Kotor & The Iconic Fortress

Kotor is a beautiful Balkan town on the Adriatic coast and is the oldest town in Montenegro. From nature-related activities like boat tours and hiking to historical sightseeing around the fortified old town, Kotor really has it all. Arguably, the most iconic attraction in the area is the Fortress of Kotor.
4.5km of stone walls wrap around the old town and continue up the mountainside, forming multiple levels until it ultimately reaches the Fortress of Kotor. The fortress sits at the highest reaching point of the walls at 260 meters above sea level. From the fortress there are breathtaking panoramic views that overlook the old town, the sparkling waters of the bay of Kotor and out at the surrounding mountainous Montenegrin landscape. As of summer of 2024, the prices to get into the fortress through the official entry points were €15 euros per person which is quite expensive. If you're feeling adventurous, you can skip this high entry fee and instead get into the fortress for free!
If you're looking for the top things to do in Kotor, visit my other Montenegro blog post 'Travel Guide For a Must-Visit Balkan Destination'.
Steps to get into the Fortress of Kotor for free
1) Start the 'Ladder of Kotor' hike and follow it about 1/3 of the way up the mountain.

This hiking trail begins just outside of the old town behind the old hydroelectric power plant (google maps link here). When you get to the power plant, there is another unrelated trail that goes straight towards the canyon. Be sure to follow the path that goes uphill past the old power plant building.
The Ladder of Kotor is a long zig-zag (serpentine) trail that leads to the top of the mountain. I highly recommend hiking this entire trail while visiting Kotor as it has breathtaking panoramic views. However, for the purposes of visiting the Fortress of Kotor for free, you'll only follow it for about 45-55 minutes depending on your fitness level.
This trail is pretty challenging especially in the summer sun as there is hardly any shade and it's consistently uphill, so be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
2) Once you reach the cabin that sells cold drinks, switch from the serpentine trail to the straight trail.
The first landmark you'll reach is a mountain cabin, called 'Kuca Milenko Franovič' (google maps link here), that has a large sign saying 'cold drinks'. There is a path that goes in a straight direction up the mountain next to it. You'll leave the serpentine 'Ladder of Kotor' trail and instead walk up this path for around 5 minutes.
(L): The 'cold drinks' sign at the mountain cabin; (R): The straight path that veers off the serpentine trail
3) Turn right at the ancient ruins of St. Juraj Church
The second landmark you'll come across is St. Juraj Church which is surrounded by more ancient ruins of what presumably used to be a village. The inside of the church, though old and unkempt, is still quite beautiful with brightly colored domed ceilings so feel free to check it out before heading towards the fortress.
When you first approach the church, there will be a path to the right that leads in the direction of the fortress. You may see a large rock spray-painted with a red 'F' and an arrow indicating which direction to go - it may or may not be there anymore, but either way follow the path until you eventually reach the walls of the fortress.



4) Climb into the window!

The path ends where there is a window about 6.5 feet up, and the last task you have is to get yourself through it. I was told that there is sometimes a chair or small wooden ladder under the window, but at my time of arrival there was only a log placed against the wall that was impossible to use to climb. I could just barely reach the window and there was zero chance I could pull myself up.. not to mention there was no grip. Luckily I was with my boyfriend who lifted me up so I could crawl in, and then he pulled himself up.
If you are shorter and/or alone, without something to climb on you may not make it up. The rocks below the window are pretty slippery so you definitely don't want to fall down while attempting this. Only do it if you're very confident, but I have to admit it looks more dangerous than it actually is. Once you climb through, you've successfully breached the walls of the fortress and can allow yourself to feel like an ancient invader!
Important Information
You have to leave the fortress the same way you entered - through the window. It is marked with a black 'X' on the inside part of the fortress so you don't forget which window you came from. If you try and walk down the steps to the official entry/exit point, the chances are high that the attendants may ask to see your tickets and charge you if you do not have one, thus defeating the purpose of going the free way.
Be careful, have fun, and enjoy at your own risk :)
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