After spending a week on the Adriatic Sea cruising the Croatia coast, we rented a car in Dubrovnik to head South to Montenegro. We spent 3 nights in Kotor, a compact medieval town tucked deep into Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, where steep mountains rise abruptly from calm Adriatic waters. Surrounded by fortified walls Kotor has an almost enclosed, protected feel—as if the town has been quietly watching centuries pass by.

 

Kotor’s history stretches back to Roman times, but much of what you see today reflects its long period under Venetian rule. That influence is still evident in the stone palaces, churches, and defensive walls that wrap tightly around the Old Town. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a walking and hiking city. 

 

The Old Town is a maze of narrow stone streets that twist and intersect unexpectedly, opening into small squares where laundry hangs overhead and church bells echo between buildings. Without a strict agenda, we explored each street entertained by the aged beauty, shops and courtyard restaurants. Every turn offered something different: a quiet courtyard, a centuries-old church, or a sunlit square where locals passed through on daily errands. The absence of cars inside the walls makes the experience feel timeless and unhurried.

 

One of the highlights of our stay was climbing the Fortress of San Giovanni, which towers above the city. The hike is not subtle—hundreds of stone steps zigzag straight up the mountainside—but the reward is worth the effort. As you climb, the views widen with every switchback. By the time the 5 of us reached the top, the entire Bay of Kotor lay below us, framed by mountains and dotted with red rooftops and anchored boats far below. It’s one of those views that stays with you. The “ young crowd” ran stairs down .. not me. 

 

We had several options for great meals, that were all open air. This is not a pub city, but we did find one. 

 

“Making lemonade out of lemons story." After 3 days In Kotor, we had to head out before breakfast to get across the border check points to Dubrovnik airport (3 hour drive). Within the first hour, United messaged us that our flight was cancelled and we were rebooked 3 days later!! WHAT?!! So now what, after checking out of our hotel? We pulled over in a small seaside to have a waterfront breakfast to make some plans. Our waiter overheard our dilemma and offered a one night solution. “Would you like to stay right here in a studio suite ( I know the owner) with a porch overlooking the water for 50 euro?” This area is like small villages surrounding Lake Como in Italy, very charming. Of course, we would and we did. This picture is the restaurant and our waiter. [Picture IMG-9122]

 

That afternoon, we also took a relaxed afternoon trip to Perast, a small, elegant town, that we had passed, a short drive from Kotor. Perast felt quieter and more refined, with a single waterfront walking only road lined by historic stone buildings and churches. It was an easy, unhurried visit—perfect for strolling, taking photos, and soaking in the bay’s stillness before returning to our seaside studio that evening.

 

The next day, that we had to kill, we decided to drive into Bosnia (50 miles), but rain that flooded our small mountain pass road, once in Bosnia,  forced us to head back North toward Dubrovnik for our 2 nd night. We explored 2 more villages along the coast before crossed the border back into Croatia. 

 

We found an all- inclusive waterfront mountain/ seaside resort 15 minutes from the airport. It was in another small village with walking paths along the water, heated pool and views. We would definitely go back to this area.