Ladder of Kotor

There are 2 options to access the castle. You can pay 15 Euro and walk up the steps or you can hike up the Ladder for free. We have not taken the steps but the Ladder is a wonderful hike and at the top, there is a little bar which makes its own cheese and a great place to sit and see the view. Apparently, there is a way to climb into the fortress but we have not done it. We were surprised at how dry and dessert-like it was up there, it was similar to hiking in Arizona around the Prescott or Superstition Mtn region.

The "free" entrance for the fortress. You must exit the same way if you entered here, the staff will check your ticket if you try to exit via the original path (You can still enter/exit via the original path if you come super early or late when the staff are off work). You can go down the original path to visit the church without problem, the staff only checks your ticket at the exit, I didn't encounter any staff checking tickets on the path itself. I also heard that the ticket counter sometimes doesn't operate deep in the low season so be sure to ask around. There's usually some sort of objects to help you climb up, but I still found it quite easy to climb up if you're abled. Just have to becareful since there's not much of a platform and one wrong step can lead to injuries.

Amazing hiking path to the castle but be aware as at the end of the path you have to jump in on the castle. It is a bit dangerous as there’s a big gap behind you but still easy to do for most average people. You’ll need to pay the fees anyway when you get to the bottom of the castle which is 15 euro per person.

Excellent hiking path up to one of the best viewpoints over Kotor bay. There were plenty of switchbacks which made the hike a little longer but more beginner friendly due to the very gradual incline. I would recommend robust grippy footwear, especially if you intend to climb through ‘the window’ which can be a little tricky. People were willing to help us though, and it’s totally worth it for the stunning views you will enjoy at the end of it all.

Use this window along the outside wall the avoid paying the 15 Euros. The ladder is no longer there but few large stones replaced the ladders to crawl through the window of the wall. Watch the first video (Sorry, I forgot to record the video from the outside, but tlyou can check other reviews from other people).

The ladder of Kotor is an alternative way to enter the fortress. To reach it, there is a hike starting just outside the old town, consisting mostly of a rocky serpentine heading up the mountain. It is not very exhausting, but because of the small rocks on the path, I would recommend wearing proper shoes (not flip-flops). From the top and also on the way you have excellent views of the bay and the old town. There is also a small church and we even got to see some goats roaming around. You can enter the fortress by climing in through a window (shown on one of the pictures). There is no ladder anymore, just a log placed next to the window for some support, so be careful.

Ladder of Kotor Которске степенице is one of the beautiful stops with a great view climbing to the top of the mountain. It is a really tough time climbing up the mountain but it is well worth it for the spectacular views!

15€ for a ticket to climb the stairs of Kotor. For all the money they charge, there are no proper signs for tourists, no railings, and the top of the tourist attraction is full of urine, graffiti, and plastic trash. There is another entrance from the mountain trekking path (which is much better than the stairs), offering a better view of the entire valley and a local farmer’s terrace that is spectacular, where you can drink, eat local cheese, and more. Today, we found that this entrance was full of human excrement, which was clearly a signal to prevent those coming from the trekking path from entering through that way. I found it disappointing, disgusting, and above all, expensive for the little maintenance of this historic site. If you want a great view of the city, don’t pay the 15€; do the trekking instead, where you can even find nice views, local people business and bathrooms.