Don’t miss

If you like kitsch,cuteness and eccentric museums you should hardly miss the Cats Museum,which costs a mere €1 ($1.70). The traditional sight is however the 1166 St Tryphon’s Cathedral topped by added baroque towers. Most people only admire the outside,but the altar screen is beautiful,and so is the fine display of bejewelled reliquaries.

Get active

Just behind the old town,1300 steps led up the cliff to St John’s Fort. Go in the early morning to avoid the heat. If you haven’t burst your lungs,you’ll be rewarded by spectacular views over Kotor Bay and surrounding mountains. For a less heart-banging alternative,turn left off the ship and stroll for an hour along the waterfront:not great at first,but soon opening to an agreeable cafe-lined promenade and pretty water outlooks.

Retail therapy

Kotor had its origins in a Roman trading port and the town grew rich on Mediterranean trade. The old town isn’t selling salt cod and spices these days,but you can have an agreeable time browsing its many boutiques and souvenir stores. Wood carving,embroidery,pottery and lace are local specialities.

Further afield

Unless you’ve been before,you have no need to go anywhere else,although you could do a half-day in the old town and the classic half-day shore excursion along the bay to baroque town Perast and its island,capped by Our Lady of the Rocks church. Many other destinations are accessible from Kotor,including Montenegro’s old royal capital Cetinje,and seaside resort Budva. The road to Cetinje,known as the Kotor Serpentine,has a section with 25 hairpin bends that will test your nerves as it provides a parachutist’s view over the landscape.