The city of Kotor, Montenegro is a real hidden gem along the Dalmatian coast. Located less than two hours from Dubrovnik, Croatia, this seaside city is a historical paradise with its beautiful old buildings, stunning scenery, great food and friendly people. The history of the city dates back as far as the 2nd century BC and the Old Town is so well preserved that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. I wasn’t too familiar with Montenegro or its history before I visited, but Kotor and the surrounding region ended up making for one of my all-time favourite trips. If you’re visiting Croatia or one of the other countries nearby, I highly recommending stopping for a few days in Kotor as well and discovering all Montenegro has to offer. Below, I’ve compiled 10 of my favourite historical things to do in Kotor and the surrounding area.
1. Explore the streets of Kotor’s Old Town.
I’ll say it a few times, but the scenery and views in Kotor are stunning. The city is most famous for its Old Town, which is a medieval walled town which Visit Montenegro says is considered the most well preserved medieval urban entities in the Mediterranean. Kotor’s history is interesting as over time the city had a number of different rulers, including the Illyrians, the Venetians, the Austrians and the French. Its rich history means there are a number of historic buildings to explore, including St. Tryphon Cathedral, the Prince’s Palace, a maritime museum as well as churches that date back as far as the 12th century.
It’s also fascinating to walk through the narrow streets and explore the historic city squares, where you can also check out the markets, do some shopping or enjoy local food and drink. If possible, I would also recommend booking accommodation in Kotor’s Old Town. Not only are you only steps away from the city sites, but you’ll also have some fantastic views to look out over.
2. Climb Kotor’s City Walls.
Another impressive part of Kotor’s Old Town is the city walls. The city walls, also known as the city bulwarks, are defensive fortifications that began being built in the 9th century to surround the Old Town. The walls continued to be built up over the next 1,000 years and today remain very well preserved. Visitors to Kotor can walk the city walls, which run for a total of 4.5 kilometres. There are three gates along the city walls, each providing and entrance to the city. Depending on how much time you have, you can decide how far along the walls you want to walk. To walk the whole way up the walls is quite a hike (so make sure you’re wearing the proper footwear!) and takes around 1.5-2 hours round trip. However, the climb is very worth it for the views out over the Bay of Kotor.
3. Hike to a medieval castle, San Giovanni Fortress.
If you decide to walk the entirety of Kotor’s city walls, you will eventually reach San Giovanni Fortress (also known as St. John’s Fortress or Sveti Ivan). For centuries, the fortress has been a key part of Kotor’s defensive walls and was essential in protecting the city. San Giovanni Fortress is located 280 metres above sea level and there are over 1,300 steps from Kotor’s Old Town up to the top. Once at the top, you’ll be able to visit the remains of the fortress, as well as take in the 360 degree view over Kotor Bay. I recommend leaving yourself about 3 hours to make the round trip up and down the walls. You could probably walk it quicker, but you’ll also want to leave yourself some time to take in the stunning views!
4. Enjoy local food in one of Kotor’s many historic restaurants.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Kotor and the city’s seaside location make it an ideal place for seafood. Many of the restaurants in the Old Town are located in lovely old buildings and have patios out in the squares of the Old Town, which means you can enjoy your meal while taking in the historical surroundings. If you’re looking for a real historical experience, check out the restaurant Konoba Scala Santa. It opened in 1931 and is often referred to as the oldest restaurant in Kotor.
Wherever you eat, I would highly recommend tasting some of the local food, including calamari, octopus and a variety of meats. If you do enjoy seafood, I also recommend trying the local fish soups… they are full of flavour and super fresh!
5. Wander around the Square of Arms.
The Square of Arms is located just inside Kotor’s Sea Gate, which dates back to the 16th century. The square is the largest in Kotor’s Old Town and is filled with restaurants, shops and cafés. One of the most recognizable sites in the Square of Arms is the Clock Tower, which dates back to 1602 and for centuries has been a focal point of the Old Town. Also within the square is the former Venetian Arsenal, where munitions would have historically been made and for which the square was named after. Not only is the Square of Arms great for taking in historical sites, but it’s also the perfect place to stop for an ice cream on a warm day!
6. Visit the 12th century Church of St. Luke.
Located in the Piazza Greca in Kotor’s Old town, the Church of St. Luke (locally known as the church of Sveti Luka) is one of the most interesting historical attractions in Kotor. The church was built in 1195 and while it was originally a Catholic Church, Orthodox services have also been held there since the mid-17th century. Inside the church there are actually two altars, one Catholic and one Orthodox allowing for both religious services to continue today. The church of St. Luke is very well preserved and is one of the only buildings in the area that didn’t have major damages after an earthquake in 1979. Inside the church, you’ll be able to see small remnants of the 12th century frescoes, as well as relics believed to belong to St. Luke himself.
7. Meet the many Cats of Kotor.
One thing you’ll notice when visiting Kotor is the large number of cats that roam the streets of the Old Town. Kotor is home to hundreds of stray cats but although they are homeless, they are well looked after by the local community. For centuries cats have lived in the coastal town of Montenegro, protecting the city from rats and other vermin. The story goes that as a result of this, cats became a symbol of good luck in the city and the animals are highly regarded by locals. Kotor really is a cat-lovers paradise and not only will you see them out on the town, but you can also visit the Cats Museum. This is a very small museum but a portion of the entrance fee and any purchases go to supporting the cats of Kotor.
8. Take a day trip to Cetinje, the former royal capital of Montenegro.
Cetinje is located approximately one hour from Kotor and is the historical capital of Montenegro. The city was founded in 1482 and quickly became the cultural centre of the region. Cetinje officially became Montenegro’s capital city in 1878 when the country gained independence and was especially prosperous under the reign of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was during the time of King Nikola that a number of the buildings seen today were built. It wasn’t until 1946, that the city now known as Podgorica became the governmental capital, while Cetinje remains a prominent cultural centre.
Cetinje is a beautiful city with quite a few things to explore. You can visit the Cetinje Monastery, which dates back to the year 1701 and houses a number of interesting manuscripts and items that relate to royal worship. You can also visit Vladin Dom, a former government building that is now a historical museum, and the Museum of King Nikola, which is located in his former palace.
9. Visit Lovćen National Park.
Lovćen National Park is one of the most recognizable sites in Montenegro and is just under a one hour drive from Kotor. The most popular site within the national park is the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, which is located on the mountain top and according to Visit Montenegro, is the highest mausoleum in the world at 1,660 metres. Petar II Petrović-Njego was the ruler of Montenegro from 1830 to 1851 and was well-liked for being not only a strong warrior, but also a great poet. Today, visitors to Lovćen are able to climb the 461 steps to visit the mausoleum to discover his story. There is also a stunning lookout point over the mountains where you will truly feel like you are walking among the clouds.
10. Walk along the historic waterfront of Kotor’s old Mediterranean port.
For centuries, Kotor’s port has played a key role in the city’s history. Its location in the Bay of Kotor, with easy access to the Adriatic Sea, made it a key trading port in the region. Ships would have pulled into Kotor Bay, bringing goods with them from all over (including the Cats of Kotor!). Being a seaport allowed Kotor to maintain connections with other western cities in Europe, which helped it to establish itself as a place of culture and prosperity.
Today, Kotor is a popular spot for cruise ships to stop and if walking along the harbour you’ll come across the Sea Gate, which is one of the three original entrances to the city. Along the waterfront, there are also nice restaurants and bars , one of my favourite being Galion, which specializes in local seafood and has beautiful view out over the bay.
This article’s information was last updated in August 2022.