Suche
Mein Konto
Hike to Fort Vrmac in Kotor, Montenegro
Complete guide to hiking to Fort Vrmac in the city of Kotor, Montenegro. Looking for a unique hidden gem adventure that offers incredible views and insight into Kotor's fascinating history? Today I'm telling you exactly that, an epic short hike on the Vrmac Mountains that ends at the best preserved Austro-Hungarian fortress in the Bay of Kotor. About Fort Vrmac Fort Vrmac is a former fortress located on the limestone mountain range called Vrmac. This is the mountain immediately west of (opposite) the famous Kotor Fortress (St. John’s or San Giovanni Fortress). The Austrians built this fortress...
Hike to Fort Vrmac in Kotor, Montenegro
Complete guide to hiking to Fort Vrmac in the city of Kotor, Montenegro.
Looking for a unique hidden gem adventure that offers incredible views and insight into Kotor's fascinating history? Today I'm telling you exactly that, an epic short hike on the Vrmac Mountains that ends at the best preserved Austro-Hungarian fortress in the Bay of Kotor.
About Fort Vrmac
Fort Vrmac is a former fortress located on the limestone mountain range called Vrmac. This is the mountain immediately west of (opposite) the famous Kotor Fortress (St. John’s or San Giovanni Fortress).
The Austrians built this fortress between 1894 and 1897 in their attempt to strengthen their defenses against Montenegrin rebellions. It features an impressive stone and concrete structure located right on the peak of Mount Vrmac (785 m/2,575 ft).
Although abandoned today, it played a role in several conflicts over the past century, including actions during the First World War.
The fortress is completely open to the public and there is no fee to enter or explore the surrounding area or interior chambers.
How to get to the Fort Vrmac Trailhead in Kotor
While it is possible to drive to Fort Vrmac via the road from Troica to Gornja Lastva in Tivat, I recommend the short but steep hike from Muo instead, just opposite Kotor Old Town.
Not only is this a fun hike, but you'll also get the best possible views of Kotor Old Town from across the Boka (Bay of Kotor).
The trailhead begins at the end of a short dead end shared by local police. Below I have pinned the exact location of the trailhead to make it easier for you to find it.
Once you reach this point, walk up the road for about a hundred meters before you reach the concrete steps. Start following these steps up the hill, passing some local houses along the way.
There will be a series of steps, many of which are behind some residences. Don't worry, this is a shared walkway.
Soon, just before the final steps leading to road P22, you will see a clear path on the right. Follow this path and begin the series of switchbacks to the top of Vrmac Ridge.
Alternatively, for those with a car, find a small space to park your car at the sharp bend on P22. From here, go down a set of concrete stairs and continue straight (don't turn right at the next set of stairs).
The Fort Vrmac hike
This hike is technically quite easy as the path is well graded and wide throughout the hike. While most of the hike involves climbing the steep ridge, the path to the summit features a series of switchbacks.
This is very similar to the Kotor hike guide on the other hand.
Climbing Mount Vrmac
After initial confusion, we finally found the right path that led to Vrmac Fort.
The gradient on this climb is not very steep due to the long, winding corners. Although nothing crazy, the ground is mostly rocky, with small to medium sized stones on the inside of larger boulders forming a terraced path.
The first section of the trail begins in dense forest but quickly breaks out into an exposed area. The higher you climb, the better your views of Kotor will be. We made several photo stops on the way up.
Eventually the path leads back into a wooded section. Some links are visible here. As a result, you can save some time by walking straight on some sections.
Shortly after entering the forest, you come to a dilapidated signpost pointing the way to the little-known Kotor viewpoint and of course Fort Vrmac.
The viewpoint of Kotor city
We decided to take the short 5 minute detour to the Kotor viewpoint before hiking all the way to the fortress.
We were very happy with this decision as the views here were phenomenal. The path leads out to a completely exposed area with no trees to block the view.
From here you can see the entire Bay of Kotor, Muo, Kotor Old Town and the famous fortress walls snaking up the hillside.
After admiring the view, we returned and continued towards the fort.
alt="View of Kotor at night">
Exploring Fort Vrmac
I'm not going to lie, exploring Fort Vrmac was a bit scary. It definitely had a spooky atmosphere, with nature almost completely engulfing its dark stone walls.
After walking around to the base of the moat, we found the entrance and decided to explore inside. As you would expect, it is completely dark there and some local bats scared us a bit.
alt="In Vrmac Fortress, Kotor">
There are many hallways and rooms to explore, each a little spookier than the last.
What we didn't expect at the top of this fort was another set of ruins directly across from it. These are a series of concrete buildings with graffiti and smashed windows. They looked a little newer than the fort and I'm not sure if they were built in the same period.
Here we strangely met many local farm animals, including pot-bellied pigs, cows, goats, chickens and a few dogs. Although we didn't see anyone around, we assumed someone was living up here with these animals.
Sunset from Mount Vmrac
The highlight of this unexpected hidden gem was simply the view! From the top of these mountains we could see over Kotor, the Troica Pass and the Župa Valley all the way to the Adriatic Sea.
We spent a good hour taking a few photos and admiring the incredible sunset behind the mountains.
Accommodation in Kotor
The best places to stay in Kotor are the Old Town, Muo (west side of the bay) or Dobrota (east side of the bay). Below is a quick summary of the top-rated tips and recommendations for every budget.
- Blue Premium Spa Resort – Ein fantastisches Luxus-Spa-Resort nur für Erwachsene mit Blick auf Boca Kotorska.
- Apartmani Art Karampana – Eine schöne Wohnung in der Altstadt. Bewertet mit 9,7 von 10 mit Hunderten von Bewertungen.
- Centrum Hostel – Mit Hunderten von Bewertungen ist dies immer noch das am besten bewertete Hostel für Lage und Atmosphäre in der Altstadt von Kotor.
More Montenegro travel guides & inspiration
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to hiking Fort Vrmac in Kotor, Montenegro.
Below you will find some other useful travel guides and inspiration for your adventures in this beautiful Balkan country.
.