Ladder of Kotor Hike, Montenegro: Ultimate Guide
First things first. The Ladder of Kotor is not an actual ladder. It’s a hiking route in Montenegro. In fact, the Ladder of Kotor was an old trading route between Kotor and Cetinje.
The zigzagging path, built into the mountains, has carried traders and travellers along its many switchbacks, since Venetian times. These days, of course, there are concrete roads for cars, so the Ladder of Kotor is a peaceful hike.
I hiked it myself (and then extended the hike even further, details of that later on). I loved the breathtaking views of Kotor, so I can’t recommend the Ladder of Kotor highly enough.
The trek is a great alternative to the busier St John’s Fortress hike. It’s perfect for you if you’re ok with some physical exercise, love a challenge and are seeking fewer crowds than in the Old Town of Kotor.
I’ll cover all the details, including what to look out for and where you can find a toilet on the route. Plus there are photos from my trip and a short film I made, so you can see what the Ladder of Kotor hike is like for yourself.
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Essential details of the Ladder of Kotor hike
Cost
The Ladder of Kotor hike is free.
Distance
- To ‘top of Old Kotor Fort trail’ viewpoint: 5km
- Extension to P1 road exit at Restaurant Nevjesta Jadrana: 6.5km
Ladder of Kotor hike duration
The time it takes you to complete the hike will depend on several factors. Like, will you stop to have a drink at the bar on the way, will you do the whole hike or just the main first section. And of course, how many times will you stop for photos.
You can hike the first section, to the viewpoint, in a couple of hours. It’s then at least another hour to hike the second part.
Elevation
Around 1000 metres elevation gain.
Difficulty
Of course, difficulty is relative. I’m not a professional hiker but I do get out and do some reasonably challenging routes.
The start of this hike is easy, with a gentle incline. Later on, as you progress higher up and reach the second part, the route becomes steeper and more physically challenging. Overall, therefore, the hike is medium difficulty.
Do You Need a Guide?
You don’t need a guide to complete the Ladder of Kotor hike. It’s easy to find your way up this moderate hike. There’s a clear pathway which is way marked, making it easy to do on your own.
The hike gets trickier once you enter the forest in the second section but there are signs to help point you in the right direction.
Do not rely only on Google maps for this hike. Make sure you have a proper hiking app with trails marked. I used Maps.me and downloaded the Montenegro maps so that I could use them offline.
Route
I’ve created a map of the Ladder of Kotor hike. The end of the route marks the end of the longer trek. You may prefer to only walk to the ‘Top Of The Old Kotor Fort Trail’ viewpoint, which is also marked on the map.
How to find the start of the Ladder of Kotor
To get to the start of the Ladder of Kotor, head out of the Old Town, through the River Gate (North Gate), then cross the bridge and turn right.
Continue along the road, passing by houses and the Pekara bakery.
Look for the metal fence at the end of the road and take the path on the right side of the gates. I initially thought it was a dead end and that we wouldn’t be able to get through, but as I got nearer to the fence I could see the narrow footpath.
Follow this path as it curves around. You’ll go past the old hydroelectric power plant and then start going up the mountain.
For more useful information on how to get around Kotor’s best attractions, check out my guide to how to get around Kotor without a car.
Film of my experience hiking the Ladder of Kotor
Watch my short film to experience the Ladder of Kotor hike with me.
Facilities on the way
There aren’t a lot of facilities on this hike but there is the wonderful ‘cheese shop’. It’s marked as that on Google maps, but this is more of a rustic café bar.
The family that run the place were very friendly on my trip, showing off their latest catch of goat curing in the sun.
The kittens playing freely brought a huge smile to my face and added significant time to the hike, as I stopped to spend time playing with them.
But it is the overwhelming beauty of the view that is the real appeal here. A drink with a view as gorgeous as this one has to be experienced to be believed.
Another bonus of a stop here is that it has flushing toilets. Total mountainside luxury.
You’ll need to bring cash for the drinks, and any cheese you want to purchase. Sure, it’s a little more expensive than bars down in Kotor Old Town, but I was happy to pay for the friendly service and priceless view.
Points of interest
Things to look out for as you’re hiking up the Ladder of Kotor include:
The ruins of the abandoned village of Špiljari
This small hamlet is now abandoned to the elements. The St Juraj Church (also written as Chapel of St. Ivan) is worth a look inside at the worn frescos and glimpses of blue ceiling. However, I found the smell pungent so you will want to be quick about it.
St John’s Fortress (San Giovanni Fortress)
It’s possible to enter St John’s Fortress, just by the church, via a bizarre set up of a bit of old wood and crawling through a high up window.
This isn’t an official entrance, you’re meant to pay the entrance fee at the bottom of 18 euros (either on the way up or down, if you’re descending and ending the hike via the Fortress).
However, there were some people crawling through the window when I was here. You’ll have to make your own mind up about that.
Goats
You’re likely to encounter several goats along the Ladder of Kotor hike. They seemed tame and friendly, letting Mr FFI pet them. They are wild animals though, so you might want to keep your distance.
