Kotor Cruise Port Guide: Top Things to Do & Tips
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Kotor cruise port, set right in the heart of town, is your gateway to one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets. Both the port and the entire country of Montenegro are true hidden gems.
The experience starts before you even arrive. The one-hour sail through Boka Bay, often described as the southernmost fjord in Europe, is considered one of the most beautiful approaches in the world. Be sure to step out on deck early and enjoy the view!
Both the bay and Kotor’s old town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and from the port you can easily explore the medieval streets, climb the fortress, or head out on a day trip to places like Perast.
In this guide, you’ll find practical info about Kotor cruise port, the best things to do within walking distance, and top excursions in the area.
Kotor Cruise Port Overview
The sail into Kotor Bay, with the medieval port framed by towering mountains, is one of the Adriatic’s most spectacular sights.
Kotor cruise terminal has a single pier, located just 300 feet from the old town gates, so you can see the city walls as soon as you step off the ship.
Larger vessels may anchor in the bay and tender passengers ashore, a ride that takes 5–15 minutes depending on distance.
The port has a small souvenir shop and a free toilet. Right next to the port building, you’ll find a café with complimentary Wi-Fi for guests.
Getting Around Kotor Cruise Port
💳 ATMs & Currency
There’s no ATM inside the port, but a bank with an ATM sits on the other side of the building. If it’s busy, you’ll find plenty more at the main city square just 300 meters away.
Montenegro uses the euro (€). Credit cards are widely accepted, though taxis often require cash. Avoid using American Express, as it’s less accepted than Visa or Mastercard.
♿ Accessibility
The port area is flat and wheelchair-friendly, while the old town has some hilly streets and uneven cobblestones. Comfortable shoes are essential.
🚶 Exploring the Old Town
Kotor’s medieval old town begins right outside the pier, and walking is the best way to experience it. Narrow alleys, lively squares, and historic landmarks are all within steps of the port.
🚍 Shore Excursions
Cruise lines and local operators both offer excursions from Kotor. Popular options include boat tours of Boka Bay, day trips to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, or guided visits to Budva and Lovćen National Park.
👉 Explore Kotor tours and activities on Viator and Get Your Guide
🚕 Taxis
Taxis wait at the port exit, usually offering fixed prices instead of meters. If you prefer metered taxis (like the locals use), you’ll find them near the Kamelija shopping center, about 600 meters away.
Always confirm the fare before starting your ride.
🚌 Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Hop-on hop-off buses are sometimes available at the port or the city gate. They run every 30 minutes and include an audio guide around Boka Bay, plus a walking tour of Kotor’s old town. Stops often include:
- Bajova Kula – a scenic beach bar
- Perast – a coastal gem with a short boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks
- Risan – a historic village with Roman mosaics
👉 Browse Hop on Hop off bus tours here
🚌 Kotor Bus Station
The bus station is about 800 meters (10 minutes on foot) from the cruise terminal.
While not useful for short cruise stops, it’s handy if you’re staying in Kotor longer.
Buses are operated by Blue Line (schedules: blueline-mne.com, the webpage is in the local language). You can also check tickets and timetables at busticket4.me or getbybus.com
✈️ Nearest Airports
- Tivat Airport – 8 km / 5 miles southwest, about 10 minutes by car
- Podgorica Airport – 89 km / 55 miles northeast, about 1.5 hours by car
💡 Book a private transfer to or from Kotor cruise port
Practical Tips
- Start early if you want to climb the fortress before it gets hot.
- Bring euros for taxis and small purchases.
- Book in advance if you’re considering a tour to Perast or Lovćen National Park, as these fill quickly on busy cruise days.
- Staying overnight? Check out the best hotels in Kotor for options right inside the old town or along the bay with incredible views.
Mediterranean Cruise Port Guide
Planning more Mediterranean cruises? My Mediterranean Cruise Port Guide ebook covers 45 ports with practical tips, local insights, and the best things to do at each stop.
It’s designed to save you hours of research and help you make the most of every port day.
