Everyday life in Kotor

In Kotor, coffee can be a chance to arrange another gathering or to keep spending time together. Some recreational walkers have made a habit of sitting down at a table after a walk to talk about the route they have covered.

After one February walk across Vrmac, the 60+ group sat down for coffee in Peluzica. Some participants had wanted to go to the carnival, but they decided to stay together at the cafe.

For everyday shopping, Kotor has shops selling food and household goods outside the Old Town walls as well. There are grocery shops in Skaljari, Dobrota and Tabacina, so shopping for a stay in an apartment does not depend solely on the market. Clothes shops are also grouped in a shopping centre, while the market is used to buy fresh food.

One May morning, local fishermen at Kotor's market offered small fish, with seasonal fruit and vegetables at other stalls. There is a separate restriction on Sunday shopping, explained below.

Summer crowds in Kotor affect ordinary shopping trips too. Along the routes into the centre and around the market, residents make their way among tour groups, while traffic makes it harder for them to get into town.

One resident's walk does not end inside the walls. After walking through town, she continues towards Dobrota. This stretch along the coast is part of her regular walk. For getting around beyond the old centre, our practical guide to Kotor explains transport options.

Some of Kotor's recreational walkers join group walks outside the summer season as well. They choose their walks to suit the weather, and the group continues meeting after rainy days. Alongside walks towards Dobrota, these outings include walking up Vrmac and returning towards Kotor.

After bad weather, the 60+ group used one sunny February day for a walk across Vrmac. Participants chatted on some stretches and walked quietly on others, then descended towards Peluzica.

Some evening gatherings in Kotor take place in the squares, with conversation and music outdoors. City events also feature Kotor's klapa groups and choir, so visitors can hear performers from the city and join an audience that includes local people.

At the September evening event 'Bokun pjesme', the audience filled Pjaca Svetog Tripuna for performances by Kotor's klapa groups and city choir. During your stay, check announcements published by the Cultural Centre, including the film programme at the Boka cinema.

Some tourism and hospitality jobs in Kotor rely on larger teams in summer. Employers hire seasonal workers, and retaining them after the season can be a problem. Evening gatherings also create work that continues after guests leave. In the Old Town, street washing has been organised into two shifts, and some cleaning after large events extends into the night.

After the summer carnival in August, Komunalno Kotor workers cleaned during the night. They first collected waste, then washed the squares, streets and area outside the Old Town.

In Kotor, temporary groups of remote workers spend several weeks together in the Old Town during the off-season. Work during these stays is accompanied by cooking together and conversations around the table, and guests choose which shared activities to take part in.

In selected off-season periods, Kotor Nest hosts groups made up mainly of digital nomads for stays of around four weeks. The space for these groups is separate from units used for short tourist stays. When choosing a stay there, distinguish the organised work programme from an ordinary room booking.