We spent quite a while in Montenegro, and honestly it was not our favourite. Then we got to Kotor, and we were absolutely blown away.
It looks like Lake Como, except it is a fjord full of sea water, with mountains on one side, little swimming coves, and a walking and bike path running around the bay into town. We have free accommodation at Lake Como, and we still kind of like Kotor better, because you can actually walk and ride around it.
Five days there was not enough. These are the things that caught us out, and the bits we would do again tomorrow.
Five things that caught us out
1Do not ride a bike to the underwater winery
We hired bikes for 10 euro each for the whole day in September 2025 and set off for Kraken underwater wine cellar, a wine bar on a pontoon where the wine is aged under the sea. The first three kilometres is a beautiful flat bike path along the water. The last three are a main road with big trucks, and we had no helmets.
Abbey was terrified, and arrived properly shaken. She did not want to do the way back. A couple of glasses of rosé gave her the courage, and the ride home was a lot easier, possibly because of the wine. We would come by boat, taxi or any other means.
The bar itself is worth it. They keep about 10,000 bottles 20 metres down, where it stays cool and dark, and they showed us one of the bottles they pull up, which usually has heaps growing on it. Get the rosé and the octopus bruschetta. And book. A couple turned up without a reservation while we were there, the boat went to get them, and they were turned away.
2The cable car queue, even with fast track
Our first try at the cable car got called off by rain, and that night we missed the most spectacular sunset. On the second night the taxi to the bottom was 20 euro, which seems standard. One driver tried to charge us 30 for a ten minute ride.
Book the tickets online, even on the day, because it fast tracks you past most of the line. We still waited around 40 minutes for the alpine coaster with a fast track ticket, because everyone wants the sunset slot. The cable car and coaster came to 74 euro for the two of us in September 2025.
It is worth the wait. Up top, Monte 1350 had a live violinist and a DJ, and it is perfect for a sunset Aperol. Watch out for the bees at the bar.
3The free way up the fortress has closed
We walked up the back way one morning to save the 15 euro each entry. You type in the start of the Ladder of Kotor, follow the zigzag path for about 40 minutes, and climb in through one of the fortress windows. From Dobrota, with the walk along the water, it took us an hour and 20 minutes, and we watched the cruise ships come into port below us.
That back way is closed now. You go in through the main town and pay entry, and it is absolutely worth it, at sunrise or sunset. You need a level of fitness, and it gets hot walking up.
4Kotor is the expensive bit of Montenegro
Down south in Ulcinj, things were not particularly expensive. Kotor was. Coffee cost us 8 euro. The beach bar near us on the bay wanted 150 euro for two beds and an umbrella, and 350 for a cabana bed. There are lots of free rocky spots instead, so bring your own food and drinks.
We tried to live off one day of our YouTube income in Kotor, 185 Australian dollars, about 103.50 euro. Coffee, the bikes, the winery and dinner pushed us over. You might need more than 100 euro for the two of us to have a fun day there.
Our five days in September 2025 came to 340 euro for the Airbnb, 128 euro eating out and 70 euro on transport, with the fortress back way free. All up Kotor worked out at about 181 euro a night for the two of us, food included.
5The cruise ships set the timetable
Every day the cruise ships come in, the old town gets busy by the afternoon, and then they all head out. We watched them sail in from our balcony every morning. One day the old town was chockers. The next it was much quieter, so school holidays must have just finished.
The best time is the European summer, end of May through September, but June and July are the busiest. Go in the shoulder months if you can, when it is still warm without the crowds. Do the old town in the morning, before it fills up.
The bits we would keep exactly the same
Staying in Dobrota. Our Airbnb was 80 US dollars a night in September 2025, with a good kitchen, Netflix and a view of the bay we woke up to every morning. It is about a 40 minute flat walk into the old town, and it is much quieter, with little cafes and shops along the way. Lots of people walk to dinner. 86 Gym is close by and it is the only gym in the area, so if you train while you travel, this is the place to stay.
The best BBQ in Kotor. BBQ Tanjga is a no frills local spot where the meat is grilled to perfection and the portions are massive. We had the meat platter for one and a T-bone, 70 euro in September 2025. Not super cheap, but 1000% one of the best meals we had. Go around 5pm, before it gets busy, and expect about a 25 minute wait because they cook it fresh.
Coffee, and a dessert we did not plan. Bonazza was our coffee spot, beautiful Italian coffee. We were in a deficit, trying to shed some fat, with every meal planned for the day, and the boss sent over a free dessert of figs, pastry and ice cream and told us we could not leave without trying it. Life is too short. We fit it in.
Walking everywhere. What we loved most about Kotor was the walking track around the bay. You will not need a car if you are staying there. Water taxis across the bay are usually 5 to 10 euro and negotiable, and a scooter, even a 50cc, will save you a bunch on taxis.
So, is Kotor worth it?
It is the best place in Montenegro, 100 percent, and the only place in the country we would recommend. If you only had four nights to split between Montenegro and Albania, we would probably go to Kotor.
If we did it again we would just go to Kotor and stay a week. Explore the old town, do the cable car, and get across to Herceg Novi and to Perast, which we skipped after the bike ride.
Abbey & Tijs