Mountain
Bay of Kotor climb
A demanding switchback climb above the Bay of Kotor, rewarding riders with panoramic views over the fjord-like bay below.
Founder, from Ruma, Serbia
The Kotor Serpentine is one of the great road climbs of the Adriatic. The old road from Kotor toward Lovćen zigzags up the mountainside in 25 numbered hairpins, climbing roughly 900 metres above the bay in one long, steady effort.
The reward is one of the best views in Montenegro: the fjord-like Bay of Kotor laid out below, with the walled old town and moored boats shrinking with every bend. Gradients are steady rather than brutal, but the climb is long and exposed to the sun, so it suits riders with some climbing experience. Start early in the morning to beat the heat and the tour buses.
From the top, ride on to Njeguši, a village known for its smoked ham and cheese, and into Lovćen National Park, or turn around for a fast descent back to the coast. Kotor has bike rental and guided road rides, and Tivat Airport is about 20 minutes away. May, June and September offer the most comfortable temperatures.
When to go
May-June and September, cooler temperatures make the sustained climb far more manageable than in peak summer heat.
Getting there
The climb starts from Kotor's old town, roughly 45 minutes from Tivat Airport.
Plan your visit
What it costs, how long to allow, and where to base yourself.
Free to ride; guided bay rides from €40
Half day
Kotor
Tivat, 20 min
Trips you can book here
Guided tours run by local operators. Open a trip to see the price, what’s included and how the day runs.
Where to stay for the Kotor Serpentine climb: Kotor town
Kotor is the obvious base: the serpentine road starts from town, so you can roll out at dawn to beat the heat and the tour buses, and Kotor has bike rental and guided road rides. Hotel Vardar has a sauna for tired legs, and Old Town Youth Hostel keeps it cheap inside the walls. The same base covers Lovćen National Park.
Hotel Vardar
Hotel
Price Range:
Upscale
4-star on the main square at the old town entrance, with a sauna, Turkish bath and a terrace right on the square.
On the main square by the Sea Gate
Old Town Youth Hostel
Hostel
Price Range:
Budget
Hostel in a 13th-century building inside Kotor's walls, near St Tryphon Cathedral. The budget way to sleep in the old town.
Inside Kotor Old Town
Hotel Monte Cristo
Hotel
Price Range:
Mid-range
Former residence of Kotor's first bishop, now a small hotel with breakfast included and a terrace restaurant in the old town.
Inside Kotor Old Town
Who it's for
Best for: Road cyclists with some climbing experience who want one of the great Adriatic ascents. Gradients are steady rather than savage, and the view over the bay improves with every hairpin.
Skip it if: It is your first big climb, or you are riding in July and August, when the road is hot, exposed and busy with tour buses. Start at dawn or pick a shoulder month.
Nearby places
Easy to combine on the same trip.
Bay of Kotor climb questions
How difficult is the climb?
Genuinely challenging, with sustained gradients best suited to riders who already have some climbing experience.
Where should I base myself for the climb?
Kotor. The climb starts from the bay, and bike rental from around €20 a day is easy to find in town.
How do I get to Kotor for the climb?
Tivat airport is about 20 minutes away. The climb itself takes half a day.
How much does it cost to ride the Kotor climb?
The road is free to ride. Bike rental in Kotor typically runs €20 to €35 a day, and a road or gravel bike with low gearing is worth the extra. If you want something gentler, a guided old town walk and bay coast bike tour starts around €40.
Can beginners do this climb?
Not for a first-timer. The gradients are manageable but sustained, and the climb is long and exposed to the sun. Build up on flatter coastal rides first, or take an e-bike.
Is the Kotor climb worth it?
Yes. Twenty-five numbered hairpins climbing 900 metres straight above the Bay of Kotor, with the walled old town shrinking below you. It is one of the most photogenic climbs in Europe.
How long does the climb take?
Most riders take one to two hours for the 25 hairpins and roughly 900 metres of climbing, depending on fitness. The descent back to the coast takes a fraction of that.
What is at the top?
Ride on to Njeguši, known for its smoked ham and cheese, and into Lovćen National Park for the Njegoš mausoleum. Or turn around for a fast descent back to the bay.
Not up for the climb? Ride the bay
Guided old town walk, then a bike ride along the bay to the Verige Strait for views of Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, with a stop at Three Sisters beach. No hairpins.
