Best Day Trips and Private Tours from Kotor: Where to Go Next

Our Take on Kotor’s Surroundings

We’ve been driving around Kotor for years with Balkan Chauffeur, and one thing we’ve learned: this town is a great starting point for exploring Montenegro. Kotor itself is small, so after a day walking its old streets, you’ll probably want to see what’s nearby. We’re always taking people to places like Perast or Budva, and they come back happy with the stories they’ve got. Here’s where we’d go if we were you, with all the practical stuff you need to know.

1. Perast: Quick Trip for a Quiet Day

Perast is a small village just 15 minutes up the road from Kotor, right on the bay. It’s got a long waterfront where you can grab a coffee for about 2 euros and watch the boats go by. The main thing here is taking a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks, a little island with a church from the 1600s. The boat ride is short, maybe 10 minutes, and the island has a small museum with old artifacts. Perast is calm compared to Kotor, so it’s good if you want a break from the crowds.

• Location: Perast 85336, Montenegro
• Distance from Kotor: 12 km, ~15-minute drive
• Boat Ride from Perast to Island: 5 euros per person
• Church Entry: 2 euros
• Parking: Available along the waterfront, usually free

2. Budva: Beaches and Nightlife

Budva is about an hour from Kotor, and it’s the go-to spot if you’re into beaches or nightlife. The Old Town is smaller than Kotor’s but still has some cool history, like the citadel and old churches. Beaches like Mogren are walking distance from the center—expect pebbles, not sand, but the water’s clear. At night, Budva gets lively with bars and clubs along the promenade. We usually tell people to go early if they’re not into the party scene.

• Location: Budva 85310, Montenegro
• Distance from Kotor: 22 km, ~50-minute drive
• Beach Sunbeds: 10 euros per day at Mogren
• Citadel Entry: 3.5 euros
• Tip: Traffic can be slow in summer—leave before 9 AM.

3. Lovćen National Park: Mountains and Views

Lovćen National Park is up in the mountains, and it’s where you’ll find the Kotor Cable Car drop-off point at 1,350 meters. We wrote about the cable car in our things to do in Kotor post, but you can also drive up if you’d rather not take the cable. At the top, there’s the Njegoš Mausoleum, a monument to a famous Montenegrin poet, with a 360-degree view of the country. The park has hiking trails, but they’re not too tough—good for a 1-2 hour walk.

• Location: Lovćen National Park, 81250, Montenegro
• Distance from Kotor: 25 km to the park entrance, ~1-hour drive
• Mausoleum Entry: 5 euros
• Park Entry Fee: 2 euros per person
• Parking: Free at the mausoleum lot

4. Cetinje: Old Capital with History

Cetinje used to be Montenegro’s capital, and it’s got a lot of history packed into a small town. It’s about an hour from Kotor, and the drive takes you through some twisty mountain roads—pretty easy for us, but you’ll want to go slow if you’re driving yourself. Check out the Cetinje Monastery, where they keep old manuscripts, and the National Museum of Montenegro in the old royal palace. There’s also a pedestrian street with a few cafés for lunch.

• Location: Cetinje 81250, Montenegro
• Distance from Kotor: 35 km, ~1-hour drive
• Museum Entry: 5 euros (combined ticket for multiple museums)
• Monastery Entry: Free, but dress modestly
• Tip: Bring a light jacket—it’s cooler up in the mountains.

Explore More Around Kotor

If you’ve got time for a swim, we’ve got a list of the best beaches in Kotor Bay that are close to town. You can also spend a day walking around Kotor itself—our things to do in Kotor post has all the spots worth checking out.

How to Get to Kotor

Kotor isn’t hard to reach, especially with airports nearby. Here’s how you can get there with our transfers:

• Dubrovnik to Kotor: Takes 1.5 hours from Dubrovnik Airport.
• Tirana to Kotor: About 4 hours from Tirana Airport.
• Podgorica to Kotor: 1.5 hours from Podgorica Airport.
• Tivat to Kotor: Just 20 minutes from Tivat Airport.

Want to explore Kotor and beyond? Our Kotor car & driver service makes it easy with custom trips. Book with Balkan Chauffeur and we’ll take care of the ride!

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