a red boat floating on top of a body of water

Kotor

A walled medieval port on Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, known for its city walls, Venetian streets and limestone cliffs rising steeply above the water.

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Kotor is a walled port town on the Bay of Kotor, in Montenegro's Coastal region. Its old town is one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Adriatic, with Venetian-era fortifications and buildings from the years Venice ruled the town, 1420 to 1797. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, built in 1166, is the main sight inside the walls. The bay is a flooded river canyon, and the limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen rise steeply above the town.

The city walls climb about 4.5 km (3 mi) up the slope directly above the town, and the bay views are the reason to walk them. For a shorter climb, the Kotor-Lovćen cable car takes about 11 minutes to reach Lovćen National Park. Many visitors arrive by cruise ship, so the old town can feel crowded. Plan at least one day in town, and two if you want the walls, the cable car and a trip to Perast.

Kotor in five

Walk the old town before the ships dockThe Port of Kotor is a popular cruise stop, so the lanes near the main gate can fill when ships are in. Go early or after dinner, and keep the fortress climb for a cooler hour.
Check the fortress path rules at the gateAsk whether the walls path above the town is ticketed and what hours apply, since both can change by season. Read the notice at the gate and bring water and shoes with grip.
Ride the cable car for the bay viewThe Kotor Cable Car reaches Lovćen in an 11-minute ride. Tickets sell at the box office or online, and the operator posts separate postseason and standard price lists, so read the current one.Cable car tickets
Choose sea or road from DubrovnikA fast catamaran links Dubrovnik and Kotor, and the road route crosses a border that can queue in summer. Decide which leg you want on the water.Dubrovnik to Kotor

Things to do in Kotor

See all attractions in Kotor

a church with a steeple surrounded by trees

Church · KotorCathedral of Saint TryphonGo early in the day, when the cathedral is quieter and the interior is easier to take in.

Historic site · KotorGurdić Gate

Landmark · KotorKotor Town WallsWear sturdy shoes for the steep steps.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KotorPut the places you like in Kotor on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Tivat (TIV) is the closest; Podgorica (TGD) is the second airport
Getting there: Bus or car along the bay; fast catamaran from Dubrovnik
Getting around: Old town on foot; buses and taxis for the villages around the bay
Best base: Old Town for atmosphere; Dobrota or Prčanj for quiet
Time needed: One full day; two nights with Perast and the cable car

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Mild, wet
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, wet
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Spring, quiet
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Warm, green
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, long days
JuneClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Hot, busy
JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, ships
AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, ships
SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm sea
OctoberRain10 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, quieter
NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Rainy
DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, wet

Average daily high and low in Kotor, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kotor

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: -1°
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 18 km/h
Chance of rain: 63%

Kotor

09:06 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°4°63%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 63%.
Tue8°4°93%Tuesday: Rain. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 93%.
Wed8°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri8°2°4%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sat8°1°35%Saturday: Rain. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 35%.
Sun7°4°58%Sunday: Rain. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 58%.

Updated 06:31 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Kotor

Cable car and fortress ticketsPlan the climb or the rideBook timed entry

Hotels in the Old Town or DobrotaCompare bases by walking timeCheck availability

eSIM for MontenegroMaps for the old town mazeRead the guide

Insurance for MontenegroCover for steep steps and delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Kotor, checked

Adriatic Lines 2026: Dubrovnik–Kotor day trip adult 75 EUR, one way 60 EUR; passport or EU ID card needed; no ticket sales in Kotor.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

All Kotor guides

a cobblestone street with an arched doorway

How toDubrovnik to Kotor day trip: catamaran, bus or car and the borderChecked Oct 3, 2026

Head to headKotor or Budva: which base fits your Montenegro trip?Checked Oct 3, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Kotor: Old Town, Dobrota, Prčanj or ŠkaljariChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Kotor

Perast

The baroque village and the island church

Read the guide Bay of Kotor

A loop of stops around the bay

Read the guide Tivat

Airport town with a marina

Read the guide All of Montenegro

Entry rules, coast and mountains

Read the guide

Kotor FAQ

Is Kotor worth visiting?

Yes, if you like walkable medieval towns with bay views: the old town is UNESCO-listed, with a fortress path above and a cable car to Lovćen. Stay a night to see it early and late, away from the midday crowds.

How many days do you need in Kotor?

One full day covers the old town and the fortress path. Two nights add Perast, the cable car and a bay boat trip. Add a third day only for Lovćen or a Budva beach day.

Can you visit Kotor as a day trip from Dubrovnik?

Yes. Adriatic Lines runs a fast catamaran with a same-day return option, and the road route crosses a border that can queue in summer. The day-trip guide compares both.

Where should you stay in Kotor?

The Old Town for atmosphere, Dobrota for a waterfront walk and calmer nights, Prčanj for a village feel, Škaljari for parking and the cable car. The where-to-stay guide compares them.

Is the Kotor cable car worth it?

It saves the climb and ends at Lovćen after an 11-minute ride, and the operator lists separate postseason and standard prices. Choose it for views without effort and skip it in low cloud.