In this 2 day Kotor itinerary, we’re going to show you the charming town of Kotor and all the best things to do in the area. You can spend 2 days in Kotor exploring the beautiful cobbled streets, hiking up to medieval fortresses and taking boat trips on the turquoise bay.
We’ll also show you how to get around, where to stay and recommendations on where to eat! Let’s plan your Kotor itinerary!
Kotor’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best places to visit if you’re spending 2 days in Kotor – it’s also where to find the famous Kotor Fortress hike (we’ll show you exactly which hike to do)!
The medieval Old Town is nestled into Kotor’s incredible mountain range with a few gates of entry around the walls. There are a few modern touches to the town now, such as boutique shops and restaurants inside the historic buildings, but you can really feel the city’s rich heritage.
Montenegro is becoming more popular every year and the incredible photos of Kotor is one of the reasons why! Most of the visitors that enter the town arrive on huge cruise ships that float into the bay. We highly recommend renting a car or taking the bus to explore what else the country has to offer.
There are many things to do in Kotor and around the picturesque bay of Kotor that will make 2 days fly by. If you have extra time on your Kotor itinerary, it’s only 1 hour to the beaches on the beautiful Adriatic coast.
We’re so excited to share our Kotor 2 day itinerary and travel guide to help you plan the perfect trip!
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Planning a Kotor Itinerary
- Currency – Euro (compare the currency here)
- Cuisine – Montenegrin & Mediterranean Cusine
- Sim Cards – Buy an E-Sim at the airport €10 for 7 days with Telekom!
- Apps – Google Maps
- Power Voltage in Montenegro – Plugs C & F (230 V)
ATMs in Kotor, Montenegro
Prva Banka – This is one of the only ATMs in Montenegro that doesn’t charge €5 to withdraw money using a foreign card. We found one in the old town of Kotor and they are also all over the country.
Where to stay in Kotor
The best area to stay in Kotor is in the Old Town or at least within walking distance! If you have a car, some other places are Tivat, Perast or anywhere in between.
Kotor Hotel, Hostels & Guesthouses
Apartments Simun € – We stayed here for 3 nights in Kotor and loved waking up to the views of the bay every day! There’s free parking, a kitchen and it’s a 30-minute walk to the Old Town – Find on Booking.com here!
Old Town Hostel € – One of the best hostels in Old Town and there’s even a pool – Find on Hostelworld here!
Tea Apartments €-€€ – Stay somewhere that feels like home, right next to Kotor Old Town – Find on Booking.com here!
How to get around Kotor
We recommend renting a car for at least one of your 2 days in Kotor. The Bay of Kotor is big and there are lots of amazing stops to see around the water. Browse car rental prices on Discover Cars here!
We rented a car from Tara Car for 8 days in Podgorica. We paid €300 for full coverage and a green card to enter Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also paid around €70 for fuel over those 8 days of travel. Tip: At petrol stations, they fill the fuel up for you!
Walking / Taxis – The old town of Kotor is very walkable with accommodations close by. There are plenty of taxis if you need to get around anywhere and don’t have a car.
Kotor Itinerary: Best Things To Do In Kotor (2024)
Now we’re going to share our 2 day Kotor itinerary and all the best things to do in Kotor! There’s also a few more tips and helpful information at the end of this Kotor itinerary.
We spent 7 days exploring the south of Montenegro & Bosnia and Herzegovina, so we created an itinerary based on our experience! Check it out after this Kotor guide!
Day 1 – Hiking in Kotor & the Old Town
When you arrive in Kotor, head to your accommodation to drop your bags off or check in and get ready for a full day of exploring the medieval old town! Feel free to mix these days around depending on how you’re feeling on the day.
Hiking to Kotor Fortress
One of the best ways to start your 2 day Kotor itinerary is to hike up to the Kotor Fortress for the most incredible views of the bay. It’s the most famous spot in Kotor and you may have already seen photos of the views online!
Kotor Fortress is also known as The Fortress of St. John and looks like a very aged castle on top of the hills near the bay of Kotor above the walls of the Old Town.
There are two different ways to reach the top of the hike, one of them is free and the other one has a paid entry.
We highly recommend doing the ‘Ladder of Kotor‘, which is the free hike to the top of Kotor Fortress.
