Things to do in Kotor, Montenegro

Cross the border to Montenegro from Dubrovnik and explore the treasures of the Bay of Kotor on a full-day guided tour. Visit the picturesque towns of Perast and Kotor and take in the breathtaking views of Our Lady of the Rocks on an optional bay cruise. Depart Dubrovnik in the morning in an air-conditioned vehicle and head for the Croatian/Montenegrin border. Stop at the border for a coffee break before continuing to your first stop, Perast. Arrive at the town of Perast and embark on a short 15-minute guided tour followed by 45-minutes of free time. Admire its Baroque architecture and lush hillsides before boarding your reserved boat for a scenic cruise on the Bay of Kotor (if option selected). Sail to Our Lady of the Rocks island, an artificial island situated in the heart of the bay. Disembark for a guided visit of the island and step inside the idyllic blue-domed church and museum. Then, resume your boat tour to Kotor, soaking up the views of the Montenegrin coastline lined with orange-roofed houses and sloping hills. If you choose not to take the cruise, relax on a scenic bus ride along the coast to the old town of Kotor. On arrival, join a 30-minute guided tour if you like, or discover the town at your own pace. Follow your guide through the narrow streets of this UNESCO-listed town, located on the only natural fjord of its kind. After the tour, enjoy 2.5 hours of free time to browse local shops, try traditional cuisine, or walk beside the 4.5-kilometer city walls. Feel free to ask your guide for recommendations. Finally, board the bus once more for a comfortable ride back to Dubrovnik.

Explore Montenegro on a day trip from Dubrovnik. Enjoy free time in the picturesque towns of Kotor, Perast, and Budva, and embark on a sightseeing ferry across the Boka Kotorska Bay. Departing from Dubrovnik in the morning enjoy the sights of the Old Town and its surroundings while driving through the beautiful Župa Dubrovačka and the Konavle region. After crossing the Montenegro border, continue along the picturesque Montenegro coast. During the drive through Boka Kotorska Bay, stop at the charming town of Perast. Have the option of visiting the island of Our Lady of the Rocks. During the drive, your host will tell you all about Montenegro's most important cultural monuments, and about the country's history and legends. Upon arrival at Kotor, enjoy free time to explore on your own. The town of Kotor is famous for its nautical tradition, famous commercial fleet, and imposing city walls. After sightseeing, proceed towards Budva. Once at Budva, enjoy another sightseeing tour and free time. Budva is famous for its old city core and beautiful clean sandy beaches. It is a key tourist center of Montenegro. From Budva, return to Dubrovnik in the afternoon, by van and a short ferry trip across the Boka Kotorska Bay.

Enjoy a boat tour to the most popular sights of Montenegro. See the impressive Our Lady of the Rocks, swim in the Blue Cave, and visit the caves where submarines were hidden. Set sail to your first stop, Our Lady of the Rocks, a church that sits on a man-made island. Hear the story of the two brothers who found a painting of the Madonna and Child and the church that was built where the painting was found. Pass through the scenic Verige Straits along the Herceg Novi Rivera. Sail out of the bay and spot Mamula Island, a prison during WWII. Follow the Lustica Peninsula to the Blue Cave. Here, enjoy the opportunity to swim in the crystal water of the cave. On the way back to Kotor, visit the caves the army used for hiding submarines.

Take a day trip to Montenegro and sail down the Adriatic Coast. See Boka Kotorska Bay, explore Kotor, and wander through Perast. Come across UNESCO World Heritage Sites as you explore Montenegro. Benefit from pickup at your accommodation in Dubrovnik and drive to the border crossing with Montenegro to climb aboard a boat and cruise to Kotor. Admire the Venetian port and defensive city walls from the water. Get breathtaking views of the fjord and learn more about the cultural heritage of Boka Kotorska Bay. Enjoy free time to explore the monuments of the Old Town. Board the boat again and sail to the small town of Perast. Visit the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks on arrival, and get some free time for lunch in the beautiful town center. Stroll the streets to find Baroque palaces, Orthodox monuments, and other UNESCO World Heritage monuments at your own pace. Marvel at the stone defense towers that remain untouched, and follow in the footsteps of Russian czars and Venetian princes who sailed in Kotor Bay. Return to Perast by air-conditioned bus or minivan, and continue to Dubrovnik after the border crossing.

