Comparison · Kotor vs Split · Montenegro / Croatia
Kotor vs Split
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 and lower day-to-day costs; choose Split for Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, nightlife and free sights. Kotor is generally less expensive, and the two are about 225 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 225 km
- Less expensive
- Kotor
- Best time for Kotor
- May–June and September
- Best time for Split
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Kotor | Split | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Montenegro | Croatia |
| Known for | Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and Venetian old town | Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade and Island ferries |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $140–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 11°C (52°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Dobrota swimming platforms | Bačvice |
| Airports | TIV, TGD | SPU |
Which one is right for you?
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…
Choose Split for…
Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, nightlife and free sights. Split, Croatia's second-largest city, grew inside and around the palace the Roman emperor Diocletian built on the Dalmatian coast around 300 AD. The palace walls still enclose a maze of lanes, cafés, homes and the cathedral, listed by UNESCO in 1979, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Kotor | Split |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kotor Old Town | Diocletian's Palace |
| 2 | City walls and San Giovanni Fortress | Peristyle and Vestibule |
| 3 | Ladder of Kotor trail | Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower |
| 4 | Cathedral of Saint Tryphon | Temple of Jupiter |
| 5 | Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church | Palace substructures (cellars) |
Food compared
| Kotor | Split |
|---|---|
| Njeguši prosciutto | Pašticada |
| Njeguši cheese | Black risotto |
| Buzara | Brudet |
| Black risotto | Peka |
Which is cheaper?
Kotor is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 per person there, against $140–$250 in Split (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kotor on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kotor and Split are about 225 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Kotor and 4 in Split.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kotor or Split cheaper?
Kotor is usually less expensive: about $110–$200 a day mid-range against $140–$250 (estimates).
+Is Kotor or Split better for a first trip?
Pick Kotor for Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and lower day-to-day costs, or Split for Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, nightlife and free sights.
+How far is Kotor from Split?
About 225 km in a straight line.