Three days is the ideal length for a first trip to Kotor. It is long enough to see the walled town properly, spend a day on the water and make one longer excursion, and short enough that you will not run out of things to do. This plan is built around the rhythms of the town: early mornings for the climbs, the middle of the day for trips away from the crowds and evenings in the Old Town once the day visitors have left.
Before you start
Check the cruise-ship schedule for Kotor and plan your busiest sights for the quietest days. Pack comfortable shoes with good grip, because the polished stone of the Old Town is slippery, especially when wet, and bring a hat and water in summer. If you are visiting in the colder months, bring a rain jacket, since the bay gets a great deal of rain between autumn and spring.
Day one: the Old Town and the walls
Start early at the foot of the City Walls and climb the switchbacks to the Fortress of St John, ideally at opening time before the sun and the queues build. The climb takes most people about an hour, with benches and small churches on the way, and the reward is a view down over the red roofs and the dark green water. Come down for a late breakfast in a café on one of the squares, then spend the middle of the day inside the Old Town. Visit St Tryphon Cathedral, the Maritime Museum in its Baroque palace and the small churches nearby, then wander the lanes without a map. In the afternoon, when the heat is highest, rest or take a swim from the shoreline outside the walls. Return to the Old Town in the evening for dinner on a quiet square.
Day two: Perast and the water
Take a local bus or a taxi along the bay road to Perast, a Baroque town of palaces and churches strung along the shore. Climb the bell tower of St Nicholas for the view, then take a boat across to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks, where the church and its small museum sit on an artificial islet built up over centuries. If you prefer to be on the water for longer, book a speedboat trip that continues to the Blue Cave and the island fort of Mamula, or a gentler guided cruise around the whole bay. Have a long lunch by the water, then return to Kotor in the late afternoon. If you have energy left, paddle in a kayak at sunset or go up in the cable car for the evening light.
Day three: choose your own adventure
The third day depends on your tastes. For mountains and history, go over the Kotor serpentine to Lovćen National Park and the Njegoš Mausoleum, stopping in Njeguši village for smoked ham and cheese, and if time allows continue to the old royal capital of Cetinje. For coast and beaches, travel to Budva for its walled old town and the viewpoint over Sveti Stefan, then return along the coast. For walkers, tackle the Ladder of Kotor, the old zigzag trail up the mountain, and finish at a viewpoint before descending by the same path. Whichever you choose, aim to be back in Kotor by early evening for a last dinner.
Getting around
The Old Town is car-free and compact, so most of day one is on foot. For Perast, local buses and taxis are straightforward and affordable, and taxi apps work in town. Lovćen and Cetinje are easier by tour or private driver unless you are comfortable on steep mountain roads. Budva is reachable by bus and by taxi, and most visitors combine it with a stop at Sveti Stefan.
If the weather turns
Rainy days suit the Maritime Museum, a food tasting walk and long café stops, and low cloud can make the bay moody and beautiful rather than disappointing. Swap the outdoor plans for indoor ones and keep the climb for a clearer day. Boat trips and some mountain roads can be affected by wind and rain, so keep your itinerary flexible and book trips with free changes where possible.
Where to stay
For a short visit, staying inside the walls means you can start the day before the crowds. A historic hotel such as Hotel Cattaro puts you steps from the main square, while Boutique Hotel Astoria offers a smaller, simpler base in the lanes. If you prefer space and a sea view, look at hotels along the shore at Dobrota or in Perast, and accept a short taxi ride into the Old Town in return.
