Last updated: June 2026

The Bay of Kotor is one of the most beautiful places I've been in Europe. The aquamarine water, the slightly hazy blue-green mountains, the picture-perfect stone towns with their faded orange-red roofs. It's magical.

Kotor and surrounding towns are a great place to spend a relaxing week by the water that won’t break the bank (as much as other Mediterranean locations anyway). But many people only visit Kotor for a short time so I want to share the best parts.

Here are the must do things when you're in Kotor for 2-3 days, plus my picks for where to stay — three inside the Old Town walls and one across the bay in Muo, where I stayed.

Before we get stuck in, one word of warning: many cruise ships visit Kotor and during the days that they’re docked, the town can be extremely busy. If you can, check the cruise ships dates and try to avoid them. If you can’t avoid them, make sure you stay for a few days so you’ll at least have the mornings and evenings to yourself.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book through one of my links I earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend experiences I genuinely believe are worth your time and money.

The top things to do in Kotor

1. Visit Perast and the Our Lady of the Rocks church

While many websites will tell you the first thing you should do in Kotor is climb up to the top of the old fort, I’m going to be different and tell you that in my opinion, the number one thing you shouldn’t miss on a trip to Kotor isn’t even actually in Kotor at all.

Drive, catch a cab or take the bus for 15-20 minutes outside Kotor to the small town of Perast to see a church and monastery that are built on two small islands in the middle of the bay. The unique view of two beautiful buildings floating in the middle of such a vast bay is unforgettable. The photos I took in Perast are some of the ones I share most frequently when people ask me to show them the best part of Europe they’ve never heard about.

For the best views and photos, head up the bell tower in the Church of Saint Nicholas. You can also take a boat out to Our Lady of the Rocks island - the tickets are cheap and you'll spend 30 minutes to an hour out there. There isn't masses to do once you're on the island, but if it's a nice day I'd go for it.

Make a day of it: have lunch at one of the restaurants in Perast before heading back. We got a cab there and took the bus home - buses run roughly every hour so check the timetable before you go. Alternatively, you can book a boat tour from Kotor to Perast here.

2. Climb up to the top of the old fort

Okay, so while it’s not my number one thing to do in Kotor, climbing up to the top of the old fort is still a must do for stunning views of the bay. The walk will take about an hour and isn’t particularly difficult, however if you’re going in summer, I’d recommend going early, otherwise the heat, cruise ships and crowds might ruin the experience. We headed up at about 7am in the morning and were able to take photos along the way in peace, but even at the time of day once we were at the top it started to get busy.

3. Go swimming in the bay

I loved swimming in Kotor Bay - it’s salty sea water but without the waves so you can just float around. From our Airbnb in Muo we could run straight outside and jump into the bay with the locals. No touristy beaches, just us (and okay maybe a giant cruise ship on the other side of the bay). So make sure your pack you bathers!

4. Wander the old town

Kotor’s old town is gorgeously quaint. It’s extremely well preserved, full of beautiful stone buildings, churches and alleyways - and lots of cute cats. Make sure you spend some time wandering around, including walking along the city walls which can be accessed near the north entrance of the old town or to the left of the southern gate.

If you'd rather have some context and history as you explore, this guided walking tour is a great option.

5. Go on a tour to see inland Montenegro

While we were in Kotor, we went on a day tour to see inland Montenegro and learn about its history. Our trip was meant to be a relaxing one, so we hadn’t hired a car but after speaking to some people that had been inland in Montenegro, I got FOMO so I found this amazing tour which took us around Montenegro in just one day, seeing the highlights from a road with 25 hairpin turns (!), the world’s highest mausoleum, the old capital, Crnojević River, Skadar Lake, Sveti Stefan and more. It was the best day we had in Montenegro. Book a similar tour here.

Where to stay in Kotor

Kotor's a small place and accommodation is limited so it's worth booking early. The Old Town is the obvious choice — sleeping inside the medieval walls is part of the appeal — but it can get noisy in summer, rooms can be small and it often feels pricey for what you get. For somewhere quieter with bay views, I'd recommend, and have personally stayed in, Muo, which is a five-minute drive or easy fifteen-minute walk around the water to Kotor proper.

Here are three hotel picks inside the walls, plus one across the bay if you'd rather wake up to the view than be in the middle of it.

For a proper treat: Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro is situated in the old town, right in the heart of the action, so if having everything on your doorstep is important to you, this is the place to choose. This historic boutique hotel is set across three buildings, including one which was once Napoleon's theatre. Breakfast is served on a balcony looking down over the main square, which is the perfect way to start the day before the cruise crowds arrive. If you're like me, you may be a little alarmed to hear that building also houses Maximus, one of Kotor's biggest nightclubs, but I can assure you that the rooms are properly soundproofed and you won't hear a thing once you're inside.

Best mid-range: Hotel Vardar is in an excellent location, just inside the city walls near the clock tower. The building is one of the old palazzos, but the rooms inside have been properly modernised, and there's a small spa downstairs. Walking out of the front door puts you straight in the heart of everything, which is the upside and the downside, since the square has a couple of late-night bars. Ask for a courtyard-facing room if you're a light sleeper.

Best on a budget: Hotel Monte Cristo is a small family-run place at the quieter end of the Old Town, near the Maritime Museum. Free breakfast, free parking just outside the walls, and a courtyard restaurant that locals come to as well as guests. The most affordable proper hotel inside the walls, in a 13th-century building that used to belong to Kotor's first bishop.

Or base yourself in Muo for fewer crowds

I stayed in Muo for a week and walked into the Old Town every day. It's a single road of stone houses curving along the water across the bay from Kotor, with views straight back to the walls and the mountains behind. I loved getting out of bed, walking across the road and jumping straight into the bay with nobody else around. Fewer tour groups, easier parking, and a string of waterfront cafés and restaurants where locals actually eat. The walk in takes about fifteen minutes along the bay.

The pick if you want a pool: DekaderonLux is family-run apartments stacked above a swimming pool that hangs out over the water, with a small on-site restaurant and bar. Fully equipped kitchens and free parking.

A few practical notes

Kotor works well as a standalone trip (you can fly into Tivat airport which is a short drive from Kotor bay) or as an add-on to Croatia — Dubrovnik is about 2.5 hours away by bus.

Two to three nights gives you enough time to do everything above without rushing. If you're visiting in summer, May, early June, or September are the sweet spots - July and August are stunning but the cruise ship crowds are real.