Roughly 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) long, Kotor’s walls form a near-triangular barrier around the old town. Visitors pay an entry fee (May-Sept) to ascend the mountain walls zig-zagging up to St. John’s Fortress or stroll for free along the walls that skirt the town’s north and west perimeters.
Most Kotor day trips and walking tours concentrate on the labyrinthine old town, introducing highlights like its Square of the Arms, St. Tryphon Cathedral, and the most impressive parts of its walls. Adventurous travelers can walk the walls after some tours or access them entirely independently. Other options include boat trips that let you view the walls from Kotor Bay or guided hikes up the Ladder of Kotor, an ancient trail leading to St. John’s Fortress.
Plan around 2 hours for the return trip to St. John’s Fortress.
The mountain walls consist of roughly 1,300 steps, so wear sturdy shoes.
The climb is hot and thirsty work in summer—bring water and sunscreen.
While public buses link Kotor to nearby locations like Podgorica, Budva, Cetinje, and Tivat Airport, self-drive and cabs provide other ways to get to Kotor. Frequent buses and guided day trips run from Dubrovnik to the old town. Once in Kotor, it’s easy to access the city perimeter and mountain walls–entrances are located near the North Gate and Pjaca Skaljarska, a short walk along Ulica 2 from the Gurdic Gate.
If you’re climbing to St. John’s Fortress, you’ll need to pay an admission charge typically between 7am–8pm daily between May and September. There’s usually no fee outside these months and opening hours, but access isn’t generally recommended or permitted at other times. In summer, aim to arrive near opening time to beat any crowds and the scorching afternoon heat–average August highs here can tip 87°F (31°C).
On your way to St. John’s Fortress, pause to visit the Church of Our Lady of Remedy, an intimate chapel built by survivors of Kotor’s plague in the 16th century. From here, the views open out dramatically, hitting their best at the castle when Kotor’s terracotta rooftops and the mountainous Bay of Kotor are fully revealed.
