Everything you need to know about spending the day in Kotor, Montenegro including what to see and do.
Montenegro was not a country I was familiar with prior to booking our cruise, but Kotor was one of our favorite stops. The old town area is an easy walk from the cruise ship tender dock and is full of winding narrow streets waiting to be explored. Kotor’s Old Town has a lot of cafes and restaurants, shops, and churches. And it is beautiful!
Kotor is located at the end of a long fjord-like inlet that is surrounded by gorgeous mountains. If you are arriving in Kotor via a cruise ship, I highly recommend being out on an open deck early in the morning prior to arriving or when departing. While cruising through the Bay of Kotor on your way to or from Kotor, you will see small towns dotted along the coast. One of my favorite sightings was Our Lady of the Rocks Church and the Saint George Monastery.
If you are taking a Greek and Adriatic Sea cruise, you may be interested in my other blog posts from our cruise here.
What To Do in Kotor, Montenegro
San Giovanni or Kotor Fortress
Hike to San Giovanni or Kotor Fortress has some of the best views in town. It is a 1,355-step climb, but the stunning views of the Bay of Kotor and Old Town make it completely worth it. You also do not have to go all the way to the top to appreciate the views. I highly recommend this hike early in the morning before the day heats up and take plenty of water. About halfway up is the Church of Our Lady of Remedy with a viewpoint. There are two access points in town to hike up to San Giovanni and there is a fee.
Churches
Saint Nicholas Church is a Serbian Orthodox Church which means shoulders and knees must be covered to enter. It was built in the early 1900s even though the exterior looks much older.
St. Luke’s Church sits in the same plaza as St. Nicholas Church. If the church is open when you visit, be sure to step inside and admire its beautiful interior!
Old Town Gates
The River Gate (North Gate) and Scurda Bridge provide a view back toward the Old Town with the gorgeous water below and the city walls leading up the mountain. The bridge has little outcrops that make for perfect photos.
The Gurdić Gate (South Gate) again has a beautiful pool of water in front of it with castle/fortress-like walls and a small drawbridge. Again a great spot for some photos.
Cats/Kittens
There are so many stray cats and kittens wandering in Old Town Kotor. My daughter’s favorite part of visiting Kotor was getting to pet all the cats. Located between the North Gate and the Church of St. Mary is a cat park with some housing and food/water. This spot had a lot of cats and a litter or two of kittens to love on. Please note that there are nonprofit organizations in Kotor that provide sterilization, shots, shelter, and food for stray cats.
Souvenirs
The Old Town area is full of shops and there are some really unique souvenirs here. We found lots of carved wooden pieces including St. Nicks, Matryoshka (nesting dolls), and ornaments. We also noticed several shops selling gorgeous colorful glass lamps. If you love dark chocolate, theirs is amazing not too bitter and not very sweet – just perfect.
Beyond Old Town
If you have more time or are looking for something else to see near Kotor the small city of Perast is just picture-perfect! It’s also a great spot to take a boat to see Our Lady of the Rocks on the tiny islet in the middle of the Bay of Kotor. Both places offer gorgeous views of the bay and surrounding area along with a look at local history.
