Kotor is becoming a very popular destination to visit. Its gorgeous location on the Bay of Kotor, or Boka Bay, at the base of jagged mountain peaks will wow you. There is no shortage of fun things to do in Kotor either.
In this post, you will discover the many interesting ways to explore Kotor and some beautiful spots around the bay that are in my opinion, must visits! Come see what Kotor has in store for you.
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Best Time To Go To Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor, Montenegro is one of the most visited areas in Montenegro and for good reason. It is simply stunning! This also means it can get crowded at certain times of the year.
Peak Season In Kotor (Summer – June to August)
The summer is the busiest time to visit Kotor. This is also when we were there. Sometimes you have to travel during breaks when you have kids, and that was our situation.
It is not an ideal time to go because it can get very crowded with summer tourists and also with cruise ships. You won’t believe the amount of cruise ships that come and go from Kotor Bay every day.
The road infrastructure is not set up well for that many people, so you will sit in many traffic jams. We learned quickly that the amount of time it says it takes to get somewhere on Google maps needed to be doubled in the summer.
The weather is very nice for swimming though!
Shoulder Season (Spring And Fall – April To May & September To October)
The shoulder season is the best time to visit Kotor. The number of tourists drop along with the hotel prices. The weather isn’t as hot either, so it makes it a really nice time to hike.
The water in the bay was actually surprisingly cool in the summer, so I would imagine that spring swimming might be a bit chilly, but September and October would still be pretty nice.
The hotels and restaurants are also still open during the shoulder season, so you will have plenty of options for where to stay and where to eat!
Off Season (Winter – November To March)
If you are looking for a more authentic feel with low costs and don’t mind the cold, visiting Kotor in the off-season is for you. There won’t be as many hotels and restaurants open, but you can still find some.
You will experience a peace during this time and the beauty of the mountains and the bay don’t ever leave.
Best Things To Do In Kotor
We visited Kotor Bay in the summer of 2024. It was a fun-filled week vacation in this incredibly gorgeous location. From our experience, these are the top things to do in Kotor.
Walk Kotor Old Town City Walls
The city of Kotor is surrounded by fortified walls. For many centuries, the area was subject to attacks. The walls reinforced the city and did a pretty good job of keeping out pirates and other countries trying to claim the naturally protected harbor area.
Nowadays you can hike the lower city walls for free which is really nice! The walls are easy to get on with maps next to the entrances.
We entered near the North Gate and walked along to a ramp that took us down near the Sea Gate. I believe you can walk the wall all the way to the South Gate, but my kids wanted gelato and there was a shop nearby, so we headed there next!
Not To Be Confused With Hiking The Kotor Fortress Hike To St. John’s Fortress
For a panoramic view of the Bay of Kotor, climbing the steps up to St. John’s Fortress or also called the San Giovanni Fortress is a must if you are physically able.
This part of the wall is not free to climb. It is €15 euros to enter and it is only open from 8am to 10pm. The whole hike to the fortress is uphill on steps; however, it is only 2.5 kilometers long.
To get to the entry point, you will want to go to the South Gate. After you pass the Old Town Youth Hostel, take a right. You will soon reach the steps that are the starting point.
When we visited, we didn’t climb to the fortress. It was one of those arguments I wasn’t going to win with my kids, even if I bribed them with ice cream. The views look so amazing though, I’m quite disappointed that we skipped it.
Pro Tip: If visiting in the summer, go early in the morning or later in the day to skip the mid-day sun.
Eat Gelato At Marshall’s
When in Kotor, you have to get some gelato at Marshall’s. All of us still think about how amazing this gelato shop was, and we have had a lot of gelato in our lives. I mean we have kids, so…
The homemade ice cream was so creamy and flavorful. You will find a mix of classic flavors and creative combinations. There’s really nothing more to say. You just need to go and try it out for yourself.
You won’t be disappointed. Trust me!
Pet All The Kitties
Montenegro is known for its plethora of street cats. They are everywhere. My kids were thoroughly entertained by them.
While we admired the pretty crooked streets, my kids were on the hunt for kitties to love. These feral cats are well taken care of by the community and are fed regularly.
If you like cats, you will love Kotor!
Wander The Narrow Alleyways
One of the best things to do in Kotor is to get lost in the windy streets. Kotor is a perfect place to do it. You can’t get lost or wander too far, you are surrounded by city walls after all.
The streets and squares of this UNESCO World Heritage site are adorable. There are no cars inside the walls, which is also a big bonus. You will pass historic churches, picturesque squares and cute cafes.
Take a Boat Tour
While in Kotor, you have to get out on the water, at least once. We took two private tours. The first private tour we booked in advance so we could visit all the best sites.
It was supposed to take us to Our Lady of the Rocks, the Blue Grotto, the submarine tunnels, and Mamula island.
When we arrived, our boat driver said that the open sea was too rough, and we wouldn’t be able to leave the bay. We could go to Our Lady of the Rocks if we wanted.
In retrospect, we should have just walked away and went to our Lady of the Rocks on our own for much cheaper. I’ll give you all the details below.
At the time though, we were really looking forward to getting out on the water, so we agreed.
At our hotel, the owner had a boat, and said he could take us out to wherever we wanted to go. This tour was much more special and we liked that it was with a local that has lived there for years.
I don’t think a private boat tour in Kotor is worth it unless you can get a local to take you out. All of the boat tours go to the same places, so you might as well save some money and go in a small group tour.
