Kotor is a medieval town situated at the base of the Dinaric Alps. The remarkably well preserved old town overlooks the stunning bay of Kotor. The combination of mountains encircling the town and lakes provides an incredible visual. Kotor is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Montenegro, however it is still remarkably a little ‘off the radar’. We both know people who have visited Kotor, however these number pale in comparison to those who have visited Dubrovnik. The Croatian city is only a handful of hours up the road, however many fail to continue their journey through the Balkans to check out Montenegro and Kotor. We urge you to consider a visit to Kotor! Read on to see why we found Kotor one of our favourite stops yet!
How to get to Kotor:
Getting to Kotor generally requires heading down from Dubrovnik (or Dubrovnik Airport). You cross the Croatian-Montenegro border and make your way around the bay of Kotor to the old town. The drive into the town was one of the more picturesque travel journeys of our trip so be prepared to be wowed! However, the actual logistics of the journey are not quite as simple as they should be considering how close the cities are together.
What to know:
- The best way to get to Kotor from Dubrovnik is via bus. The second best way is private transfer. A bus will cost your around 20 euros per person (plus luggage), whilst a private transfer is around 100-150 euros.
- Both journeys will take similar amounts of time (a transfer a little quicker). The bus can be a hassle, especially in peak season, and seats can be overbooked on these busses. Arrive early and don’t let the drivers boss you around too much.
- Baggage costs for busses should be around 10kn per bag (~1-2 euros per bag).
- The journey time will take you somewhere between 3-5 hours. The time variance here will mostly depend on how long you are stuck at the border crossing for. We took around 30-45minutes to exit the Croatian border, and then just as we became excited to think we were back on our way, we arrived the the Montenegro border and had to wait another 30+ minutes. We have heard stories that it can take even longer. Be prepared to wait in peak season!
Our Highlights in Kotor:
Hiking to the Kotor Fortress
This is a must do when you visit Kotor. The views are breath-taking and the experience is awesome! Go early to beat the heat, crowds and cost! Take a look at our recommendations and more photos here!
Having Multiple Swims at the Main Beach
The Kotor Main Beach is located 5 minutes from the town. The setting is ridiculously picturesque, with mountains lining the bay. The water is clear and refreshing. It was a massive highlight for us!
Wandering the Kotor old town
The Kotor Old Town is wonderfully well preserved! We loved wandering the narrow streets line with little cafes, pubs and bars. The streets sheltered you from some of the sun, and we found the town to be surprisingly not too busy (visiting in July). A massive highlight was the live music in the evenings, particularly our first night when we rounded a corner to find a full orchestra playing their hearts out! Europe delivers these moments we will never forget!
Cheap food and drinks in kotor
Kotor surprised us with great prices for food and drinks! After coming from the expensive Dubrovnik, this was a breath of fresh air. We could easily feed ourselves for 10-20 euros, with good portions and tasty food. See a few of our favourite places below (but there’s heaps we didn’t get to try!)
- BBQ House Tanjga [TOP RECOMMENDATION]: A local recommendation from our accomodation host directed us here. This BBQ grill place delivered great food at a cheap price. The portions were a great size and we returned multiple times. Be prepared to wait if you get there after 7.30-8pm.
- Wine at Bandiera Bar: Situated on the main street, this little bar/pub was the perfect spot to stop for a wine in the evening.
- Letrike Bar: head here later in the evening, where the little alleyway will get busy and come to life!
Coffee: Note – the coffee in Kotor wasn’t as good as some other regions, but the cafe’s aren’t bad for a caffeine hit in the morning.
- Niente Cafe Bar: The little cafe has a cute terrace which is perfect for people watching with a coffee (or beverage)
- Little Bay Wine Bar: Location location location! This place delivered stunning views for a morning coffee, afternoon beverage, or a meal. You’ll pay a little more for the location but it’s still very affordable.
Where to stay in Kotor?
We stayed adjacent to the old town, 5 minutes walk from the beach, and next to a supermarket and gym. This was perfect for us! TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE STAYED HERE!
These were a few other places we didn’t stay but liked the look of:
- Stay close to the action in this great little apartment.
- Check out this hotel in the old town with main square views.
- Beautiful apartments with views and close to the beach.
Want to look at other accommodation options in KOTOR?
Booking.comHAVE WE MISSED ANYTHING? lET US KNOW in the comments BELOW YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO IN KOTOR!
WANT TO SEE MORE TRAVEL MEMORIES?
Take a look at travel content from Croatia! And follow all of our travel moments here!
Heading to Dubrovnik? Don’t miss our tips and gallery from walking the walls of Dubrovnik!
Keen for a short trip from Kotor and Dubrovnik? Consider heading to Mostar in Bosnia, one of our favourite stops yet!
Check out further highlights from our time in the Europe! Take a look!
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