Hotels near San Giovanni Fortress and City Walls

The 4.5-kilometre run of Kotor city walls climbing the cliff to the San Giovanni Fortress (Tvrdjava Sveti Ivan) is the single most photographed attraction on the bay and probably the most rewarding workout you will get anywhere in Montenegro. The path zigzags from the Old Town up to a fortified summit at 260 metres above sea level, passing the Church of Our Lady of Remedy (Crkva Gospe od Zdravlja) roughly halfway up.

The walls themselves were built and rebuilt under Byzantine, Serbian, and Venetian rule, with most of the visible stonework dating to the 14th-18th centuries. Allow 1.5-2 hours for the full round trip on the official route of around 1,350 stone steps. Entry is roughly 15 EUR in summer and free off-season. Wear proper shoes - the limestone is uneven and becomes slippery after rain.

Pro Tip: Start the climb before 9am in summer. There is zero shade above the church, and by 11am the south-facing wall is brutal. Bring at least one litre of water per person.