03Inner bayUnder Mount Lovćen
Kotor. Walls to the sky.
At the very end of the bay, a medieval town hides behind its walls — and the walls keep climbing, all the way up the hill to a fortress. On a Custom Tour you arrive as sailors always have: from the water.
Inside the walls
Built in a triangle of sea, river and rock.
Kotor fits into a triangle: the bay on one side, the little river Škurda on another and the steep hill of St. John on the third. For centuries its walls closed all three — 4.5 kilometres of stone, up to 20 metres high, climbing the hill to a fortress far above the roofs.
Inside is a maze of stone lanes and small squares. The Cathedral of St. Tryphon, the town’s patron, was consecrated in 1166; his relics had reached Kotor in 809 — the year from which the Boka Navy, the bay’s ancient brotherhood of seafarers, counts its tradition.
From 1420 to 1797 Kotor belonged to Venice, which gave it the Sea Gate and much of the walls you see today. Earthquakes struck it in 1667 and again in 1979 — the year the whole Kotor region was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
- The Sea Gate (1555), the main way in from the water
- St. Tryphon’s Cathedral (1166)
- Our Lady of Remedy (1518), on the way up
- St. John’s Fortress, about 1,350 steps up
- 4.5 km of walls, lit up at night
- of walls, up to 20 m high
- 4.5km
- steps up to St. John’s Fortress
- ≈ 1,350
- St. Tryphon’s Cathedral is consecrated
- 1166
- on the UNESCO World Heritage list
- 1979
Getting there
From Tivat, to the end of the bay.
Every trip starts on the Tivat promenade. The course runs north through the Verige, passes Perast and its two islands, then turns south into the Bay of Kotor — between Prčanj and Dobrota, the old captains’ villages — all the way to the walls of Kotor.
- TivatDeparture from the promenade 0 km
- Verige StraitJust 340 m across; the name means “chains” 5 km
- PerastBaroque palaces on the water 8 km
- PrčanjHome of Ivo Visin, who sailed around the world 14 km
- DobrotaCaptains’ palaces all along the shore 15 km
- KotorThe walled old town from the sea ≈ 17 km
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Tours that go there
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5 hprivate
BookYour route, your rhythm
Custom Tour
Five hours: through the Verige and past Perast to Kotor, time for the old town — or the climb to the fortress — and back across the bay.
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8 hprivate
BookYour route, your rhythm
Custom Tour
A whole day on the water: Kotor’s walls in the morning, long swims at midday, lunch in a fishing village — and plenty of time to do absolutely nothing.
Kotor isn’t on our fixed tours — it’s a Custom Tour stop. Tell Boris how long you’d like ashore.
On the spot
Through the gate, up the walls.
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Enter by the Sea Gate
The main gate, built by Venice in 1555, opens onto the Square of Arms and its clock tower. From there on, every lane is worth getting lost in.
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Step into the cathedral
St. Tryphon’s, consecrated in 1166 and rebuilt after earthquakes, keeps 14th-century frescoes and a treasury with the relics of the town’s patron saint.
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Climb to the fortress
About 1,350 steps zigzag up the walls, past the little church of Our Lady of Remedy, to St. John’s Fortress. The view over the bay is the reward.
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Say hello to the cats
Kotor’s cats are the town’s unofficial mascots. You’ll meet them on every step — there’s a Cats’ Square, and even a small cat museum.
- Best light
- From the water, the town and its walls look best in the soft light of morning or early evening. Climb to the fortress early or late, too: the steps have little shade and the midday sun is fierce.
- Crowds
- Big cruise ships moor right in front of the old town, and on those days its lanes fill up by mid-morning. Ask Boris which days are quieter — he follows the port’s schedule.
- Going ashore
- Kotor is a Custom Tour stop: Boris brings you across the bay to the old town and waits while you explore. Five hours are enough for the old town; a full day leaves time for the climb to the fortress as well.
- Entrance
- The old town is free to wander. The walls and fortress, the cathedral and the museums have tickets — bring some cash, good shoes and water for the climb.
Keep exploring
On the way back, don’t miss these.
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Perast
Baroque palaces on the water
A small baroque town of captains’ palaces and bell towers, facing its two islands. It looks its best from the water — and on the Boka Bay Tour you also step ashore.
≈ 7 km from Tivat
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Our Lady of the Rocks
An island built stone by stone
An island made by hand: for centuries the people of Perast have brought stones to the reef — and every July they still do. On the Boka Bay Tour you can step ashore at its church.
≈ 7 km from Tivat
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Risan
Roman mosaics and a quiet bay
The oldest town in the bay, once a stronghold of the Illyrian queen Teuta. Its Roman villa still keeps 2nd-century mosaics — among them Hypnos, the god of sleep.
≈ 10 km from Tivat
Sail to the end of the bay. Boris knows every turn.
Open daily 09:00 – 23:00