Ladder of Kotor Hike to the Fortress for Free: Everything you Need to Know

Update: I have been informed that as of June 2024, the method described here is no longer possible. The ladder has been removed, and a turnstile added to the opposite side of the official entrance. However, some users in the comments have suggested potential alternative methods for accessing the fort from this side. Please be aware that these may change at any time, so proceed with caution and at your own risk, as entry from this side may or may not be feasible.

I mentioned in my previous blog about Montenegro that it can be a pricey country (surprisingly). So, it should also not be a surprise that the main attraction in Kotor – the Kotor Fortress – has an €8 entrance fee, which is high for Montenegrin prices. Nonetheless, thanks to the power of the backpacker community and general word of mouth, I was made aware of a way to enter the fortress for free – completely bypassing the normal entrance, and thus the subsequent fee.

The alternative entrance is via a path known as the ‘Ladder of Kotor trail’ and is a little-known secret that can save you some money to use later in your adventures. Just bear in mind that the walk up can be quite demanding, even more so under the summer sun. So, make sure to wear appropriate clothing for the weather, take plenty of water with you, and even some snacks if you think you will need them. I personally don’t believe that the ‘normal’ path up the fortress is any less taxing, as I came down this way – so be prepared either way.

Anyways, I really enjoyed this experience – it was the highlight of Kotor for me. Especially since it was the only thing here that didn’t end up costing anything! The hike offers exquisite views, and there will be mountains of opportunity (pun intended) for photo-ops along the way.

Finding the Trailhead

Everyone I met who had been here told me that the hike up to the fortress was a must-do, so I was excited to try it out for myself. I was naturally even more excited to be gifted the knowledge of this free route up to the top! The ‘Ladder of Kotor trail’ is a zig-zag uphill path located behind the old town walls (unlike the normal path up, with the entrance up located within the town walls). To find the free way up, you need to exit the old town from the connecting bridge on the north side. With the old town behind you, turn right. The start of the trail will be directly in front of you from here, taking no more than 2/3 minutes’ walk from when you turned right. When the road starts to fork left, just ignore that and continue straight on the rocky path directly in front of you. It’s an extremely easy path to locate and takes 5 extra minutes from the usual path up the fortress walls.

Getting to the Ladder

As I mentioned, the path up is a steep zig-zag path leading to a flat plain in the mountain range. In order to reach the ladder, you should be willing to give yourself about 1 hour or so (possibly more depending on how physically fit you are). The bay becomes more visible with each turn up the path, so I found it easy to stop and take in the wonderful view of the surroundings below – which also allowed me to catch my breath whenever I needed to.

Eventually, you will reach a section in which several of the mountains connect and act as a sort of plateau – as it is almost flat in certain parts. The zig-zag path will continue past this point and will continue all the way to the highest peak on the trail (labeled ‘Top of The Old Kotor Fort Trail’ on Google maps). If looking for the ladder trail, you will want to look for a straight path to the right on the ‘plateau’. There are two of these paths close to each other – you can take either. The best option if you are unsure is to open maps and look for the ‘Milenko Franović Dakan’ cabin. This is where you turn (the paths leading to the ladder are also marked on Google Maps). Further up, look for the ‘Cheese Shop’ on maps – this will be your second option for a turnoff. These are the only inhabited/functionable buildings in sight here, so you should be able to spot either.

I brought drinks and snacks with me, but if you forget, then the ‘Cheese Shop’ offers both food and drinks to purchase, if you feel like you need a breather. I was told by a friend that the owner of ‘Milenko Franović Dakan’ also offers hot drinks to purchase.

Now, both paths converge further down the line, and at this point you will see a tiny abandoned church. There is no information about the history of this mysterious place, but it is worth checking out as there is nothing to stop you going inside for a gander. You can clearly see a lot of the wall colors, especially on the roof area!

Just past the church, you will be able to clearly see the Fortress walls just ahead, with a visible path leading that way – look closely and you should also see the wooden ladder which gives the trail its name too. Head along this path, until you reach the ladder leading into a medium-sized window. Don’t fret about falling, the distance from the ground isn’t significant and the ladder has been tightly wired into place.

Congratulations, you’ve made it into the fortress! The ladder entrance is near the top of the fortress, so from here head up to get the best views of the Bay of Kotor. It really is something special being up there on a crisp clear day! From the top, make your way down and explore all the other sights on your way down the main path. You can, of course, go back down the ladder trail if you so wish, but you will miss out on a large section of the fortress. Once at the bottom, you can just waltz past the exit beside the entrance gate for tickets, and you will now find yourself in the old town!

Other Things to Keep in Mind

I saw a couple of other guides before I hiked the trail myself, which said it would take around 4 hours to reach the ladder. Personally, I took about 1 hour and 30 minutes. I guess it all comes down to how fit you are and how many times you need to stop, but based on these other recommendations – be sure to give yourself ample time to reach the top (and make your way back down the fortress)! While I didn’t experience bad weather, based on the nature of the trail, I would say that it is not suitable for climbing in wet/rainy or misty conditions.

I did the hike in summer, and it gets very hot, so this time of year might not be the best time to hike for anyone who has heat intolerance. As with any long hike, just make sure you dress appropriately for the weather, bring plenty of water and any other snacks and supplies you think you might need. Lastly, proper shoes with a good grip are recommended for this hike.

Armed with this knowledge, it’s completely up to you if you want to take the official route, or opt for this far more scenic path that avoids the extortionate fees. Do not worry about inspections once you enter the fortress. Nobody guards the fortress past the normal entrance and there is nobody inspecting tickets on the way out.

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