What's up guys! We're here in Kotor. In this video, we're going to show you the
best things to do in and around the city. So hope you enjoy the video.
Kotor is a medieval town located in a secluded corner of the stunning Bay of Kotor. It's the
most popular place to visit in all of Montenegro for a good reason. Kotor is the best-preserved Old
Town in Montenegro, with lots of influences from the Venetian Empire which ruled here for nearly
400 years. It's also surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery, consisting of limestone cliffs
and crystal clear water. In this video, we'll show you 10 of the best things to do in and
around this magical town that will keep you busy for at least two to three days. Now let's dive in.
We're Zac and Ine. We make helpful videos about
destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures.
Your visit to Kotor will most likely begin in the old town, or Stari Grad, which is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Here, you can wander the maze of narrow streets and simply enjoy the architecture.
Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this Old Town has a lot of character.
From its decorated gates to its Orthodox and Catholic churches, cozy squares,
and Venetian palaces, every corner holds a story. The best way to learn about Kotor's fascinating
history is by going on a guided tour. We've included a link in the description to a tour
that combines history with sampling the local Montenegrin wine and food.
After exploring the old town of Kotor, it's time to climb up the city walls that encircle it.
Covering about four and a half kilometers or three miles,
these thick walls were built to protect the town which was an important naval and trading center.
Today, the walls are crumbling in some sections and it isn't possible to walk
all the way around the old town like it is in nearby Dubrovnik. But there are still several
parts that you can easily access, such as the South Gate and the Kampana Tower.
In fact, the walls that front the bay are fairly wide, flat, and straightforward.
The old town of Kotor is home to a few interesting museums, such as the Cats Museum
and the Maritime Museum. We visited the latter one, which celebrates the naval history of
Kotor with a collection of photographs, paintings, uniforms, decorated weapons, and models of ships.
The museum is housed in a wonderful old palace adding to the intrigue.
The entrance fee when we were there was only four euros, which included an audio guide.
Above Kotor's city walls you can find old Saint John's fortress.
It's about 280 meters or 918 feet above the town and you'll have to walk 1,350 steps to get there.
And while the castle ramparts itself are interesting, it's the panoramic view of the
Bay of Kotor that makes this hike truly rewarding. The best time to visit is in the early morning or
an hour or two before sunset as it's generally a bit cooler and the light is best for pictures.
Find the trail entrance behind the Church of St. Mary Collegiate.
So we made it to the top of the fort, but we actually decided to come back down a couple
minutes because it's a better view here. You can see the entire old town and the bay below.
On a hot summer day, there's no better place to cool down than the beach.
Kotor doesn't have any long beaches but small ones are scattered around the bay.
The closest one is Kotor Beach, which can be found right outside the old town. But keep in mind that
there are many cruise ships and boats sailing around here, so the water could be a bit polluted.
Kotor's old town is filled with a variety of charming restaurants and bars where you can
sample the local cuisine and wine. Some bars offer wine tastings where you can
try indigenous Vranac wine, which is made of a black-skinned variety of grapes that are native
to the mountainous Montenegro. These wines are dense and produce a deep color of red.
We recommend the Old Winery Wine Bar near the entrance to the fort.
The Bay of Kotor is dotted with picturesque villages, but nearby Perast might be the most
charming one. Located only a 20-minute drive from Kotor, this tiny town is home to Venetian-era
palaces, churches, and squares. It's a joy to just walk the main street along the waterfront
and admire the beautiful architecture here. You only need a few hours to take in the romantic
atmosphere, but allow a half day if you're planning to go on a boat tour to the nearby
islands of Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George Island. Check out our full Montenegro video to
find more interesting places to visit in the Bay of Kotor and around the entire country.
One of our favorite
things to do in Kotor was going on a boat tour to the most beautiful and unique sites in the bay.
During a three-hour tour, you visit the church on the man-made island of Our Lady of the Rocks,
pass through a cave where submarines used to be hidden,
spot the old prison on Mamula Island, and swim in the magical Blue Cave.
Boat tours leave from the harbor near the Old Town multiple times per day. You can find a link in the
description to the boat tour that we joined, in case you want a secure a spot in advance.
Surrounded by steep mountains, Kotor is an incredible destination for outdoor and
adventure lovers. The Ladder of Kotor is an old caravan trail that used to connect Kotor
with the old capital of Montenegro. The switchback trail offers some breathtaking views of the Bay.
And unlike St John's Fort, you don't have to pay an entrance fee to hike this route.
The distance to the top is six and a half kilometers or four miles one-way,
with 940 meters or 3084 feet of elevation gain. But the beauty of this hike is the fact that you
don't need to hike all the way to the summit to enjoy spectacular views. Find more information
about this hike in particular in our Kotor blog post. We added a link for that in the description.
Finally, you can't leave Kotor without visiting its beautiful national park nearby.
From Kotor, it's a short 45 minute drive to Mount Lovćen National Park via a narrow serpentine road
that takes you up into the mountains. Driving this road is a thrilling experience and you
can stop at one of the many viewpoints that stretch the entire Bay to the Adriatic Sea.
When you continue to the entrance of the park, you'll find an imposing Black Mountain that gave
this country its name: Mount Lovćen itself. Here, you can find the mausoleum of its greatest ruler.
If you're planning your Montenegro trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our
interactive travel planner. Find a discount code below. We also included important links
that you'll need for your Kotor adventure in the description, such as a full travel guide with
where to stay, where to eat, and an interactive map so you can get to each spot that we mentioned.
We'll catch you on the next adventure!