How much does the Kotor fortress cost? Foreign visitors pay 15 euros to walk the city walls up to the fortress of St John (Sveti Ivan), while residents of Montenegro, children under 12 and people with disabilities enter free. The fee is collected from 1 March to 30 November, from 07:00 to 20:00 between May and September, at two entrances in the old town. The walled old town itself is free to enter.
Kotor's old town and the bay around it have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. The fee is set by a decision of the Kotor municipal assembly; the details below come from the municipality, the museums of Kotor and UNESCO, checked on 25 September 2026.
What does the fortress ticket cost and when is it collected?
| Item | Detail |
| Ticket for foreign visitors | 15 € per person (8 € until November 2023) |
| Free entry | Residents of Montenegro, children under 12, people with disabilities, official delegations, and everyone on religious holidays set by the Diocese of Kotor |
| 1 March to 30 April | 08:00 to 18:00 |
| 1 May to 30 September | 07:00 to 20:00 |
| 1 October to 30 November | 08:00 to 17:00 |
| Entrances | Parilo, behind the church of Blessed Ozana, and Škaljari square |
From December to February the fee is not collected. Buy tickets only at the two official points.
How hard is the climb?
The fortress stands at the highest point of the walls, 260 metres above sea level, and those who have counted put the climb at 1,426 steps. On the way up you pass four churches: St John at the top, the chapel of St Roch, Our Lady of Health and St Stephen. There is little shade, so in summer go early in the morning or after 17:00 and take water; the path is uneven stone, so wear shoes with grip.
What else costs money in and around the old town?
| Place | Ticket | Hours in season |
| Perast Museum | 8 €, children under 12 5 € | Tuesday to Sunday 08:00 to 20:00, 15 April to 15 October |
| Roman mosaics, Risan | 6 €, children under 12 4 € | Tuesday to Sunday |
| Solidarity Gallery, Lapidarium and St Paul's church, Kotor | 6 € joint ticket | Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, 15 May to 15 October |
The museums run by the public institution Muzeji Kotor are closed on Mondays, on Orthodox Easter and on 1 May. Parking by the old town is expensive in summer, as our guide to parking in Kotor shows.
When is the best time to visit?
The old town is busiest on cruise days: in 2026 up to 6 ships arrive on a single day, mostly between 07:00 and 10:00. Our Kotor cruise ship schedule shows the quietest days. If you would like a local guide for the old town and the walls, guided walks can be found through Glatko's city and culture tours.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Kotor fortress ticket in 2026? 15 euros for foreign visitors; residents of Montenegro and children under 12 enter free.
Is Kotor Old Town free to enter? Yes. Only the walk up the walls to the fortress of St John is charged.
What time does the Kotor fortress open? The fee is collected from 07:00 to 20:00 from May to September, 08:00 to 18:00 in March and April and 08:00 to 17:00 in October and November.
How many steps are there to Kotor fortress? About 1,426, climbing to 260 metres above sea level, with little shade on the way.
Where is the entrance to the Kotor city walls? There are two ticket points: at Parilo behind the church of Blessed Ozana, and at Škaljari square.
Is Kotor Old Town a UNESCO site? Yes. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor was inscribed in 1979.
Sources
The ticket price and exemptions are from the Kotor municipality's announcement, and the collection hours and entrances from the municipality's notice reported by Radio Kotor. The height, step count and churches come from Share Montenegro, museum tickets from Muzeji Kotor and the heritage listing from UNESCO. Checked on 25 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; prices can change from one season to the next, so check at the entrance.