Kotor is one of those places that seems almost too beautiful to be real. Most admire the famous Old Town, the stunning Bay of Kotor, and the climb to the legendary San Giovanni Fortress, but there is so much more to discover beyond the typical tourist highlights. During my time exploring this corner of Montenegro, I found hidden churches tucked into the mountains, quiet beaches away from the crowds, forgotten villages, and viewpoints that somehow never make it into the typical travel guides. If you’re the kind of traveler who loves venturing beyond the obvious and finding places that feel a little more authentic, this guide to the best hidden gems in Kotor is for you.
From secret spots along the bay to lesser-known historical treasures, these are the places that made me fall in love with Kotor even more. But first things first…
Helpful Tips For Visiting Kotor
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(Skoljke Boke)
If you want to get off the beaten track and enjoy a meal without seeing a single tourist around, head to Skoljske Boke, around 8 kilometers outside of Kotor. This place can be a bit difficult to find, and perhaps that’s the main reason why there aren’t more tourists around. Skoljke Boke, however, isn’t just a restaurant where you can have some good food.
It’s also one of the very few (if not the only one) sustainable oyster and mussel farms in Montenegro. If you want to visit, keep in mind that the place isn’t open for individual visitors from October to March, but if you come with a group of 5 or more, you can still visit if you book in advance.
Get a unique taste of rural Montenegro
(Crnojevica stone bridge)
Rijeka Cronojevica is a village with fewer than 200 residents and a great choice for people who want to get a glimpse of Montenegro’s rural life. The village is also home to the Stone Bridge, known as Danilo’s Bridge, which is one of the most important yet overlooked historic monuments of Montenegro.
It’s one of the few places in the region that survived the horror of the Balkan wars, and it is also one of the most photogenic bridges I’ve ever seen. You can visit this bridge and the small village of Rijeka Cronojevica while you’re taking a day trip to the former royal capital of Cetinje, or by making a quick stop before visiting Lake Skadar.
However, keep in mind that Rijeka Crnojevica is not only an interesting place to visit along the way. It’s actually a very important historic place (that unfortunately slowly fades away) with plenty of other things to see, including the Old House of St. Petar Cetinjski (the Exarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne) and Stara Crkva na Rijecki Grad (one of the oldest churches in Montenegro).
See ancient ruins off the beaten path
(St. George Church)
Finding this place can be quite challenging, which makes it the perfect place for people who want to get off the beaten track and visit places that not too many others go to. If you’re hiking up the Kotor City Walls, try to find a plaque showing the direction to the church of St. George and St. Maria. Once you do, take a left turn and climb through the gap in the city wall.
This quick detour will take you to the other side of the wall and lead you to one of the most precious hidden gems in Kotor that most visitors don’t get the chance to see. The church of St. George might seem like nothing more than a tiny chapel, but it’s actually more than 700 years old. The church was erected by the Venetians for the soldiers and officials who were staying in Špiljari, a village as old as Kotor that has only five permanent residents today…
Visit Kotor’s very own cat square
(Pjaca od Drva)
Even though Kotor has its own cat museum, you’ll find a lot more cats at the small, hidden square Pjaca od Drva. The square is called Pjaca od Drva (Wooden square) because it used to be a place where locals gathered to sell and buy wood. However, I think that a more appropriate name for this square today would be “The cats’ square”.
Today, you’ll find a lot of cats peeking from the trees surrounding the square throughout the day. You’ll probably see a few locals who come every day to feed the cats and find some peace away from Kotor’s busiest streets. The place is located at the end of the old town next to an unassuming alley, so that might be the reason why not many visitors end up here.
Find a beach in the middle of nowhere
(Crvena Glavica Beach)
Montenegro has been getting a lot more tourists in recent years, and it has become even more difficult to find beaches that aren’t under a constant siege of the tourist hordes. Crvena Glavica is one of the last such beaches, mainly because its location is a bit far from the city. It’s located roughly 30 kilometers away from Kotor and offers a spectacular view of one of Montenegro’s most breathtaking islands, Sveti Stefan.
Here, you can click some stunning photographs of the famous island resort towering over the Adriatic Sea. If you’re looking for a beach where you can relax and enjoy natural beauty without losing your privacy, Crvena Glavica is the ideal place for you.
If you visit, keep in mind that Crvena Glavica is a nudist beach, but not because it’s marketed as such, but rather because there are only a few visitors and you can practically do whatever you want to. If you want to visit, it would probably be a good idea to pack a picnic because there’s only one restaurant near the beach, but that’s rather expensive.
Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our guide to hidden gems in Ljubljana.
Discover an unknown sunset stop
(Church of St. Eustahije)
Located on the outskirts of Kotor, six kilometers away from the Old Town, the Church of St. Eusthije is one of the churches in Kotor that surely deserves a lot more attention than it actually gets. It’s not the oldest church in the city, nor is it the prettiest one, but it’s certainly worth visiting. It was built in the 13th century but was ruined in the 1667 earthquake and restored in the 18th century.
Today, the Church of St. Eustachius has a beautiful baroque layout and an equally pretty interior decorated with seven marble altars and 12 paintings that portray the life and martyrdom of St. Eustachius. The church also features a rather impressive library and a rare collection of old church dresses.
If you want to take a look inside, visit on Sunday during the mass- the church will surely be open then. Also, if you want to take some pictures of the church and the lovely surroundings, visit during sunset- the view is astonishing.
Check out Kotor’s most overlooked church
(St Joseph church)
This church is oftentimes overlooked because it’s completely camouflaged in the surrounding buildings. This is a very curious case, and it makes St. Joseph the only church in Kotor that’s merged with the neighboring buildings. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons many tourists just pass by it. Once you step inside, it gets even more impressive. The church has a breathtaking marble altar that was designed by the famous sculptor Francesco Kabianca.
Another fun fact about St. Joseph’s Church is that the bell on the bell tower is actually older than the church itself, and it’s the oldest one in Kotor. If you want to visit, note that the church doesn’t have a schedule or working hours, but keep an eye on it when you’re wandering around the Old Town.
Visit Kotor’s most overlooked basilica
Church of St. Mary Collegiate
The Church of St. Mary Collegiate is easily the most overlooked hidden gems in Kotor, considering that it’s located in the heart of the city’s most touristy district. Excavations have shown that there was another basilica on this site, which was built in the 6th century, but the Church of St. Mary Collegiate got its final form in the 13th century. This makes this basilica the second-oldest one in Kotor. The basilica has a Romanesque architecture, and two impressive bronze doors decorate the entrance.
Inside, you’ll find a glass coffin that contains the remains of Blessed Osanna of Cattaro, a woman who devoted her life to spreading Christianity in the region. However, none of this seems to be enough to attract more visitors. I suppose every city has an important historic site in a good location that simply gets overlooked by tourists. In Kotor, that’s definitely the Church of St. Mary Collegiate.
Discover Kotor’s most isolated beach
(Galebova Stijena)
If you want to take a break from exploring Kotor’s many historic monuments, there’s no better place than Galebova Stijena. Located around 5 kilometers away from the Old Town lies probably the most beautiful, isolated beach in Kotor with great views of the surrounding mountains. Galebova Stijena is a quiet beach without any boat traffic and without many tourists.
Not even many locals come here because the beach is in the middle of nowhere, and there isn’t a lot of room to park if you’re coming by car. If you’re passing by, you might even miss this beach because it’s hidden by the surrounding cliffs that also provide a lot of shade. This makes Galebova Stijena the perfect getaway place during the hot summer months.
If you want to spend the day here, come prepared and maybe bring a picnic basket, as there aren’t a lot of tourist facilities around.
Take a day trip to a quiet, remote beach
(Dobrec Beach)
Despite being located next to the sea, Kotor is more of a historic city, and if you want to visit some nice beaches, you would have to get out of the city. However, since Kotor has become quite a tourist hub in recent years, most of the beaches near the city are filled with visitors, and it’s very hard to find one that feels secluded. Dobrec is one of the rare such beaches.
You would probably have to take a day trip to reach it as it’s a bit far away, but it will be worth it. It is a romantic pebbled beach, comfortably situated between two wooded headlands that can be accessed only by sea. Perhaps this is the main reason why you won’t find more tourists on this beach. If you want to visit, keep in mind that you won’t find any boats going to the beach in Kotor. You would have to travel to Žanjic (20 km away from Kotor) and get a boat from the Žanjic port.
A safe choice is the Tourist Boat Vega and the Tourist Boat Montenegro that travel to Dobrec Beach from Žanjic every day during the high season. Despite the fact that boats pass by Dobrec every day, the beach is still quite peaceful. These boats go to Dobrec Beach, but that’s just one stop on the cruise line and not their final destination; hence, not all the people who ride on these boats go to Dobrec Beach.
How did you like this list of hidden gems in Kotor? Did you ever visit any of them? Do you know any other places that are worth mentioning on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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