Kotor — 25 km North Through the Tunnel
Leave the beach buzz behind and drive 25 km north through the Sozina-style mountain tunnel. On the other side, the Bay of Kotor opens up — a fjord-like inlet surrounded by limestone peaks. Kotor's walled old town sits at the water's edge, packed with cat-filled lanes, stone churches, and restaurants tucked into medieval arches. This is a different Montenegro entirely.
Budget tip: street parking outside the walls fills fast in summer. The large public lot near the main gate charges around €1 per hour. Arrive before 10am or after 5pm and you'll save time and patience.
Worth the Climb
St. John Fortress (1,200 Steps)
The ramparts zig-zag 1,200 steps up the mountain behind old town. At the top, the fortress gives you a sweeping view of the bay, the orange rooftops, and the cruise ships far below. Bring water and good shoes — the stone steps get slippery. Free if you enter from the back trail; €8 from the official gate.
St. Tryphon Cathedral
Kotor's most recognised building dates to 809 AD, rebuilt in 1124 after an earthquake. Twin bell towers frame a Romanesque facade. Inside, Byzantine frescoes and a silver-gold altar piece make this one of the most significant churches on the Adriatic.
Keep Driving from Kotor
Continue 15 minutes along the bay to Perast — a one-street baroque village with two islands offshore. A boat to Our Lady of the Rocks costs about €5 return. The tradition of dropping rocks into the bay to grow the island dates to 1452 and still happens every July.
Take the legendary 25-hairpin-bend road up from Kotor to Cetinje, the old royal capital. Stop at each hairpin for increasingly dramatic bay views. The royal monastery houses relics including what is claimed to be the hand of John the Baptist.
Cetinje's royal palace from 1871 displays art, photographs, and artefacts from Montenegro's short-lived kingdom. Budget €3 for entry. It sits next to the monastery in a quiet town that feels frozen in the 19th century.