Best Kotor Old Town Hotels
Narrow winding cobblestone streets and ancient religious edifices characterize Kotor’s Old Town. It’s a place where centuries-old Venetian and Austro-Hungarian townhouses have maintained their serene courtyards and arched-stone or wooden-beam ceilings.
Only a few of these palazzi are still inhabited by noble and merchant families for whom they were primarily built; some of these beautiful homes have been turned into charming boutique hotels, always in close vicinity to the major sites such as Kotor Cathedral, the magnificent Kotor Fortress, and Kampana Tower. The following four-star hotels will surely be your restful sanctuary after an exhausting day of sightseeing.
Hotel Hippocampus
A 17th-century townhouse is the setting for the Boutique Hotel Hippocampus, overlooking the Church of Saint Anne, just a couple of steps from the Northern Gate. From the intimate rooftop bar and restaurant, it’s possible to appreciate the beauty of the iconic orange roofs that dominate Kotor’s townscape, with or without cocktails.
Each of the 9 rooms and suites combines whitewashed wooden beams, crisp white linen, and contemporary chic decor. Modern vessel sinks, gold-leaf cabinets, and luxurious personal care items are just some of the little luxuries you can find in individually designed residences.
Hotel Astoria
The exposed limestone walls throughout the 4-star Hotel Astoria Kotor echo the surrounding buildings of Kotor’s Old Town. From some of the better rooms and suites on the 3rd and 4th floor, guests will be able to look out onto the harbor and the wider Bay of Kotor.
A tasteful restoration of the 18th-century Buca Palace highlights antique attributes while adding an individual contemporary design scheme to each of the 9 residences. The finest include a large marble bathroom with a fantastic shower and classy Biedermeier furniture in the spacious living room area.
Boutique Hotel Cattaro
The 4-star Boutique Hotel Cattaro Kotor is a stunning example of incorporating heirloom pieces to bring a sense of place and history to this charming accommodation. So much of Kotor’s history and culture is captured in its architecture that it was invited to join the Historic Hotels of Europe association.
There are 18 unique rooms, all designed with the understated charm of the 18th century. Beautiful nautical motifs make up the majority of the artwork. The Hotel Cattaro is also known for its gastronomy with two on-site restaurants, overlooking the main town square and serving probably the best pizza in Kotor.
Hotel Monte Cristo
A former Bishop’s residence is the setting for the four-star Hotel Monte Cristo, situated less than 150 meters from Kotor Cathedral and the Kampana Tower. It opens out onto one of Kotor’s most picturesque piazzas. In addition to a restaurant and bar, there is a vine-shaded terrace overlooking Museum Square.
The traditional hotel has 18 rooms and suites in heritage style with first-grade linen and hygiene items. The residences are full of character, ideal for guests looking for a slightly more daring collocation of color and furniture. Wooden beams, ornate chandeliers, and exposed stone walls feature in the communal areas.
Villa Duomo
This lovely boutique hotel occupies a restored heritage building, with a picturesque courtyard garden and elegant interiors, in the UNESCO-listed and pedestrianized historic center. Small and exclusive, the 4-star Hotel Villa Duomo attracts discerning couples (old and young) on a romantic city break.
Set on a peaceful side corner of the otherwise busy Boka Navy Square, just 50 meters away from Kotor Cathedral – so there’s no traffic noise, just the sound of the half-hourly church bells from St. Tryphon’s nearby. All of Kotor’s main sights and restaurants lie within a 10-minute walking distance from the hotel, and parking can be found just outside Kotor’s city walls.
The family team who own and run Villa Duomo offers a cordial welcome and is happy to help with restaurant suggestions, excursions, and airport transfers. It’s a chic but unpretentious retreat, offering just 13 individually appointed rooms, with exposed sandstone walls and timeless furnishings, and some include balconies and jetted bathtubs.
Hotel Vardar
This chic old-town boutique hotel sits right next to the clock tower on the Square of Arms, the beautiful main piazza in Kotor. The mid-18th-century historic structure underwent a three-year restoration project in 2007 to polish its legacy character, preserving most of its original wood and stone features.
The staff at Hotel Vardar are excellent hosts and overflowing with local recommendations about restaurants and bars. They can arrange anything from boat tours to Our Lady of the Rocks and sailing trips around the bay (with a skipper) to full-day excursions to neighboring Croatia or Bosnia and Hercegovina.
Expect ultra-comfortable beds with satin bedspreads and squishy pillows, carpeted floors, a slick modern marble bathroom with a glass-sided rain shower, premium toiletries by Naturals, crisp white bathrobes, and comfortable slippers. The hotel’s ground-floor restaurant is popular with patrons and non-guests alike for its romantic setting, perfect for a candlelit dinner. There’s a small but well-equipped gym.