Kotor, Montenegro: Old Town Charm in Europe’s Most Spectacular Scenery

August 3, 2020April 18, 2023 Koen 0 Comments

In this destination trip report we will visit the city of Kotor in Montenegro, where a picture-perfect Medieval old town meets some of the most spectacular scenery to be found in Europe.

Montenegrin coast

The Montenegrin coast has long been a popular destination with tourists from across ex-Yugoslavia and the rest of Europe.

Many head to the resort towns of such towns as Herceg Novi, Ulcinj and perhaps most notably Budva.

There is however much more to the coast of Montenegro than beaches alone.

The jewel in the crown of the Montenegrin coast is the city of Kotor, which is famous for its picturesque walled old town and its dramatic setting right at the foot of some imposing mountains.

Kotor has long been one of my favourite travel destinations in Europe and I was delighted that I finally had the opportunity again to return to the city.

Old town walls

The walled old town of Kotor has three main entrance gates.

There is the sea gate facing the yacht harbour on the western side, the southern gate and the north gate. The eastern side of town faces a steep mountain flank.

When arriving from the bus station located just south of the old town, the impressive fortified south gate is the first entry point you reach.

kotor yacht harbour — *Walking by Kotor’s yacht harbour on the way from the bus station to the old town. ©Paliparan*

*The southern gate to Kotor’s old town. ©Paliparan*

old town street — *Entering the old town of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

kotor old town — *In the old town of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

Exploring the old town

Kotor’s old town (called ‘Stari Grad’ in the local Montenegrin language) looks and feels a bit like the Croatian city of Dubrovnik located just a a few hours away by bus to the north-west.

It has the same style Medieval architecture and shares a similar history as fellow Adriatic Sea power.

At times, Kotor and Dubrovnik were rival cities with its traders and seafarers jockeying for influence.

However, during long parts of history both cities were themselves conquered by larger outside powers such as the Venetians, who left behind a lasting influence in Kotor.

Compared to Dubrovnik the old town of Kotor is however much more compact and smaller in size, making it easier to explore.

A big part of Kotor’s charm is to simply wander through the atmospheric streets of town, admiring the old stone mansions and piazzas you come across.

kotor old town stari grad — *A typical street in the old town of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

kotor stari grad old town — *Kotor’s Stari Grad is full of gorgeous stone mansions and small piazzas. ©Paliparan*

kotor square — *A larger square in the old town of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

kotor old town church — *A small church in Kotor’s old town. ©Paliparan*

Sea Gate

One of the other main gates of Kotor is the west-facing Sea Gate, which faces the marina where some yachts and (in season) small cruise ships are docked.

Above the Sea Gate you can find a relief of the old communist Yugoslavian coat-of-arms and a quote by Tito.

The quote (“tude necemo svoje ne damo”) translates to “what belongs to others we don’t want, what is ours we will never surrender” and refers to the resistance of Tito’s Partisans against the Nazi occupiers of former Yugoslavia.

The date above the gate (21st November 1944) refers to the liberation of Kotor in the Second World War.

sea gate — *The Sea Gate of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

sea gate kotor montenegro — *Look for the old communist Yugoslav coat-of-arms and quote by Tito above the gate! ©Paliparan*

sea gate promenade — *The promenade along the marina just outside the Sea Gate. ©Paliparan*

A quick lunch

Although there are quite a few appealing cafes and restaurants in the old town of Kotor, there aren’t that many spots at all where you can grab a snack.

As I was getting quite hungry but did not want to sit down for a drawn-out meal, I therefore headed out of the old town to a nearby butcher which doubles as a small eatery.

Located around five minutes walking distance away from the Sea Gate, BBQ Tanjga as it is called has some mouthwatering, huge steaks on offer.

Although I did for a minute consider taking one, I settled on something smaller in the end as I went for some pljeskavica.

Pljeskavica is the name for the Serbian-style hamburger and is one of Europe’s best fast food dishes you can eat.

