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It has been rated as one of Lonely Planet’s top destinations to visit in 2016, and this tiny town of Kotor delivers big on things to see and do. Although many who visit here, do so for just one day, we encourage you to take your time exploring the town as you never know what’s around the next corner. From palaces to cathedrals to incredible restaurants, Kotor offers a unique and unforgettable adventure. Make sure not to miss out on these 8 things to see and do in this town.

8. Hike to the top of the Fortress

If you only visit for a short time and have time for just one thing, hiking to the top of the Fortress should be on the top of your list. Start from inside the Old Town and look for the signs that lead to the trail. The very top of the fortress sits 280m above sea level. Make sure, we repeat, make sure you have your camera with you on this hike as the views of Kotor and the bay of Boka Kotorska will blow you away.

The climb is said to have more than 1,000 stairs and you will more than likely be sharing the route with others, but the view from the top is well worth it. Kotor Bay will stretch out before you, in all its glory, framed by fjords and church steeples. Take a snack up with you, sit atop ancient ruins and relish at the moment, that you can never possibly begin to capture on camera.

7. Visit the Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is situated in the baroque palace Grgurin and preserves the fame of Boka and Boka nay, a must visit for anyone interested in anything maritime related. Kotor’s proud history as a naval power is celebrated in this three-story museum which features a collection of photographs, paintings, uniforms, antique furniture, decorated weapons and models of ships.

There is a free audio guide that will help explain the collection for visitors. Opened to the public in 1900, this museum has seen its fair share of wars, earthquakes, and restoration. See it at its best today.

6. Visit the Sveti Tripun Cathedral

In the very center of the Old Town sits one of the oldest cathedrals in the territory of Europe and a must visit when in Kotor. The cathedral was built in 1166, in the place where are the beginning of the IX century there had been a smaller church dedicated to the same saint. Earthquakes have caused this cathedral to be renovated over the years and today it stands as a beautiful church, restored to look as much as it did when it was first built.

Visitors who go inside will be privy to fabulous decoration, including a stone ornament above the main altar that tells the story of Sveti Tripun’s life. In the cathedral also lies the relics of Sveti Tripun in the coffin made of silver. Throughout the cathedral, there are various gothic sculptures, marble altars, and a silver golden rake. Step back in time and wander through this gorgeous cathedral.

5. Spend a night at Palazzo Radormiri Hotel

This historic hotel is the perfect place to spend your nights while you explore the town of Kotor and surrounding areas. What was once a noble ship owner’s family house has been turned into a beautiful hotel. In 1979 a devastating earthquake destroyed all but the walls of this residence and with the help of an architect the family restored the ruin and rebuilt the villa to create an intimate boutique hotel.

Things to enjoy while staying here include the balcony on the main façade, said to be one of the most beautiful in the area, the seafront garden, relaxing courtyards and swimming pool. Rooms are beautifully decorated, service is impeccable and the amenities are plentiful. Do yourself a favor and make sure to spend at least one night here.

4. Take the Hop-on/Hop-off Tour

Kotor has an awesome open top hop-on/hop-off tour bus. It doesn’t drive through the walled city but it does drive all the way down the road to the next largest town of Perast. This is a great opportunity for visitors to learn more about the history and take in the incredible landscape. Make sure you get off at Risan and explore the small excavation site which charges a meager admission price to pay for the work they are doing.

Discover the remains of a Roman house that dates back to the 2^nd century A.D, with a guide that leads you through it. Perast is the last stop on the tour bus and make sure you stop and get off to walk around this pedestrian only town. Is here where you will find Baroque palaces, a slew of beautiful churches, Orthodox structures and a total of nine defensive towers!

3. Visit Our Lady of the Rocks

Hop on a boat and ride out to the man-made island Our Lady of the Rocks. How this man-made island came to be is interesting. According to legend, the islet was made over the centuries by local seamen who were said to keep an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea in 1452. After each successful voyage they took, they laid a rock in the Bay and eventually over time the islet began to emerge from the sea.

The first known church was built in 1452 and taken over the Roman Catholics who in 1632 built the church that now stands presently on this islet. The interior of the church is simply spectacular and is not to be missed. Lavishly decorated with works by Tripo Kokolja, 68 painting in total, as well as from other Italian artists. Adjoining the church is a charming museum and it well worth the meager admission price. Go with a local guide to get the real authentic experience.

2. Dine at Galion

If you really want to treat yourself in Kotor make sure to head to the sophisticated seafood restaurant, Galion, located just five minutes walk from Old Town along the coast. The restaurant is set in an old stone building complete with a glass-and-steel terrace extension that overlooks the bay and gives sensational views of Kotor’s medieval walls.

Funky modern furniture, chilled-out music and a superior menu featuring such items as homemade gnocchi and octopus salad are what you will find here. Enjoy the friendly service, charming atmosphere and excellent wine, all for an excellent price.

1. Explore Old Town

It is by far the most famous part of Kotor, where history, culture, and tradition are preserved. A slew of monuments including churches, palaces, and cathedrals, all done in medieval architecture are found here. Combine those with narrow cobbled streets, town squares, markets, ancient walls and more. The walls that surround this Old Town may just be the most impressive feature, standing at 20m high, 10m wide and running 5km long.

