5 Things to Do in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

For being a small country, Montenegro really manages to impress and that’s why we want to share with you the best things to do in the beautiful Bay of Kotor along with the best sights to see while you’re there! The coastal city on the Adriatic Sea packs a punch with its beautiful bays, beaches, small islands, walls of Kotor, and it’s stunning mountains that seem to protect this beauty.

We drove down from Dubrovnik to Kotor as a day trip and it was so fun cruising on the windy roads along the coast. Also a little sketchy at times but we made it and it was oh so worth it.

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 a city which makes you feel like you’re in a completely different world. You almost don’t think it’s real and you may even day dream about what it would have been like to live in this coastal city hundreds of years ago. Personally I probably would have woken up early every morning, climbed up the ladder of Kotor up to the fortress, and admired the morning sunrises every day.

That’s exactly what I pictured standing at the top of the Fortress when we got up there. The photo below shows the view along the walls of Kotor and even though it wasn’t that sunny it was magical. It was simply beautiful and that’s exactly what Kotor is, magical.

Other related posts

• 7 Important Things to Know When Driving to Montenegro
• Hiking in Kotor -Gorgeous Fortress Hike
• 11 Fun Things to Do in Dubrovnik on a Budget
• Hiking in Dubrovnik – Mt Srd Scenic Hike
• 7 Fun Things to Do Wherever You Go
• 7 Ways to Save on Accommodation While Traveling

Things to do in the Bay of 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 making 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

No matter if you’re into history or architecture, the old town of Kotor will charm your socks off (Or sandals since it’s always so hot here)! Kotor has one of the best preserved Old Towns in the Adriatic Sea 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’re thankful for since it definitely keeps the charm when it’s preserved this way. Even with all the crowds, it feels so peaceful walking the narrow streets.

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2. Check out the cats of Kotor

Yup, 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.

3. Go sailing in the Bay of Kotor

There’s no doubt that the bay is the ideal place to go on a sailing tour! 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 tourist 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 will be some options for kayaking on the brochure we mentioned above. So make sure to get the map!

4. Hike up to St. John’s Fortress

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 card.

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) favorite 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.

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!

5. 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 dangerous 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 in the same day.

Other related posts

• 7 Important Things to Know When Driving to Montenegro
• Hiking in Kotor – Gorgeous Fortress Hike
• 11 Fun Things to Do in Dubrovnik on a Budget
• Hiking in Dubrovnik – Mt Srd Scenic Hike
• 7 Fun Things to Do Wherever You Go
• 7 Ways to Save on Accommodation While Traveling

If you haven’t already been to Kotor, you have to make sure you add it to your bucket list!

What are you most excited to see in Kotor? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Have fun!

Dom & Jo

Red White Adventures

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