Embark on a cruise tour on which you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and experience the rich biological diversity of Kotor. Visit Boka Bay, and see ancient Romanesque churches and other countless historical monuments. The tour starts at the seaport of Kotor, where a friendly skipper will await travelers on board. Discover the hidden gems of Boka Bay including authentic fishing grounds and villages, antique Romanesque churches, Byzantine palaces, and more historical monuments. Out of many panoramic views, the first one is directly aimed at the islet Our Lady of the Rocks, a site enriched with a mythical legend that goes back more than 5 centuries. Legend has it that it is an artificial island expanded by seamen who discovered the Madonna and Child emblem on a sea rock. Feeling grateful for safe returns after long journeys, the sailors vowed to honor the Holy Mother, so, little by little and stone by stone, they built it into an island that harbors the Lady of the Rocks church. Visitors can listen to stories about the relics while seeing the chapel's many frescoes, paintings, votives, tapestry, and other treasures. Outside, guests can stop for a drink or buy souvenirs or ice cream. The next stop on the journey is Perast. This UNESCO heritage site once housed people from the Illyrian, Roman, and Christian periods. The architecture of the nine defensive towers, Baroque palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries, and distinctive Catholic churches demonstrate the city's affluence during Venetian administration.

Visit Kotor bay in Montenegro, one of the most scenic and picturesque places on the Adriatic Sea. It is also the biggest bay on the Adriatic, and because of its strategic importance in this turbulent region, it has been under rule by different nations.  Each of them left a mark that can be seen today through a beautiful blend of architectural influences. Romans, Turks, Venetians, Austrians - each nation left a mark on this region and its cities. After your departure from Dubrovnik and a scenic drive through Konavle valley, enter Montenegro where you make a short stop at Verige to take photos of the beautiful landscape just before entering Kotor bay.  Continue your drive along the coast through Risan and Perast, to reach Kotor. Often called the best preserved and prettiest town in Montenegro, this UNESCO-listed fortified city is famous for its city walls, a display of Venetian-inspired architecture, beautiful churches, and rich history. Whether it was independent, or as a part of the Byzantine Empire, Serbian kingdom, or Venetian republic, Perast may be one of the most historically intriguing places in Boka Kotorska. Baroque, renaissance palaces and narrow streets in Perast will take you back to a time of luxury and wealth. In Perast, you have the opportunity to take a boat ride and visit Our Lady of the Rocks island. The legend says that in 1452 two brothers found Mary’s picture on a rock in the sea. This led to a miraculous healing of one of the brothers. Ever since locals have been bringing rocks and sinking ships next to this rock. An island was formed and first, a chapel was built, then a church in its place. Some call it the Croatian Sistine chapel because of the artwork that enriches its walls. Itinerary: • Departure from Dubrovnik • 8:00 AM - Arrival at the border of Montenegro • 8:45 AM - Photo/coffee break (approx. 20 minutes) • 10:00 AM - Arrival to Kotor, local guided tour, free time (approx. 3 hours) • 1:00 PM - Drive from Kotor to Perast • 1:30 PM - Arrival in Perast, boat transfer to Our Lady of the Rocks island, free time • 3:30 PM - Departure from Perast • 6:00 PM - Approximate return to Dubrovnik 

This tour starts from Kotor at around 9:00 AM with pickup possible from Budva, Tivat, and Herceg Novi. After a short drive, be amazed by the old road constructed in 1879 by Austro-Hungarians to connect Kotor and Cetinje, the old royal capital. It has 25 curves and there will be several stops for you to take photos and enjoy the beauty of Boka Bay. Enjoy breakfast in Njegusi village, best known as the birthplace of the Petrović dynasty, which ruled Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. The mausoleum sits at the top of a climb of 461 steps. The most impressive part of the mausoleum is the chapel which has 6 sides, and the beautiful ceiling covered with over 200,000 gilded tiles creating a fascinating mosaic.  Then, enjoy a 1-hour walking tour through Cetinje, visiting its main sights, such as Cetinje Monastery where several relics are kept including the remains of St. Peter of Cetinje, particles of the True Cross, and the Icon of the Philermos Mother of God along with many more. Discover museums, the royal theater, historic foreign embassies, and Vlaska Church, built in 1450, with its fence made out of barrels of captured enemy rifles. The next stop is River Crnojevica, a small historical town in Central Montenegro on the ancient trading route through the country. It is worth visiting for both the lake and the old architecture left over from the trader days. Your lunch break will be here and don't hesitate to try the local fish. Here, take a 1-hour boat ride along the river. Afterward, visit Sveti Stefan before returning to Kotor.   Itinerary: Start from Kotor with photo stops along the serpentines 10:30 AM - Arrival at Njegusi village, breakfast break 12:00 PM - Visit to the mausoleum, Lovćen National Park 13:45 PM - Arrival at Cetinje, walking tour 3:30 PM - Arrival at River of Crnojević, lunch break 5:00 PM - Boat ride, swimming (depending on the temperature) 6:30 PM - Departure to St. Stefan (via Cetinje), scenic drive above Budva 7:30 PM - St. Stefan photo stop 7:40 PM - Return to Kotor 8:30 PM - Finish in the Old Town of Kotor

