Comparison · Dubrovnik vs Kotor · Croatia / Montenegro
Dubrovnik vs Kotor
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Dubrovnik for City walls, Stradun and nightlife; choose Kotor for Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and lower day-to-day costs. Kotor is generally less expensive, and the two are about 61 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 61 km
- Less expensive
- Kotor
- Best time for Dubrovnik
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Kotor
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Dubrovnik | Kotor | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Croatia | Montenegro |
| Known for | City walls, Stradun and Republic of Ragusa | Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and Venetian old town |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $110–$200 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | Banje Beach | Dobrota swimming platforms |
| Airports | DBV | TIV, TGD |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dubrovnik for…
City walls, Stradun and nightlife. Dubrovnik's Old Town is a car-free, limestone-paved city inside almost 2 kilometres of medieval walls, jutting into the Adriatic at the southern tip of Croatia. Once the capital of the independent Republic of Ragusa, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose…
Choose Kotor for…
Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and lower day-to-day costs. Kotor sits at the innermost corner of the Bay of Kotor, a deep, winding inlet of the Adriatic ringed by mountains rising steeply from the water. Its triangular old town, enclosed by walls that zigzag up the cliff to the Fortress of San Giovanni, is a maze of…
Top sights compared
| # | Dubrovnik | Kotor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Walls of Dubrovnik | Kotor Old Town |
| 2 | Stradun | City walls and San Giovanni Fortress |
| 3 | Fort Lovrijenac | Ladder of Kotor trail |
| 4 | Rector's Palace | Cathedral of Saint Tryphon |
| 5 | Mount Srđ and the cable car | Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church |
Food compared
| Dubrovnik | Kotor |
|---|---|
| Black risotto | Njeguši prosciutto |
| Peka | Njeguši cheese |
| Grilled fish with blitva | Buzara |
| Ston oysters | Black risotto |
Which is cheaper?
Kotor is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 per person there, against $170–$300 in Dubrovnik (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kotor on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Dubrovnik and Kotor are about 61 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Dubrovnik and 3 in Kotor.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dubrovnik or Kotor cheaper?
Kotor is usually less expensive: about $110–$200 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Dubrovnik or Kotor better for a first trip?
Pick Dubrovnik for City walls, Stradun and nightlife, or Kotor for Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Dubrovnik from Kotor?
About 61 km in a straight line.