Getting around · Kotor · Montenegro
Getting around Kotor
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Kotor's old town is car-free and small enough to walk in minutes, and the waterfront path through Dobrota is flat. Buses run along the bay to Perast and on to Herceg Novi, and through the tunnel to Tivat and Budva. Taxis and boat taxis fill the gaps. Not for Kotor itself, which is walkable and served by buses and boats.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- TIV, TGD
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking is the only way around the old town, and the waterfront path north through Dobrota is ideal for an evening stroll.
Bus
Intercity buses from Kotor's bus station, about 1 km south of the old town, connect with Tivat, Budva, Herceg Novi, Podgorica and Dubrovnik; local buses run along the bay to Perast.
Buy tickets at the station when possible; timetables change between summer and winter.
Taxi
Taxis wait near the old town and are useful for Perast, Tivat Airport and Muo. Agree the fare or check the meter is on before you set off.
Boat
Boat taxis and tour boats from Kotor's harbour and Perast's quay run to Our Lady of the Rocks, the Blue Cave and around the bay.
Car
A car is the easiest way to drive the serpentine road to Lovćen and Njeguši, visit Cetinje and explore the coast; the bay road is narrow and slow in summer.
From the airport
Tivat Airport is about 8 km from Kotor through the Vrmac tunnel, roughly 15–20 minutes by taxi. Podgorica Airport is about 90 km away, around 1.5–2 hours by car. Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, about 70–90 km away, is another option, but allow for the border crossing.
Do you need a car?
Not for Kotor itself, which is walkable and served by buses and boats. A car is helpful for Lovćen, Njeguši, Cetinje and Lake Skadar, though tours cover all of these.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lovćen National Park and Njegoš Mausoleum | About 1 hour by car | Car or tour via the Kotor serpentine road |
| Budva | About 30–40 minutes by bus | Bus from Kotor bus station |
| Sveti Stefan | About 45 minutes by car or bus | Bus towards Petrovac, or car |
| Cetinje | About 1 hour by car | Car or tour via Lovćen |
| Lake Skadar | About 1.5 hours by car | Car or tour to Virpazar |
| Dubrovnik | About 2–2.5 hours by bus, plus border time | Bus or organised tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Kotor?
Not for Kotor itself, which is walkable and served by buses and boats. A car is helpful for Lovćen, Njeguši, Cetinje and Lake Skadar, though tours cover all of these.
+How do you get from the airport to Kotor?
Tivat Airport is about 8 km from Kotor through the Vrmac tunnel, roughly 15–20 minutes by taxi. Podgorica Airport is about 90 km away, around 1.5–2 hours by car. Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, about 70–90 km away, is another option, but allow for the border crossing.
+What is the best way to get around Kotor?
Walking: Walking is the only way around the old town, and the waterfront path north through Dobrota is ideal for an evening stroll.