The Kotor Fortress Hike to the Castle of St. John

A killer view of the Bay of Kotor and the Old Town will be your reward after you go up 1,350 steps following the Kotor city walls up in the hill.

The first stone to build this impressive wall was laid in the 9th century. The construction continued until the 14th century and was reinforced in the 16th century.

As you zig zag along the switchbacks and climb up the steps you’ll start seeing the red roofs and church domes of Old Town while the view of the Bay of Kotor gets better and better. 

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Starting Points for the Kotor Fortress Hike

The most direct way to the steps is by entering the Old Town through the River Gate (North Gate). From there, walk straight one block and look for the arch on your left pictured below, with the symbol of the Venetian Republic: the winged lion of St. Mark holding a Bible.

You’ll also see a sign on the wall with a map titled “Kotor Fortress”. The path will show on Google Maps as “Road to the Fort of St. Ivan” (Ivan = John).

Enter the narrow alleyway and you’ll soon reach the bottom of the steps.

You’ll find another starting point at Pjaca od Salate (a square near the South Gate).

Take the stairs towards the mountain (you’ll see an “Entrance to the Fortress” sign) that will lead you to the trailhead.

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The Steps

From start to finish, this hike is all steps. 

On one hand it makes it easier to go up and down but, on the other hand, there’s 1,350 of them. It’s not a walk in the park.

Also, the steps are ultra narrow and aren’t in good condition. Some are uneven, some are broken, and some are missing. At times (when possible), it’s easier to walk on the also narrow adjacent stone-covered ramp, when the stones aren’t too big.

Take your time to stop along the way to enjoy not only the view of the bay, but the great sight of the wall going up St. John’s Hill. Close to the fortress you’ll start seeing remnants of the old fortification.

There are two main stops on this trail, which I describe below.

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The Church of Our Lady of Remedy

This tiny Catholic church was built in the early 16th century on top of an Early Christian Church from the 6th century, with the imposing Kotor City walls as a background. 

This is the first main stop, located about a third of the way into the hike. It’s a famous viewpoint as the panoramic view from here covers Kotor Old Town, the Vrmac Ridge, and beyond.

It’s also a popular last stop for people who can’t make it all the way to the top.

If you can, keep going up until you reach St. John’s Fortress and say hi to the cute cats you’ll find along the way. If not, go just a little bit further up to include the iconic church belfry in your pic.

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Montenegro Tour from Kotor: venture out to other parts of Montenegro on this day trip to the village of Njeguši to try local delicacies, to Lovćen National Park, and Budva Old Town. It includes a photo stop at Sveti Stefan and a tour of Kotor Old Town.
Take this tour beyond Kotor, with a rating of 5/5 based on more than 80 reviews.

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St. John’s Fortress

Also known as the Castle of San Giovanni, Castle of St. John, or Fort of St. Ivan. This is the highest point you can reach on the Kotor walls.

The views at the top -and along the way- are breathtaking. Not only of the bay with the overlapping mountains in the distance and the nearby coastal towns of Dobrota and Prčanj, but also of St. John’s Hill with its rugged peaks and its iconic Ladder of Kotor.

It’s also a rare opportunity to see the amazing Kotor walls -which can be as thick as 1.5 metres (5 feet)- and its towers, from above.

Regarding the castle, it’s more a mere viewpoint than a fortress as there’s not much left of it. It’s mostly in ruins with collapsed roofs, crumbling walls, overgrown vegetation, and garbage. It was damaged during the 1979 earthquake and left to die.

It’s a pity and it makes you wonder where the money from the entry fee goes, because it doesn’t seem to go toward the castle or to maintaining the steps.

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Entrance Fee and Hours

The high views come with a high price as the fee is as steep as the hike. Where does it go? Again, who knows because it doesn’t seem to go towards maintenance.

May to September: during high season you’ll find guards at both trailheads from 7AM to 8PM charging an entrance fee of €15 p/p. Young children enter free.

March/April and (possibly) early October: during early spring and early fall the manned hours at the trailheads are shorter (8 or 9AM until 6PM), although some days you may not find anyone at the booth.   

October/November until the end of February: it’s low season, there’s no one collecting fees.

You can pay using credit card or cash, but sometimes they only take cash.   

Note: keep your receipt as the guards will ask for it on your way down. If you don’t show proof of payment you’ll have to pay again.             

If you arrive really early and complete the hike before the guards show up you don’t have to pay. Take into consideration that if they arrive before you’re out you’ll be charged.

You can also go up after the guards are gone and catch the beautiful sunset. I took these photos accessing the trail from Pjaca od Salate after hours.

Note: start your descent before nightfall. The upper section of the wall is illuminated at night, but there are no lights along the trail and going on the steps in the dark is dangerous due to their poor condition. You’re not allowed to spend the night up there.

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Tips to Plan Your Hike

Here are a few things you need to know to be prepared for your Kotor Fortress hike:

– The level of difficulty is moderate.

– If you start early in the morning you’ll be under the shade of the wall, otherwise you’ll hike under the sun. If you visit during the summer bring a hat as it gets hot.

– It’s a steep hike, bring enough water.

– The steps are in poor condition and there’s rocks everywhere. You’ll need to wear proper shoes with a good grip. 

– Avoid doing this during or right after it rains as the steps become slippery.

– There are no facilities along this route.

– Don’t buy the entrance tickets anywhere else but at the entrance booths.

• – If possible, do the hike on a day with no cruise ships.

– This hike is NOT the Ladder of Kotor, that’s a different trail.

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How Long it Takes 

Duration: how long it takes depends on your level of fitness and how many stops you do, but it normally takes between 1.5 to 2 hours (round trip).

Length: the trail is around 1.2 kilometres (0.75 miles), one way, with an elevation gain just above 230 metres (700 feet).

Difficulty: moderate

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This scenic hike along a famous icon like the Kotor walls is inside a historic site that offers great views not only of the Bay of Kotor , but also of the stunning surrounding landscape and the Old Town.

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