Ladder of Kotor Hike in Montenegro: Complete Guide

The Ladder of Kotor also known as the Ladder of Cattaro is the best viewpoint hike in Kotor leading to an epic viewpoint above the medieval walls of Kotor Old Town.

Adventure travelers looking for the best possible views of this stunning landscape have to check out the ever-snaking switchback trail known as the Ladder of Kotor. This is my favorite hiking trail in Kotor, and after climbing up to the top for sunrise, I can highly recommend the incredible views of Boka (Bay of Kotor), the Old City, the opposing Vrmac mountain range.

You’ll even glimpses of the Adriatic Sea beyond on a clear day!

However, what you might not know is that there are two primary ways to hike this switchback trail. In this updated hiking guide, I’ll detail both options, give you a quick rundown of my experience, and include some inspiring photos from my hike up the Ladder of Kotor to inspire your adventure.

About the Ladder of Kotor

The Ladder of Kotor is a rocky path made up of 72 switchbacks (I counted them on the GPX map) snaking its way up the mountain range to the east of Kotor Old Town.

The trail wraps its way behind the small crest that the Kotor Fortress City Walls are built on and leads all the way up to the Krstac Pass to an altitude of 940 meters above mean sea level.

This trail is both significant and historic, and for centuries served as the only route connecting Kotor to Njegusi village and the region of Cetinje. The constant switchbacks allow for a less steep ascent, enabling travelers to navigate over this mountain range with livestock and goods.

The Ladder of Kotor Hike

• Hiking Distance: 6.5 kilometers one way | 13 kilometers return
• Duration: 3-5 hours
• Elevation: 940 meters
• Difficulty: Moderate - Hard

Those hiking the entire Ladder of Kotor trail to the top of the pass will finish their hike at the P1 road, just after the Kotor Serpentine leading to Lovćen National Park. The trail ends near the Restaurant Nevjesta Jadrana. Since this is just a primary motorway, there isn't really an option for public transport, unless you leave your car by the restaurant or arrange a taxi in advance.

Furthermore, from my experience the views are just as good once you hit an elevation of around 600 meters, marking the end of the switchback ladder, and marked as "Top of the Old Kotor Fort Trail" on Google Maps.

As a result, the majority of hikers beginning the walk in Kotor will finish at this viewpoint.

There are also two main options for hiking up to this viewpoint via the Kotor ladder. The first begins beside the old hydroelectric power plant and follows the entire rocky path to the top.

The second option, and the one I took and would recommend to most, is to instead form a loop by walking up the Kotor Fortress, and then taking the small shortcut through the wall, and descending back down the Ladder of Kotor.

Below is a small illustration marking the two routes. However, I'll go into more detail below as well.

Hiking tip: The path is easy to follow and you'll find small red and white markers along the trail indicating the route.

Option 1: Up and Down the Ladder of Kotor

The first and most straightforward way to tackle this hike is to begin near the Old Hydroelectric Power Plant. The trailhead is easy to find, and you can simply plug in "Start of the Ladder of Kotor" in Google Maps.

Here are the updated Google Maps coordinates for the start of the trail: 42°25'37.9"N 18°46'24.0"E

The benefit of taking this out-and-back trail is that you will not need to pay the entrance fee for the city walls. Furthermore, the trail is easy to find and follow, with a clear rocky path leading all the way to the top of the mountain at Krstac Pass.

Option 2: Shortcut Via Kotor Fortress City Walls

The second option is to begin your hike at the entrance to the Kotor Fortress.

There is an entrance fee payable to pass this access point costing €8 between 8 am and 8 pm from May to September. However, I've noticed that if you visit earlier than this, there won't be a guide and you can technically walk up for free.

Following the city walls, you'll be able to walk all the way up to the Castle of San Giovanni, a famous hilltop castle with panoramic views over the Bay of Kotor. Then, from just below the San Giovanni Fortress, you'll find a small shortcut with a wooden ladder leading to a trail that quickly merges with the Ladder of Kotor Trail.

Keep reading for the exact location of this shortcut.

The benefit of this option is that you will be able to tick off the Kotor Fortress walls and the Ladder of Kotor on the same day and this is why we opted for this option. Furthermore, the hike turns into a semi-loop by taking the Ladder of Kotor path back down to the North Gate, meaning you won't have to follow back on the same trail.

My Experience Hiking the Ladder of Kotor

To help you better understand what to expect on the trail, I've given a quick recap of my hike, along with some photos that I took on the way up during the early afternoon, and photos from the Kotor Viewpoint at the top during sunset.

Climbing the Old City Fortress Walls

Since we were beginning the trail at around 4:30 pm the security guard at the city walls gate asked us for the entrance fee.

So, we paid the 8 euros, walked through the turnstile gates, and began climbing the stone steps up the 14th-century stone fortifications. Along the way, there were plenty of places to stop and enjoy breathtaking views over the Old City.

Shortcut to the Cattaro Ladder Via the "Window in the Wall"

While it wasn't necessary to walk all the way up to the Castle of San Giovanni, we decided to anyway as this was the first time we had walked the walls. Then we descended back towards the city walls shortcut.