Top Things to Do in Kotor (Walking Distance from the Cruise Port)
Kotor cruise port puts you right at the gates of the old town, with historic streets, squares, and landmarks just steps away. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss:
🏰 St. John’s Fortress
St. John’s Fortress is the landmark you’ll spot above Kotor’s city walls, with a Montenegrin flag flying at the top. Built over centuries, it once defended the town from invaders.
The hike to Kotor Fortress is steep, with around 1,400 steps, so bring water and good shoes.
If you don’t want to climb all the way, the 16th-century Church of Our Lady of Remedy, reached after about 400–500 steps, offers stunning views and photo spots.
👉 Check out Kotor hiking tours
🏘️ Kotor Old Town
Just steps from the cruise pier, Kotor’s old town is a maze of cobblestone alleys, lively squares, and historic landmarks surrounded by medieval walls.
Highlights include the 12th-century Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, one of only two Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro, built in honor of the city’s patron saint. The cathedral dominates its square and requires modest dress to enter.
Nearby, the Maritime Museum of Montenegro sits in a Baroque palace marked by cannons at the entrance, showcasing model ships, maps, and artifacts that tell the town’s seafaring story.
On Piazza Greca, the small Church of Saint Luke stands out for surviving the 1979 earthquake almost untouched. Once Catholic and later converted to Orthodox, it now has two altars, a rare symbol of religious harmony.
Other landmarks not to miss are the Clock Tower at the main square and St. Nicholas Church, the largest Orthodox church in town.
With cafés, shops, and hidden corners at every turn, Kotor’s old town is best explored on foot; just bring comfortable shoes for the cobblestones.
👉 Explore Kotor Old Town tours and activities
🏖️ Beach & Shopping
If you prefer a relaxed day, you’ll find both a beach and a shopping mall just a short walk from the port. Exit the terminal, turn left, and cross the small bridge with a park beside it. After about 500 meters, the Kamelija Shopping Center will be on your right.
Walk another 200 meters and you’ll reach Kotor Beach, a public pebble beach open to everyone. Entry is free, though you can rent chairs and umbrellas for a fee (prices are posted on-site).
Best Day Trips and Excursions from Kotor
🚤 Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks
Just 15 minutes from Kotor, the fishing village of Perast is one of the bay’s prettiest stops.
Offshore sits Our Lady of the Rocks, a small man-made island crowned by a 17th-century church. According to legend, local sailors built the island after finding an icon of the Virgin Mary on a nearby rock.
Next to it lies St. George Island, which is closed to visitors but adds to the scenery. The tradition of adding stones to Our Lady of the Rocks continues today during the annual Fasinada Festival each July.
👉 Explore Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks tours and activities
🚡 Kotor Cable Car
One of Kotor’s newest attractions, the cable car offers a spectacular ride over the bay and surrounding mountains.
In just 11 minutes, it climbs to 1,348 m above sea level, where you’ll arrive at Lovćen National Park. At the top, you can hike, cycle, or simply enjoy a meal with panoramic views.
The Lower Dub Station is about an 8-minute drive from the Kotor cruise port, located on the Budva–Tivat road.
👉 Explore Kotor cable car tours and activities
🏡 Njeguši Village
About 40 minutes from Kotor, Njeguši is a traditional village on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, known as the birthplace of the Petrovic dynasty that ruled Montenegro for more than two centuries.
Today, it’s just as famous for its smoked prosciutto and cheese, which you can sample in local restaurants.
The village lies within Lovćen National Park, offering incredible scenery along the way. The road is steep and winding, so if you’re prone to motion sickness, take precautions.
👉 See Njeguši Village tours and activities
🌊 Blue Cave
The Blue Cave on the Luštica Peninsula is one of Montenegro’s most popular attractions, known for its crystal-clear water that glows an intense blue when sunlight hits the sea.
Boats can sail inside the cave, which is about 9 meters high with water up to 5 meters deep, and visitors are allowed to swim or snorkel.
From Kotor, you can join a boat tour directly from the port (about 1 hour each way) or take a bus to Žanjic Beach and continue by boat.
Time inside the cave is usually 20–30 minutes, and it often gets busy in peak season.
👉 Explore Blue Cave tours and activities
🕳️ Lipa Cave
About an hour’s drive from Kotor, Lipa Cave is one of the largest cave systems in Montenegro, with 2.5 km of passages, chambers, and an underground river.
