Question 1

From Antiquity to the 1979 Earthquake

Accepted Answer

Venice ruled Kotor from 1420 to 1797 and built the fortifications that still enclose it. Kotor is first mentioned in 168 BC, and the Byzantine emperor Justinian built a fortress above it in 535. Stefan Nemanja, ruler of Serbia, conquered the city in 1185, and it was the main trading port of the Serbian state until 1371. Under Venice, Kotor withstood Ottoman sieges in 1538 and 1657 and was nearly destroyed by earthquakes in 1563 and 1667. After Venice fell, Kotor passed between Habsburg and French rule, and Austria then held it for about a century. An earthquake on April 15, 1979, badly damaged the town. UNESCO listed Kotor that year and kept it on its in-danger list until 2003.

Question 2

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

The old town sits inside its walls on a small triangle of land and is covered on foot. Tourist boats to the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks leave from outside the main gate. Local Blue Line buses, white with a blue sign, run along the bay as far as Perast, and the fare depends on distance. UK government travel advice for Montenegro is to use licensed taxis ordered in advance or through an app. Agree the price before you get in, because not every taxi runs a meter. The cable car's own shuttle bus runs from Kotor to its lower station. UK government travel advice for Montenegro warns that coastal roads are congested in summer and journeys can take much longer than usual. Leave a wide margin on any trip out of town.

Question 3

Saint Tryphon, the Walls and Our Lady of the Rocks

Accepted Answer

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, consecrated in 1166, is one of the largest buildings inside the walls. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon was rebuilt after the 1667 earthquake and restored again after 1979, and it keeps frescoes from the 14th century. The fortifications run for 3 miles (4.5 km), climbing the mountain to the fortress of St. John. The way up is about 1,350 steps, with an entry fee at the gate. At Perast, a few miles up the bay, Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial islet built up over centuries from rocks and scuttled ships, with a church and a small museum.

Question 4

Where to Eat

Accepted Answer

Cooking on the Montenegrin coast is Mediterranean, with seafood at the center. Black risotto is made with cuttlefish, and grilled squid, octopus salad and mussels are common seafood dishes. Njeguški pršut is a dry-cured ham from Njeguši, a village on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, smoked over beech wood. Vranac is Montenegro's own red grape and its most widely planted.

Question 5

Tipping

Accepted Answer

A common guide across Europe is to round up a taxi fare and leave 5 to 10 percent in a restaurant when service is not included. Prices are in euros. Montenegro uses the euro although it belongs to neither the European Union nor the eurozone. Most restaurants, hotels, bars and shops in Montenegro take Visa, Mastercard and American Express, and every town has ATMs. UK government travel advice for Montenegro is to use ATMs inside banks where you can and to keep your card in sight when you pay.

Question 6

Shopping & Local Markets

Accepted Answer

The old town is full of small shops and boutiques, and a green market sets up in front of the main gate. The green market, across from the waterfront, sells local produce. A bottle of Vranac red wine is the simple thing to carry home. UK government travel advice for Montenegro is to be wary of pickpockets in tourist hot spots and not to leave bags unattended.

Question 7

Traveling with Family

Accepted Answer

The cable car up Mount Lovćen is an 11-minute gondola ride, with a reduced fare for children aged 2 to 12. A return ticket on the cable car costs €20 for an adult and €5 for a child (checked October 2026). The cable car stops running in strong wind, so check the price and that it is open before you go. The climb to the fortress is about 1,350 steps each way and suits fit older children. Carry water. The boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks gives younger children an island to land on without a long walk.

Question 8

Beaches

Accepted Answer

Kotor has no sandy beach, and the sandy ones are on the Budva Riviera, about 12 miles (20 km) away. The Budva Riviera is the center of Montenegro's beach tourism, and Budva has a walled old town of its own. UK government travel advice for Montenegro is to follow beach flags and lifeguards and to ask locally about jellyfish and sea urchins. The same advice notes that speedboats run close to shore in summer and says to use marked swimming areas where there are any.

Question 9

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

A ship at one of the two berths puts you in front of the old town, but a ship at anchor means a tender. Ask your ship early whether it will dock or anchor in Kotor, and whether its tenders can take a wheelchair or scooter. The climb to the fortress is about 1,350 steps, which makes it a poor choice for anyone with limited mobility. The cable car sells a reduced ticket for passengers with disabilities, €9 return (checked October 2026). Ask about boarding, and check the price, before you go.

Kotor, Montenegro

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