It is basically a spiced meat patty mixture of pork, beef and lamb which is then grilled and served in a flatbread

To eat it the proper Balkan way, you just need to add some raw onions and sprinkle it with some peppery condiments.

Adding kajmak (a kind of clotted milk cream) is also popular.

pljeskavica serbia montenegro — *A perfectly prepared pljeskavica washed away with some local Nikšićko beer. ©Paliparan*

Main square

After the tasty lunch I headed back through the Sea Gate into the old town.

If you enter Kotor’s old town through this gate you will find yourself on a square called Trg od Oružja, which basically means “The Arms Square”.

The square’s name is derived from Venetian times as back then the ammunition and gunpowder of the city’s garrison was stored here.

Nowadays the most dangerous things you can find here are probably the bottles of rakija (the local firewater of choice) in the many cafes and restaurants which line the square.

There are also several other facilities such as banks, bakeries and other shops to be found on this square and in the streets directly around.

kotor montenegro main square — *Kotor’s main square. ©Paliparan*

arms square — *Kotor’s main square. ©Paliparan*

terrace square — *On sunny days, the terraces on the main square make for a great place for a coffee or drink. ©Paliparan*

Old town churches

There are quite a few interesting churches to visit in Kotor, each of them reflecting another era of the town’s history.

The main church is without doubt the 12th century Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, which is located on a lovely square in the southern part of the old town.

In the northern part of town you can find the Orthodox Saint Nicholas Church as well as the small Saint Clare’s Church.

This Catholic church might seem unimpressive from the outside, but behind the simple stone facade you can find a rich Venetian-era baroque interior.

Perhaps most interesting of all churches is the even smaller Church of Sveti Luka (Saint Luke’s) on the ornate Piazza Greca.

This elegant little church has the traits of both Roman and Byzantine architecture.

saint tryphon cathedral — *Saint Tryphon’s Cathedral. ©Paliparan*

st nicholas church — *The Eastern Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas. ©Paliparan*

saint nicholas church — *The interior of the Church of Saint Nicholas. ©Paliparan*

saint clare's church — *Saint Clare’s Church might look a bit nondescript from the outside, but it’s well-worth a quick peek. ©Paliparan*

saint clare church — *The baroque interior of Saint Clare’s Church. ©Paliparan*

sveti luka kotor montenegro — *Sveti Luka (Saint Luke) Church in Kotor. ©Paliparan*

Charcoal coffee

After walking around for a while longer through the lovely backstreets of Kotor I headed to Letrika Art Cafe, a local bar/pub which was recommended by the owner of my hotel.

It is the most unique bar in Kotor and reportedly the only place in the world where you can try Medieval-style charcoal coffee.

A piece of hot charcoal is served with your coffee, which you then place inside your stone mug where you let it soak for a few minutes.

The charcoal gives the coffee a more smooth taste and texture as it takes the bitter taste out of your drink, something which was apparently required in those times due to the lack of decent espresso machines.

It is definitely a fun experience to try – and the coffee didn’t taste bad at all (although I still prefer a proper Italian espresso).

The quirky little bar seemed to be a nice place too for evening drinks. It’s definitely a nice place to seek out in Kotor.

letrika art cafe — *Letrika Art Cafe. ©Paliparan*

letrika art cafe kotor — *The small outdoor terrace of Letrika Art Cafe. ©Paliparan*

*Letrika Art Cafe is reportedly the only place in the world where you can try out Medieval-style charcoal coffee. ©Paliparan*

North Gate

From Letrika Art Cafe it was a short walk through some atmospheric alleys towards the north gate of the old town.

Just before you leave through this gate you will come across the small Church of St. Mary Collegiate, which was unfortunately closed when I visited.

Kotor’s Northern Gate is by far my favourite of all three city gates.

Once you take a step outside you will find yourself on a gorgeous old stone bridge spanning the fast-flowing Škurda River.

Because of this, the North Gate is also known under the names of Vrata od Škurde (Skurda Gate) or simply as the River Gate.

