Discover Kotor

Kotor brings together a historic urban layout, maritime history, religious buildings, museums and paths along the fortifications. If you are looking for a hotel, these highlights can help you decide what kind of trip you want. Kotor lies at the end of the Bay of Kotor, between Mount Lovćen and the sea.

Old Town, gates and World Heritage

Large and small squares are linked by narrow, winding streets. Arms Square is considered the city's largest and most architecturally distinctive square. Kotor can be entered through three city gates; the Sea Gate's present-day appearance dates from 1555. The city of Kotor and the surrounding area are part of the 14,600-hectare World Heritage property of the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor.

The historic parts of the city were restored and reconstructed after the 1979 earthquake, preserving their architectural, urban-planning and historical authenticity. Kotor's culture has been shaped by centuries of seafaring and trade. Eastern and Western cultural influences, as well as the coexistence of Catholics and Orthodox Christians, are also part of this history.

City walls, fortress and paths

Kotor's fortification walls were built in stages from the 9th to the 18th century. In places, they reach 20 metres in height and are between 2 and 15 metres wide. The fortification route climbs from the waterfront to the mountain fortress. It can be explored as a hike of around 1,400 steps; the walls stretch for approximately 4.5 kilometres. Two entrances lead to the Fortress of San Giovanni. Their paths meet and continue to the 15th-century Church of Our Lady of Health. As access conditions may vary, check the latest information before making the climb.

A ride on the Kotor–Lovćen cable car takes eleven minutes and travels from the sea into the mountains. It connects Kotor with Lovćen National Park and offers views across the Bay of Kotor. Operation is weather-dependent, so check in advance whether the cable car will be running on the day of your visit.

Religious buildings and art

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon was built and consecrated in 1166. It houses gold reliquaries made by goldsmiths from Kotor between the 14th and 18th centuries. Its furnishings also include frescoes by Greek masters and a 14th-century Romanesque-Gothic ciborium above the main altar. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas stands in the northern part of the Old Town and is a point of interest for tourists, worshippers and history enthusiasts alike.

Maritime Museum and Lapidarium

The Maritime Museum of Montenegro in Kotor grew out of the collection of the Boka Marine Fraternity, founded around 1880; the museum opened to the public in 1900. It is housed in Grgurina Palace, an 18th-century Baroque palace. Exhibits include antique weapons, folk costumes and ship models, as well as images of Boka sailing ships and naval battles. The museum offers a distinct perspective on the city's maritime history.

The Lapidarium permanently displays stone objects from the Classical, Early Christian, pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Its broad chronological range sets this part of the collection apart from the ship models and images in the Maritime Museum. Together with the churches, squares and fortifications, it offers several perspectives on Kotor's architectural and cultural history.

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For the main travel overview: Kotor.