Kotor is quite close to Perast; we got there after a 15-minute drive. We'd arrived at another place steeped in history along the Bay of Kotor. The city sits beneath mountain peaks that rise along the Bay of Kotor and offer really beautiful views.
Walking between the gates of the hard-to-breach defensive walls, with the fortress stretching from hilltop to hilltop, feels like walking back in time. The coastal town's origins go back to Ancient Roman times. But over the centuries the city was threatened by various empires.
For those visiting the city like us, we'll give some tips on "What to do in Kotor, where to go?"
Old Town Streets
While exploring Kotor, you can get lost in the narrow, cobbled streets of the old town as if you were in a labyrinth. We learned that the streets, which look chaotic at first glance, were made that way on purpose. They were designed to be confusing in order to bewilder uninvited guests who wanted to raid the town suddenly and plunder it.
As you wander the streets and the oddly shaped squares, take plenty of photos of the old stone buildings and churches! The tourist office outside the Sea Gate (the pink main gate) hands out free maps to help you find your way. We got one and it made exploring the city easier.
The church bells keep time every hour from 06:00 in the morning until 22:00 at night. The city's historic look has been preserved and it lacks anything flashy or modern, but looking closely we could see wires and boxy air conditioners showing that the city isn't without modern amenities.
And then there's the traffic, which is no different. The roads in this area are single-lane, and on top of that the number of tourists is very high. It's as if the city can't handle it, a burden on its back. You'll definitely get stuck in traffic going from one place to another.
Kotor Fortress
In our opinion the trip isn't complete without climbing the fortress walls. The history of San Giovanni Fortress goes back to the 6th century, and the fortress overlooks almost the entire city. It's fair to say that a pretty long adventure awaits those climbing up on foot. From the fortress, see the striking views and vivid colours of the Bay of Kotor and the old town roofs, and photograph them too.
The entrance fee is €3, and the walk takes about 45 minutes on average. Visiting in the morning is best, but the fortress opens to visitors at 8:00 am. As we mentioned above, we were stuck in traffic for a long time, so we had to just take a quick look at the fortress from outside and move on. We got some great photos, then went back to our route.
Kotor Waterfront
After our fortress visit, it was time to explore this lovely city's waterfront. Enjoy the city along with the view on the promenade that runs along the shoreline. If you find an empty bench or want to sit in a café, watch the view for a long while. And if you can catch the sunset, it's an absolute treat. :)
Historic Churches
There are so many churches in the city that we gathered them under one heading so as not to write about them one by one. Sometimes church visits in cities become very ordinary, and Kotor was one of those cities for us.
Apparently having so many churches in the city helps people understand the history and the city better. But the same doesn't go for us, of course :)
The strange part is that only a fairly small part of the population is Catholic, yet one of the city's most interesting buildings is the Catholic Cathedral of St. Tryphon. This cathedral was built in 1166, and according to one story it is believed to house the relics of St. Tryphon, Kotor's saint and protector.
Another church in the old town centre is St. Nicholas Church. This Orthodox church, built in 1909, is beautifully decorated with ornate figures.
You can find the other parts of our trip in our Balkans Tour post.
6 km
10 km
16 km