Do Kotor in this order
1. Walk the Old Town before the day crowds arrive. Start at Sea Gate and Trg od Oružja, then take the narrow lanes to St. Tryphon Cathedral and the Maritime Museum. This is a compact, level route with plenty of shade, so allow 60 to 90 minutes rather than treating it as an all-day task. The cathedral and museum keep their own seasonal hours; check on the morning of your visit. If you are choosing between history and a long hike, do this first and save your legs for the walls.
2. Climb to San Giovanni Fortress only in cool, dry conditions. The official trail rises steeply above the town on uneven stone. Plan roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours for the return trip, including stops, and carry more water than you think you need. Early morning is the sensible slot in warm months; rain makes the surface slippery and midday sun is punishing. The ticketing arrangement has changed over time, so confirm the current entry point and fee locally instead of relying on an old blog post.
3. Put Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks on a separate half-day. A local bus or taxi gets you to Perast; from its waterfront, licensed boats make the short crossing to the island. Allow time to walk Perast itself, not just photograph the church. A return boat trip from Kotor can be convenient, but it gives you less control over how long you stay. See the Kotor food guide before deciding whether to eat in town or around the bay.
4. Use the Kotor-Lovćen cable car when the weather is clear. The lower station is outside Kotor, so it is not a walk-up attraction from the Old Town. The ride takes about 11 minutes each way, but allow extra time for transfers and queues in summer. Treat it as a view-and-mountain outing rather than a substitute for the fortress walk. Check the operator's same-day status because wind can affect service. For a quieter base after a full day, compare the trade-offs in where to stay in Kotor.