Doing a self-guided walking tour of Kotor in Montenegro is a lovely way to see the city. Exploring on foot is the only way to discover its old town, since vehicles can’t access many of the cobbled lanes and narrow alleys. And as it’s a small place, you can easily walk between its main sights, hiking spots, and beaches in just one day.
In this article – we outline a Kotor self-guided walking tour (with clear directions) that includes all of the key sights and attractions so you don’t miss a thing on your trip.
Kotor Self-Guided Walking Tour Overview
This walking tour includes Kotor’s Roman ruins, old town, Ladder of Kotor hike, main beach, and promenade (the perfect spot for watching sunsets). We’d grade it as a ‘medium’ level of difficulty as it’s under two hours and not very long (6.6km/4.1 miles), but does involve walking on cobbled streets and a steep uphill hike at one point. You can skip the hike if you want to make it a bit easier, but it’s hard to avoid the cobbles since they cover the entire old town area.
Walking Tour Directions
The starting point for this walking tour is Kotor Bus Station, since that’s where many people will be dropped off when visiting.
Roman Ruins
Begin your Kotor walking tour by walking north along the main road for 300m and turning right at the roundabout. Here you’ll find the ancient Roman settlement and Campo Santo architectural museum. You can see the well-preserved remnants of the ruins from the path but if you’re especially interested in learning about the history and getting up close then you can go in.
Kotor Old Town & City Walls
Continue walking along the right-hand side of the main road for another 350m, enjoying the stunning views of the Bay of Kotor as you stroll. Pause at the Sea Gate to admire its historic building work and then head through it to enter the Old Town. You’ll find yourself in the main Square of the Arms with Kotor’s clock tower opposite and a host of restaurants and cafes on your left.
At this point, you can choose to explore the maze of alleyways at your leisure. One of the fun things about walking tours is sometimes getting sidetracked with random sights or shops that take your fancy. But if you prefer to follow a guide for this part then here’s the route we took…
Head left across the square and take the first right up Ulica 1 (iztok-zapad) street, where you’ll find lots of little independent shops and galleries. Take the second right and you’ll walk past St. Luke’s church, then turn immediately left and then right.
Top tip – You’ll find a drinking fountain here if you want to top up your water bottle before.
Continue along this street, noticing the tiny narrow alleyways on each side (including ‘Let Me Pass’ street) that Kotor’s Old Town is renowned for. Turn right at the end, then immediately left at the Maritime Museum, and then take the second right past Hotel Monte Cristo.
Turn left at the end of this street and continue straight until you come out in a large square. Here you’ll find the impressive St. Tryphon’s Cathedral, along with the Municipal Assembly and Drago family Palace.
Top tip – if you want a good coffee stop and vanilla slice the size of your head, turn right and pop into Kaffe Mone instead of heading straight into the square. There are also some great photo opportunities along this street and its neighbouring alleys.
Once you’re finished looking at these sights, walk up the street to the right side of the cathedral and then turn left. Continue along this street (Ulica 2), past St. Joseph church, and then turn left. Turn immediately right and you’ll be back on a street you explored previously (but heading in the opposite direction). Walk all the way to the end, stopping at the city walls for some photos, and then continue through the archway and over the bridge.
Ladder of Kotor Hike
Turn right at the end of this road and you’ll be at the start of the Ladder of Kotor hike*. From here, follow the winding trail uphill, stopping regularly to admire the increasingly impressive views across the bay. Follow the signs for the Sveti Juraj church, and then follow the signs downhill back into Kotor once you reach this point.
*If you’re skipping the hike, then turn left at the end of the bridge instead of right to the Ladder, and walk to Kampana Tower. Scroll down a paragraph to rejoin the walk at this point.
You’ll exit the Ladder back in Old Town, just follow the street straight ahead and you’ll find yourself back at the Square of the Arms from the start of our walk. If you turn right, you can visit Kampana Tower. But if you just want to see it from the outside (which is what we did), then head left towards the Sea Gate and then right on the other side of it.
Continue along the main road, past Kampana Tower and across the small bridge, then cross the road to Park Slobode. There are some lovely views of the boats and bay from here. Wander through the park (it’s only small) and rejoin the main road at the other end.
You might also like… our Top 10 Montenegro Day Trip Ideas From Kotor.
Kotor Beach & Promenade
Take the first left after the bridge, along Put I Bokeljske Brigade, and you’ll find yourself walking along the bay. Kotor Beach will be on your left where you can stop for a break, paddle, or some food. It’s a relaxing spot to enjoy the sun, swim in the bay, or simply unwind by the water’s edge.
From here, it’s a 10-minute walk along the same road north to Dobrota Riva promenade. It’s the perfect place to enjoy scenic views of the waterfront, with the backdrop of majestic mountains. You can stroll around the shops and cafes or visit the aquarium. But we think it’s the perfect spot to end our Kotor walk as it overlooks the bay and has wonderful views west for stunning sunsets.
You might also like… our Walking Tour of Tivat’s Top Sights & Attractions.
Getting Back To Base
From start to finish this walk takes slightly less than two hours (1 hour and 50 minutes), excluding stops to look at attractions or enjoy giant-sized pastries. It’s then a 20-minute walk back to Kotor Old Town and 30 minutes to the bus station. Or you can take a taxi if you prefer – there are usually plenty around.
Whether you’re doing Kotor as a day trip from Tivat, flying stop on an Adriatic cruise, or lucky enough to be visiting on business, this tour is a time-efficient way to see everything. It combines history, culture, and natural beauty, with ancient ruins, medieval architecture, and panoramic landscapes. It’s the perfect way to experience the diverse attractions of this charming coastal town.
