The Explored Club

With ‘Euro Summer’ in full swing, it’s this time of year that we see folks jet off to swim in the blue waters surrounding Greece, sip delicious rosé wine in the South of France and indulge in incredible food in Italy. And while this all great, it’s time to add Kotor, Montenegro to that list!

Located just south of Dubrovnik, Croatia and north of Albania, Montenegro is a Balkan country that sits along the Adriatic coast. With rugged mountains, medieval villages, idyllic beaches and national parks, Montenegro is a destination with something for everyone.

To be clear, Kotor, Montenegro is by no means a ‘new’ tourist destination, with cruise ships and flights already coming in and out of the region regularly. But here you’ll find a complete guide on what to do while visiting and (hopefully) some inspiration to book the trip!

Kotor Town

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979, Kotor is the oldest town in Montenegro and is a medieval maze of cobblestone streets and stone churches and buildings. One of the most notable landmarks is St. Tryphon’s Cathedral which was built in 1166 and has been re-built over history, especially after an earthquake in 1667 which damaged the bell towers.

If you are a cat person, then you are in luck. Cats are everywhere in Kotor and don’t worry, they are all very well looked after by locals and tourists, with plenty of shops leaving out bowls of food for them. The town square has even been nicknamed the ‘Square of Cats’ for the large community that reside there. They have little wooden boxes as homes and there’s a museum dedicated to them. Visiting the Cats Museum costs just €1 and inside there’s a plethora of feline-themed artefacts – real testament to the Montenegrin respect towards its animals.

Hiking in Kotor

In town you will find multiple entrances to start the city-walls / fortress walk. The route is comprised of zig-zagging stairs and is straightforward to follow; I’d recommend bringing water, especially on hot days, and take regular breaks when you need to. The whole walk up to the top of the fortress takes anywhere from one to two hours to complete (depending on your fitness levels). Once you make it to the top, you’ll see what remains of the fortress and be rewarded with incredible views of the old town, the bay and the mountains that wrap around the region.

If you’re looking to push yourself further, before you reach the top of the fortress you can turn off and head towards St. Juraj church to join up with the iconic Ladder of Kotor trail, otherwise known as the Ladder of Cattaro. This trail is what remains of the route that connected Kotor with Njegusi village and Cetinje; for centuries, this was the only path connecting Kotor and Cetinje. This walk is more challenging than the city walls but is immensely rewarding.

When we reached the top of the Old Kotor Fort trail, we continued upwards and weaved through the woodland area, coming out onto the main road near Restaurant Nevjesta Jardrana. The views are incredible from this height and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re fit and able to do a walk like this. To finish the evening off, we continued along the main road to Horizont Bar to watch the sunset. Even if you’re not a hiker, I’d still recommend getting a taxi up to this bar as the views are incredible and their cheese board is a must try!

Underwater Wine

Further along in the bay from the town you’ll find Montenegro’s underwater wine cellar: Kraken; if you like wine and want to try something a bit different, this is a must-do experience while in the region. You’re collected from the mainland by boat and taken across to their floating wine bar. From here, you can jump off the barge and swim around in the bay, watch them bring up the wine from their underwater cellar and most importantly: sample their rosé and white wine selection. While we were visiting in April this year we even saw 2 dolphins in the bay – simply magical.

Important notes: it’s best to pre-book, especially when visiting in peak summer and there are no toilets, so make sure you are prepared beforehand. If you plan on swimming like we did, bring your own towels as well.

Boat Trips

As positioned on the water, there are many boat trips that operate from Kotor; this is a great way to explore the bay and learn more about the region. Most boat trips include stop-offs at Our Lady of the Rocks – an artificial island with a Church, Blue Cave and old Submarine tunnels which are all fantastic to see. It’s best to review different boat operators, where they stop and what you’re most interested in seeing. GetYourGuide offers many different experiences to suit all budgets.

Getting Around

Kotor town is very walkable with lots of bars and restaurants located inside the city walls. If you are looking to travel further along the bay, there is a flat, very walkable path away from the main road that takes you around to Ljuta village. Once you reach Stari Mlini Restaurant the path joins up with the main road, so I wouldn’t recommend walking past there. Ride sharing apps like Uber and Bolt and currently unavailable in Montenegro, but local taxi services are good and reliable.

Montenegro is an incredible country to visit. With friendly people, incredible views and something for everyone to enjoy, I hope it’s on your next destination list! Safe travels.