For being a small coastal city, Kotor really blew us away! We climbed up the Kotor Ladder to the most iconic viewpoint in the city. We also explored the narrow streets and found cute shops and cafes.

In a way, it feels like a smaller Dubrovnik but with its own charm and character and even though it got very crowded it’s a city that we’ll definitely come back to one day.

This coastal city on the Adriatic Sea truly packs a punch with its beautiful bays, beaches, small islands, wall of Kotor, and stunning mountains that surround this picturesque bay.

It’s not a big place to visit since this Montenegrin city consists mainly of the Old Town (UNESCO site) surrounded by stunning nature on all sides with tall peaks rising straight from the sea.

Kotor is one of the most beautiful Balkan cities you can visit.

With outdoor activities like boat tours in the bay of Kotor, kayak tours, and even hiking there’s so much to keep you busy for a few days.

On top of that, there are museums, restaurants, and cafes to visit in Kotor and even other smaller cities located in the Bay of Kotor that you can visit.

Get ready for an amazing time in Kotor!

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7 fun and unique things to do in the Bay of Kotor

View from the wall hike in Kotor, Montenegro.

Before you do any exploring in the city make sure to go to the tourist booth (in front of the main entrance to the old town) and get yourself a map of Kotor to help you navigate throughout the day.

We didn’t grab ours until later in the day and don’t want you guys to make the same mistake as us.

The map is free and full of discount coupons and other goodies on the back side.

Who doesn’t like fun discounted activities and coupons? Once you have your map, head out and explore the old town!

#1 Wander the streets of the Old Town Kotor

No matter if you’re into history or architecture, the old town of Kotor will make you feel like you’re in a fairytale.

Kotor has one of the best-preserved old towns in the Balkan region and you can get that feel from it when you’re walking around.

There’s no surprise that this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.

Due to its historical and cultural significance, much of the old city has not been renovated or remodelled which we are thankful for. It definitely keeps the charm when it’s preserved this way.

Even with all the crowds, it feels so peaceful walking the narrow streets.

By chance, if you’re craving a yummy cake or ice cream you can stop by Cattarissimo. You’ll find this cafe down a narrow alley in the old town.

It’s a great place to treat yourself to a nice little sweet and coffee while you’re walking around the city.

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#2 Explore the Kotor Farmers Market

One of the best ways to meet locals, try local food, and just get a feel for a place is the local food or farmers market.

Every day bright and early the Kotor Food Market will be in full swing. It’s nearly impossible to miss because it’s right outside the main wall.

You’ll find locals, tourists, and farmers all hanging out and buying all sorts of food.

You’ll find some more exotic items but most fruits, vegetables, and fish will be common goods you find in the Balkan area.

Make sure to bring cash (Euro) because that’s the only form of payment most vendors take.

It really is a fun way, first thing in the morning, to get a feel of what the people of Kotor are like.

#3 Check out the cats of Kotor

The cats of Kotor sleeping in Old Town.

Kotor is famous for its cats roaming the city streets like they own the place, and they basically do since they are everywhere.

Everywhere you go you will see cute cats walking around or chilling in the sun.

Kotor is so famous for its cats that half of the souvenir shops are literally filled with cat gadgets.

There’s also a cat museum (you heard it) which is creatively named ‘Cats Museum’. If you love cats or if it’s raining this place might be worth checking out!

Besides the cats you’ll see waves of tourists coming in from the cruise ships daily..hopefully, you get lucky and it’s not a day where three cruise ships come.

It happened to us the day we were there and the town was absolutely packed!!

But that didn’t stop us from having an awesome day and I hope these cat photos make your day awesome as well.

#4 Go on a boat tour of the Bay of Kotor

Views of the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro.

There’s no doubt that the bay is the ideal place to go on a boat tour in Kotor! With things to see such as Lady of the Rocks and the Blue Caves, a boat tour is a must, on a hot day.

Also, it gets you away from the crowds of tourists in Old Town and out onto the sea.

Boats leave all day from early morning to late afternoon (in the summer months) and the duration is between 1.5-3 hours depending on what you want to see.

On top of that if you want to go kayaking in Kotor there is that option as well.

There are quite a few boat tours in Kotor that we recommend and you can even book them online in advance to make sure you get a spot.

Especially during the summer months, the tours do book out in advance as Kotor has become a must-visit spot in the Balkans.

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#5 Hike up to St. John’s Fortress

A beautiful photo taken while hiking the wall in Kotor.

It’s still going to be touristy but if you’re looking for something a little bit away from the crowd, head up the Kotor Walls to St. John’s Fortress.

Make sure to bring €8 in cash as they do not take credit cards.

It may seem like quite the uphill climb but there is no shame in stopping every few minutes to take in the views. You will pass by St. John’s Church up towards the fortress.

Hiking in Kotor was actually my (Dom) favourite activity we did.

