Europe
Kotor is a medieval walled city tucked at the end of a dramatic fjord-like bay on Montenegro's Adriatic coast. Stone alleys wind through Venetian-era palazzos and Romanesque churches, while limestone mountains rise straight from the water, giving the town a setting unlike anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
Kotor, Montenegro — captured during my visit.
Things to Do
Walk the full loop of Kotor's Old Town walls and climb the 1,350 steps to the Fortress of San Giovanni for sweeping views over the bay. Wander the maze of pedestrian streets, visit the 12th-century Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, and take a boat trip across the bay to Our Lady of the Rocks, a man-made island with a small church and museum. Drive the serpentine road up to Mount Lovćen for the Njegoš Mausoleum, or kayak the calm bay waters early in the morning before the cruise ships arrive.
Best Time to Visit
Late May to early June and September are ideal: warm enough to swim, long sunny days, and far fewer cruise crowds than in July and August. Avoid mid-summer if you can — the Old Town can feel overwhelmed when multiple ships dock at once. Winter is quiet but many restaurants close.
Where to Stay
Stay inside or just outside the Old Town walls so you can step out into the medieval streets in the early morning before the day-trippers arrive.
Budget: Hotel Vardar, a historic, well-priced property right on the main square in the Old Town with charming rooms and an unbeatable location.
Mid-range: Hotel Hippocampus, tucked into a quiet corner of the Old Town with stone walls, modern rooms, and a small terrace — a perfect base for exploring on foot.
Luxury: Boutique Hotel Casa Del Mare – Amfora, a stylish waterfront property just outside the walls in Dobrota, with bay views, a private beach, and a short walk into town.
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Getting Around
Kotor is small and entirely walkable — the Old Town is pedestrian-only. To explore the wider bay, hop on the cheap local Blue Line buses that loop around Kotor, Perast, and Tivat, or rent a car for day trips to Lovćen, Budva, and the Bay of Kotor's quieter villages. Tivat Airport is 15 minutes away and Dubrovnik (Croatia) is about a 2-hour drive.
Hidden Gems
Skip the main Old Town restaurants and head to Perast, a tiny baroque village 20 minutes up the bay, for a long seafood lunch with views of the islands. For the best sunset, hike the old Austro-Hungarian "Ladder of Kotor" trail above the city walls — it's steeper but far less crowded than the fortress steps and ends with a panoramic terrace bar. Also worth seeking out: the Maritime Museum's tiny back garden, a quiet stone courtyard most visitors walk right past.
Kotor was one of the most surprising cities in all of Europe for me. We stayed in a charming Airbnb right in the old town and walked around in the evenings, and just a short drive up into the mountains is Horizont Bar, which has sweeping views over the bay.