Here’s a small group boat tour option to consider from Viator. It is a good price and there’s a max of 12 people.
Blue Grotto Or Blue Cave
Each boat tour goes to the same destinations, but in different orders. The Blue Cave is one of the most popular spots for boats to hang out at for awhile.
It is beautiful in the Blue Grotto, but honestly it felt a little meh for me.
There were so many boats in the cave and in the waters right outside the cave, that it sadly lost charm points from me.
Submarine Caves
I wasn’t actually expecting to like the submarine caves as much as I did. They were so interesting to see and our local guide told us some interesting history to go along with it.
These submarine caves were use by the Yugoslav Army in the 1900s, and were used for hiding ships, protection and maintenance.
Visit Our Lady Of The Rocks
The best stop on the boat tour was Our Lady of the Rocks island. This beautiful little man-made island in the middle of the bay is an idyllic setting with a little church right at its center.
You actually don’t have to take a boat tour to visit Our Lady of the Rocks. Instead, you can park near or in Perast, and then pay one of the two boat companies near the water to take you to the island. The cost is €5 round trip.
Another option is to rent a kayak. We saw a few options for places that rent them, and the cost around €10 euro per hour.
Good To Know: Swimming is not allowed by Our Lady of the Rocks.
Kotor Cable Car
The last thing to do in Kotor that I’ll mention, we unfortunately missed out on too. We ran out of time because our flight was delayed, and we were stuck in Belgrade, Serbia for two nights. But that’s a story for another day!
The Kotor cable car was on our list, and we were sad we missed it. It is a wonderful thing to do, especially with kids. The cable car takes you to a stunning panoramic view high above the bay.
At the top, besides taking in the magnificent view, the kids can play at a really fun playground. There are hiking trails, restaurants and even an alpine slide to take down.
A fun-filled day in a stunning location.
Best Places To Visit Around The Bay Of Kotor
Another one of the best things to do in Kotor is to explore the nearby towns. We loved exploring the area. There are some wonderful towns not to miss.
Perast
First up, is one of the best small towns on Boka Bay, Perast. This historical town right on the water is simply magical. A little fairytale town. We spent a few evenings here as it was near where we were staying. We loved it!
One of our favorite places to eat while we were in Kotor was in Perast. Locanda Perast Ristorante Pizzeria sits right by the water and serves some delicious pizza, pasta and fish dishes. Mike got the carbonara pizza and oh my gosh! Incredible. Everything was good, but that dish was out of this world.
Reserve your spot as it can get very busy. Whatsapp is the easiest way to save your seat: +382 67 485 785.
Pro Tip: Parking in Perast can be expensive or a challenge. Our hotel hosts told us that there was a parking area between Risan and Perast, by the monastery, where you can park for free.
We did that each time we went. We had to walk along the road for a little bit, but it had a decent path, and it wasn’t too far.
Rose
A bit of a hidden gem in Kotor Bay is Rose. This cute little town at the end of the Luštica Peninsula is definitely worth a visit in my opinion. It is small, so there’s not much to do there but sit by the beach or visit a restaurant.
The buildings are so charming and you are away from the hustle of the crowds. You could even stay there if you wanted.
Parking was easy, but the road to Rose is a bit narrow and windy. Alternative option for getting around is to take a water taxi from Herceg Novi. When we were there, it was €5 for a one way boat ride, and €8 for round trip.
Lovcen National Park
Another recommended area to scope out is the Lovcen National Park. Take the switchback road up to the Lovćen Mausoleum. There is hiking and some of the most spectacular views to be found in Montenegro.
We sadly had to cut this out of our itinerary too, so I don’t have personal experience there. I wanted to mention it though as it is very popular thing to do near Kotor.
Herceg Novi
Our last recommendation for a town to visit near Kotor is Herceg Novi. The town itself is super cute. You should take a little bit of time to wander around, especially down the promenade (Šetalište 5 Danica) and old town.
Be sure to see Forte Mare, The Bloody Tower (Kanli Kula), Belavista square, and the Church of St. Michael Archangel during your wanderings.
We arrived later to Herceg Novi than planned (traffic is just terrible in the summer) and only had time to see a little of the town before our kids were too hungry to walk. We also had a winery tour planned, so that cut into our exploration time as well.
Savina Winery
Up on the hill in Herceg Novi, you will find Savina Winery. If you are interested in trying some Montenegrin wine in one of the most beautiful settings, you should book a time to visit Savina Winery.
Along with the wine, they also gave us a huge spread of food. We wish we knew we were getting so much food with our wine, so we didn’t eat right beforehand. I’m telling you, so you don’t make the same mistake we did.
The wine is not the best wine I’ve ever had, but it is still good. I mean it’s hard to compete with wine from Porto and Italy. The tour of the winery itself is also not super informative, so I would recommend booking the Basic Tour.
The Basic Tour includes the snacks and 3 wines with no tour for €40 per person.
We still really enjoyed our trip to the winery and would recommend it to anyone visiting. The setting in itself was worth it!
Summary
Kotor, Montenegro is a stunning destination. You will continuously be catching yourself saying, wow!
As Montenegro is a little young as a tourist destination. Therefore, it can be crowded and the parking is hard to come by, but those are the biggest downfalls.
Go in the shoulder season and enjoy the all of the fantastic things to do in Kotor. You won’t get bored on your trip, I promise!
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