Kotor Transport

Most visitors arrive through Tivat airport, 8 km away by road on the other side of the bay. Drive time is 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic and ferry queues. Dubrovnik airport in Croatia is the alternative at 90 km north, with a border crossing at Debeli Brijeg that adds 15 to 60 minutes in peak summer weeks. Both run direct seasonal flights to most of Europe between May and October. Tivat thins to a handful of routes through winter; Dubrovnik holds a more consistent year-round schedule and is often the better off-season option.

Pre-arranged private transfers from Tivat run €20 to €40, from Dubrovnik €70 to €120 one-way. Shared shuttles take longer but cost less, €10 to €20 per person. Taxis from the Tivat rank are around €25; from Dubrovnik €100 plus the border wait.

Inside the bay, the Kamenari, Lepetane vehicle ferry is worth knowing about even if you arrive by air. It crosses continuously from 04:00 to midnight at €4.50 per car plus €1 per passenger, cutting out a 40-minute drive around the bay's inner curve. Summer queues can reach 20 to 30 minutes either way; the road around the bay through Kotor itself stays free but adds distance.

Local buses connect Kotor with Budva, Tivat, Herceg Novi, Podgorica and the Croatian border. Fares are paid cash in euros at the door, €4 to Budva, Tivat or Herceg Novi, €10 to Podgorica. The bus station sits five minutes' walk south of the Sea Gate.

Car rental is widely available in town and at Tivat airport. Small cars run €25 to €40 per day outside peak season, €40 to €70 in July and August. The coastal road around the bay is well surfaced; the climbs into the Lovćen mountains and the inland Cetinje road are narrow with hairpins demanding low gears.

Parking inside the Old Town is forbidden. Visitors use the paid lots along the bay road, around the Kamelija centre or at the cruise port. Taxis are metered and reasonable for short hops; for longer trips agree a flat fare in advance. Apps like Moj Taksi cover the town. The Old Town interior is stone-flagged and stepped, easy to walk, awkward for strollers and not wheelchair-friendly.