At first, this is slightly difficult to find. But, what you want to look for is the large opening, or "window", in the stone wall in the area just below San Giovanni Castle.

The exact coordinates of this window are 42°25'24.0"N 18°46'29.8"E.

Update on the Shortcut: I hiked this trail for the first time in 2022, and since I've been told of several updates and changes to this shortcut in the wall. In August 2023, Cameron, a traveler in Montenegro emailed me to let me know that "a large metal plate has been installed to prevent people from accessing the walls". However, more recent updates as of November 2023 indicate that the window in the wall is now open again and that large numbers of tourists are transiting through it, both ways.

I'll continue to update this blog post, but I suggest checking the comments section at the bottom of this post to stay informed on the latest news from other travelers.

I've also been told that sometimes there is a security guard patrolling this shortcut. I believe that they are usually more concerned with people trying to access the city walls for free by first walking up the Ladder of Kotor– rather than the other way. However, when we went up there were no security guards.

So, we continued down the wooden fixed ladder and followed the beautiful hiking trail passing the small catholic church named Chapel of St Ivan to our right (marked as Sveti Juraj on Google Maps).

Update: Note that as of September 2023, Melanie, another traveler who left a comment on our blog post below states that the fixed wooden ladder has now been removed. Therefore, if you're taking this shortcut through the "window", then you may need to get creative or have somebody help you down. As of February 2024, John F has confirmed there is no ladder at the window anymore but there is a pile of rocks to climb down/up. Still, I'm estimating that the distance to the ground is roughly 2 meters, which makes it quite tricky. Remember, scroll down and check the comments for any more recent updates, and if you have any news, please let us know!

Next, the trail veers around, passing a local house and merging back onto the Ladder of Kotor hiking trail. This is roughly the halfway point of the many switchbacks and you'll now have the option of returning back down the ladder, or continuing to the top viewpoint.

Hiking Up Endless Switchbacks

From the fork, the endless switchbacks continue for roughly 3.3 kilometres until you reach the Kotor viewpoint, climbing an additional 350 meters of elevation gain.

While it might seem tempting to turn around at this point, I highly recommend continuing up as the views improve the higher you get.

It took us roughly 45 minutes or so to get to the top from the fork at a decent pace and carrying heavy camera gear. The path is rocky and seems to become more so as you make your way up. However, overall it is well-graded and you can reach the top without any scrambling.

Bay of Kotor VIewpoint

If you're not interested in walking all the way up to the P1 highway like we weren't, then a good turnaround point is the Bay of Kotor Viewpoint, marked as "Top of the Old Kotor Fort Trail". We went a bit off the trail here and found a large rocky outcrop where we sat and admired the phenomenal views of the Bay of Kotor as the sun set behind the Vrmac Ridge and the Adriatic Sea beyond.

Below us were the small houses and tiny old buildings that form one of Montenegro's most beautiful medieval towns. And, of course, the iconic anchored cruise ships which now resembled miniature model boats from our high perch!

As you can see from the photos, this vier is absolutely spectacular, and make sthe high well worth the effort in my opinion!

Descending to Kotor Old Town

When it was time to descend back to Kotor Old Town, the sun had well and truly set. So, we donned our headlamps and began the long, winding descent down the Ladder of Kotor. Of course, there are no street lights here, so a reliable light source is required if descending in the dark.

Full route: My Strava

• Our Hiking Distance: 9.75 kilometers return
• Duration: 2.5 hours moving time
• Elevation: 664 meters elevation gain

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When is the Best Time to Hike The Ladder of Kotor?

It is possible to hike the Ladder of Kotor all year round. The best time for hiking in the coastal regions of Montenegro are Spring and Summer, from March to September. However, during peak season summer months, expect hot and sunny hiking conditions. During winter, the trail can be cold and icy.

While this isn't an arduous hike by any means, it can be challenging, especially if you do not have a decent level of fitness. As a result, you'll definitely want to prepare by bringing plenty of water.

Photography tip: for the best lighting conditions, hiking up the Ladder of Kotor is a better option in the early morning, as the sun will illuminate the bay. In the afternoon, the majority of the bay is darkened by the opposing range.

FAQ About Climbing the Ladder of Kotor

More Montenegro Travel & Adventure Guides

I hope you've enjoyed this hiking guide to the Ladder of Kotor trail in Kotor, Montenegro.

Take a pick from the below articles for more Montenegro travel guides and adventure inspiration! Otherwise, if you have any tips or advice for adding any activities or points of interest to this Kotor travel guide, let me know in the comments!

• Things to do in Kotor - My comprehensive guide to the best 25+ things to do in Kotor.
• Blue Cave Montenegro Guide - Discover the incredible Blue Cave of Montenegro.
• Fort Vrmac Hike - Discover the lesser-known Fort Vrmac Hike for sunset.
• Lovcen National Park - Everything you need to know for visiting Lovcen National Park.
• Accommodation: Find out where to stay in Kotor and Where to Stay in Budva for great deals!