Montenegro boat tour from Dubrovnik, Bay of Kotor private day trip.

The Bay of Kotor on a Montenegro boat tour from Dubrovnik

A Montenegro boat tour from Dubrovnik follows the coast south past Cavtat and the Konavle cliffs to the entrance of the Bay of Kotor, guarded by the small fortress island of Mamula. Inside, the bay opens into several basins linked by narrow straits; at Verige the shores close to only a few hundred metres apart before the water widens again towards Perast.

Perast and the two islets

Our Lady of the Rocks stands on an artificial islet that local sailors built up over centuries by sinking old ships and dropping stones on a reef, a custom still marked each July in the Fašinada procession of boats. Next to it lies St George, a natural islet with a Benedictine monastery and cypress trees, which is not open to visitors. Perast itself is a single street of captains’ houses and churches along the water, easy to walk in half an hour.

Kotor old town

Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the walls, the Cathedral of St Tryphon dates from the 12th century. Above the town, the fortifications climb the mountainside to the fortress of St John, a steep climb of well over a thousand steps that is best done early or late in the day, not at midday in summer. Cats are the town’s unofficial symbol, and there is even a small cat museum in the old town.

Practical points

• Money: Montenegro uses the euro, so no currency exchange is needed.
• Phones: Montenegro is outside EU roaming rules, so check your mobile plan before you go.
• Cruise ships: Kotor gets busy when large ships are in port. On a private boat the skipper can visit Perast first and reach Kotor once the crowds thin.

The tour suits history lovers, groups of friends and families with older children. A motor yacht makes the long day more comfortable. If you prefer to travel by road, see our Montenegro day trip; for a one-way trip, there is the boat transfer to Kotor. Prices are on request, with an itemised quote by email or WhatsApp.