In a nutshell
- Kotor has it all: a stunning old town, a fortress with incredible views, a cable car up to Lovćen, and pretty little coastal towns dotted around the bay.
- We’ll show you exactly which Kotor attractions are worth your time — and which ones you can skip — plus our honest tips for each one.
- Our recommendation: base yourself in Budva and visit Kotor and the bay as day trips. Top pick: Hotel Villa Gracia — well-located and great value.
The Most Beautiful Sights in Kotor on a Map
To give you a quick overview of the best things to do in Kotor, we’ve marked them all on a map. And we don’t just have the top highlights in the Old Town of Kotor for you — we’ve also included must-sees in the Bay of Kotor.
You can easily combine the Old Town with the sights in the Bay of Kotor on your Montenegro road trip. And in a way, the two just belong together, don’t they? The names certainly suggest it.
Sights in Kotor's Old Town
Let’s dive right into the most beautiful attractions in Kotor’s Old Town. The historic district is practically a highlight in itself — you can easily just wander through the old alleyways — but there are still a few standouts worth checking out.
Fortress San Giovanni
What you need to know: Kotor’s most famous sight is technically not in the city itself, but on a hill behind the Old Town. Fortress San Giovanni sits at almost 300 meters above sea level. You can hike up from the Old Town via steep stairs. At the top, you’ll have an incredible view over the Bay of Kotor. You’ll need to pay 15 euros at the bottom of the steps.
Is it worth it? If you haven’t planned any other excursion where you’ll see the Bay of Kotor from above, yes. But if you’ve already taken in that view from elsewhere, you won’t see anything new — so you can save yourself the 15 euros and the effort. We’ll also tell you about a great alternative in a moment.
Our tip: There’s an alternative trail behind the Old Town that also takes you up to the fortress. It’s free, the climb is more pleasant, and you get the same view at the top — you just won’t be able to enter the fortress itself. We’ve marked the starting point for you here on Google Maps.
City Wall
What you need to know: Kotor’s city wall wraps almost all the way around the Old Town. It’s well preserved and you can walk along many sections of it. There’s no entry fee for the city wall.
Is it worth it? Sure. The city wall is nowhere near comparable to the city wall of Dubrovnik, but it’s still worth a quick detour.
Our tip: We didn’t find the entrance to the city wall right away. To save you the same confusion, we’ve marked the entrance we used on Google Maps.
Saint Michael's Church
What you need to know: There are four churches in Kotor’s Old Town. The most well-known is Saint Michael’s Church. It stands in the middle of a small square surrounded by several restaurants. You can also go inside.
Is it worth it? Yes. The church is a lovely little highlight in Kotor.
Our tip: While you’re inside, take the stairs up to the balcony. From there you can look down onto the small square below — it’s a really nice perspective.
Cat Park
What you need to know: Cat Park can’t really be called a park in the traditional sense. It’s more of a small green space where a woman lovingly cares for Kotor’s many cats. She’s built little houses for them, takes them to the vet, and feeds them.
Is it worth it? If you’re a cat lover, absolutely. One might even pick you out and curl up on your lap for a nap.
Our tip: There’s a bottle deposit machine in the park that dispenses cat food in exchange for empty deposit bottles. It wasn’t working when we visited, but the idea is really sweet.
Sights in the Bay of Kotor
If you’re in Kotor, don’t just stick to the Old Town — the other points of interest around the Bay of Kotor are seriously worth your time. Here’s what we’d recommend.
Kotor Cable Car
What you need to know: Kotor has a cable car that takes you from the bay up to Lovćen National Park and back for 23 euros. At the top and during the 10-minute ride, you’ll have a stunning panorama over the Bay of Kotor. The mountain station also has a few fun attractions, like an alpine coaster, a small bike park, and a playground.
Is it worth it? The cable car is a great alternative to Fortress San Giovanni — especially if you were already planning to visit Lovćen National Park and don’t want to tackle the tight serpentine road. That said, we actually found the road even cooler, because you can stop along the way.