Over a thousand years old, these walls are completely preserved and downright impressive. Old Town is also loaded with a number of stylish gates and stairs that provide the perfect photo opp. Wander through the streets and discover the friendly locals, boutique shops and a charming atmosphere that will make you want to stay even longer.

It is an art form most associated with holy places, mostly Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages but stained glass can be found in so many different venues around the world. If you are lucky the sun will hit the glass just right, giving way to indescribable beauty and illumination. Stained glass windows aren’t just there for beauty but they most often tell a story, educate and inspire people. From the largest stained glass window in the world to medieval churches to modern-day takes on this art form, here are seven examples of incredible stained glass throughout our world.

7. Chapel of Thanks-Giving, Dallas, Texas

The most prominent and recognizable feature of the Thanks-Giving Square is the Chapel of Thanksgiving, thanks to the Glory Window; one of the largest horizontally mounted stained-glass pieces in the world. The chapel is a small spiral tower and the window was designed by Gabriel Loire who designed it to feature brighter colors as the spiral reaches its apex, becoming brighter as it reaches the center.

The spiral shape of the window was inspired by the spiraled shape of the chambered nautilus, a squid that lives inside a shell. The spiral is made up of 73 panels of glass and is one of the most unique stained glass features around the world. The chapel is part of a three-acre complex that also includes a garden and museum, dedicated to how Thanksgiving is celebrated around the world.

6. Erawan Museum, Bangkok

There are thousands of temples to discover in Bangkok but if you are looking for incredible stained glass, the Erawan Museum is the place to find just that. This whimsical museum is actually a sculpture of the three-headed elephant, Erawan, from the Hindu mythology and boasts an amazing stained glass ceiling. German artist Jacob Schwarzkopf was in charge of the project and took a traditional approach to the job, asking glass companies to use the ancient procedure of blowing the glass to produce the stained glass.

The stained glass is semi-abstract although it represents the story of the earth and consists of the five continents at the middle with the sun shining to provide energy to all life forms. Surrounding this is the ring of 12 zodiac signs and the human figure depicted in various gestures. Awe-inspiring to look at, don’t forget to explore the rest of this awesome museum.

5. Resurrection Cemetery, Illinois

It is here where you will find the world’s largest stained glass window, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Pickel Studio created this window that sits over 22,000 square feet of faceted glass and contains 2,448 panels. Work on this stained glass started in the 1960’s and since then over 1,000 new and exciting windows and walls of glass have been added. One of the most impressive places in the world to see such an extraordinary amount of stained glass.

4. Winchester Cathedral, England

In 1642 the cathedrals huge medieval stained glass West Window was deliberately smashed by Cromwell’s forces following the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, a tragedy to the beautiful works of art. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 the broken glass was actually gathered up and used again.

But this time there was no rhyme or reason to the design, the glass was placed randomly after it was determined it would be too hard to put back together. What results is a collection of colorful pieces that shine in the sunlight and tell a story of history, tragedy, and rebuilding.

3. Chicago Cultural Center, Illinois

Hundreds of thousands of visitor’s flock here each year, not just to marvel at the beautifully stained glass domes but also because of the many free public events it hosts. The landmark building is indeed home to two magnificent stained glass dome though, one that claims to be the largest stained glass Tiffany Dome in the world. In the south side of the building is that claim to fame, the Tiffany dome that stands 38 feet in diameter with some 30,000 pieces of glass.

This dome was restored in 2008, bringing even more visitors to gaze at its beauty. The second dome is located on the north side of the building and is a whopping 40 feet in diameter and features over 50,000 pieces of glass designed in an intricate Renaissance pattern. Whether you are coming here for the free festivals, art exhibits or family events, make sure to check out these two incredible stained glass works.

2. Sainte-Chapelle, Paris

This royal medieval Gothic chapel located in the heart of Paris boasts some of the most impressive stained glass in the world. There are a total of fifteen huge 13^th-century windows that fill the nave and apse and despite some damage, are still in incredible condition. The windows are practically floor to ceiling and display a clear iconographical program.

A painstaking seven-year restoration of the windows was completed in early 2015, a process that removed centuries of dirt from the thousands of panels. It is best to visit on a sunny day when the deep blues and red stand out best, in images that depict Old Testament scenes and the Crucifixion. One does not need to be religious to appreciate this incredible artwork.

1. Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Netherlands

This building features a modern take on stained glass, according to designers the buildings façade is a screen of colored relief glass that depicts famous images from Dutch television. There are hundreds of panels of glass that represent images from all genres and eras and although difficult to see the images clearly from all angles, they can be seen more clearly from the inside. Described as cathedral-like, this is one of the most impressive modern stained glass displays out there.

The building itself is actually housed both underground and above ground, 10 stories’ in total with five of them being below the surface. Inside the building houses the national broadcasting archives which encompass over 700,000 hours of television, film, music and radio footage.

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8 Things to see and do in Kotor