Montenegro · 3 days · 16 stops
3 days in Kotor – a ready-made itinerary
Kotor sits at the far end of a deep, winding bay of the Adriatic, hemmed in by steep mountains and a city wall that climbs right up the rock face. Day one covers the old town and the climb to the fortress, day two Perast and the bay, and day three Budva with a view of Sveti Stefan. Each day's stops are in walking or travel order.
In short
- Length
- 3 days, 16 stops
- Highlights
- Climb to the fortress, Our Lady of the Rocks, Budva old town, Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, St Luke's Church
- Where to stay
- Old town, Dobrota
- Getting around
- The old town is small and car-free, so you walk everywhere.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September to October are ideal: warm but not too hot, and less crowded.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Top things to do in Kotor
13 places you should not miss in Kotor – each one is in the plan below with a time and the way there.
- Climb to the fortressSome 1,300 steps lead up along the walls to St John's Fortress. Start early – there is little shade, and the view over the bay is huge.Day 1
- Cathedral of Saint TryphonA twin-towered Romanesque cathedral from the 12th century, the best-known building in the old town.Day 1
- St Luke's ChurchA small Romanesque church on the square of the same name, long shared by Catholic and Orthodox worshippers.Day 1
- Maritime MuseumA museum in a Baroque palace on the bay's long seafaring history, with ship models, charts and portraits of captains.Day 1
- Our Lady of the RocksAn artificial island off Perast with a church full of sailors' votive offerings. Small boats cross from the Perast waterfront.Day 2
- St Nicholas Church, PerastThe parish church with its tall bell tower defines the village. From here you see both islands offshore.Day 2
- Roman mosaics in RisanThe remains of a Roman villa with well-preserved floor mosaics, a few kilometres further round the bay.Day 2
St Nicholas Church, KotorA twin-towered Serbian Orthodox church on the northern edge of the old town. Afterwards, take an evening stroll through the lanes.Day 2- Budva old townA small walled old town on a peninsula, rebuilt after the 1979 earthquake. Still quiet in the morning.Day 3
- CitadelThe fortress at the tip of the old town, looking out over the sea and the island of Sveti Nikola.Day 3
- Holy Trinity ChurchAn Orthodox church from the early 19th century with a striped facade of pale and red stone.Day 3
- Mogren BeachTwo small coves below the cliffs, reached on foot along a coastal path from the old town.Day 3
Sveti StefanAn old fishing village on a tiny island, now part of a hotel. The view from the coast road above is still worth it.Day 3
Day 1
Old town and fortress
Climb to the fortress
Some 1,300 steps lead up along the walls to St John's Fortress. Start early – there is little shade, and the view over the bay is huge.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Climb to the fortressright next door
Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
A twin-towered Romanesque cathedral from the 12th century, the best-known building in the old town.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Cathedral of Saint Tryphonright next door
St Luke's Church
A small Romanesque church on the square of the same name, long shared by Catholic and Orthodox worshippers.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Luke's Churchright next door
Maritime Museum
A museum in a Baroque palace on the bay's long seafaring history, with ship models, charts and portraits of captains.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Maritime Museumright next door
Market by the Sea Gate
The market just outside the city walls, with fruit, cheese and ham from the region. Good for a simple lunch in the shade.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Market by the Sea Gate
Day 2
Perast and the bay
Our Lady of the Rocks
An artificial island off Perast with a church full of sailors' votive offerings. Small boats cross from the Perast waterfront.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Our Lady of the Rocksabout 15 min on foot
St Nicholas Church, Perast
The parish church with its tall bell tower defines the village. From here you see both islands offshore.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Nicholas Church, Perastright next door
Perast
A small village of captains' houses and churches right on the water. The waterfront is a good place for a fish lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Perastabout 2.9 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
Roman mosaics in Risan
The remains of a Roman villa with well-preserved floor mosaics, a few kilometres further round the bay.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Roman mosaics in RisanBus back along the bay to Kotor, about 30 minutes.
St Nicholas Church, Kotor
A twin-towered Serbian Orthodox church on the northern edge of the old town. Afterwards, take an evening stroll through the lanes.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Nicholas Church, Kotor
Day 3
Budva and Sveti Stefan
Budva old town
A small walled old town on a peninsula, rebuilt after the 1979 earthquake. Still quiet in the morning.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Budva old townabout 20 min on foot
Citadel
The fortress at the tip of the old town, looking out over the sea and the island of Sveti Nikola.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Citadelright next door
Holy Trinity Church
An Orthodox church from the early 19th century with a striped facade of pale and red stone.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Holy Trinity Churchabout 15 min on foot
Beach promenade
The long promenade along the town beach, lined with places to eat. Good for fish, mussels from the bay or ćevapi.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Beach promenadeabout 10 min on foot
Mogren Beach
Two small coves below the cliffs, reached on foot along a coastal path from the old town.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Mogren Beachabout 5.6 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
Sveti Stefan
An old fishing village on a tiny island, now part of a hotel. The view from the coast road above is still worth it.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Sveti Stefan
Good to know
Best time to go
May to June and September to October are ideal: warm but not too hot, and less crowded. July and August are often very hot, and on many days cruise ships dock right in front of the old town. Winters are mild but rainy, and boats run less often.
Getting around
The old town is small and car-free, so you walk everywhere. Buses run from the bus station south of the old town along the bay to Perast and Risan, and to Budva; small boats also shuttle across the bay. The nearest airport is Tivat, about 20 minutes by taxi.
Where to stay
Old town
Inside the walls and at its best in the evening. Little room for suitcases, and busy during the day when cruise ships are in.
Dobrota
A quiet district north of the old town right on the bay, with old captains' houses. The old town is a walk away along the water.
Ad Where to stay in Kotor? Compare prices: Old town · Dobrota
Ad Flights to Tivat (for Kotor): compare live prices →
More on Kotor in our blog: How many days in Kotor? 2 with Perast
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Kotor: frequently asked questions
What are the must-see sights in Kotor?
The must-see sights in Kotor are Climb to the fortress, Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, St Luke's Church, Maritime Museum, Our Lady of the Rocks and St Nicholas Church, Perast. This plan links 13 of them into short walks over 3 days – with times, a map and tips.
Are 3 days enough for Kotor?
Yes, for the old town, the fortress, Perast and a day on the coast. With more time, add Lovćen National Park, Herceg Novi or a trip to Dubrovnik.
How hard is the climb to the fortress?
It is some 1,300 steps, and the way up takes about an hour. Take water, wear sturdy shoes and go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
When is the old town least crowded?
Early in the morning and in the evening. When cruise ships dock, the lanes are very busy during the day, especially in summer.
How do I get to Perast?
By bus along the bay, about 25 minutes. In season, boats also run from Kotor.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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