Kotor: The City of Cats & How to Hike the Ladder of Kotor | Montenegro Travel Guide
- Takuya Sakoda
- Mar 25, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Kotor is a World Heritage Site that you cannot miss in Montenegro. It is a fortress city that retains a strong medieval atmosphere, and its beautiful streets, spectacular views, and the cats that live everywhere will charm all visitors! In this article, we will introduce how to enjoy walking around Kotor's Old Town and hiking up the Ladder of Kotor, where you can enjoy beautiful views!
1.What kind of place is Kotor?
Kotor is a beautiful port city on the Adriatic Sea in southwestern Montenegro. Its landscape of an indented bay and surrounded by mountains has earned it the nickname " the southernmost fjord in Europe ."
The charm of the city is the Old Town ( Kotor Old Town ), which has been registered as a World Heritage Site and has a strong medieval atmosphere. The narrow cobblestone streets are spread out like a maze, and the historic churches, squares, and orange roofs line the streets, captivating all visitors.
Kotor is also famous as the city of cats ! You can see cats roaming around freely everywhere, making it a must-see spot for cat lovers.
Hikers can also explore the Ladder of Kotor , a hiking trail that was once an important road connecting Kotor with the Ottoman Empire and offers spectacular views over the Bay of Kotor and the Old Town.
2. Access to Kotor
There are various ways to get to Kotor, but the most common way is by bus, which takes 2.5 hours from Montenegro's capital, Podgorica. We recommend using Busticket4me for bus timetables and tickets.
If you love walking like us, we recommend the 29km route from the neighbouring town of Cetinje through Lovcen National Park to Kotor!
Planning to explore more of Montenegro?
After Kotor, we continued our journey to Žabljak — a mountain town in Durmitor National Park where we hiked to Bobotov Kuk, Montenegro's highest peak at 2,523m.
3. Plans for hikers near Kotor
3.1 From Podgorica Airport to Podgorica
It's a very small airport so it only takes a short time to get off the plane and be outside.
I got a SIM card at the airport. Montenegro is not in the EU , so it is not subject to the "EU roaming fee elimination". Therefore, SIM cards from other European countries will not work . I bought a 500GB SIM card for 10 euros. There were no problems with speed while I was in Montenegro. No matter how hard I try, I can't use up the 500GB in 7 days.
I took a taxi from the airport to the bus station in Podgorica. There were many taxis in front of the airport, so I was able to get in quickly. There are no buses or trains, so taxis are the only means of transportation. It took 15 to 20 minutes to arrive, and I was able to get the fare reduced from 12 euros to 10 euros.
3.2. Travel by bus from Podgorica to Cetinje
Podgorica is the capital of Montenegro, but to be honest, it wasn't that impressive.
You can buy bus tickets online, but I didn’t make a reservation based on a blog post that said you could buy tickets on the day without any problems. Busticet4me is a convenient way to find bus timetables.
The bus is like a shuttle bus, and since Montenegro's mountain roads have many curves and it's easy to get carsick, it's a good idea to bring motion sickness medication.
Travel by shuttle bus rather than by bus.
3.3 Hike from Cetinje to Lovcen National Park
The hiking trail to Kotor via Lovcen National Park (about 28.6 km) may seem boring at first because you are walking on the road, but it is a route that allows you to enjoy Lovcen National Park. There are restaurants and toilets along the way, so even beginners can try it with relative peace of mind.
Preparing for the hike
We left Cetinje around 9am! It was Sunday and all the supermarkets were closed, so we were a little worried about whether we would be able to get food. But luckily we found a bakery and got a big loaf of bread! It was surprisingly cheap at 0.6 euros (about 78 yen) for that volume. We also had an espresso shot at a restaurant to fully recharge our energy!
The road to Lovcen National Park
The route along the road to the park felt a bit boring, but perhaps because of the frustration of not being able to walk during the plane and bus journey, I enjoyed it.
Taking a break at a bar in Lovcen National Park
There are accommodations and restaurants in the park, but you can also drop in for a break at a cafe and bar. Here, I tried Montenegro's local beer for the first time! The cold beer seeped into my tired body and was absolutely delicious!
Also, at the information center, I had a conversation with a large, friendly man. It seems that the people of Montenegro have an affinity for Poland, and he told me with a happy look on his face, "Poland is a wonderful country!" Interacting with people like this while traveling is one of the best parts of hiking.
I pulled myself together and kept walking until the city of Kotor came into view! I was so excited at that moment.
Ladder of Kotor
From here we descend the famous "Ladder of Kotor" climbing route, which was once an important road connecting Kotor with the Ottoman Empire, and goes all the way down a jagged ladder-like route.The views over Kotor Bay and the Old Town are amazing on the way down!
We continue down the jagged route like this.
And there were a lot of cows. The cows were very laid back, so sometimes they would block the road and we would have to wait.
It was just time for sunset, so we were able to see the sunset, which was great.
If walking nearly 29km is too much for you, you can of course climb up to the Ladder of Kotor from Kotor.
4. The charm of strolling around Kotor Old Town
Kotor Old Town is a beautiful fortified city with a strong medieval atmosphere. Its stone buildings and maze-like cobblestone streets are a reminder of its history under the rule of the Venetian Republic. Walking through this city, where time passes slowly, makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time.
4.1. Streets that breathe history and culture
As you pass through the Sea Gate, the entrance to the old town, the first thing you see is the clock tower . Built in the 17th century, this tower is the symbol of Kotor. If you go further in, you will find historical buildings such as the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, the Church of St. Luke, and the Church of St. Nicholas, where you can feel the long history of Kotor.
4.2. Where to Find the Cats: Kotor's Famous Cat Sanctuary
If you're visiting Kotor specifically for the cats, head to the "Cats of Kotor" sanctuary, located just inside the old town walls near the northern part of the fortifications. It's a small, informal shelter maintained by locals and volunteers who care for the resident stray cats. You'll spot it easily — just follow the cats.
The sanctuary sells cat-themed souvenirs, and any purchase goes directly toward feeding and caring for the cats. It's a great way to support the community while picking up a unique memento.
Beyond the sanctuary, cats roam freely throughout the entire old town — lounging on doorsteps, sunbathing on ancient stone walls, and wandering through the market squares. The highest concentration tends to be around Trg od Mačaka (Cat Square), the informal name locals use for the area near the city walls.
Tips for visiting:
Bring small snacks if you want to make friends — the cats are used to tourists and generally very approachable
Morning is the best time to spot them before the crowds arrive
The sanctuary is run by volunteers, so hours vary — but the cats are always there!
Cats were originally brought to Kotor to help control the rat and snake population, but this worked so well that the locals began to see cats as a symbol of good luck.
Their numbers have increased without anyone noticing, and they seem to have become a beloved symbol of their city by the locals of Kotor.
5. Summary of Kotor
Kotor is a city that is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a historic streetscape and magnificent nature. You can enjoy walking around the city filled with cats and easy hiking.
The size of the town is just right, so you can enjoy it in just one day.
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