Kotor is a charming coastal town located in Montenegro. The town is known for its Bay of Kotor surrounded by towering mountains. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You literally have the impression of stepping back in medieval times when entering the Old Town. It’s filled with cobbled streets, history and beautiful nature. Since it’s a must-visit destination, here are 6 best things to do in Kotor.
- The Old Town
- St Tryphon’s Cathedral
- San Giovanni (fortress)
- Do a hike
- Kotor Bay Tours
- Enjoy the beach
Walk in The Old Town
Honestly, walking in the Old Town is enough for you to understand the beauty of Kotor. I had so much fun exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s literally a maze and I got lost so many times😅, but I had a blast. There are restaurants, cafés, ice cream shops, souvenir boutiques and clothing stores everywhere. The atmosphere in the Old Town is incredible. There are always people walking around or enjoying life at a restaurant table.
Walking everywhere in the Old Town should take at least 1 full day. If you are only staying a short amount of time in the city, this is the main activity I recommend.
St Tryphon’s Cathedral
This activity is located in the Old Town. St Tryphon’s Cathedral is the main cathedral in the city. The entrance fee is 4 euros (6$ CAD), which also includes the upstairs museum. It’s quite big inside and worth a detour. Even if you don’t go inside, the outside is impressive. The cathedral is located in St. Tryphon’s Square.
San Giovanni (St. John Fortress)
The main reason to visit this fortress is the view at the top of the stairs. It’s absolutely breathtaking. The hike from the entrance of San Giovanni to the top is about 1h. A ticket cost 8 euros (12$ CAD). The fortress is open from 8 am to 8 pm. In the night, the lights on the walls of the fortress are on. It’s really cute to see from the Old Town.
It should take you 3–4 hours to do this activity.
Do a hike
I had an extra day in Kotor, so I did a 1h30 hike. The trail doesn’t have a name, but you need to start at the Old Hydroelectric Power Plant. You can write Start of the Ladder of Kotor in Google Maps to find the beginning of the trail. This trail goes up the whole way to the San Giovanni fortress. However, there is no entry anymore to the fortress. It’s simply an activity to sweat and enjoy the view.
Kotor Bay Tours
A boat tour of Kotor Bay is one of the most popular activities to do in the city. Honestly, I didn’t have time to do this activity, so I don’t have a tour company to recommend. However, I can tell you to walk close to the port of Kotor. You will see so many stands of tour companies trying to sell their package. Walk around, find the best price and enjoy your day on the bay!
Enjoy the beach
There is only one beach in Kotor: Kotor Beach. It’s a pebble beach. The access is free. The beach is always busy, but I didn’t have any trouble finding a spot to lie down. It’s a nice place to enjoy the sun while swimming in the Bay of Kotor.
