Overview of the Best Things to Do in Kotor
Kotor is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason! The city is simply stunning, and there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are interested in history, culture, the cuisine, or simply want to relax and enjoy the scenery, Kotor is the perfect place for you.
The amazing day trips, water activities, and picturesque mountains were what pulled us in initially. The people, culture, and delicious food are just a few of the things that had us planning our return trip!
Enough hype, let’s get into the best things to do in Kotor!
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Top 9 Things to Do in Kotor
1. Explore the Old Town
Kotor’s Old Town is a pedestrian only maze of beautiful, narrow streets. It is a fascinating place to explore, and there is something to see around every corner. It doesn’t take too long to explore as it’s quite small, but stop along the way for some great food and drinks at the many restaurants in the area.
One of the highlights of the Old Town is the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon; this cathedral is a beautiful example of Byzantine architecture and is dedicated to the city’s patron saint.
We recommend this private, guided walking tour!
2. Climb to Kotor Fortress
One of the best things to do in Kotor is climb the 1,350 stairs up to the fortress. It may sound like a lot, but there are lots of spots along the way to stop and admire the view (and a few shops to buy water or souvenirs). At the top, there are ruins of the fortress to explore and breathtaking views of old town the Bay of Kotor. There is an unofficial ticketing system where random people charge you $9 to enter, so try to go early enough where you don’t have to pay the scammers!
3. Do a Boat Tour
There are tons of boat tours you can do in Kotor, which you will be made very aware of if you walk along the bay (the tour people can be very persistent!). These tours generally bring you to the Our Lady of the Rocks island, Perast, the Ex-Yugoslavian Submarine Tunnel and the Blue Cave. We recommend this tour for those on a budget, and this tour if you want a private, more intimate setting!
4. Bike the Bay
There are a few different places to rent bikes in Kotor, and the road along the bay is perfect for a nice, easy ride. You can get pretty far up the bay before the bay-side road turns into the main road, which is where I recommend you stop. We actually biked all the way to Perast – which was a beautiful ride – but it did require a bit of biking on the main road, which was honestly pretty sketchy. I recommend avoiding the main road and spending some time some of the spots along the way – there are tons of places to jump in along this route! If you do want to bike all the way to Perast, we recommend going with a tour, like this one!
5. Visit Perast
Perast is a charming town located closer to the mouth of the Kotor Bay. We biked to Perast, which was a bit chaotic towards the end. However, there are buses and water taxis that can take you there without severely increasing your heart rate!
Perast is the perfect place to stroll the boardwalk, get lost in the back alleys, dine on the water, and take a quick boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks. Our Lady of the Rocks is a nearby islet which houses a beautiful church can be reached by water taxi.
This boat tour takes you to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks!
6. Spend Some Time on the Beach
If you visit in the summer, you’re going to need to spend some time on the beach! Kotor beach is the closest spot to the city to get in some sunbathing, though I will warn you that it’s pebbly rather than sandy, so you may want some water shoes! If you want to venture off land, there are a few places that rent kayaks and paddleboards!
7. Visit the Kotor Cat Museum
If you’re visiting Kotor, you’ll notice pretty quickly the number of cats that call the city home. This city is obsessed with cats, which explains why there is a whole museum dedicated to them. This cute museum cost only €1 for entry, and has a ton of art along with historical documents and coins that feature cats. The oldest thing we saw was from 1599! It’s a cute little place, and I’d definitely say it’s worth a quick visit if you find yourself in Kotor.
8. Watch the Sunset
When we stayed in Kotor, we were lucky enough to have a rooftop, and the sunsets we saw over the bay were absolutely unbelievable. When you’re here, grab a bottle of wine and head to the beach or somewhere with a good view of the bay for sunset. After we saw this sunset, there were comments exchanged along the lines of “I could live here” and “Why don’t more people move here?”
9. Day Trips!
There are plenty of things to do in Kotor, but if you want to explore some of what the rest of Montenegro has to offer, I highly recommend a day trip. This country is gorgeous, and there’s certainly more to it than just Kotor.
If you want to check out Perast on the way to Budva, check out this tour!
If you want to visit Durmitor National Park, one of our favorite places in Montenegro, check out this tour!
For the adventurers, this canyoning tour is a must when in Kotor!
A visit to one of the most unique monasteries, Ostrog Monastery, is also a great day trip from Kotor. Check out this tour!
Where to Stay in Kotor
When visiting Kotor, we definitely recommend staying near Old Town so that you can spend your time exploring it and trying all of the wonderful restaurants! However, if you want more of a relaxation vacation, there are plenty of bayside resorts that are absolutely stunning, and can arrange transportation to Old Town if you want to visit while your there.
Kotor Accommodations
How to Get to Kotor
The quickest way to get to Kotor is to fly into Tivat, but it may be cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Podgorica and take a bus. Book your bus tickets here! Be warned that the traffic getting into Kotor in the summer months is absolutely horrendous, so buses may arrive later than they advertise, and driving will be a nightmare. However, once you arrive, you’ll see that it is absolutely worth it!
Book your cheap flights with Skyscanner!
Best Time to Visit Kotor
Kotor is definitely becoming a major tourist destination, and many cruises stop here. Kotor is generally visited from May to October, with the more popular months being July and August. If you want to avoid crowds and also enjoy the weather, May to June and September through October are the best times to visit Kotor. In May, the water will still be fairly cold, but I could do a cold plunge any time of year after climbing the Kotor Fortress! Many of the shops and restaurants are closed during the winter so consider that before booking your trip!
Keep Exploring Montenegro…
- Complete Guide to the Ostrog Monastery
- Podgorica: The Capital of Montenegro
- What to do in Budva, Montenegro in Just One Day!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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Things to do in Kotor FAQs
Is Kotor Worth Visiting?
This city is 1000% worth visiting; the vistas are unreal and it’s such a relaxing place to spend a few days (or longer!). It’s a beautiful spot, and we’d love to come back and go on a boat ride along the bay.
How Many Days Do I Need in Kotor?
You should spend at least 2 full days here, but we recommend more so there’s time for day trips to see more of Montenegro.
How Expensive is Kotor, Montenegro?
We spent $53-$57 dollars each per day while we were in Kotor. If you want to fully indulge in eating out and water activities, I would budget around $100/day.
Can You Swim in Kotor?
Yes! There is a beach there but you can also jump in most places along the bay, which helps a TON on hot days.
