruise along the fjord-like bay and the narrow Verige Strait. If the weather is nice, and you enjoy the breathtaking scenery, this is not a day for napping or napping while sailing.
Walk along the city walls
If you walk all the way to the upper fortress and back, the round trip will take about an hour and a half. You will have to climb 1,355 steps. Bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes. Much of the route is hilly and uneven, but the path is in poor condition, with many rocky sections. Pay for the entrance ticket and start your climb.
Kotor on foot Tour
Cattaro, the Italian name for Kotor, has a compact, triangular-shaped old town. The two sides facing the bay are fortified with thick walls, while the third, facing the sea, is hidden under a cliff. Behind and above the town, a defensive wall winds its way up the hill. Although only 3,000 people live within the old town walls, Kotor has a population of around 12,000.
Kotor’s old town is an obvious place to spend a day. Add a few hours if you’re up for the arduous climb to the fortress that dominates the town.
The maze of streets in the old town is confusing, but it’s so small and compact that getting lost is more of a pleasure than a problem. Locals are practically oblivious to addresses, including the names of streets and squares. Most addresses in the old town are simply labeled “Stari Grad” and a number, which is useless for navigating the streets.
Booking hotel in Kotor
Kotor is a wonderful place to relax. However, the city has two major drawbacks: inexplicably high prices and the noise from the rowdy bars at night. Be aware that noise is everywhere, so bring earplugs.
***Hotel Vardar
The hotel has 24 rooms with modern bathrooms and is located in the heart of the ancient town. This historic old hotel with a copper roof has been extensively refurbished and now provides a stylish and classy ambiance. Despite its handy position, the city center can be loud, particularly on weekends. So request a quieter room.
***Hotel Villa Duomo
This hotel provides a beautiful hideaway near the cathedral. Its 13 stone rooms share a terrace in the courtyard, where breakfast is served in good weather.
***Hotel Marija
This historic-style hotel is situated on the Old Town Square and has 17 rooms with wood-panelled halls. Request a better room at the back of the building. Ask for a better room at the back of the building.
Old Town Hostel is a budget option in the Old Town filling a stony, labyrinthine 13th-century building with 10 rooms, ranging from 10-bed dorms to overpriced private rooms. Youtful conviviality fills the inviting lounge.
Great location – friendly staff – Excellent stay – Booking hotel in Kotor by Trivago
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