Adriatic Coast Travelers Recommend

Steeped in history and with fabulous scenery and sightseeing all around, Kotor holds appeal for almost every traveler. If you have three days in this Montenegrin stunner, here are our tips for the perfect itinerary—from admiring Kotor’s medieval showpieces to river rafting and more.

Day 1: Kotor and Kotor Bay

Start with a small-group or customizable private walking tour of Kotor Old Town—exploring by foot is your only option in the pedestrianized town—to see highlights such as the Sea Gate and Cathedral of St. Tryphon. Then head to quaint, bayside Perast, with no less than 16 picture-perfect churches, including Our Lady of the Rocks church, on an island in Kotor Bay. For more time on the water, instead take a longer boat trip on Kotor Bay. Ride a shared boat to Perast, or choose a private motorboat cruise to Mamula Island—once the site of a World War II fortress—that also calls at Dobreč Beach and the Blue Cave to swim and snorkel in its aquamarine waters.

Day 2: Exploring Farther Afield

Strike out on your second day, venturing to the seaside gems of Budva and Sveti Stefan—the latter a picture-postcard fortified island connected to the mainland—or choose a tour that combines both with other towns and wine tastings. Options include Montenegro’s old royal capital of Cetinje; the village of Njeguši, known for its pršut (prosciutto); and Skadar Lake, famous for its wildlife. Alternatively, take a trip to the 17th-century Ostrog Monastery—perched on a sheer mountain face—and enjoy a boat trip on Skadar Lake to spot its bird species and absorb its tranquil beauty. If you want a glimpse of Montenegro’s lesser-known neighbor, however, journey south into Albania to explore its still-mysterious capital of Tirana and history-steeped city of Durrës. Highlights include a well-preserved Roman amphitheater and archaeological museum.

Day 3: The Great Outdoors

Devote your last day to nature and adventure. Steer a stand-up paddleboard over Kotor Bay to drink in the incredible scenery, or hike the mountain trail above town known as the ‘Ladder of Kotor.’ Cyclists can spin down the slopes of Mt. Lovcen National Park, where 26 hairpin bends reveal beautiful panoramas. For high adventure, go rafting on the River Tara on a full-day trip from Kotor. This steep-sided canyon river foams through cliffs and forests and offers white-water sections for beginner and experienced rafters. End your trip enjoying Kotor’s buzzing-yet-laid-back atmosphere. Stroll the waterfront, relax over dinner at a restaurant, and snap photos of the starlit bay as keepsakes.

If you’re planning a day in terraced, medieval Kotor, tucked into Montenegro’s steep-sided Bay of Kotor, there’s plenty to see and get you out and about. From admiring the walled Old Town to mountain hikes and boat trips, here’s how to spend a day in the city.

Morning: Get to Know Kotor

Find your feet in Kotor on an introductory Old Town walking tour—this compact, traffic-free medieval city is ideal for exploring on foot. Choose a private or small-group foray, and roam the stone streets to see the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, Square of Arms, and the Sea Gate, the 16th-century main entrance built by the Venetians. Learn about Kotor’s history en route, and gaze at the steep hills behind the town. If you have the energy after your tour, perhaps hike or cycle down the zigzagging paths or roads, tackling what’s known as the ‘Ladder of Kotor.’ You’ll be rewarded with spectacular panoramas as you go.

Afternoon: On the Water

After lunch, get out onto Boka Bay—the local name for the Bay of Kotor—to experience its beauty spots, towns, and views of the city sandwiched between the mountains and water. Book a private speedboat to Our Lady of the Rocks Church, perched on its own artificial islet, and swim in the neon-blue waters of the Blue Cave. Other options include shared cruises to Our Lady of the Rocks that also let you stroll, sightsee, and eat in the church-packed town of Perast; you’ll find regular boat departures from Kotor. Alternatively, take advantage of the bay waters to try stand-up paddleboarding, getting instructions and paddling by beaches, coves, and nature reserves.

Evening: Sunset Strolls and Dinner

Kotor looks magical at dusk and after dark when its lights are reflected in the glittering bay waters. An evening stroll on the palm-lined promenade is great for admiring the setting and building an appetite for dinner at one of Kotor’s restaurants. Grab a table for signature Montenegro dishes such as buzara (seafood in a white- or red-wine sauce), lake carp, pršut (prosciutto), or black cuttlefish-ink risotto.

Spending two days in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor lets you experience its stone-built Old Town, a Bay of Kotor cruise, and outdoor pursuits and still have time for a day trip to Montenegro’s Adriatic coast and mountainous heartlands. Here’s how to get the best from two days in Kotor.

Day 1: Essential Kotor

Morning: Begin at Kotor Old Town: a mini-Dubrovnik crowned by the 12th-century St. Tryphon Cathedral. The town is small and traffic-free, so tours—usually private or small-group—are on foot. Alternatively, take a tour that includes nearby Perast and its Our Lady of the Rocks church, marooned on an island in Kotor Bay, known locally as Boka Bay.

Afternoon: Ease back with a scenic boat trip across Kotor Bay. If you didn’t do so this morning, cruise to Perast and its island church, or ride a private speedboat to Mamula Island and the sunlit Blue Cave to swim and snorkel.

Evening: Savor a predinner local wine at one of Kotor’s wine bars before choosing an Old Town or waterside restaurant. Taste Montenegrin specialities such as seafood risotto, slow-roasted lamb, or buzara —seafood in tomato sauce.

Day 2: Out and About

Morning: Expand your horizons with a day trip to other Montenegro attractions. Visit the Adriatic coastline to discover walled Budva and the fortified island village of Sveti Stefan. Or, take a wider tour that also covers Njeguši—famous for its pršut (dry-cured ham)—and the country’s former royal capital of Cetinje, in the mountains above Kotor.

Afternoon: If you didn’t take a day trip this morning, enjoy some outdoor pursuits this afternoon. Hike or cycle what’s known as ‘The Ladder of Kotor’—a steep trail and road that corkscrews above the town—for bird’s-eye bay-and-mountain views. Alternatively, learn how to stand-up paddleboard, and spend the afternoon wafting past the bay’s beaches and villages.

Evening: Slow the pace with a sunset meander around the Old Town’s streets. Kotor’s symbol is the cat, so perhaps explore the cat-based memorabilia at the Cats Museum to chart its quirky historical relationship with felines. Finally, enjoy a nightcap at one of Kotor’s bars: downing some local rakija fruit brandy before calling it a night.