Things to Do in the Bay of Kotor 2026: Forts, Islands & Boat Trips

The Bay of Kotor packs a lot into a small geographic area. Medieval fortifications, island churches, sea caves, mountain viewpoints, and one of the most scenic coastal drives in the Balkans — most of it reachable within 30–40 minutes of a Kotor base. All prices in euros (€).

Kotor Old Town and Fortress

Walk the Kotor Walls and Fortress of San Giovanni

The defining experience in Kotor: 1,350 steps climb from the old town up through the city walls to the fortress of San Giovanni at the top, with panoramic views over the bay, the rooftops of the old town, and the mountain above. Allow 2–3 hours for the full ascent and descent.

• Entry fee: €8 per person (includes all sections of the wall walk)
• Best time: Early morning (before 9am) or late afternoon after 5pm — both cooler and less crowded
• Practical note: Wear shoes with grip; sections are steep and uneven

Kotor Old Town

The old town itself is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the Balkans — completely enclosed within Venetian walls. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (12th century), the Maritime Museum, and a maze of stone lanes and squares are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other.

• Old town entry: Free (wall walk requires the €8 ticket)
• Cathedral: €3 entry

Cats of Kotor

Kotor’s resident cat population (several hundred strong) has become a genuine attraction. The Cats Museum inside the old town has cat-themed exhibits and a small shop. The cats are everywhere in the lanes and squares.

• Cats Museum entry: €1

Bay excursions

Boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks

The artificial island just offshore from Perast carries a 17th-century church with over 2,500 silver votive tablets donated by sailors and fishermen. The island was built over centuries by local fishermen dropping stones into the sea on the anniversary of a vision.

• Access: Taxi boats from Perast waterfront; negotiated price
• Price: approx. €5 return per person
• Duration: 30–45 minutes on the island; 5 minutes by boat
• Best from: Perast (12 km from Kotor by road; regular buses)

Blue Cave (Plava špilja)

A sea cave near Dobrota where submerged light creates a blue glow effect inside the cave. Accessible by boat only — best reached as part of a bay tour or by arranging a direct boat from Kotor or Tivat.

• Price: approx. €40 standalone; usually included in bay cruise packages at no extra cost
• Practical note: Best in morning when light angles create the strongest effect

Bay of Kotor boat cruise

Full-bay tours from Kotor, Tivat, or Herceg Novi typically cover Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, the Blue Cave, and sometimes Herceg Novi or the outer bay. Half-day and full-day options are available.

• Price: €30–60 per person depending on boat type and route
• Duration: 3–6 hours depending on option chosen

Kayaking the bay

Sea kayaking tours run from Kotor and Tivat — a slower alternative to motor boat tours that lets you paddle close to the bay shore and through quieter inlets. Half-day guided kayak tours are the most common format.

• Price: €35–50 per person for a guided half-day

Perast and nearby

Perast village walk

Perast has 16 former noble palaces, all within a few hundred metres of waterfront. Almost entirely flat and car-free in its historic core. The town is tiny — a full walk takes 30 minutes — but it is among the most atmospheric spots in Montenegro.

• Entry: Free

Risan Roman mosaics

Risan, 4 km beyond Perast, has well-preserved Roman-era floor mosaics from the Villa Urbana — one of the best examples of Roman mosaic art in the Balkans. Usually skipped by day-trippers.

• Entry: approx. €3
• Opening hours: Check locally; limited opening times in shoulder season

Scenic drives and viewpoints

The bay road: Herceg Novi to Kotor

The coastal road looping around the inner bay is one of the most scenic drives in the Balkans — narrow, winding, with small chapels and waterside villages every few kilometres. Allow half a day to stop properly. The Verige strait (narrowest point of the bay) is the highlight.

• Car ferry across the Verige strait: approx. €5 per vehicle; cuts the road distance significantly

Lovćen viewpoint above Kotor

The mountain road climbing from Kotor to Lovćen National Park and the Njeguší plateau offers some of the best views in Montenegro — the bay laid out below in a series of interlocking basins. The Njeguší village is the source of Montenegro’s most famous prosciutto.

• Drive: 20–30 minutes from Kotor; accessible by car or organised tour

Herceg Novi

Kanli Kula fortress and old town

Herceg Novi’s clifftop Ottoman fortress has open-air concert space and good views over the bay entrance and out to the Adriatic. The old town below has good café culture and a lively promenade.

• Fortress entry: €3

Summary by type

Activity type	Best option
Fortress and views	Kotor Walls + San Giovanni
Island church	Our Lady of the Rocks from Perast
Sea cave	Blue Cave by boat
Boat tour	Bay of Kotor half-day cruise
Most atmospheric town	Perast
Scenic drive	Herceg Novi to Kotor via bay road
Active / kayak	Bay kayaking from Kotor or Tivat