See the picturesque countryside of Montenegro on a guided day trip from Kotor, Budva, Tivat, or Herceg Novi with optional hotel transfers. Admire clear lakes, spectacular coasts, the famous Ostrog Monastery, and more. Take your first photo stop shortly after leaving Kotor and capture the beauty of two nearby islands, Our Lady of the Rocks and Saint George. Move to higher elevations for a second photo stop above Risan Bay. Continue to Nikšić, the second biggest city in Montenegro, and make another stop for pictures at the artificial Salty Lake. Take a much-needed breakfast break after your morning sightseeing and enjoy some tasty local food and drink (not included in the tour cost). Drive towards Mount Durmitor, where rocky peaks rise high into the sky. Pass dense pine and colorful deciduous forest. Stop at Đurđevića Tara Bridge, the highest in Europe when built in 1940. Cross the 365-meter-long bridge, 172 meters above the canyon floor if you´d like. Proceed to the hidden jewel of Durmitor National Park, the majestic Black Lake, among 18 glacial lakes above 1,500 meters on Durmitor Mountain. Altogether they are called "Mountain Eyes". Embark on a hike on the 4-kilometer trail around the lake. Stop at Žabljak, the highest town in the Balkans, located at 1,450 meters above sea level. Dine on a lunch of traditional Montenegrin food. Afterward, hit the road towards the most visited spiritual site in Montenegro, the Ostrog Monastery. Begin your ascent up the narrow and winding road close to sunset, enjoying spectacular views of the highly-perched monastery. View the relics of the monk Vasilije Ostroški, who founded the place. Return to Kotor at the end of your tour.

Discover the Bay of Kotor on an 8-hour cruise. Learn about the region's history and explore the natural landscapes. Visit a former prison sail around the bay, and swim in crystalline waters. Begin your excursion in Kotor, Budva, or Tivat. From here, your first stop of the day will be Bijela, where you will get the chance to have a refreshing swim. Visit the church and museum on the island before heading to the Blue Cave. Along the way, pass the entire length of UNESCO-protected Kotor Bay, before finally reaching the open sea. At the very entrance of Boka Bay, see the former fortified prison and concentration camp, Mamula. Circulate the island by boat to observe the wild interlace of history and nature. Then sail out until you reach the Blue Cave. Take a break at Porto Montenegro for lunch and explore the picturesque town. Then, sail back to Kotor, with another swimming break at the deep waters of the bay. Change into dry clothes and visit the church at the island Our Lady of the Rock. During the return trip, enjoy views of majestic mountains, caves, beaches, and historical sites.

Start your tour with complimentary early-morning pickup (07:45-08:15) from your hotel or nearest possible location to your accommodation in Cavtat. Once everyone has been picked up, drive by BU to the Croatian/Montenegrin border crossing. After border control is done, enjoy a coffee break, at your own expense, before heading to the port, where you will embark on a boat to start your adventure. Your first stop is the charming town Perast. Here, enjoy some free time for a walk in the quaint beautiful streets with baroque palaces Then the boat will first take you to the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks to visit the beautiful monument in the heart of the bay. From there, proceed to the old town of Kotor, the most important Venetian port built on this side of the Adriatic coast with impressive 4.5-kilometer-long city walls, that have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. Kotor is located on the only natural fjord of its kind in the world and visiting this town is about more than beautiful views, it’s also about experiencing the cultural heritage of Boka Kotorska Bay. When you arrive, you will have around 2.5 hours of free time to see the most important monuments in the old town like St.Triphun Cathedral and Maritime Museum. Also, you will have time for lunch and if you like, to visit the walls and buy some authentic souvenirs. Return back to Cavtat from Kotor by air-conditioned bus. You will be dropped off from where you were picked up in the morning.