Comparison · Kotor vs Sarajevo · Montenegro / Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kotor vs Sarajevo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Kotor for Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, beaches and a milder winter; choose Sarajevo for Baščaršija, Ćevapi, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Sarajevo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 162 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 162 km
- Less expensive
- Sarajevo
- Best time for Kotor
- May–June and September
- Best time for Sarajevo
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Kotor | Sarajevo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Montenegro | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Known for | Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and Venetian old town | Baščaršija, Ćevapi and Bosnian coffee |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $80–$140 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 27°C (81°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 4°C (39°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Dobrota swimming platforms | — |
| Airports | TIV, TGD | SJJ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kotor for…
Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, beaches and a milder winter. 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…
Choose Sarajevo for…
Baščaršija, Ćevapi, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Sarajevo stretches along the narrow Miljacka river valley, ringed by the mountains that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Walking west from the Ottoman bazaar of Baščaršija, you pass mosques, a Catholic cathedral, an Orthodox cathedral and a synagogue within…
Top sights compared
| # | Kotor | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kotor Old Town | Baščaršija and the Sebilj |
| 2 | City walls and San Giovanni Fortress | Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque |
| 3 | Ladder of Kotor trail | Ferhadija and the Meeting of Cultures |
| 4 | Cathedral of Saint Tryphon | Sacred Heart Cathedral |
| 5 | Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church | Latin Bridge and Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918 |
Food compared
| Kotor | Sarajevo |
|---|---|
| Njeguši prosciutto | Ćevapi |
| Njeguši cheese | Burek and pita |
| Buzara | Bosnian coffee |
| Black risotto | Begova čorba |
Which is cheaper?
Sarajevo is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$140 per person there, against $110–$200 in Kotor (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sarajevo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kotor and Sarajevo are about 162 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Kotor and 3 in Sarajevo.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kotor or Sarajevo cheaper?
Sarajevo is usually less expensive: about $80–$140 a day mid-range against $110–$200 (estimates).
+Is Kotor or Sarajevo better for a first trip?
Pick Kotor for Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, beaches and a milder winter, or Sarajevo for Baščaršija, Ćevapi, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife.
+How far is Kotor from Sarajevo?
About 162 km in a straight line.