7 BEST Day Trips from Kotor (& Map)
Got time in Kotor and want to make the best of it? I spent two weeks travelling around Kotor and Montenegro without a car, and I’ve used that first-hand experience of local buses, taxis and boats, to create this guide to the best day trips from Kotor. You’ll find stunning scenery, historic locations and brilliant adventures that showcase the best of Montenegro, from Kotor day trips on the bay to longer tours to inland Montenegro.
There’s so much to see and do in and around Kotor that there’s plenty to choose from. I’ve included details on how to do the day trips from Kotor independently, as well as links to highly rated tours that will take all the logistics off your hands.
My personal favourite place not to miss in Montenegro is Lake Skadar, for lily-covered water and rich birdlife. Whilst you’re in Kotor I highly recommend getting out on the bay by boat. The mountain scenery rising up all around really did take my breath away.
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Lake Skadar
Why go
If you only plan one day trip from Kotor, make it Lake Skadar. This was one of my favourite places to visit in Montenegro on my two-week trip, and it’s somewhere that stays with you long after you’ve left. The stillness of the vast lake feels worlds away from the bustle of Kotor’s coastline. It’s utterly mesmerising.
The best way to experience Lake Skadar is to get out on the water itself. A boat trip on Lake Skadar is an absolute must on your day trip from Kotor.
You’ll glide through stretches of water lined with reeds and dotted with water lilies as far as the eye can see. It felt at times like we were on our own trip through the Amazon, not in the middle of Europe. The birdlife here is abundant, I saw kingfishers, hawks and cormorants.
Book a day trip
For a well organised day, with minimal effort, book a top-rated day trip from Kotor to Lake Skadar that includes all transport and a boat ride on the lake. It’s the simplest way to enjoy the scenery without having to think about logistics, and a good choice if you’re short on time.
As well as getting out on the lake, this tour includes stops at Sveti Stefan and Pavlova Strana (horseshoe bend), both are iconic viewpoints in Montenegro, so don’t forget your camera.
You’ll end the day trip with a visit to Cetinje, a typical Montenegrin village, where you can fill up on local food, then wind your way along the famous serpentine road on your way back to Kotor.
Do-it-yourself
Booking a day trip saves you trying to make the several transport connections required to get to Lake Skadar from Kotor. It’s a time-efficient way to enjoy tranquil Lake Skadar. But if you do want to get there independently, it is possible, with a bit of planning and patience.
- Take a bus or taxi from Kotor to Sutomore (1.5 hours). Whilst Uber doesn’t operate in Montenegro, there are plenty of taxis.
- Walk from Sutomore bus station to the train station (5 minutes).
- Train from Sutomore to Virpazar station (15 minutes).
- Walk from Virpazar station to Lake Skadar (approx. 20 minutes).
- Total journey time: from 2.5 hours each way, depending on connections.
- Book a Lake Skadar boat tour in advance, as they can sell out.
- Best if you’re staying overnight at Lake Skadar.
For full Lake Skadar details, with a map and tips, read my Lake Skadar, Montenegro guide.
Blue Cave boat trip
Why go
One of the most popular experiences from Kotor is to visit the Blue Cave, which glows with a surreal light as the sun reflects inside. This is an ideal day trip from Kotor during the spring and summer months, as there’s time for swimming and snorkelling in the gorgeous waters.
Book a day trip
For a fun outing, book a top-rated Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor that also includes a stop at Our Lady of the Rocks. You travel the bay by speedboat, step onto the islet to see the iconic church, then continue to the Blue Cave for a swim stop.
The tour lasts three hours and as well as the Blue Cave, it packs in a visit to see a former submarine tunnel and pass by Mamula Island, location of a former WWII prison.
Do-it-yourself
- You’ll need to take a boat trip in order to visit the Blue Caves.
- They’re reasonably priced, so this is a good value fun activity to do on your trip to Kotor.
Black Lake and Durmitor National Park
Why go
Durmitor National Park is a great choice for day trips from Kotor if you’re craving fresh mountain air. This stunning alpine plateau in northern Montenegro has glacial lakes, jagged peaks and walking trails that feel a world away from the coast. I was wowed by the ethereal beauty of Durmitor.
Book a day trip
You really don’t want to miss out on Durmitor National Park when you’re in Montenegro but it’s quite a distance from Kotor. If you want to see it in one day, then you’ll need a good day trip that has all the logistics sorted out for you.
This popular Durmitor, Tara & Ostrog Monastery day trip includes time to walk around the gorgeous Black Lake (Crno Jezero). This was one of my favourite parts of the park, its surrounded by dense pines and the water is a stunning colour.
It also includes a stop at the imposing Tara River Bridge, where you can admire the enormous canyon. Later, fill up on traditional dishes in the mountain town of Žabljak. I recommend Restaurant Or’O, the atmosphere is cosy, and the goulash is delicious.
Last stop on the day trip is a visit to the precariously perched Ostarog Monastery. Built in the 17th century, the white walls seem to cling impossibly to the rock, almost as if carved straight into the mountain itself.
Do-it-yourself
- I don’t recommend trying to do this trip to Durmitor National Park by public transport in one day.