The bridge makes an excellent spot to admire the impressive views of the surrounding mountain landscape as well as of the defensive works of the old town such as the moat, fortified walls and bastions.

kotor old town street alley — *Walking through the small alleys of Kotor’s old town. ©Paliparan*

saint mary collegiate church — *Church of St. Mary Collegiate. ©Paliparan*

northern gate — *Under the arches of the Northern Gate of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

kotor old town north river gate — *Kotor’s North Gate is also known as the River Gate. No points earned for guessing why. ©Paliparan*

skurda river — *The Škurda River seems to flow almost directly out of the mountainside into the Bay of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

skurda river kotor — *The Škurda River. ©Paliparan*

skurda river kotor montenegro — *The bridge over the River Škurda. ©Paliparan*

kotor city walls moat — *The city walls of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

obelisk — *Obelisk at the place where the Škurda River flows into the Bay of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

kotor bay view — *View over the Bay of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

Climbing up

One of Kotor’s most impressive features is its dramatic setting at the far end of the Bay of Kotor, right at the foot of 1,749 metres (5,738 ft) high Mount Lovćen.

To really appreciate Kotor’s unique location, you have to climb up a bit, although fortunately there is no need to go all the way to the top of Mt Lovćen.

From the Church of St. Mary Collegiate there is an alley leading up on the mountain flank.

It doesn’t take long until you find yourself out of the old town on some stone steps zigzagging further up.

It takes more or less 20 to 30 minutes to reach the mountainside Church of Our Lady of Remedy, although chances are you will take longer as the views back over Kotor are simply spectacular, warranting frequent rest stops to take in the panorama.

From the Church of Our Lady of Remedy it is a further 20 to 30-minute climb up to reach the ruins of Kotor Fortress located at 280 metres above sea level.

kotor mountain climb Church of Our Lady of Remedy — *The walk up to the Church of Our Lady of Remedy takes you on a steep, old stone road with lots of steps. ©Paliparan*

Follow the cat

As I was visiting at the end of winter, I unfortunately did not have time to climb all the way up to the fortress this time around as limited daytime hours meant that sunset was fast approaching.

However, even if you don’t have the time (or energy) to make the entire climb to the fortress, you will still be able to enjoy some terrific views from the church or any other halfway point.

When I started my climb up at the Church of St. Mary Collegiate, I was surprised to see a cat seeking attention.

After petting the cat for a few minutes, the cute little muggy then proceeded ahead of me on the road up, pausing every 20 or so seconds to let me catch up.

Only when we reached the last town house on the mountain path, did the cat suddenly sneak into a seemingly abandoned stone house through a half-opened door.

Another cat – dressed majestically with an immaculate bow tie – then stepped out and waited in front of the door like a sort of a butler.

The bizarre scene seemed almost like out of a fantasy movie – the kind of film where you end up in a weird magical land where animals can speak if you follow the cat inside the house.

As I wasn’t sure if the house was really abandoned or people actually lived inside it, I just decided to walk on and continue with my climb up the mountain.

Writing this and looking back at the pictures, I’m still highly curious to what was actually inside the house.

cute cat — *When I started my climb up, this cute little cat was seeking my attention. ©Paliparan*

street kotor mountain — *From the Church of St. Mary Collegiate there is a steep street leading up the mountain. ©Paliparan*

climb stone street — *Climbing up on the mountain. ©Paliparan*

abandoned house — *At a semi-abandoned stone house, the cat suddenly slipped through an opened door. ©Paliparan*

cat bow tie — *After my guide cat sneaked away into a house, a majestic cat dressed in a bow tie came out and stood guard in front of the door. ©Paliparan*

kotor climb view — *Climbing higher towards the Church of Our Lady of Remedy. ©Paliparan*

church of our lady of remedy — *The Church of Our Lady of Remedy, a good 20-minute climb up on the mountain from Kotor’s old town. ©Paliparan*

Kotor Bay

During the entire climb up there are some fabulous views down over the old town of Kotor and the bay, which is often mistaken for a fjord.

