If you plan to spend four days or longer in Dubrovnik, save some time for a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor Montenegro.
Because of the interesting geography of Croatia (they occupy the entire coastal region south of Bosnia), Dubrovnik is located 45-60 minutes from the Montenegro border, and roughly 1.5 hours to the Bay of Kotor.
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What you should know about Montenegro
Montenegro is located on the Adriatic sea surrounded by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, and just a sliver of Croatia. It is one of the Balkan countries, and is one of the 6 former republics of Yugoslavia.
While Montenegro is not officially part of the EU, the Euro is the official currency of Montenegro.
The official language is Montenegrin and many of the other surrounding Balkan languages (Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian) are recognized. If you are visiting a tourist-heavy location then you will likely be fine with only English.
How do I get from Dubrovnik to Kotor?
From Dubrovnik, it is about an hour drive to reach the border to Montenegro. Then another 40-60 minutes to get to the Bay of Kotor.
** It is important to note, because Montenegro is not in the EU, it is outside the Schengen Zone. This means that when traveling in or out of Montenegro from Croatia, you will need to stop at the border crossing. During peak summer travel, the border times can be quite long. Be sure to include this in your trip planning.
By car
If you want more freedom to make stops from Dubrovnik to Kotor, and choose your own travel itinerary, renting a car is your best option.
Bus to Kotor from Dubrovnik
The most budget friendly option to get from Dubrovnik to Kotor by bus. The popular nearby destinations will take between 2-3 hours via bus. Be sure to look up the return times and locations for your trip back to Dubrovnik.
Take a day tour
While this is the least flexible option of the three listed, a tour will allow you to see the highlights and includes the transportation, tours fees and prevents any issues at the border.
I booked a tour via Viator for about $70, which picked me up from a nearby hotel at around 9am and dropped me off around 645pm.
Travel by ferry
There is a Dubrovnik to Kotor ferry service available, however it is limited to only a few days a week, during the summer season. The ferry is around 3 hours each way and can run up to 100€ for a round trip ticket.
Where to go on a day trip to the Bay of Kotor
The most visited area of Montenegro from Dubrovnik is the Bay of Kotor. Here you’ll find a beautiful bay of water set against enormous mountain cliffs. Like Croatia you’ll have the same crystal clear water, but here the small towns are set against the mountain fjords in the background. The entire Region of Kotor, including the bay and towns such as Perast and Kotor are protected under UNESCO as a historical region.
Perast
Perast is a beautiful fishing village located right on the water that dates back to the 1300s. The town is quite small with only around 300 residents. There are two islands, both featuring a single church, located just off shore, but the main attraction is Our Lady of the Rocks.
Our Lady of the Rocks
This church dates back to the mid 1400s when fishermen were said to have found a painting of the Madonna and Child on a large rock protruding from the water. Over time fishermen would throw rocks in that area and slowly formed the island.
The church as it stands today was built in the 1630s and renovated 100 years later. While the church is not large it is beautiful both in its location, but also the artwork inside.
Something unique about the church is throughout its long history, sailors have brought back offerings as gratitude for safe travels to far off lands. Today the church has many of these pieces on display, including a particularly fascinating embroidery work done with human hair, as well as more modern artwork.
The island is a short (and beautiful) 10 minute boat ride from Perast. If you take a tour, the boat ride and tour of the church will be included in your fees. If you plan to visit on your own, you can easily find someone near the docks to pay for the trip to the island, but you may not be able to get a tour of the church.
Kotor
Continuing around the bay for another 15-30 minutes you will arrive at Kotor. Like Dubrovnik, this is a fortified city on the water, but at a much smaller scale. For a day trip you’ll spend your time in the old city.
Kotor is also a major hub for cruise ships and is heavily populated with tour groups during the middle of the day. Check ahead by reviewing the Kotor cruise schedule to see which days have fewer cruises in port.
What to do in Kotor
There are a number of beautiful old churches in the old city that are open to the public including Saint Tryphon’s Cathedral and Saint Luke’s Church.
There are a few smaller museums including a Cat Museum. Kotor is a very cat friendly city. There are cats pretty much everywhere you look, and they are well treated by locals and somewhat indifferent to people.
Climb to the fortress. To get the best views of the city and the bay you’ll need to climb the Old Kotor Fort trail up to the fortress. This is steep and not for the faint of heart. Depending on your fitness level this could take a couple of hours round trip. There are a few other stops on the way, but still require 30-60 minutes round trip. The cost is 8 euro per person to access the trail to the fort.
Budva
I was unable to get to Budva as it was not a part of my tour. This is about 3.5 hours from Dubrovnik via bus, so if you’re planning to visit you may want to turn this into an overnight adventure.
What to know before booking a Dubrovnik to Kotor Bus Tour
If you plan to take one of the Dubrovnik to Kotor bus tours here are a few things to keep in mind.
- There are limited stops for food and restrooms, use the gas station restroom as you may not have another opportunity for a couple of hours.
- Bring your own lunch and snacks. We were not given time for lunch until after the Kotor walking tour which was around 2pm. I made the mistake of going to a restaurant recommended by the tour guide, which was one of the slowest restaurant experiences I’ve ever had, to the point I almost walked away but I was honestly too hungry to try my luck elsewhere in my limited time.
- Take it from me – do not waste your time sitting at some sidewalk cafe. Find the pizza slices to go and use your free hour to explore.
FAQs
Is there a ferry from Dubrovnik to Kotor?
Yes, there are ferries between Dubrovnik and Kotor, however they only run in the summer months. You can search for ferries on Omio.
Is Kotor worth visiting from Dubrovnik?
Yes, Kotor is a very beautiful city and worth a visit. While it has a similar history to Dubrovnik, the city itself is much smaller, and the views overlooking the city from above are spectacular. Montenegro is still far less crowded than Croatia.
How far from Dubrovnik to Kotor Montenegro?
The Dubrovnik to Kotor distance is roughly 90km (or 56 miles), and the drive takes 2-2.5 hours.
How to get from Dubrovnik to Kotor Montenegro?
The easiest ways to travel from Croatia to Montenegro are by car or bus. There are ferries available from Dubrovnik to Montenegro in the summer.
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