A CHARMING OLD TOWN AND A GOOD BASE FOR TRAVEL IN MONTENEGRO

Kotor is potentially the most famous historical city in Montenegro - with tourism being driven in large part by cruises and day trips. The town dates back over 2,000 years to Illyrian times and has passed through several empires (including Roman, Venetian, and Austrian-Hungarian). The historic center of the city, though, largely dates back to the medieval times when it was under Venetian Rule - and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Venetian defenses of that period.

Like all of Montenegro, Kotor is small - and can comfortably be experienced in a day. It’s easy to base in one coastal city in Montenegro, though, and explore the rest by day trips. I think Kotor is the best base if you want some quiet time along the sea with the comforts of a town large enough for grocery stores and plenty of restaurants.

WALK AROUND OLD TOWN

Without a doubt, the reason that Kotor has risen in prominence as a tourist destination is its medieval Old Town - which can feel like a smaller version of Dubrovnik. Its cobble-stoned maze-like streets and stone buildings are charming - and there’s a section of the wall that is intact and can be walked along for free. While not as impressive as Dubrovnik, the Old Town is quaint and an easy place to spend a few hours.

While there are a few destinations (in particular churches) that are commonly recommended as to-dos in Old Town, I didn’t find any of them particularly memorable. If you just wander around, you’ll naturally bump into the things that will most impress you - and I think that organic kind of exploration is better suited for Kotor.

GO FOR A HIKE

The second most common thing to do is to walk up to Kotor Fortress - a walled fortification above the Old Town. I also think this is the most distinctive experience of Kotor - something different than just another Old Town along the Dalmatian Coast.

The easiest path up is a set of stairs accessed in Old Town - which costs about $8. I think the better - and free - way to go is via the Ladder of Kotor - a hiking series of switchbacks up the mountain. That hike includes an entrance to the fort (up a ladder through a window) - in addition to a 2-hour hike to the top of the mountain with stunning bay views. If you go in the summer, check the weather and try to go outside of the hottest part of the day.

TAKE A DAY TRIP

Kotor can be comfortably experienced in one day - as can all of the destinations in Montenegro. Instead of changing cities every day (and having to drag your luggage around), I think the better way to experience Montenegro is by day trips. If you base in Kotor, you can travel by bus to Budva (a budding party city along the beach with a small Old Town), Perast (a sleepy bay town known for its Italian architecture), or Herceg Novi (another coastal bay city known for its fort, sea mud and spas).