1,350 stone steps zig-zag up the mountain from the old town to San Giovanni, 260 m above the Adriatic. Here's how to do the climb well — and book it.
Prefer to go at your own pace? Jump to tickets & ways up ↓
The walls are one continuous fortification, but the climb breaks naturally into three stages. This is what you pass on the way up.
Start behind the walled old town, where the Venetian Lion of St Mark still marks the main gate. The stairway begins near the North (River) Gate and behind the town — two access points, both signposted.
A small 16th-century church built as a plague votive marks roughly the halfway point — the classic photo stop, with the red roofs of Kotor and the fjord-like bay opening up below you.
The ramparts at the top reward the ~1,350 steps with the full sweep of the Bay of Kotor. Guided routes often continue over the back and descend gently through the hamlet of Špiljari rather than retracing every stair.
Three genuine options depending on your legs, your time and the heat. All bookable on GetYourGuide with free cancellation.
Most people climb the walls in a morning and have the afternoon free. These are the two things worth the water and the drive.
Sunrise or the last hour before sunset. The path is sun-exposed with almost no shade — avoid midday in summer.
A seasonal entrance fee is collected at booths in peak months; often unstaffed off-season and at dawn/dusk. Check the current rate before you set out.
Roughly 1.5–2 hours round trip to San Giovanni and back at an unhurried pace, with photo stops.
Sturdy shoes, water, sun protection. The stone is uneven and slick after rain; there are exposed edges near the top.
Two signposted access points — near the North (River) Gate and behind the old town. Both meet on the way up.
Kotor is an easy day trip from Dubrovnik (~2 hrs) or Budva; cruise ships dock beside the old town walls.
The stairway from the old town up to San Giovanni is commonly counted at around 1,350 steps, rising to roughly 260 m above the bay. Allow about 1.5–2 hours for the round trip at a relaxed pace.
A seasonal entrance fee applies in the peak months and is collected at booths on the lower path. Outside the main season — and often very early or late in the day — the booths may be unstaffed. Check the current fee and hours before you go, as they change year to year.
Early morning or the hour before sunset. The path faces the sun with almost no shade, so the middle of a summer day is hot and crowded. Sunrise gives you the bay in soft light and a near-empty trail.
It's a steady uphill climb on uneven medieval stone with exposed drops in places, rather than a technical hike. Reasonable fitness, sturdy shoes and water are enough. A guided hike adds context and a gentler descent via Špiljari.
Yes — the Kotor–Lovćen cable car and the serpentine road reach viewpoints high above the fortress, and guided hikes often descend from Krstać so you walk downhill. If stairs are a problem, these are the gentler options.