Once you’re at the top spend some time enjoying the views. This is where I (Dom) stood and imagined what it would have been like to live here hundreds of years ago when it was just locals and no tourists who would hike up here daily.

You can also go the less touristy route and hike up the Kotor ladder.

It eventually connects with the main trail to St John’s Fortress but it’s a bit less touristy than the main trail and you don’t always have to pay anything to get up there! 😉

Also, if you enjoy hiking and are planning to go to Dubrovnik as well then this post: Hiking in Dubrovnik – Mt Srd Scenic Hike is worth checking out. The views are just as good as the one below!

#6 Enjoy the small town of Budva

Another fascinating town along the Adriatic Sea. Budva is such a short distance from Kotor that if you’re spending a day in Kotor you have to drive or bus it down to this picturesque town.

You can take a bus from Kotor to Budva. You can also drive like we did but we would recommend taking the bus from Kotor to Budva and back since the roads are quite narrow and a little crazy if you’re not used to them.

The journey takes about 45 minutes, so it isn’t that far of a trip if you want to see both cities on the same day.

#7 Go kayaking in the Bay of Kotor

One of the best ways to experience the Bay of Kotor is to go on one of the kayak tours that start right from Old Town Kotor.

It’s a fun way to see some of the best landmarks in the bay and also to get away from all the tourists.

Kotor can get very busy especially when the cruiseships are in the bay and all the people are from the ships are visiting the old town.

Taking a kayak and paddling out into the bay is a fun way to see the city from the outside while the city is filled with people.

If you go on one of the kayak tours in Kotor you’ll get a chance to visit a quiet beach, swim in the bay, and even see some of the more local Montenegrin towns like Muo, Prcanj, and Stoliv!

The boat tours around Kotor are great too but if you want a bit of adventure and excitement a kayak tour is the way to go!

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Recap of all the things to do in Kotor

As you can see, there are plenty of fun things to do in Kotor which include history, beautiful architecture, outdoor activities, and having fun out on the water! We loved this little city in this bay of the Adriatic Sea.

Needless to say that if you haven’t already been to Kotor, you have to make sure you add it to your bucket list!

If you have any questions about how to get there, where to stay, or things to do then feel free to reach out to us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below!

We hope you have an awesome time in this UNESCO city in Montenegro and get a chance to do many of the fun things there are to do and see here!

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16 Comments

  1. Taylor Deer on May 28, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    This is amazing Josefine! Montenegro looks so beautiful! I cannot wait to get there!

    • redwhiteadventures on May 28, 2019 at 8:35 pm

      It is so beautiful! You have a lot of things to look forward to! 🙂

  2. Pauline on May 28, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    This is such a great post full of good tips! It makes me want to go there even more! ?

    • redwhiteadventures on May 28, 2019 at 8:36 pm

      Thanks Pauline! I’m sure you would absolutely love Montenegro! It’s full of beautiful nature, friendly people, and history 🙂

  3. Charu Goyal on May 31, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    Such a great post! I would love to visit Montenegro ?

    • redwhiteadventures on June 1, 2019 at 10:09 pm

      Thank you! We definitely want to see more of Montenegro too – one day was far from enough! I hope you get to visit this beautiful country one day ?

  4. Marisa on May 31, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    I loved visiting this town in Montenegro!! Did it on a day trip from Dubrovnik and had the most amazing time! Great post and beautiful pictures!

    • redwhiteadventures on June 1, 2019 at 10:10 pm

      That’s amazing! We did the same thing. One day wasn’t enough, right? Thank you, Marisa! 🙂

  5. Maria on June 2, 2019 at 12:10 am

    I’ve never heard much about Montenegro as a tourism destination but you made me want to go there! The old town of Bay of Kotor looks so lovely and also the landscape is beautiful!

    • redwhiteadventures on June 2, 2019 at 5:30 pm

      Neither had we before we went but it’s so pretty there that I can highly recommend it! The nature in Montenegro is amongst the most beautiful we’ve seen! I’m glad to hear our post inspired you 🙂
      – Jo

  6. Amanda on June 26, 2019 at 9:53 am

    We are planning to spend 3 days here in a few weeks! You have us so excited!

    • redwhiteadventures on June 27, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      You’re going to have so much fun! How long are you going for? 🙂
      – Jo

  7. Josy A on January 25, 2020 at 11:20 pm

    This looks fantastic Josefine! I love the views, and those kitties!!

    • redwhiteadventures on January 28, 2020 at 10:53 pm

      Hey Josy,

      Thanks girl! The kitties were so cute and all over old town. Would love to go back one day.

      -Jo

  8. John Smith on April 20, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    Amazing photos! I got the impression that I visited Bay of Kotor when I read your blog! Super virtual trip! Thanks!

    • redwhiteadventures on April 21, 2020 at 2:03 am

      Hi John,

      Yes Montenegro and specifically the Bay of Kotor is an amazing historical town in the Mediterranean.

      -Jo

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