The Ladder of Kotor Hike
The starting point for the Ladder of Kotor hike is just outside the walls of the Old Town near the Old Hydroelectric Power Plant – here’s the exact location)!
There are a lot of switchbacks on the trail leading up to the fortress, but the incline is very gradual. There’s also a cafe halfway up serving cheese and drinks! The cafe is also the turning point to head west towards the fortress.
If you continue climbing you’ll reach even more impressive views of the bay, but we didn’t go too much further than a 10-minute walk above the Cheese Shop during our 2 days in Kotor.
You’ll start to see medieval ruins of old buildings when you’re getting closer to the walls of the fortress which means you’re on the right path! There are no signs, but the trail is very clear.
The next part of this hike is entering the fortress, which is slightly tricky as there’s no door! We climbed through a window in the fortress and there was no ladder at the time. We’ve included a photo of what the window looks like!
It’s not off the beaten path and you’ll see many people also coming through the window. It is pretty sketchy as there’s a rock balanced on a log and if you’re less than 5ft 2 you may need some help reaching the window! Hopefully, the ladder is back for your 2 day Kotor itinerary,
Once you’ve climbed through the fortress window, you’re inside Kotor Fortress for free!
There are still a fair few steps to reach the top with the flagpole, but you can explore the area in your own time. There was a local selling some drinks, but we recommend bringing your own water!
Walking around Kotor Fortress
Spend at least 30 minutes walking around the ancient walls of Kotor Fortress and be mesmerized by the beautiful views of the bay! The fortress has definitely seen better days due to the earthquakes and erosion but it also looks like it hasn’t been looked after.
The building of Kotor Fortress has been influenced by many architectural styles and you can see the Venetian style from the old ruins now. We definitely felt the history surrounding us.
The Walls of Kotor
After admiring the views and checking out one of the best things to do in Kotor, it’s time to head back to the Old Town. Instead of going back down the Ladder of Kotor hike, you can simply go down the steps following the walls of Kotor (we didn’t have to pay to go down).
The steps leading from the Old town to the fortress are old, slippery and mostly one-way. After reaching the bottom, we realised it may be more work to hike up this way but it is pretty magnificent to climb up through the walls.
This hike is the main official way to get up to Fortress and it costs €8 per person to start your hike here. There’s a person in a booth and a ticket barrier to pass through after you’ve bought your ticket.
We definitely recommend hiking up the Ladder of Kotor and coming down the steps as then you get the best of both worlds and your morning will be free!
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Explore Kotor Old Town
After a lovely morning of hiking during your 2 days in Kotor, it’s time to properly check out Kotor Old Town and grab some lunch. We recommend Taraca Restaurant, but there are so many good restaurants serving Montenegrian and Mediterranean food.
Kotor Old Town is one of the best-kept medieval towns along the Adriatic coast and it’s incredibly beautiful with an Italian influence! There are still walls and gates surrounding the town with historic buildings and narrow cobbled streets.
In between the harbour and the Old Town is The Sea Gate which is the most popular way to enter, there are three gates plus the walk to and from the fortress.
To learn more about the city with in-depth knowledge from a guide – book yourself on a Free Walking Tour in Kotor. Find out more details and times here!
Here’s a list of highlights to see in Kotor Old Town:
- The Square of Arms – the main square
- St Tryphon’s Cathedral – a Roman Catholic cathedral
- St Luke’s Church – the oldest Orthodox church in Kotor!
- The Pima Palace – a 17th-century palace!
- The Maritime Museum – learn about Kotor’s rich history
- Cat Museum – a small museum with cat artwork
- North Gate – connected by a bridge to the Old Town
Visit the Cat Museum
Whilst in the Old Town, it’s worth checking out the museums and the historic buildings mentioned above. We visited the Cat Museum which only cost €1 to enter and the money goes towards helping the cats of Kotor!
Cats are a symbol of good luck for Montenegro and they were brought to Kotor to help with the mice problem. There’s now a big population and you’ll find them everywhere!
The Cat Museum is very small with only two main rooms filled with photos with artwork and photos of cats. It will only take 10 minutes to visit and there’s also a real cat!
