A CHARMING MEDIEVAL VILLAGE TO VISIT
If you’re going to the Balkans, you should visit the Old Town of Kotor in Montenegro, one of the most charming and well-preserved medieval villages in Europe.
Nestled amongst lime stone mountains and a picturesque bay, is the city of Kotor, in the country of Montenegro, formerly, part of the old Yugoslavia. The highlight of Kotor is definitely its Old Town, known as Stari Grad, and that’s what I’m focusing on here.
Kotor’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a history spanning more than 2,000 years. Located in the Balkans part of Europe, it was originally part of the Roman Empire, then under numerous other rulers throughout its history. But the longest was Venetian rule lasting more than 400 years, which is evident in the many buildings and defensive structures they built.
Kotor Old Town has survived numerous natural disasters and destruction during wars, but the town has been reconstructed and its historic features have been preserved very well.
I visited Kotor in April during Spring, and took a walking tour with a local expert, to experience this charming medieval village.
If you plan on spending one day in the Old Town of Kotor, here is a general guide on what to expect in the small bustling coastal town.
Main Gate and Square
Entry to the Old Town of Kotor is through the main gate, called the Seagate. This gate leads you into the Square of Arms, the largest gathering place.
Here you see the Clock Tower dating from the 16th century and standing in front of it is a stone pyramid which was a pillory used to shame wayward people during the middle ages.
The town is an enchanting medieval village, with cobblestoned streets, several squares, narrow alleys, small churches, museums and monuments to see.
The Old Town of Kotor is car-free, so walking is the only option and the best way to explore the hidden gems.
It doesn’t take long to walk the small, compact town on your own, but a tour guide will give you in-depth details about Kotor as you go, which I thoroughly recommend.
Exploring Streets Of Old Town
Enjoy exploring the streets and alleys of Kotor’s Old Town and explore the hidden gems.
You’ll find numerous restaurants and cafes to try, and of course shopping is always on the agenda. Shops selling gifts, souvenirs, clothes, leather, ornaments, art, jewellery and more can be found in the little alleys.
Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
This cathedral is the main focal point of the town, built in the 12th century and dedicated to Holy Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor.
It is one of the oldest existing cathedrals of the Adriatic region.
There is a small fee to enter this church.
Art Gallery
Pima Palace, located in Flour Square dating from 16th century, belonged to the wealthy, noble Pima family. Now it functions as an art gallery of local and international artists, called the Gallery of Solidarity.
There is a minimal cost to enter.
Maritime Museum
Kotor has a proud naval history and this is displayed at the Maritime Museum, a Baroque palace that belonged to the noble Grgurina family from the beginning of the 18th century.
I enjoyed seeing the various uniforms, weapons, artwork, and ship models exhibited.
Entry fee is a few euros.
Church of Saint Luke
St Luke’s Church is from the 12th century and is Slavic Orthodox. It has a central dome in the Byzantine style, and some Gothic features as well. Interestingly, it has a bell gable, rather than a bell tower. The front of St Luke’s appears to be in need of a little cleaning, as seen below.
Karampana Well
This old well caught my attention, with its elaborate wrought iron. It used to be the only water source to the town, dating from the 1700’s. A beautiful centrepiece in the square of the same name, where people would meet and chat while fetching water.
Church of Saint Nicholas
This is a Serbian Orthodox church built in the early 1900’s, with 2 bell towers, which apparently aren’t the same height, located in St Luke’s Square in the Old Town.
Entry is free.
Old Town Walls
The Old Town of Kotor was not only protected by the natural black rock mountains, but also by huge walls and 4km long ramparts, towers and forts. These fortifications were built gradually from 9th to 14th centuries.
You can walk the Old Town walls for lovely views of the town and the Bay of Kotor. However, the walls are not as dramatic as Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls, nearby in Croatia.
Cost is 8 Euros.
Scenic View of Old Town
For a spectacular view of the Old Town and the Bay, climb the steps up to the Fortress of Saint John, at the top of Saint John’s Mountain. The fort was built by the Venetians in the 1400’s. Now it is mostly ruins. There is an entry fee to go into the fort.
Be prepared for many steps on this 4km climb, and it’s not easy. It has become a popular hiking trail with tourists.
General Info about Kotor, Montenegro
Currency – Euro. Credit cards are accepted, but have some cash handy.
Languages spoken – Montenegrin, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Albanian and some English. Google Translate doesn’t recognise Montenegrin, so try Serbian or Croatian. The Montenegrin language uses both Cyrillic and Latin alphabets, interchangeably.
Transport around Kotor – Bus or car only. There are taxis, but no Uber.
Trains to and from Kotor – Use Rail.cc.
Airport – There is no airport in Kotor. Nearest International airports are Tivat (TIV), Podgorica (TGD), or Dubrovnic (DBV).
Ferries – available between Dubrovnik and Kotor or between other European cities.
Weather – Mediterranean climate. Warmest month is August. Coldest month is January.
Finally, you can quite easily see all of the Old Town of Kotor in one day, so it isn’t necessary to stay overnight. But there are various hotels and apartments available for holiday rental if you wish to do so.
I enjoyed my one day in Kotor’s Old Town and recommend visiting when you are travelling the Balkans and the Adriatic.
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9 Comments
That place looks amazing and historical! Will definitely add to my list!
The Old Town of Kotor in Montenegro sounds like a terrific spot to visit with my family. Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences.
My friend just visited the place via a cruise and loved it. She was just talking to us and I am glad I got to see how lovely it is especially the architecture. Can’t wait to see it in person
Kotor is absolutely gorgeous! I’d never heard of it before I came across this post, but now it’s at the top of my bucket list!
Kotor has such a rich history, and this post captures it well. The mix of old town charm and scenic views makes it a place worth exploring.
It is very interesting to hear about a car-free area of a town! Feels absolutely full of history.
I will be hiking in Albania in September but I don’t think I will have the time to country hop. But your photos of the old town make me want to visit.
We really enjoyed our stay in Kotor. We hiked up to the fortress early, so that we were one of the few people up there, which was great! Enjoyed exploring Perast and other day trips as well.
Kotor is so high on my bucket list! Thanks for all the info and photos. I really hope to visit one day.