Holiday in Kotor

About Kotor

Kotor is located at the end of a dramatic fjord on the Montenegrin Adriatic coast and is one of Europe's best-kept secrets. The medieval old town, surrounded by Venetian walls and dominated by a fortress on a 1,200-meter-high mountain, offers a backdrop reminiscent of a movie set — only here everything is real and still largely undiscovered. The Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) is often referred to as the "southernmost fjord in Europe" and is indeed one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the Mediterranean. Steep, green mountains drop directly into the deep blue water, small baroque towns and churches line the shores, and the silence is only interrupted by the lapping of waves and the ringing of church bells. The ascent to the San Giovanni Fortress over 1,350 steps is a must-do in Kotor. The path leads steeply uphill along the medieval city wall, past the Church of Our Lady of Health, to the ruins of the Venetian fortress. The view from the top — of the old town, the bay, and the surrounding mountains — is one of the most magnificent in the entire Mediterranean. The old town itself is a labyrinth of narrow streets, Romanesque churches, and Venetian palaces. The 12th-century Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, the Piazza of Arms, and the countless small squares with cafés and restaurants have a charm reminiscent of Dubrovnik — but without the crowds and at a fraction of the prices. Perast, a tiny baroque town on the other side of the bay, is another gem. From here, a boat goes to the artificial island Our Lady of the Rocks, a small church on an island built up by sailors over centuries — one of the most romantic stories of the Adriatic.