One day in Kotor is not enough to see such a beautiful city. Kotor, on the beautiful Montenegrin coast, with the stunning Bay of Kotor on one side and the mountains on the other, is one of the destinations that is beginning to attract more and more travellers and that you really must visit.
The city has a bit of everything and seduces everyone at first sight. The perfect climate, the proximity to the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, the incredible natural landscape, the rich cultural heritage and good restaurants, as well as having fewer tourists than Dubrovnik.
Perhaps two days is ideal, but if you only have 24 hours in Kotor, follow this itinerary.
Day trip to Kotor
Cicvara and 1355 steps to the Kotor Fortress
I suggest you start your 24-hour itinerary in Kotor with a hearty breakfast - perhaps with Cicvara - cornflour cooked with kaymak (salted cream cheese) and čvarci (chopped bacon). The flavour of this traditional Montenegrin meal may be strange at first (but there's a lot to try in this Balkan country), and believe me, it's tasty. Some people eat it for breakfast, lunch - it will taste good at any time. I tried it and liked it a lot.
After a good, calorific breakfast, it's best to burn off some calories. Prepare your legs, lungs and heart because you're going to need those limbs and organs a lot. Prepare to be breathless, not only because of the superb views, but also because the climb up to the fortress of Kotor (also known as the Fortress of San Giovanni) involves a long, strenuous walk uphill.
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I don't know who dared to count the steps, but there are allegedly 1,355 to the top. From the top you'll have an amazing view over the city of Kotor. Allow two to three hours for the ascent, contemplation time and the descent.
Don't forget to take plenty of water, especially when it's hot. The climb begins inside the city walls. If you have any doubts about the location, ask at the tourist office near the main entrance to the old town. You can go up to the fortress at any time of the day... or night.
However, as the lighting is faint, it might be better to return during the day, because if you go early in the morning you certainly won't be able to stay all day in the fortress that was one of the reasons Kotor was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
On the way up the 1,355 steps to the top of the fortress you'll find a 15th century church, ruins of military buildings and an old castle. The views over the Bay of Kotor are worth every step...and every drop of sweat.
Legs I want you for
After resting on a terrace on the way up to the fortress, it's time to explore the magic of the Old Town and wander through the streets, alleys, passageways and dead ends. Don't look for any monuments, don't use a map, just let yourself go and get lost for a few hours or a day in Kotor.
In three hours you should be able to see almost everything in the old town, including the Gurdich Gate or the beautiful Wooden Square (Trg od drva). Kotor is full of cafés and bars where you can take a break and savour a good, strong coffee. Relax and observe, as this is one of Kotor's favourite pastimes.
Perast and the church in the middle of the bay
20 minutes from Kotor, the pretty stone village of Perast is an essential place on this 24-hour itinerary in Kotor. Before you get there, I recommend you stop off at a great seafront restaurant (see what I recommend below).
Also, the best thing is to walk along the street by the sea, stop at an esplanade and negotiate with one of the "sailors" to take you to visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela).
The baroque-style church was built in 1630 on an artificial island - built by fishermen from Perast - and is one of the main attractions in the Bay of Kotor. The best way to get there is by boat. And you'll have no trouble finding someone to take you there for €5 or €10.
As you walk around Perast, you'll come across vendors selling local products. Do as I did and try some, such as pomegranate liqueur - the most popular fruit in Montenegro. I bought a small bottle for a day when I feel like remembering Montenegro or forgetting any bitterness...
Historic buildings in Kotor
As you walk around Kotor for 24 hours, you'll notice that there are several churches to visit, such as the Church of St Nicholas (Sveti Nikola), a Serbian Orthodox church recognised for its symmetrical domes. The ornate church is relatively new, having been built in 1909. Admission is free.
St Tryphon's Cathedral (Sveti Tripun) is another of Kotor's landmark churches. St Tryphon is the protector of Kotor. To visit this building you have to pay €2 and you can enjoy a collection of local clothes, weapons and artefacts. You can also go up to the balcony overlooking the city and take some panoramic photos.
In addition to these places of worship, you can also visit the small Church of St Luke (Sveti Luka), built in 1195. Despite its small size, it is full of symbolism for the citizens of Kotor, as this Catholic church was transformed into an Orthodox church hundreds of years later. However, it has retained a Catholic altar and hosts celebrations of both religions.
Cat Museum
Yes, it's true, incredible as it may seem, there is a cat museum in Kotor. But even without entering the museum, you'll notice that all over Kotor, as you stroll through the streets and alleys, you'll come across cats of various sizes, colours and shapes. For centuries, Kotor served as a trading port and many of the cats travelling on the ships were abandoned, populating the small town with a diverse variety of felines.
The Cat Museum is just a kind of tribute from people to their felines. The museum's exhibits include postcards, posters, medals and stamps. Entry to the museum costs €1.
Two days in Kotor?
Serpentine
If you have more time in Kotor, take the opportunity to get out of the city and discover other equally beautiful areas with panoramic views and breathtaking roads. This is the case with the "Serpentine", a road that winds its way up the mountain - with very tight bends - and where it is difficult for two cars to cross paths.
