Where We Be
This is a town that begs to be explored over several days if possible
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Kotor is a delightfully photogenic walled town
from medieval times -- and not just walled, but
vertical. The walls of the fortress go up, up, up,
and the fortress itself climbs right up the cliff-
side. It's free to walk the walls surrounding Old
Town, but to climb up to Kotor Fortress costs
€15 pp. That's right, you have to pay for the pain
of climbing up 1,350 stairs. And yet -- the killer
views are worth a bit of suffering.
The town itself is an absolute maze of narrow
cobbled streets. And I mean narrow. Like, half
the time you think you're coming to a dead end,
but there's actually a tiny alleyway heading off at
right angles from it. The town is surrounded by
thick city walls and three entry gates -- South
Gate, Sea Gate, and River Gate. These gates
help you orient yourself in the city so you aren't
constantly staring at your phone for directions.
But our suggestion is to let yourself get lost in
the labyrinth. It's fun! And the town's really not
that big. Piazza of the Arms, with its clock tower
and cats galore, is the main square. Nearby is St.
Tryphon's Cathedral. Before long, you'll come to
know the twists and turns and quaint landmarks
of the town and navigate through them like a pro.
To quiet courtyards and al fresco restaurants ...
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From steep mountains and ancient fortresses ...
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We had such fun exploring here!
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And another ... and another
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Turn the corner -- et voila! -- another charming street
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Charming streets abound within Old Town
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We scored one of our favorite rooms of the entire trip at Antika
Guesthouse, set inside a 13th-century building in Old Town
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The fortress walls begin to climb right from the entrance -- and go up from there
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This is the entrance into town. When an entrance is
this impressive, you know you're in for a good time.
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Arrow slits are spaced at regular intervals along the way up
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Higher up, an occasional courtyard lets you catch your breath while enjoying the views
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About a third of the way up, you reach St. John's Church,
a notable landmark that's visible all throughout town
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All the while, the impressive walls of Kotor Fortress loom above you
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But at least the climb is scenic, with plenty of ruins and natural beauty to keep you engaged
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The zigzag climb to the top is no picnic
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At the top! The Bay of Kotor stretches out below us.
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The narrow streets are a delight to explore
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Then there's the food, which is excellent. Our pasta dinners at La Catedral were outstanding.
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They're adorable and clean and well-behaved and well-fed --
and you'll find them sleeping in all sorts of places
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If you like cats, you'll like Kotor, because they're everywhere
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The first thing you need to know about Kotor is, it's full of cats -- lots of cats
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One final view before heading back down for some much-deserved gelato!
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Displays of irises and other blooms add to the hike's beauty
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Steps, steps, and more steps!
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Montenegro's flag flutters at the top of the fortress ruins
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The ruins -- and the views -- become more expansive the higher you climb
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From Kotor Fortress you can see the "triangle" of walled Kotor directly below
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Don't miss the free wall walk -- it affords fine views of the town from above
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Three days in Kotor gave us the chance to soak up the ambience of the town without rushing
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There are so many quiet corners to explore
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So come and savor all the beauty this walled town has to offer
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