The Bay of Kotor has an unique sheltered location due to the craggy mountains lining the entire bay, which form a fantastic natural defence barrier and made the port of Kotor a natural anchorage and safe haven from enemy fleets.

It also creates a humid, subtropical micro-climate which makes Kotor one of the wettest places in Europe.

Standing high up on the mountain you can clearly see where the name ‘Montenegro’ was derived from.

It were the Venetians who first gave the area this Italian name which means ‘Black Mountain’ (Monte Negro).

The name struck a chord as even the native Slavs inhabiting the area adopted the ‘Black Mountain’ name, which they translated to Crna Gora in their own Montenegrin language.

Although the weather in the high summer season is hot and dry with especially August being known for its clear blue skies, in most other months of the year there will be lots of gloomy, dark clouds which give the mountains and waters its trademark colours.

My old Lonely Planet guidebook describes the views over Kotor Bay as “all Wagnerian” – and I cannot think of a more apt description for the majestic views.

If this panoramic view would be a piece of music then Wagner’s ‘Ritt der Walküren’ (Ride of the Valkyries) definitely comes closest.

To quote Lonely Planet: “In broody weather the atmosphere becomes all Wagnerian, dark shadows cut with fingers of sunlight while on a sunny day the wind-ripples on the purple water sparkle.”

On this March day with highly changeable weather, the views and purple sunset colours couldn’t be better.

Even it this was my third visit to Kotor, it was as impressive as my first time around. Wow.

kotor montenegro trip report — *Kotor must surely be one of Europe’s most spectacularly located cities. ©Paliparan*

kotor view — *The majestic, Wagnerian view over Kotor and the Bay of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

church lady of remedy — *The Church of Our Lady of Remedy high above the town of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

kotor sunset — *The purple sunset colours were simply amazing. ©Paliparan*

mountain hike — *Time to hike back down the mountain before it gets fully dark. ©Paliparan*

Dinnertime

Once I was safely back down (which was trickier than you think it is on the uneven cobble-stoned road) I rested a bit on a terrace drinking a beer while contemplating where to go for dinner.

On recommendation of my hotel I went to Cesarica, a family-run restaurant with a cosy, traditional interior serving authentic Montenegrin cuisine.

I went a with a tasty fish soup as starter, followed by a fish dish with a seasonal side of mashed cabbage.

It was a great meal and went very well with a local white wine. I have nothing but positive things to say about the warm, welcoming service too.

old town kotor — *I found myself back in the old town at twilight. ©Paliparan*

niksicko ipa — Drinking a beer before dinner. On a side note: why isn’t there any macro brewery in the world which can make a decent IPA? Although not bad, this Niksicko IPA has nothing to do at all with this style of beer.. ©Paliparan

cesarica fish soup — *Dinner at Cesarica. To start: a tasty fish soup. ©Paliparan*

fish cesarica food montenegro — *I went for some fish as my main. ©Paliparan*

fish — *Also the main dish tasted great! ©Paliparan*

Nighttime walk

Even if you already explored Kotor’s old town by day it is well worth taking another stroll by night.

With only a few dimly-lit lights on and the crowds gone, the town has an unique atmosphere on its own in the hours of darkness.

Although there isn’t any nightlife or party atmosphere like you can find in the clubs of the nearby coastal resort of Budva, there are a few pubs spread around Kotor’s old town if you seek a nightcap or two.

I just wandered a bit around and retired back to my boutique hotel, relaxing with a glass of white wine in my room’s spa bath.

kotor night dark — *Kotor by night. ©Paliparan*

street night — *Strolling through the empty streets of Kotor at night is a real pleasure. ©Paliparan*

kotor main square night — *Kotor’s main square at night. ©Paliparan*

old town kotor night — *A nighttime walk through the old town of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

stone bridge kotor night gate wall — *The North Gate and the old stone bridge over the River Škurda at night. ©Paliparan*

kotor night — *Although most places are closed at night, there are a few pubs and bars which remain open. ©Paliparan*

*On this winter night, there were however more cats than people on the streets. ©Paliparan*

spa bath palazzo drusko — *Instead of going for a nightcap, I just opted to chill with a glass of wine in the spa bath in the room of my boutique hotel. ©Paliparan*

Morning

After a good night’s sleep I woke up to beautiful clear skies the following morning.