- The bus journey from Kotor takes from three hours each way and this was the most uncomfortable bus route I did during my trip around Montenegro, as the bus was tiny and rammed full of passengers.
- It’s only worth going independently by public transport if you’re staying at least a couple of days in Žabljak, due to the bus timings.
Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Why go
Perast is one of the picture postcard towns that you’ll see from Kotor bay. It’s a tiny place, with one main street, pale stone buildings and a bell tower rising above the rooftops. It’s compact, beautiful and easy to explore, which makes it an effortless option for a day trip from Kotor. I loved wandering amongst the historic architecture.
Combine a trip to Perast with a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks and you’ve got an ideal mini adventure from Kotor. Even though it was grey and chilly when I went, speeding across Kotor bay in a boat, with the wind in my face, felt exhilarating.
Book a day trips
A visit to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks is an excellent day trip from Kotor if you’re short on time. This boat tour only takes a couple of hours, so you can step ashore to walk around Perast without taking up a whole day. Perast is small, so you don’t need long to look around.
What I like about this boat tour is that it does actually stop in Perast. Many boat trips only cruise past, but this one gives you time to get off the boat to wander through the town and grab a quick drink.
You’ll also land on the Our Lady of the Rocks island to see the blue-domed church up close and circle the islet so you can get those classic photos.
The boat ride around the bay is half the fun and, with tickets booked in advance, you can skip the hassle of queues and get straight on the water.
Do-it-yourself
- A day trip to Perast is easy to organise yourself from Kotor.
- The local Blueline bus from Kotor to Risan stops in Persast, or take a taxi.
- Journey time is 30 minutes.
- It’s an affordable way to have a day trip from Kotor.
- Travelling by bus or taxi does mean you miss out on a brilliant boat trip across Kotor Bay, which I think is definitely worth the extra cost, if budget allows.
Dubrovnik
Why go
Croatia’s most famous city, Dubrovnik is a popular destination to combine with a trip to Kotor, as it’s so near. With its medieval walls, baroque buildings and Adriatic views it’s also a great place to take photos.
Book a day trip
A day is long enough to see all the highlights of Dubrovnik Old Town, including a walk along the iconic walls. I preferred Kotor Old Town to Dubrovnik, as a I found Dubrovnik to be overcrowded in parts. But if you’re keen to tick it off your list, it’s relatively near to Montenegro, so you can do both in one trip.
There are more day trips going from Dubrovnik to Montenegro but you can book a private tour from Kotor if you want the convenience of having the transport organised for you.
Remember that this trip includes a border crossing, so make sure you have your passport and any visas or other identification required.
Do-it-yourself
- Buses run from Kotor to Dubrovnik in around three hours, though border delays are common, which can add hours to your trip.
- A better option is to take the ferry from Kotor to Dubrovnik (runs June to September, twice a week).
- It’s cheaper than a private tour, but you’ll need to navigate tickets and timetables yourself.
- Alternatively, book to fly into one country and out from the other so that you don’t have to retrace yours steps in one day. That’s what I did (getting the ferry from Dubrovnik to Montenegro) and it was a good use of time.
Lovćen National Park
Why go
Get out of the town and into the fresh air at Lovćen, one of Montenegro’s national parks. It’s home to panoramic views as far as the eye can see across the Bay of Kotor and Njegoš’s mausoleum.
The sweeping vistas from up high above Kotor Bay are something you don’t want to miss out on. Stading up here on my trip, felt like being on top of the world.
Book a day trip
Skip the stress of mountain driving and book a top-rated Lovćen National Park private tour from Kotor. You’ll go up the old serpentine road with its 25 hairpin bends, which is reason enough to leave the driving to someone else.
At the top, the highlight is the Njegoš Mausoleum, reached through a tunnel and up 461 stone steps, with wide panoramas as your reward.
This private tour fits loads into a single day. You have a food tasting stop in Njeguši, plus guided walks in Budva and Kotor Old Town, and a photo stop at Sveti Stefan. It’s a private tour, so will be for your group only, making it a good option when you’re short on time and want to see a lot without juggling buses and timetables.
Do-it-yourself
- Take a bus or taxi from Kotor to the Kotor Cable Car lower station then ride the cable car to the top.
- From there take a short taxi ride of around 15 minutes to Njegoš’s mausoleum.
- Alternatively, you can hike from the top of the cable car but it’s 6km alongside a main road so not the best option.
Jeep tour
To have even more fun on your trip to Kotor, why not try something a little out of the ordinary. Take a day trip from Kotor via a jeep, to the village of Gornji Stoliv.
Book a day trip
Swap buses for backroads and book a jeep tour to a hidden stone village near Kotor. Get picked up at your accommodation, then head off road towards Gornji Stoliv, a tiny hillside settlement with protected status and wide views over the bay.
When you get out of the jeep, take a walk to a church with your guide bringing the village’s history to life. Remember to wear comfortable shoes for this trip.
It’s not just scenery on the jeep tour though. You also get to have a generous local food tasting picnic with prosciutto, cheese, homemade bread and olives. At around three hours, this tour is ideal if you want to experience something out the ordinary on your trip to Montenegro.
Map of Kotor day trips
I’ve created a map that includes the locations of the day trips from Kotor in this guide. Click the icon on the top left of the menu bar to view the name of each place.