About
Kotor Old City is a walled heritage quarter on the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, on the Adriatic coast of southeastern Europe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it makes a rewarding visit for anyone interested in how a Mediterranean town has grown up within its fortifications over the centuries.
What you will see
The old town is built on a compact plan of medieval stone streets, with ancient churches and Venetian-era palaces standing among the houses. Its narrow, winding alleys reward slow walking, and you will find small cafés and boutiques tucked into the lanes, so the streets feel lived in rather than purely historic.
- Medieval stone streets and labyrinthine alleys
- Ancient churches and Venetian palaces
- Cafés and boutiques along the lanes
- The town walls, which rise up the mountain slopes behind the old quarter
Climbing the walls
The fortress walls are the highlight for many visitors. Climbing them gives wide views over the bay and the rooftops below, and it helps you understand how the town's defences were laid out against the steep mountainside. Allow time for the climb, and wear comfortable shoes, since the stone steps and paths are uneven.
Planning your visit
The old city is best explored on foot, and it suits a half day or a full day, depending on how much time you spend on the walls and in the cafés. Because the setting is dramatic and the streets are narrow, it is a place to wander without a rigid plan. The surrounding bay gives the old town its character, so the view across the water is part of the experience as well as the stonework itself.