As no breakfast is served in the boutique hotel where I stayed, I headed out of the North Gate to a nearby bakery to get a typical Balkan breakfast of a cheese-filled burek with some yoghurt.

A strong espresso or good cappuccino is as much part of the daily life in Montenegro as it is in neighbouring Croatia, and there are plenty of cafes in Kotor’s old town where you can get your fill.

blue skies view hotel — *I woke up to beautiful clear skies from the window of my hotel. ©Paliparan*

river gate kotor — *From my hotel, it was just a short five-minute walk out of the North Gate to the nearest bakery. ©Paliparan*

burek yoghurt — *Burek and yoghurt for a typical Balkan breakfast. ©Paliparan*

kotor square piazza — *A morning stroll through Kotor. ©Paliparan*

coffee espresso — *It’s easy to get some good quality coffee in Kotor. ©Paliparan*

Cats of Kotor

As I had a late morning bus out of Kotor to Cetinje, I still had some time to kill after I finished my coffee.

I ended up spending it playing with the local cats.

Just like in neighbouring Dubrovnik, you will find a lot of ‘community cats’ in Kotor.

Although being stray cats, these cats are lovingly taken care after by the entire community.

Kotor is famous for its cats and features a few special cat souvenir shops and even a cat museum (which was unfortunately closed during my visit).

According to legend, the cats in the city saved the town population and the sailors multiple times from diseases such as the Black Death by eating mice and other vermin.

While other cities in the area were allegedly hit hard by such plagues, Kotor was each time miraculously spared, which started the close relationship between the community and its feline population.

kotor cat — *The cats of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

cat kotor — *The cats of Kotor. ©Paliparan*

*There are a few cat shops in Kotor, as well as a cat museum. ©Paliparan*

Where to stay in Kotor?

If you already read the previous chapter in this trip report it won’t come as a surprise, but I can highly recommend the Palazzo Drusko, which has to be one of Europe’s most fabulous boutique hotels.

Kotor is generally affordably priced compared, and especially when you visit in the off-season months it is possible to score some great accommodation deals.

It’s however not necessarily a must to stay inside Kotor, as the old town is easy to visit from other coastal cities in the vicinity such as Herceg Novi and Budva.

Buses along the coastal road are relatively frequent and cheap.

If you have your own wheels it’s easy to find a spot in a parking lot outside of Kotor’s old town.

merchant's room palazzo drusko — *The Merchant’s Room at Palazzo Drusko. ©Paliparan*

How many days should I allocate for a visit to Kotor?

Although you can see the sights of Kotor (and hike up the mountain!) in half a day – you would certainly be hasting it.

I would recommend spending at least a full day in the city, which allows you to absorb the unique atmosphere and to stop a few times for a coffee, beer or meal.

There is however a lot more to see on the Montenegrin coast and in the immediate interior.

Although not as pretty as Kotor, Budva has a nice old town too and in the summer makes for a thriving beach resort.

Further down the Bay of Kotor is the old town of Perast, from where you can make a boat ride to a small island on which the Lady of the Rocks Church is built.

If you head south, the beach as Sveti Stefan is a gorgeous stop (the Sveti Stefan peninsula is unfortunately off-limits as it has been converted into a luxury Aman Hotel – with only hotel guests being allowed in).

Inland, you can find the old Montenegrin capital of Cetinje.

If you have your own car, the drive up to Cetinje from Kotor is amazingly scenic. Mount Lovćen National Park is also well-worth visiting.

If you have never visited the area before, you could therefore easily spend a full week on the coast of Montenegro as there is so much to see.

Whether you make Kotor, Budva, Herceg Novi or even Ulcinj your base, there are endless of day trip possibilities!