Tag: City breaks in Europe

Want to discover a completely different corner of Europe? Kotor is located on the breathtaking bay of the same name in Montenegro and can look back on a turbulent past. Today, you’ll find a remarkable mix of south-eastern European culture, exciting history with Austrian and Italian influences and a unique landscape. I’ll show you the best spots in Kotor that you shouldn’t miss!

The Old Town of Kotor / Stari Grad

From the first time I entered, I was enthralled by the small labyrinth of charming alleys and I was so glad to have chosen an accommodation in the middle of the old town of Kotor after all. (Was of course a little more expensive, but it’s worth it!)

Just being able to stroll through the idyllic maze of alleyways undisturbed every morning was simply worth it. You only have to share the old town with the other numerous inhabitants of Kotor: cats are an integral part of the cityscape here and are looked after and cared for by the locals.

Especially in the evening, when the cruise tourists have left the old town of Kotor again, it gets really atmospheric, and the Italian influence of the last centuries is particularly noticeable: in the numerous romantically decorated restaurants there is pizza, pasta and seafood galore!

Most of Kotor’s sights are also located in the car-free old town. Just let yourself drift through the narrow streets and you will discover most of the locations all by yourself. I will introduce you to the most important sights here.

The Best Places to See in Kotor

The Square of Arms (Trg od Oružja)

You will probably end up in the old town first: The Square of Arms or Trg od Oružja is located right behind the main gate through which most visitors enter the old town of Kotor. The large clock tower is particularly striking here. Many cafés line the square, and events and concerts are often held here in summer. The Square of Arms is the heart of Kotor, so to speak!

In case you wonder about the name, in the Middle Ages, when Kotor was under the influence of the Republic of Venice, weapons and ammunition were stored here. At that time, Kotor was a strategically important port, which the surrounding powers fought over – the Venetian or Italian influences from that time can still be found in the cityscape today!

Saint Tryphon Cathedral (Sveti Trifun)

The Cathedral of St. Tryphon is one of the centerpieces of the old town of Kotor and also one of the oldest cathedrals on the Adriatic coast. Built in the 12th century, it is considered one of the most important sights in Kotor and the two church towers rise above the otherwise low houses in the old town. Incidentally, the relics of St. Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor, are also kept here.

Maritime Museum / Museum Maritimum

If you want to learn more about the exciting maritime history of Kotor and Montenegro, the Maritimum Museum is the place for you. Housed in an old baroque palace, the museum shows the long maritime history of the region. From old nautical charts to traditional uniforms, this museum offers you an interesting insight into the maritime culture of Kotor. Not only for history buffs, this museum is a location worth seeing in the old town!

St. Nicholas Church

Only built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas cannot look back on as long a history as the Cathedral of St. Tryphon – but it is still worth taking a look inside. You can recognize it by the two onion domes; inside you will find impressive decorations. I always find Orthodox churches in particular very interesting, because they are usually very ornate.

Kotor fortress

From the fortress of Kotor on the mountain San Giovanni you have an incomparable view of the bay and the surrounding mountains. On the way up, you can see the old defensive walls and enjoy the fascinating view over the bay again and again. The way up drags quite a bit, but is also worth every effort!

The fortress itself may only be in ruins today, but the view from up there really was one of the highlights of Kotor for me.

Please note: The climb isn’t for everyone, and especially during the hot summer months, I recommend setting out very early. The ascent is quite steep, and there’s virtually no shade along the way. The trail up splits into a well-trodden set of steps (mostly used by people coming down) and a scree path. Right at the entrance, there’s a sign warning against wearing flip-flops on the trail, and you should really take that to heart. You’re really best equipped here with proper hiking boots or at least non-slip trail running shoes.

Very far up there was a water vendor; however, there is no place to stop (and no restrooms) all the way up and at the fortress. Therefore, take enough water with you!

There is still a rather unofficial way up to the fortress, climbing a rickety ladder through an old window in a fortification wall. This path has gained quite a bit of notoriety on social media in recent years; I haven’t used it, but I have heard that this access has been closed due to the high risk of injury and you can no longer get to the fortress from this path. Many visitors wanted to save the entrance fee for the official route and get some exciting shots.

But the conventional way is exciting enough – I would not try to find the ladder 🙂

Access to the trail is quite well signposted in the old town; there is a ticket office at the foot of the hill, which is manned from 8 a.m., at least in summer. If you arrive earlier, that’s no problem either: you can just slide past the turnstile – but you’ll still have to pay if you can’t show a ticket after descending.

