The 1,355 steps are worth it

Kotor sits at the inner end of the Bay of Kotor — a fjord-like inlet in Montenegro that is one of the best-preserved medieval cities on the Adriatic. The Fortress of San Giovanni (St. John's Fortress) rises directly above the old city to 280 meters, reached by 1,355 stone steps built into the cliff. From the fortress, the bay spreads below — the entire enclosed bay with the Vrmac and Orjen ranges behind. The bay faces roughly west, so late afternoon light comes down its length and the water changes color from blue-green to deep gold before sunset. Perast, 15 kilometers northwest up the bay, is a small baroque town with two tiny islands in front of it — St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks — that are among the most photographed compositions on this coast. From Perast, a short boat takes you to the island.