6 best day trips from Kotor

Day trips compared

The day trips

40 km · About 1 hour by car

1.Lovćen National Park and Njegoš Mausoleum

The road from Kotor climbs about 25 hairpin bends above the bay to Njeguši and Lovćen National Park. At the top, 461 steps lead to the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, poet-prince of Montenegro, with views across much of the country.

Getting there

Car or tour via the Kotor serpentine road

Best for

First-timers, Culture, Families

23 km · About 30–40 minutes by bus

2.Budva

Montenegro's main resort town has a small walled old town on a peninsula, the sandy Mogren beaches and a long seafront promenade. It is livelier and more developed than Kotor, with beach clubs and nightlife in summer.

Getting there

Bus from Kotor bus station

Best for

Beach, First-timers

30 km · About 45 minutes by car or bus

3.Sveti Stefan

The fortified islet village linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway is one of the most photographed views in the Balkans. The island itself is a private resort, so most visitors admire it from the beach and the viewpoint on the coast road above.

Getting there

Bus towards Petrovac, or car

Best for

Couples, Beach

45 km · About 1 hour by car

4.Cetinje

Montenegro's old royal capital has the Cetinje Monastery, King Nikola's palace museum and former embassy buildings from the time of the kingdom. It combines naturally with Lovćen and Njeguši in one day.

Getting there

Car or tour via Lovćen

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

80 km · About 1.5 hours by car

5.Lake Skadar

The Balkans' largest lake is a national park of reed beds, water lilies and birdlife, including Dalmatian pelicans. Boat trips leave from the village of Virpazar, the centre of a Vranac wine-growing area with family wineries.

Getting there

Car or tour to Virpazar

Best for

Quiet stays, Food lovers, Families

90 km · About 2–2.5 hours by bus, plus border time

6.Dubrovnik

Croatia's walled city is reachable as a long day trip along the coast via Herceg Novi. Border queues can add considerably to the journey in summer, so start early.

Getting there

Bus or organised tour

Best for

First-timers, Culture

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Buy tickets at the station when possible; timetables change between summer and winter.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask