Are you visiting Montenegro and want to plan a day trip from Kotor to Dubrovnik? You’re in the right place. Last year, I spent two weeks in Montenegro and spent one of those days taking a day trip from Kotor to Dubrovnik. Here’s everything you need to know.
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If you don’t already have your trip booked, I’m sure I’m convincing you to visit. Check out these resources and tools to help book and plan your trip!
- Booking.com – offers accommodation and unique places
- Vrbo – world’s leading marketplace for vacation rentals
- Hostelworld – global hostel-focused online booking platform
- Wayaway – flight aggregator to find the best rates on airline tickets
- GetYourGuide – find top-rated tours and activities in your destination
So far in my life I’ve visited 30 countries and am on a mission to reach 50 by my 30th birthday (5 years to go)! For this reason, I am a big fan of doing day trips to other countries if and when possible. Thankfully, it’s quite easy and simple to get from Kotor to Dubrovnik (and vice versa). Let’s jump into the logistics.
SOME INFORMATION ON KOTOR
Kotor is a historical coastal town in Montenegro best known for its fortified old town. Old Town Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is thought to be the best preserved medieval old town in the entire mediterranean! The town is located on the Bay of Kotor (also known as Boka) which is part of the Adriatic Sea.
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Before Montenegrin independence in 2009, Kotor belonged to various nations and empires since its establishment around 168 BCE. Kotor’s most prosperous time was the 300 years it was under Venetian rule. In 1979, an earthquake destroyed most of Old Town Kotor but the buildings were able to be repaired using the damaged stones.
Kotor is an incredible place to visit and the perfect homebase if you are traveling through Montenegro and beyond. Kotor is centrally located on Montenegro’s coastline so it’s convenient for venturing to other places (especially if you rent a car). Even though the town itself is somewhat small, there’s still a lot to do and explore. I definitely recommend staying in Kotor during your trip to Montenegro, at least for a few days! Below you can find some options for accommodation in Kotor.
HOW TO GET FROM KOTOR TO DUBROVNIK (& VICE VERSA)
Montenegro is boarded by numerous other countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, and Croatia. And since Montenegro is a small country, it’s feasible to take a day trip to any of these countries. The most popular day trip is from Kotor to Dubrovnik in Croatia.
It takes about two hours to drive from Kotor to Dubrovnik, however you will need to also factor in some additional time for going through border control. Since Montenegro is not part of the Schengen zone, you must go through border control and have your passport checked.
In general, when traveling through Montenegro, I definitely recommend renting a car. If you don’t have a car, you can travel from Kotor to Dubrovnik by bus (tickets cost approximately 25 Euros for one way or 38 Euros for a return ). There are many bus companies which operate routes between Kotor, but FlixBus is a great and reliable option.
If you do rent a car, you can drive from Kotor to Montenegro. However, you need to ensure you have a permit that allows you to cross the border with the car. This may incur prior authorization and additional fees. According to DiscoverCars (the rental car booking service I recommend), you can usually request permission when you pick up the car, however some suppliers may require more advanced notice, so be sure to check with them ahead of time.
To find the perfect rental car for you, search below on DiscoverCars!
PARKING IN DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is a very walkable city, so once you arrive you should park your car as you likely won’t need it until you are ready to return back to Kotor. When I traveled to Dubrovnik I parked somewhere close to the city walls which was pretty expensive ($50-60). However, upon further research, it looks like there are more affordable options. According to Go Dubrovnik, the best bang for your buck is Dubrovnik Center Parking, which costs 27 Euros for the entire day.
WHAT TO DO ON ONE DAY IN DUBROVNIK
This could (and eventually will) be a blog post in and of itself, but I want to tell you the best things to do on one day in Dubrovnik, especially for first-time visitors.
The single best thing to do one day in Dubrovnik is exploring the city walls. These walls, built for defensive protection, surround almost the entire city of Dubrovnik. The existing city walls were built during the 13th-17th centuries and run for almost 2,000 meters. Within the walls are numerous fortresses and fortifications which overlook both the Adriatic Sea and the city of Dubrovnik. These walls are also well known for being one of the filming sites of Game of Thrones.
I recommend dedicating at least 2 hours to explore the walls, and if you’re visiting in the summer don’t forget to wear sunscreen! If you don’t want to explore on your own, there are many great tour options on GetYourGuide that tailor to specific interests (such as Game of Thrones if you’re into that).
You should definitely spend a few hours exploring Dubrovnik Old Town within the city walls. You will enter the Old Town through Pile Gate and walk through on the Stradan, which is a large pedestrian thoroughfare. Some of the main attractions to see within the Old Town are the Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery, Dubrovnik Cathedral, Onofrio’s Fountain, and Rector’s Palace. There are so many incredible sites to see in Dubrovnik Old Town that you will definitely find yourself wishing you had even more time to explore!
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Now you’re all set for your day trip from Kotor to Dubrovnik. Have a fantastic time!