Conquer San Giovanni Fortress via the Ladder of Kotor

Climbing to the Castle of San Giovanni offers one of the most iconic panoramic views in the Mediterranean, but tackling the official 1,350+ stone steps in the midday sun can be brutal. Instead, start your hike just after sunrise before the limestone steps become slick with sweat and the cruise crowds arrive.

For a more scenic and gentler ascent, consider taking the historical Ladder of Kotor trail outside the northern river gate. This switchback path weaves up the mountainside past an abandoned stone village and an old family-run farmstead where you can purchase homemade goat cheese and pomegranate juice. You can then enter the fortress through a rear opening near the Chapel of St. Ivan, avoiding both the steep stairway congestion and the high-noon heat.

Ensure you wear sturdy trail shoes with good grip. The centuries-old polished limestone steps inside the fortress walls are deceptively slippery, especially during early morning dew or after brief rain showers.