"Kotor and Europe's Deepest Fjord" Top 5 Page for this destination Kotor by pure1942

Once one of Europe's best kept secret's, Kotor is now popping up on the the travel radar more and more. As part of Yugoslavia, Kotor was one of the country's lesser known gems but with Montenegro's independence and tourism drive, it is receiving the attention it reightly deserves, to the detriment of it's hidden charm quality.
The arrival of the cruise ship has dramatically impacted on the numbers of visitors coming to this part of the Adriatic coastline and it can be hard to avoid the crowds of visitors, but you can took consolation in the fact that the cruise ships generally dock for only a day and after this you will have the sleepy, Old world charm of the walled town and mountain fortifications generally to yourself.
I visited during April and once the crowds from the cruise ship had dispersed and returned to ship, and day-trippers from Dubrovnik had left the Old Town was left virtually deserted apart from a splattering of overland tourists and locals. I suspect the story in summer would be a little different.

Kotor harbour and Old Town at night

I've always had a soft spot for Eastern Eirope's Old Town's. Other's say they all start to look the same after a while, but I have to disagree. How can Tallinn's Medieval Old Town be compared to the Vilnius Baroque Old Town and how can Prague's Old Town be compared with the Walled fotress that is Dubrovnik? If people are 'bored' of Old Town's, they're not looking hard enough for the uniqueness of individual cities, not that you should have to look very hard anyway!
Kotor's Old Town is a unique and interesting mix of narrow cobblestone alleys, small open squares and quality architecture all mixed with with a hint of Venetian, Byzantine and Ottoman influence which stems from Kotor's historical importance at the head of the Kotor Fjord - Boka Kotorska and the accompanying conflict which generally results from towns and cities with such a strategically important location.

Montengro's answer to The Great Wall!

Kotor's Old Town lies alongside the end of the Boka and it's fortified walls give a clear indication of it's historical importance. Add to this the extensive series of walls and fortifications which stretch from behind the Old Town, up the mountainside. These fortified walls are 4.5km long, making them double the length of their more famous neighbours in Dubrovnik! Not only that but the views from these walls to the Old Town and stretching down the Kotor Fjord make these walls even more special. The view from the top is simply breathtaking. One of the best landscape views I have been privileged to enjoy.
I love the way these fortifications have been left a little overgrown and rugged. Saftey comes second to originality...I love it. In Western Europe the steps and walls of the walls would be overburdened with hand and guard rails, litter bins, cement reinforment and scaffolding. The pathways and steps of Kotor's mountain fortifications have been left generally uninterrupted, with grass, wild flowers and loose, sloping stones, resulting in an interesting hike to the top. Don't get me wrong, the climb is not unsafe, you just need to watch your step in places and it makes for realsitic, untouched surroundings. On a quiet day, you really get the feeling that you have discovered a lost world that not many have explored for centuries. Really adds to the enjoyment of the climb. Add to this the herds of goats which you will periodically encounter on your way up!!! One of Europe's finest and most 'naturally' preserved set of ancient fortifications. Oh...and did I mention the view...yes....I'll say it again...breathtaking, stunning, beautiful, heavenly, glorious and all other applicable adjectives!