Inside, you’ll see impressive stalactites and stalagmites in a constant cool temperature of around 10°C—so bring a jacket, even in summer.
The cave is open from April to November, and the standard guided tour lasts about an hour. The road to the cave is winding, so take precautions if you’re prone to motion sickness.
👉 Check out Lipa Cave tours and activities
🛥️ Porto Montenegro
Just 20 minutes from Kotor, in the town of Tivat, Porto Montenegro is a modern marina lined with luxury yachts, designer shops, upscale hotels, and waterfront cafés.
It’s flat and easy to walk, making it accessible for everyone, and offers a stylish contrast to Kotor’s medieval old town. Enjoy a coffee with a view and soak up Montenegro’s modern side.
Kotor Cruise Port FAQ
❓ Can you walk into Kotor from the cruise port?
Yes, Kotor’s old town is right across from the pier, only about 300 feet away. No shuttle is needed.
❓ How long do you need in Kotor?
Cruise visitors usually spend 4–6 hours exploring. This gives enough time to see the old town, hike part of the fortress, and take a short trip to Perast.
❓ Do cruise ships dock or tender in Kotor?
Kotor has one pier for docking. Larger ships may anchor in the bay and tender passengers ashore, with rides taking 5–15 minutes.
❓ What currency is used in Kotor?
Montenegro uses the euro (€). Credit cards are accepted in most places, but taxis and small shops prefer cash.
❓ Is the hike to Kotor Fortress worth it?
Yes, the views over the old town and Boka Bay are breathtaking. The full climb is about 1,400 steps, but even reaching the Church of Our Lady of Remedy halfway offers stunning views.
❓ What excursions can you do from Kotor?
Popular options include Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, Budva, Lovćen National Park, Blue Cave boat tours, and Porto Montenegro in Tivat.
❓ When is the best time to visit Kotor by cruise?
Spring (May–June) and fall (September–October) bring pleasant weather and fewer crowds compared to the peak summer months.
Helpful Resources for Kotor Cruise Port
🌐 Useful Websites
- Find the Kotor cruise port on Google Maps
- Kotor Cruise Ship Schedule
- Kotor Port Authority
- Kotor Tourism Office
- Local Weather Forecast
🛳️ Ports Often Included with Kotor
Planning a stop in Kotor? These ports are often part of the same itinerary:
- Istanbul – Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar
- Kusadasi – gateway to ancient Ephesus
- Dubrovnik – Game of Thrones filming location with famous city walls
- Split – Diocletian’s Palace and seafront promenade
- Corfu – UNESCO Old Town and Greek and Venetian heritage
- Mykonos & Santorini – whitewashed villages, spectacular Aegean views
- Malta – Grand Harbour and medieval Valletta
- Venice & Koper – Italian and Slovenian highlights
- Barcelona – major Western Med homeport
- Marseille – gateway to Provence
- Villefranche – access to Nice and Monaco
You may also like our cruise port guides to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, USA & Canada, Middle East, Australia & New Zealand
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Great ! Thank you for all the fantastic informations ! You will guide us – my family and I – around Kotor. Be sure that you will be with us exploring this city. Thanks again.
Thank you!! I am glad I could help! 🙂
We have a stop at Kotor, Montenegro with our cruise coming up in October. We like to do “local” stuff, like eat or have a draft beer at a local pub. Could you recommend anything like that? Specifically a popular local spot for a beer or a local dish?
Hi there! Hmm, it’s been a while since I went to Kotor and I can’t think of any specific restaurant, but I know for sure that Balkan food is fantastic and that restaurants generally serve quality food. Meat is popular in the Balkans (look for the “cevapi” dish) but you can also try some local seafood or catch of the day. Make sure you taste “Njegusi” prosciutto, local cheese, “kajmak” and “burek”, a pastry filled with cheese, meat or plain (“yogurt” goes perfectly with burek). To top off, taste a glass of “rakija” – the local brandy generally popular in the Balkans (but beware, it normally contains a high percentage of alcohol). I hope this is helpful and I wish you a great cruise! 🙂