Kotor's 4.5km of walls are the defining feature of the town — they run from the waterfront, climb the rocky hillside behind the old town, and reach the Fortress of San Giovanni at 260 metres above sea level. The climb takes 45 minutes to an hour via the stepped path that begins near the Church of Our Lady of Remedy. At the top, the views over the bay and the surrounding mountains are exceptional.
Go early in the morning before the cruise ship crowds arrive, or in the late afternoon when the light is better and the heat has faded. There is an entrance fee to access the walls (payable at the gate near the north corner of the old town). Bring water — there's no shade on the upper sections.