City gates and walls of Kotor

The imposing city wall that still surrounds the old town today shows how well secured Kotor was during its heyday as an important trading port on the Adriatic. The old town can be entered through three city gates. Most impressive, however, is the main gate directly opposite the harbor, where huge cruise ships seem to be anchored almost directly at the old town. You can also enter parts of the city wall.

Gurdic Bastion

The Gurdic bastion is part of the southern city wall and shows particularly well how robust the defenses were built at that time. Here you can also find the Gurdic Gate or South Gate, one of the three city gates into the Old Town.

Kampana Tower

At the other end of the old town you will find the Kampana Tower, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the bay. This section of the city wall is beautifully designed with lots of park benches.

There is also a nice restaurant there. As far as the food is concerned, it is probably more of a tourist trap, but a romantic drink at sunset is always worthwhile here with the atmospheric lighting and the great view.

Around the Bay of Kotor

Not only is Kotor worth seeing, but the surrounding area is also really impressive. Montenegro is a small country and also impresses with its great landscapes in the hinterland. Around the Bay of Kotor you will also find small, charming towns that are also worth a visit.

Perast and the island of Our Lady of the Rocks

The charming village of Perast and the offshore island of Our Lady of the Rocks are a perfect half-day excursion. The artificial island with its picturesque chapel is a real eye-catcher and can be reached by speedboats from Perast.

You can easily reach Perast by public bus from Kotor: The bus stops near the main gate and runs about once an hour. However, there is no clear sign indicating the bus stop, nor are there any schedules. It’s best to ask the locals for directions.

Lovćen National Park

For nature lovers, Lovćen National Park is a must. Here you can hike, picnic and experience the diverse flora and fauna of Montenegro.

Blue Grotto and Mamula Island

Where to eat in Kotor

Admittedly, it was my first time in Montenegro, and I was expecting southeast European cuisine – so I was all the more surprised to find mainly Italian restaurants in Kotor. However, the Italian influence from Kotor’s history is still so great that Kotor seems like Little Italy within Montenegro, even in terms of culinary arts.

However, I found many restaurants very bland, so I went in search of more unusual locations! Here are my tips:

Pier 65 By chance I stumbled into the cute alley with Pier 65, right in the middle of the old town and yet chilled. The cuisine here may not be a culinary highlight, but I would describe it as solid comfort food. Super nice service and really nice ambience.

Rooftop Bar Hotel Hippocampus* I was even recommended the breakfast in the rooftop bar of the Hotel Hippocampus by locals! The Hippocampus itself is a beautifully designed boutique hotel and you can enjoy the view over the rooftops of the old town from the roof terrace while enjoying a hearty breakfast.

Restobar Taraca Located just outside the old town; fresh cuisine and good value for money. Also many vegetarian and vegan options.

Platanus Located on the seafront in Dobrota and perfect destination for a walk along the water. Pleasant ambience, especially outside on the terrace overlooking the water.

Moritz Eis Due to the Italian influences, there is ice cream on every corner in Kotor, but the extraordinary variations at Moritz Eis are especially good. Bit expensive, but really worth it!

I also recommend a visit to the small weekly market, which is located on the outside of the city wall between the Sea Gate (main gate) and the Gurdic Gate. Here you will find Montenegrin delicacies such as cheese, ham as well as fruit and vegetables from the region.

Overnight stay in Kotor

Most of the accommodation in Kotor can be found in the suburb of Dobrota. Many vacation apartments are dotted along the beach promenade and the main street behind it.

However, if you can do without the proximity to the water and don’t need a parking space for a rental car, I would advise you to stay overnight in the old town. Especially if you don’t have a car, it can take a long time to get to the old town. Personally, I wasn’t particularly impressed with Dobrota either – I liked the vibe in the cute old town around my little old apartment much better.

Especially in the high season, popular accommodations in the old town are quickly booked up. These accommodations here, for example, are also in high demand:

Kotor Nest Coliving* Montenegro as well as Kotor have become very popular with digital nomads in recent years. Rooms are tastefully decorated.

Hotel Hippocampus* Boutique hotels are a bit rare in Kotor and if you don’t just want to enjoy brunch on the roof terrace, you can also book a room at the Hotel Hippocampus: stylish ambience, right in the middle of the old town.