Our tip: Go up at sunset. The sun disappears behind the mountains of the bay and it’s absolutely beautiful to watch. The gondolas typically run until 10 PM.
Herceg Novi
What you need to know: Herceg Novi is a coastal town with a charming little old quarter near the Croatian border. The best part: it’s not as crowded as the other historic centers in Montenegro. You’ll find cute alleyways with old buildings, two lovely beaches, and two fortresses with a great view over the Bay of Kotor.
Is it worth it? Definitely. We really loved the old town. Herceg Novi is a truly cool under-the-radar pick in Montenegro.
Our tip: Only visit one of the fortresses. We went to Forte Mare and can genuinely recommend it — it sits right by the water and the vista is stunning. The other fortress is a bit further from the water.
Here you'll find even more tips for Herceg Novi:
Perast
What you need to know: Perast is about a half-hour drive north of Kotor. This small, pretty coastal town is lined with Venetian buildings and little boats bobbing along the quay. You only need about an hour for the town itself — longer, of course, if you want to take a boat trip.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. The little town is incredibly beautiful.
Our tip: Take a boat trip from Perast to Lady of the Rocks. The church island is a unique sight in the Bay of Kotor that we’ll tell you more about in a moment. From the water, you’ll get the best photos of the island by far.
Book tickets for the boat tour to Lady of the Rocks online
Lady of the Rocks
What you need to know: Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island created by sinking stone-laden ships. A small church was built on the island. It’s so small and flat that from a boat it looks like it’s floating on the water.
Is it worth it? Yes. You can take beautiful photos and see the Bay of Kotor from a completely different angle — from the water.
Our tip: Take your photos of the church island during your boat tour to Lady of the Rocks from the water. That’s when they turn out best.
Porto Montenegro
What you need to know: Porto Montenegro is completely different from the other attractions in Montenegro. It’s Montenegro’s yacht marina, where everything is sleek and luxurious. You can browse high-end boutiques and admire the yachts.
Is it worth it? Yes. There isn’t a ton to do, but we found it really cool that the marina feels so different from everything else in Montenegro.
Our tip: Park at this parking lot (Google Maps link). It’s free and you’re at the marina in five minutes on foot. The lot is small, but we still managed to find a spot.
Prčanj
What you need to know: Prčanj is located west of Kotor. It’s a charming little village on the coast. Driving from Kotor, you head straight along the water past rustic houses. Along the coastline, there are several spots where you can lay down and swim. This part of the bay is quiet and the locals live in easy harmony with the few tourists around.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. We spent two nights in the little village and really soaked up the peace and quiet and the authentic atmosphere — even in July, one of the most popular times to travel to Montenegro.
Our tip: Come back in the evening and look across toward Kotor. The city lights look really beautiful from here.
What's the best way to explore Kotor?
One of our travel tips for Montenegro is to base yourself in Budva when looking for a place to stay in Montenegro and visit Kotor as a day trip. From your hotel in Budva, you’re about 30–40 minutes from Kotor. You can easily make that drive twice to explore both the Old Town and the other highlights around Kotor Bay.
You’ll also be well-positioned from Budva to reach the attractions in southern Montenegro, such as Stari Bar on the coast or sightseeing in Podgorica.
Book Hotel Villa Gracia in Budva
Of course, you can also stay overnight near Kotor, work through all our top picks from there, and then continue up the coast heading north to check out the sights along the way. In that case, we’d recommend two to three days.
Our hotel recommendations for Kotor:
Frequently Asked Questions About Kotor Sights
Is Kotor worth a day trip?
Absolutely! Kotor is totally worth a visit.
You can also easily combine the Old Town with the bay. You’ll need about half a day for the town and the fortress. Spend the rest of the day in Perast and wrap up with a swim at a quiet spot in Prčanj — that’s a pretty perfect day.
How many days should you plan for Kotor?
For Kotor itself, one day is plenty. We actually recommend it as a day trip from Budva — the drive is short and you won’t feel rushed. You can find all our tips for Budva here.
If you’d rather stay overnight near Kotor and explore the Bay of Kotor from there, plan on two to three days in the area.
