How to climb San Giovanni fortress above Kotor: 1,350 steps, tickets, opening hours, the free back route and best time of day.
San Giovanni — Sveti Ivan in Montenegrin — is the fortress crowning the 260 m cliff above Kotor Old Town, connected to it by 4.5 km of Venetian walls and roughly 1,350 steps.
The climb is the single most photographed activity in Montenegro. Halfway up, the Church of Our Lady of Remedy (1518) gives the classic view over the terracotta rooftops and the bay.
Before 8 am or after 6 pm. Midday in July and August regularly exceeds 35 °C on the exposed rock face and there is no water on the route above the church. Sunrise is the quietest hour and the light falls directly on the bay.
A serpentine mule path known as the Ladder of Kotor starts behind the town near the north gate and joins the fortress through a gap in the wall above the ticket booth. It is longer and steeper but free, and it passes the abandoned village of Špiljari. Local guides use it for sunrise hikes to avoid the crowds.
Go with a local hiking guide at sunrise, or combine the climb with a morning Old Town walking tour. Guides know the Špiljari route and the sections of wall most people miss.
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Moderate. Roughly 1,350 uneven stone steps and 260 m of ascent, typically 45–60 minutes at a steady pace. Trainers and at least a litre of water are essential.
Yes — the Ladder of Kotor path behind the Old Town joins the walls above the ticket booth. It is legal but longer and rougher underfoot.
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