Kotor, the gem of Montenegro - 7 things you can do in Kotor
Kotor is considered by many to be the most beautiful place in Montenegro. Together with the bay that bears its name, the area is a major attraction in the Southeastern Europe.
The Bay of Kotor is a natural gem, an exquisite place, with clear sea water and imposing mountains that seem to rise directly from the sea. A visit here will surely delight you and you will be charmed by the landscapes you encounter and the pleasant atmosphere in the cities by the sea.
We visited Kotor during our one-week road trip through Montenegro, which I invite you to read about here: 7 Days In Montenegro - Road Trip In The Balkan Country.
Content
- What to do in Kotor
- Where to stay in Kotor
- What to eat in Kotor
- Kotor in pictures
About Kotor
Kotor is a very popular tourist destination in this area of Europe, and attracts many tourists every year. It is a small city, with a little over 23,000 inhabitants, but it is an impressive city, especially due to its location in the bay with the same name, the Bay of Kotor.
The Bay of Kotor can be described as a fjord, the views are wonderful, dominated by rocky mountains that rise directly from the water. Besides Kotor, in this area of the bay you can also find other picturesque tourist towns, such as Perast or Tivat.
Kotor is a very well-preserved former medieval town, which is today on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The 4 centuries of Venetian domination contributed to the typical Venetian architecture of this city. Here you will find the fortified citadel, also called Stari Grad, a harbor with boats of various sizes and a seafront.
Before you go to Montenegro, I recommend you read this article: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Montenegro.
What to do in Kotor
1. Visit the old town of Kotor (Stari Grad)
The old town of Kotor is today the most touristic point of the city. The city center is surrounded by fortified walls, and inside the walls you will find a medieval, fairytale atmosphere: a labyrinth of narrow, cobbled streets, old buildings and churches, and squares bustling with tourists. The multitude of visitors, the numerous terraces, cafes and shops make this fortress one of the most popular and crowded places in Montenegro.
Built by the Venetians, the old town is remarkable and important from a historical point of view, being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Walk along the walls of the old fortress of Kotor
If you arrive in the old town of Kotor, don't miss a walk along the walls of the former fortress. The panoramas are wonderful and you have a good view of the old town and the bay.
2. Go up to the Kotor Fortress for the panorama
In Kotor, I recommend you to climb up to the Fortress, if your physical condition allows it, of course.
The landscapes above the city and Kotor bay are absolutely spectacular. I recommend you to have water and sun cream with you! The climb is quite difficult, especially during the summer, when the sun burns very strongly.
The fastest way to go up to the fortress is starting directly from the citadel in the old town, but it is a route that requires an entrance ticket worth 8 euros.
Another route, longer, would be starting from here, from herealso called Ladder of Kotor, but for which, at least, you don't have to pay a ticket.
3. Take a boat ride to the Blue Cave
One thing you must do if you arrive in Kotor is to take a boat ride in the sea.
You can find a lot of merchants who sell such excursions, both on site and online (Kotor: Boat Cruise).
You have the option of going on the 2-hour tour to Perast, or the 3-hour tour to Blue Cave. I recommend the second one, it is the most complete, and the highlight is the blue cave, where you can swim for 15-20 minutes.
The Blue Cave is one of the most popular attractions in the Kotor Bay area. It is a cave carved directly into the rock, big enough for boats to pass through.
On the route you also visit other interesting sights, such as the artificial island Our Lady of the Rocks in front of the city of Perast, or you can admire from a distance the cities of Perast, Tivat, Herceg Novi and various tunnels used during the Second World War.
Such a trip costs around 30-40 euros.
4. Visit Perast
If you want to explore Perast on foot, rather than just seeing it from afar, from a boat, then you can come here by car. There are only 12 km between Kotor and Perast.
Perast is a beautiful town nestled between the coast of the Adriatic Sea and the mountains. Perast impresses with its atmosphere, the main street is full of buildings whose architecture was influenced by the Venetian period.
In Perast, in the sea, there are also two islands for which this city is famous: Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George Island. Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificially created island, where there is a chapel that can be visited. You can get here by boat from Perast.
5. Visit the promenade and the port of Tivat
Tivat is the city in the Bay of Kotor with an international airport and port for cruise ships. The port area is very elegant, it brings a bit of Monaco, especially because of the luxury boats and expensive shops on the promenade. The seafront is very nice and well-ordered, a walk in Porto Montenegro will give you a good mood, for sure.
Between Kotor and Tivat there are only 10 km by car. I advise you to park your car in a private parking lot, close to the center, where an hour of parking costs only 0.5 euros.
6. Go by car to Lovcen mountain
Near the Bay of Kotor you can also find the Lovcen mountain, the mountain whose name led to the name of the country Montenegro.
For the most famous panoramic point, you have to go to the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic-Njegos. Just be careful on the road! Although spectacular, it can also be dangerous, with many serpentines - by the way, the road is also called the Kotor Serpentine.
7. Organize day trips to other locations in Montenegro
If you have more time, you can also organize trips to other wonderful places in Montenegro: you can go to the beach in Budva, you can go to Skadar Lake for a boat ride, you can choose to visit Podgorica, the old capital Cetinje or other cities on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
You can find here the list of the most beautiful places to visit in Montenegro: Montenegro - The Most Beautiful 15 Places To Visit.
Where to stay in Kotor
In Kotor you can find a lot of accommodation for all needs and budgets. I recommend an accommodation with a sea view, this area is so beautiful that it is worth enjoying these views a any time.
This was our accommodation in Kotor, for which we paid 50 euros / night in June 2023: Apartments Jovana.
What to eat in Kotor
In Kotor you can find many places to eat, both in the city, in the old center, as well as on the seafront or further from the old center. Below I will leave you the list of restaurants that we tried and were satisfied with:
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Kotor in pictures
