Most visitors see Kotor from the inside: the marble lanes of the Old Town, the churches, the cats and the walls climbing the mountain behind it. That part deserves a full morning. But many of the best things to do in Kotor are a few kilometres away, on the slopes above the bay, where the views open up and the crowds thin out.
This guide starts with the classics and then heads uphill: to Vrmac ridge, the old Austro-Hungarian forts, the Luštica peninsula and the road to Lovćen. Each section tells you what to expect, how long it takes and how to get there.
The Old Town and the climb to San Giovanni Fortress
Kotor's walled Old Town is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is small enough to explore on foot in two or three hours. Go early, before the cruise ship passengers arrive, and leave time for the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon and the small squares around it.
The classic Kotor walk climbs the city walls to San Giovanni Fortress, also called St John's Fortress. It is roughly 1,350 steps to a point about 260 metres above the town, and the view of the bay from the top is the one you have seen on postcards. Entry to the walls is paid in season. Start at sunrise or late in the afternoon: there is almost no shade on the way up and the stone steps are uneven.
Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Perast is a quiet baroque town about 12 km along the bay from Kotor, with stone palaces lined up along the water. From its waterfront, small boats take visitors to Our Lady of the Rocks, a church built on an artificial island. According to local tradition, seafarers created the island by sinking rocks and old ships, and every year on 22 July the people of Perast still row out to throw stones around it, a custom called Fašinada.
Perast is easy to combine with an afternoon on the water or a ride in the hills, so it fits well into a half day.
Vrmac ridge: the best viewpoints above Kotor
Vrmac is the long green ridge that separates the Bay of Kotor from the Bay of Tivat. Its highest point, Sveti Ilija at 766 m, looks down on both bays at once, and on a clear day you can follow the coastline all the way to the open sea. Old military roads from Austro-Hungarian times cross the ridge, and Fort Vrmac, built in the 1890s, is still one of the best preserved forts in the region.
The roads on Vrmac are steep and rough, so most people explore it on a guided ride. The Vrmac Ridge Panorama Tour takes about 2.5 to 3 hours by quad, or by buggy with a professional driver, and climbs to Sveti Ilija for the view over Kotor and Tivat. It is a relaxed ride rather than an adrenaline trip, which makes it a good first off-road experience.
Vrmac after dark
Kotor looks completely different at night, when the walls and the fortress are lit up. The Vrmac Night Tour is a 2.5 hour quad ride to Sveti Ilija and a hidden forest viewpoint right above the Old Town. For couples, the Vrmac Romantic Buggy Tour goes to the same hidden viewpoint with a professional driver at the wheel and a bottle of prosecco waiting for you.
Fort Goražda and the Austro-Hungarian forts
When Kotor was an Austro-Hungarian naval base, the empire ringed the bay with forts and batteries. Fort Goražda, built between 1884 and 1886, stands on a hill at about 450 m, roughly 10 km from Kotor, above the old road to Cetinje. It was designed around an armoured gun turret, and its grassy roof made it hard to spot from the sea or the valley.
Today the forts are abandoned, which is part of their charm, but the interiors are dark and uneven, so do not explore them alone. The Fort Goražda Off-Road Tour is a 1.5 to 2 hour quad ride from Kotor, and it combines well with Vrmac if you want a full day of forts and viewpoints.
Luštica peninsula: forts, coves and a submarine tunnel
Across the water, the Luštica peninsula guards the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. It is greener and far quieter than the coast around Kotor, with olive groves, stone villages and gravel tracks that are made for off-road riding. Boat trips from the bay also stop at the Blue Cave on its outer coast.
The Luštica Forts Tour crosses the peninsula over Obosnik peak to three forts: Kabala, Luštica and Arza, which sits at the very tip of the peninsula. Plan 4 to 5 hours. A shorter route, the Luštica Submarine Tunnel & Fort Kabala tour, visits an old navy submarine tunnel cut into the shore and then Fort Kabala, in about 3 to 4 hours.
Gornji Stoliv and the chestnut forest
Above the seaside village of Stoliv, on the slopes of Vrmac, the old stone hamlet of Gornji Stoliv sits in a forest of chestnut trees. It feels a world away from the busy bay road below. The climb is very steep, so the Gornji Stoliv Buggy Tour runs only by buggy with a professional driver.
Up the Kotor serpentine to Lovćen
Behind Kotor, an old road zigzags up the mountain in more than 20 hairpin bends toward the village of Njeguši and Lovćen National Park. Every bend shows the bay from a slightly higher angle, and there are a few places to pull over for photos. At the top you can taste smoked Njeguši prosciutto and cheese, then continue to the Njegoš Mausoleum.
It makes an easy half day or full day from Kotor. Read our guide to Lovćen National Park and the Njegoš Mausoleum for the details.
Tips for exploring the hills around Kotor
- Go early or late. Summer middays are hot and the ridges have little shade.
- Bring a light layer. It is cooler up on Vrmac than by the sea, especially after sunset.
- Dress for the ride. Closed shoes and long trousers are best on a quad or buggy tour.
- Licence. Quad drivers need to be 18 or older with a car driving licence. On a buggy with a professional driver, no licence is needed.
- Groups. Kotor tours can take groups of more than 20 guests, which works well for team building and agencies.
- No prepayment. You send a request, the guide confirms by phone or WhatsApp, and you pay on the day.
You can compare every ride on our Kotor & Boka Bay tours page.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Kotor?
Two full days is a good minimum: one for the Old Town, the fortress and Perast, and one for the hills above the bay, such as Vrmac or the forts. With a third day you can add Lovćen or the Luštica peninsula.
What is the best viewpoint over Kotor?
San Giovanni Fortress gives the classic view straight down on the Old Town. For a wider panorama over both the Bay of Kotor and the Bay of Tivat, go up to Sveti Ilija on Vrmac ridge.
Is Kotor worth visiting outside summer?
Yes. Spring and autumn are quieter and cooler, which makes the fortress climb and off-road rides more comfortable. Tours outside the summer depend on the weather, so ask us about your dates.