The road is very narrow indeed and in some cases you'll have to reverse for many metres until you find a wider place where you can give way to oncoming traffic. This can include cars, buses or lorries.
Unless you have a lot of driving experience, don't risk it and join one of the many tours that make the journey so you can better appreciate the landscape. In my case, I had to reverse so that a bus could pass. Let's just say it's not very pleasant, given that the roadsides are bumpy and, in some places, unprotected.
The reward for all this effort is the sublime landscapes - hundreds of metres above sea level - while you see the beautiful city and Bay of Kotor, Tivat and other towns below. But believe me when I tell you that it's a cardiac-friendly road, although there are even scarier ones in Montenegro.
Lovcén
If the views of Serpentina have convinced you, don't stop there, you can continue on your way and visit Lovcén. Lovćen is a mountain and national park in south-western Montenegro and is said to have inspired the name Montenegro or Crna Gora.
You'll be at an altitude of 1700 metres and you'll be treated to an extensive mountain landscape with hiking trails and panoramic views, as well as being able to visit the Mausoleum of Njegoš. And I recommend staying for lunch - check out the restaurants I recommend in Kotor.
Part of the road between Kotor and Lovcén is under construction, but if you drive slowly you won't have any problems. I recommend taking this route on the outward journey and then travelling through another equally beautiful area on the way back to Kotor, around the Lovcén National Park, passing through Cetinje, Dubovik and Njeguši.
I suggest you stop off in Njeguši and buy some cheese and ham, as both products are of the highest quality and locally sourced. You can't get better ham in Montenegro than in Njeguši. When you enter Njeguši from Lovcén, you'll find a small house where an old lady will give you a taste of both and, if you like it, you can buy it. Later, in Montenegro, visit Durmitor.
Extra information
Restaurants in Kotor
There's no shortage of restaurants in Kotor where you can enjoy Montenegro's good food, but if you're a vegetarian be prepared for a shock, as much of Montenegrin food is meat-based and some meals are heavy.
I recommend two restaurants in particular, both of which are outside the city. The first, the Restaurant Bonaca, on the seafront, is great for lunch.
Choose a fish dish such as File Brancina or the grilled squid (grilovane lignje) and enjoy the beautiful landscape in which the restaurant is integrated. The prices aren't the lowest in Montenegro, but the food is good and the location is excellent.
In the evening, if you have a car, you can try another traditional Montenegrin restaurant, the Velji Mlin, with its cosy atmosphere and speciality meats, such as lamb cooked in milk. Try the cream cheeses too - they're delicious. I've also written an article with all the (delicious) details of Montenegro's gastronomy.
How to get to Kotor
Flights to Podgorica can take between 5 and 10 hours, depending on the airport you stop at. Once you arrive in Podgorica or Tivat, it's easy to find bus or taxi transport to Kotor.
If you prefer, you can fly to Dubrovnik, in Croatia, and then, like me, take a bus between Dubrovnik and Kotor. The price is around €20 and the journey takes around two hours, including the time spent waiting at the border.
Save time (and money)
If you want to immerse yourself even more in the local culture, optimise your trip and even save money, take part in experiences and guided tours in Kotor. Book the best tours and activities in advance. Skip the queues and get your entrances to monumentsYou'll have more time to enjoy your trip.
Hire a car
If you have your own car, it's much easier. Choose to hire a car with Discovercars. This site allows you to compare prices and, in many cases, you can cancel the rental free of charge up to 48 hours before departure.
You can hire a car, which will make travelling in Montenegro easier, but be prepared to pay for parking in Kotor. One of the car parks, next to a small shopping centre, is open 24 hours a day and costs €0.60 per hour.
Hotel in Kotor
There are plenty of accommodation options in Kotor. If you want to stay in the centre, in the old town area, you'll have to pay for convenience. During my stay in Kotor and Montenegro, I opted for flats.
All of them were equipped with kitchen facilities and were comfortable, clean and affordable. I recommend the Apartments Ivetić, which although outside the city are close enough to visit Kotor and other nearby attractions. But you will need a car to stay here.
Other recommended hotels in Kotor
- Hotel Monte Cristo (9.1)
- Apartmani Ćetković (9.6)
- Katareo Apartments (9.6)
- Pearl Apartments (9.8)
- Kotor Nest (9.5)
- Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro (9.4)
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I organise and lead group trips to destinations I know well. And I only travel with small groups (maximum 12 people).
I've been to 60 countries, so if you have a trip in mind with a group of friends, family or work colleagues, contact me and I'll be happy to plan, organise and lead the trip you want. The itinerary can be customised, as can the budget and activities.
See the travel calendar and sign up or tell me where you want to travel as a group and I'll take care of everything.
Which mobile phone chip did you use?
Hello Mylena. I didn't use roaming because there's internet in all the hotels, cafés and restaurants. I didn't really need more than those freebies 🙂 And for maps you can download them offline from Google or use Maps.me and it's very easy without mobile phone internet.