Hotels near Kotor Old Town (Stari Grad)

Topping every list of things to do in Kotor, the walled Old Town - Stari Grad in Montenegrin - is the city's UNESCO-listed medieval core and the starting point for almost every visit. Built largely under the Republic of Venice between the 12th and 18th centuries on a triangular footprint between the bay and the cliffs of Mount San Giovanni, it covers roughly 20 hectares of car-free marble lanes, irregular squares, Romanesque churches, and Venetian palaces.

You enter through the Sea Gate (Vrata od Mora), built in 1555, which faces the cruise terminal and the bay. Inside, the layout deliberately confuses - alleys curve and dead-end to slow attackers - and getting briefly lost is part of the experience. Major nodes include Arms Square (Trg od Oruzja), the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, St Luke's Square, and the famous Cats' Square (Trg od Macaka) named after the resident cat population that has become a symbol of the town.

Pro Tip: Walk the Old Town between 8-10am or after 6pm. Cruise crowds peak from late morning until 4pm, and the marble lanes are at their best in the soft early or evening light.