What it’s like hiking the Ladder of Kotor
The initial part of the Ladder of Kotor is a fun switchback path. I found them easy to start with, as the incline isn’t too steep, and the pathway is wide enough to pass others.
There were quite a few people doing the trek when I went in late summer, including families with kids, solo hikers and even someone running up. All credit to that man.
Despite there being other people on the hike, it was still much quieter than the busy throngs of tourists making the walk up the Old City walls to St John Fortress from the Old Town.
The break to explore St Juraj Church and the cheese shop is a welcome rest.
After this, the route continues up the mountain, constantly switching back on itself.
The ground is stoney, so trainers with a good grip or hiking boots are required.
Eventually you get to the section marked as ‘Kotor Bay viewpoint’ on the map. Spend time here taking in the gorgeous panoramas, filled with deep blue water and undulating mountains as far as the eye can see.
At this point, you have a choice. Go back the way you came or continue further up the trail to the main road of P1 and the village of Žanjev Do, Cetinje.
Ladder of Kotor hike part two
I chose to carry on the hike. The second section was heavier going. Partly because I’d already been trekking for some time and partly because the scenery is less interesting. You spend the next hour or so walking through a pine forest and the incline feels a lot steeper. The smell of the pine is delicious though.
I had to take a few breaks on the way and was glad to emerge onto the road, opposite restaurant Nevjesta Jadrana, my original goal.
Things to do at Žanjev Do
There are a few things to do if you make it as far as Žanjev Do. You can carry on your adventure with a go on the zipline Njegushi. To get there you have to walk about 15 minutes further uphill and deal with a tunnel that’s made for cars and not pedestrians.
That might sound too extreme. In that case, you can stop for a meal and refreshment at the restaurant, Nevjesta Jadrana. They serve traditional Montenegrin cuisine.
Don’t miss the viewpoint here.
How to extend the hike
On reaching Žanjev Do, I decided to extend the hike even further. I know, I’m not sure what I was thinking either, as there weren’t many more hours of light left in the sky.
If you don’t want to do that, you will need to have arranged a pre-booked taxi to collect you and take you back to Kotor. Or you have to hike all the way back, as there aren’t any buses here.
I followed the route on the Maps.me app to hike all the way to the upper Kotor Cable Car station and was lucky to get one of the last rides down. The ticket attendant couldn’t quite believe that I only needed a one-way ticket because I’d walked all the way up from Kotor.
This part of the hike was a mixed bag. It took a couple of hours. There were interesting sections, hiking through stoney pathways and countryside, which was a fun challenge. But there was also the last section which I ended up walking on the side of the road for – not fun.
Thankfully there was almost no traffic. At this point tiredness had kicked in and my desire to get to the sanctuary of the cable car meant I made a bit of a misstep, as I could have actually walked for longer off-road.
For more great hikes in Montenegro, make sure you include a trip to Durmitor National Park on your itinerary.
Kotor Cable Car
Cost
The Kotor cable car costs from €9 one way in low season, and from €15 in high season.
Opening times
The timetable for the Kotor cable car varies depending on the season. It typically opens from 9am to 9pm in peak season but check the website before you set out, to confirm that it’s open.
The cable car closed early on the day I did the Ladder of Kotor hike, due to high winds. I was lucky to get to the upper station just in time before it closed.
Facilities at the cable car station
- Monte 1350 bar and café, serving tea, coffee, cold drinks and food.
- Toilets
- Roller coaster ride
- Bike hire
Lovcen national park
Another option to extend the Ladder of Kotor hike is to hike into Lovcen national Park, Cetinje, and visit the Njegos mausoleum. You’ll need to get up earlier than me to fit this in though.
What to pack for your Ladder of Kotor hike in Montenegro
- Trainers with a good grip
- Water – although see cheese shop details above for a chance to stock up on route.
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Phone power bank – the walk is long and the views incredible, you don’t want your phone to die and miss out on epic photo opportunities
- Lightweight jacket – it can get cool at the top near the cable car.
- Backpack – to carry all of the above.
Wrap up: is the Ladder of Kotor worth hiking?
The Ladder of Kotor is worth visiting if you’re able to. It’s one of the best reasons for visiting Kotor.
The views of the Bay of Kotor, the old city walls and the fortress are simply stunning. I mean, off the scale gorgeousness. And if you continue higher up the walk the views get better and better. You get a real sense of the enormity of the natural world here.
It’s so easy to get to this hike if you’re in Kotor, so it’s a perfect opportunity to get out into nature and explore the wild side of Kotor.
Plus, it’s free, so if you’re on a budget for your Montenegro itinerary, hiking the Ladder of Kotor is an ideal activity.
Although there were quite a few other hikers doing the section up to the church, the numbers thinned out the further up I climbed and it was so peaceful. It’s a great way to spend a day in Kotor.
Once you’ve completed the Ladder of Kotor hike, check out nearby Perast for another must-see location in Montenegro.