Walk around the Bay of Kotor
During our 2 day Kotor itinerary, we stayed in Apartments Simun which is a 30-minute walk outside the Old Town. It’s the most refreshing way to end your first day, appreciating the mountains and surrounding area.
Even if you’re staying in the Old Town, go for a coastal walk along the water to end your evening! You can also kayak around the bay, but that’s better to do in the daylight (Find out more here).
Where to stay? Apartments Simun € – Just outside of the Old Town with the best balcony views – Find on Booking.com here!
Day 2 – Explore the Bay of Kotor & Viewpoints
On day 2 of your Kotor itinerary, it may be best to rent a car or book a tour to explore the beautiful Bay of Kotor! You can visit Our Lady of the Rocks by boat – find prices here!
If you’re heading to Bosnia and Herzegovina the following day, a lot of these destinations can be done on the way to Mostar (Plan your 2 days in Mostar). An alternative idea would be to explore the national parks of Motnenegro on a day trip from Kotor – Find out more details here!
Admire the Bay of Kotor
The bay of Kotor is surrounded by green mountains and cliffs with orange-topped houses along the shoreline. There’s a narrow entrance from the ocean but large enough for big cruise ships to enter. This is one of the reasons Kotor is busy during the day.
As this is your second day in Kotor, you would have already seen how majestic the bay is, especially from above! One of the best things to do in Kotor is to drive around the bay and stop off at towns along the way.
A few places of interest are Perast, Risan, Morinj, Herceg Novi, Tivat and Prcanj!
Discover Perast
From the Old Town, it only takes 20 minutes to drive to Perast along the turquoise water! We were lucky to find a free parking space along the high road, however, there’s a large paid parking lot next to the town with signs clearly marked.
Perast is a lovely picturesque village along the bay of Kotor right on the edge of the water. There’s a few cafes and restaurants, and churches and one of the best things to do is to catch a boat to a small artificial island near the town (Our Lady of the Rocks).
As the village is small, it won’t take long to explore and walk along the waterfront on your 2 day Kotor itinerary. Although there are many churches and palaces to find!
Catch a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks
Head over to the waterfront and find the orange boat that takes you to Our Lady of the Rocks. the cost should be €5 each for a return boat ride. The boat leaves when there’s enough passengers and it will run back and forth almost all day.
Sadly we visited on a very rainy day and had to take shelter in one of the restaurants, waiting for the rain to stop so we could catch a boat to the island. It also rained so much when we arrived on the island, but we were so happy to walk on the human-made island during our 2 days in Kotor.
On the boat ride you’ll also pass St. George – a natural island with a 12th-century church and graveyard. It’s currently a private island so you can only visit Our Lady of the Rocks.
Our Lady of the Rocks is dedicated to Virgin Mary and is a symbol of faith and cultural heritage. The island was created by locals dropping rocks into the sea and eventually building a church on top. This unique island is now a place of pilgrimage and receives many visitors per day.
Continue driving around the bay of Kotor and you’ll pass by Risan (check out the mosaics) before reaching a small ferry terminal. For our small car, it cost us €4 to get across from Ferry Kamenari to Ferry Harbour. There was no wait for us, but it can get really busy in the peak summer season.
Explore Tivat
Now it’s time to walk around Tivat on this Kotor itinerary for a small change of scenery. Tivat is a fancier version of Kotor and Perast with huge yachts, designer shops and luxury hotels.
The Porto Montenegro marina is a lovely place to walk around and grab some lunch! We visited Bonjour for some homemade food before parking in the coastal town (it’s €0.5 an hour).
As we mentioned before, we didn’t have the best weather, but it felt like the perfect place to be if the sun was shining! After walking around the marina we hit the road heading towards Prčanj.
The panoramic roads did not disappoint when heading back to our accommodation and we spent the evening playing cards on our balcony!
A great way to end the day is to drive to the ‘Best Viewpoint in Kotor‘ high up in the mountains. You’ll need a car to get here! There’s even a bar at the top called Horizont Bar. The views are incredible and slightly better than the views from the Kotor Fortress!
If you want to spend your last night in Kotor, check out some of the other restaurants in the town or visit one of the bars!
