Kotor and Perast by car from Budva

Saint John’s Fortress, also known as San Giovanni, stands at the top of the defensive system that climbs high above Kotor. The walls around the town and up the mountainside developed over several centuries, and the fortress stands about 260 m above sea level. From the top, you can see how the walls on the mountainside connect to the town: they protected the approach from above, extending the defences beyond the walls at sea level.

The stepped path passes Our Lady of Health. Its terrace offers the first wider view of the rooftops and harbour, though the climb to the fortress continues uphill from there. At the top, you can explore the remains of the stone fortification and look down the Bay of Kotor towards the settlements on the opposite shore. Ships in the harbour, tightly packed rooftops and the course of the Skurda River help you recognise the parts of town you will walk through later.

Kotor developed as a fortified town at the head of the bay, where maritime trade and civic institutions left a rich concentration of churches and palaces. Its historic centre belongs to the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The protected heritage includes the relationship between the settlements, the bay and the surrounding mountains, as well as the individual buildings.

The Square of Arms opens up behind the Sea Gate. The Clock Tower and the long Rector’s Palace show the civic side of Kotor, while Pima Palace on Flour Square reflects the standing of one family. Look at its balcony and the coat of arms above the doorway: ornamented houses made a family’s status visible on the town square.

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon was consecrated in 1166. Earthquakes and rebuilding changed its appearance, so today’s bell towers are not part of the original Romanesque construction. If you enter, look for the 14th-century ciborium by the main altar, a stone canopy supported by columns. The treasury holds reliquaries and other works of religious art. This is an additional indoor visit, subject to access and admission conditions at the entrance.

Saint Luke’s Square brings together the Church of Saint Luke and the Church of Saint Nicholas. Saint Luke’s was built in 1195, and the later history of its altars reflects the use of the church by two Christian traditions.

Perast stretches along the shore opposite the Verige Strait. Unlike Kotor, it was not enclosed by a complete set of city walls. Its defences and the lives of its seafaring families centred on towers, houses and the Fortress of the Holy Cross above the settlement. The row of palaces beside the sea helps explain the town: the same families who sailed and traded built their homes along the bay.

Bujovic Palace was built in 1694 and now houses the Perast Town Museum. Its stone facade and open loggia distinguish it on the waterfront. It belonged to Vicko Bujovic, a seafarer and Venetian soldier whose portrait by Tripo Kokolja is held in the museum collection.

Inside, the captains’ salon, portraits, nautical instruments and ship models tell the story of a town shaped by seafaring. The model of Adriana recalls the last ship in the Perast fleet, while the Women’s Room, with traditional dress, chests and photographs, also gives a view of family life. Donations from Perast’s families formed the museum collection, linking the objects to real homes and people in the town.

Two contrasting islands stand off the waterfront: Saint George with its dark cypress trees and Our Lady of the Rocks with its church. From the Perast shore, you can see how they sit in relation to the town and the mountains beyond the bay.