Beaches in Kotor

Is there a beach in Kotor? Yes. And no. Because I wouldn’t swim at the city beach in Dobrota just outside the old town. The next section of the beach is relatively small and consists of pebbles. Far more uncomfortable, however, are the cruise ships that pass relatively close by and dock just a short distance away in the harbor.

In addition, the Bay of Kotor is relatively closed, so I always had the impression that much of what is brought in simply stays in the bay for the time being – or, to use the words of a local who advised me against swimming in the bay: “Here, the sun oil is included when you swim.

Suitable beaches are more likely to be found in Budva, which is also popular for mass tourism and is about a half-hour drive from Kotor.

On the road in Montenegro

By the way, the roads around the bay are very narrow and cannot withstand the rush of tourists, especially in summer – traffic jams on the access roads to Kotor are normal.

I had also thought about hiring a car – but when I saw the really extreme hairpin bends in the mountains around Kotor on a tour, I was really glad I didn’t have to drive myself. Only something for experienced drivers or if you enjoy winding roads!

Helpful information for Kotor & Montenegro

How many days do you need for Kotor?

The old town of Kotor is relatively small and everything is within walking distance. Outside the old town, there is still a spruced-up riverside promenade, but all in all you can skip it and not miss much. So one day is easily enough for the old town itself.

However, Kotor is also relatively often visited by large cruise ships in the summer, which usually flood the old town only during the day. An overnight stay is therefore overnight stay is simply because you can experience the old town relatively empty early in the morning and enjoy the evening atmosphere in one of the restaurants.

How to get to Kotor?

By plane

From Germany you can now fly directly to Kotor. Many airlines fly to Tivat airport, which is only about 20 minutes by car from the old town. Direct flights are available, for example, from Eurowings, but Austrian Airlines also offers regular connections to Tivat or the Montenegrin capital Podgorica via Vienna.

By rental car/car in Kotor

You can rent a car at the airports. Montenegro itself is relatively small – so you can easily plan a little road trip through the country. However, if you are staying in the old town of Kotor, a car is generally a hindrance. The old town is car-free and you will have to park the car outside. By the way, the roads in the mountains can be very curvy and narrow – only something for safe drivers!

By bus from Dubrovnik/Croatia

There are also regular buses from Dubrovnik to Kotor and the surrounding towns, for example – they do take a while due to the border controls between Croatia and Montenegro and you need to be a bit flexible when it comes to punctuality, but the bus connections are definitely an alternative if you are not traveling in the region with a rental car or your own camper.

When is the best time to visit Kotor?

May and June are among the best months to travel in Kotor. I was there in July, when good weather and sunshine is almost guaranteed, but Kotor is then also particularly well visited.

It rains more often in the fall, and the winters in Kotor are not very cold, but they are wet – and the old town with its rustic cobblestones turns into a slide. Moreover, the landscape around the bay, so impressive in sunny weather, loses much of its charm.

What to consider when staying in Kotor?

Montenegro is not part of the EU

Montenegro is not part of the European Union, so it is advisable to check the entry requirements in advance. Unfortunately, I didn’t really do this beforehand, so I only found out about a little special feature for a stay of several days in Kotor by chance – and luckily saved myself a lot of trouble when leaving the country!

I entered the country by plane, went through passport control at the airport as normal and got an entry stamp in my passport.

Registration for tourists

If you are traveling to Montenegro as part of a package tour, you don’t need to worry about anything else. However, if you travel to Montenegro on your own like I did and organize your accommodation yourself, you must register at one of the tourist offices in Kotor within 24 hours of entering the country. Otherwise, you could face a fine of up to €200 when you leave the country. (Whether this is actually enforced in the end, I do not know. Online you will find reads about the most diverse experiences with non-compliance with this regulation).

How to register as a tourist in Montenegro

To register, you will need your passport with the entry stamp and your name or the address of your accommodation; for private accommodation such as vacation apartments, you will also need the name of the landlord. Registration costs €1 per day and takes just a few minutes. Then you will be issued a certificate of registration, which is best kept with your passport.

Is a trip to Kotor from Dubrovnik worth it?

Border controls between Montenegro and Croatia

However, you will have to go through border control on the way from Croatia to Montenegro, as Montenegro is not a member of the EU. There are often long waiting times at border crossings in summer, and it can take a while for a coach to be processed, especially if you are traveling in a large group. It is therefore best to enquire about the group size in advance and avoid day trips from Dubrovnik in summer.

You can find more tips for Dubrovnik here:
The most beautiful sights in Dubrovnik
Tips for the famous Dubrovnik city walls