Alternative ideas for a Kotor itinerary
If you’re spending longer in Kotor, you can spend a bit of extra time in Kotor Old Town visiting other museums or inside the historical buildings. Another option is to take day trips to Budva, Dubrovnik (Croatia) or other towns around the Bay of Kotor. Here’s a few other options:
- Kayak around the Bay of Kotor – find out more details here!
- Tara River Whitewater Rafting – have an adventurous day on the water – Check it out here!
- Discover Lovcen National Park and North Montenegro – Book here!
- Spend the day on a boat with a Blue Cave Boat Tour – book your tickets in advance here!
- Drive up the Kotor Serpentine – a long road of switchbacks!
Best Restaurants in Kotor
Kotor has a lovely mix of Mediterranean food and Balkan food. There are many local cafes and or restaurants serving international food too. Here are a few restaurant recommendations from us that have vegan options!
- Taraca Restaurant €-€€ – The perfect place to eat after hiking! (location)
- Ombra Cafe & Restaurant € – Affordable with vegan options! (location)
- Bonjour €-€€ – A beautiful cafe in Tivat! (location – Tivat)
How to get to Kotor
Bus – Buses connect multiple destinations in Montenegro together! From Podgorica, it takes around 2.5 hours to get to Kotor by bus. The price starts from €8 per person and you may pay extra for luggage and to print your online ticket. It’s 1 hour from Budva, 2.5 from Dubrovnik and 6 hours from Mostar. Check prices and times on 12.Go here!
Flying – The nearest airport to Kotor is Tivat Airport although you’ll find better connections to Podgorica Airport (the capital of Montenegro).
Car – Montenegro is the perfect country to go on a road trip. We hired a rental car in Podgorica and visited Budva before driving to Kotor. The mountains are beautiful! We found accommodation with free parking outside of the Old Town – Find prices for a car rental here!
Parking in Kotor: If you do travel to Kotor by car, we recommend parking outside of the Old Town. The parking situation is crazy as there are too many people and not enough spaces. If you head towards this bakery on the left side of Kotor, then you’ll find some free spaces along the road and large car parks. It only takes 20 minutes to walk to Old Town.
Prices in Kotor
- Accommodation – €10-15 for a hostel dorm and €25 + for a private room
- Restaurants – around €8 + in Old Town
- Renting a car – around €35 per day
- Cat Museum – €1
- Toilets in Old Town – €0.5
- Groceries (Bread, Bananas, Strawberries) – €3.70
- Taxi – €5 +
Montenegro has slightly more affordable prices than Western Europe, although restaurants can sometimes be similar prices in popular destinations.
If you’re on a budget in Kotor, you can find a place to stay with a kitchen and cook for yourself! The supermarkets in Montenegro are Voli, Idea, City Market, Megamarket, Maxi and more! We used Voli the most as they’re everywhere with great options. Idea is slightly cheaper.
What to pack for 2 days in Kotor
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – The best lightweight tripod to catch amazing photos if there’s no one around you. We use a Joby GorillaPod for our Sony a6000 & there’s also a Joby Phone Tripod for those without DSLRs!
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Our number one travel essential!
- Anker Power Bank – Keep your phone charged!
- Rain Mac in a Bag – The weather can be unpredictable in the mountains of Kotor!
How many days should I spend in Kotor?
We recommend spending at least 2 days in Kotor to experience the medieval Old Town and visit the surrounding areas. However, Kotor is easy to visit in just one day if you don’t count Perast in your Kotor itinerary.
Best time to visit Kotor
Kotor is the perfect destination to visit all year round, although the best time to visit is April to June and September to October to avoid the winter season and the peak summer season. The temperatures can get very high from June to August when accommodation prices are the most expensive.
We visited in May and although the weather was unexpectedly rainy, it was very affordable and not too busy!
Is Kotor worth visiting?
Yes! Kotor is one of the most well-known places to visit in Montenegro and for good reason! It’s worth visiting to see the impressive UNESCO old town and the views over the bay. We would visit again simply to do more hikes in the region and admire the bay of Kotor!
Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world, including Montenegro – Find out more here!
Visiting more places in the Balkans or Europe?
- The Best 7 Day Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina Itinerary
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- 5 Day Bulgaria Itinerary: Best Places to Visit
- Check out more from Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina!
That’s the end of our Kotor Itinerary: Best Things To Do In Kotor (2024)! Have a great time in Kotor and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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