Are you looking for a one-day Kotor Bay itinerary from the cruise port? Then I’ve got you covered!
A day in Kotor is not just about the charming Old Town’s natural beauty, but there are also plenty of ancient relics to admire.
Entering the bay of Kotor with your cruise ship is already a truly unique experience! You’ll see impressive mountains towering over the shimmering bay, creating a summer aesthetic to remember.
I explored Kotor myself on a cruise, and the charm of the town left me speechless. However, there is much to know before planning your shore excursion.
To ensure you make the most of your cruise stop, I have included some of the best things to do in the Montenegrin town, including a hike to the secret fortress!
Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
- One Day in Kotor Bay Itinerary: at a Glance
- About the Kotor Cruise Port
- Guided Shore Excursions From Kotor Cruise Port
- 1. Hike The San Giovanni Fortress
- 2. Speedboat Blue Caves Tour
- 3. Exploring Stari Grad (Old Town)
- Restaurant Recommendations in the Old Town
- Conclusion: One Day in Kotor Bay
- About the Author
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One Day in Kotor Bay Itinerary: at a Glance
If you are just here to quickly snatch up the itinerary without any further explanation, you are in the right spot.
Further down in this post, I’ll discuss the individual stops in detail and even add some insider information!
🚢 Morning: Hike Up to Fortress
🚢 Early Afternoon: Blue Caves Speed Boat Tour
🚢 Late Afternoon: Stari Grad (Old Town)
Since the summer temperatures can reach very high levels, it will be more bearable to climb up to the famous viewpoint earlier in the morning. From there, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the bay and your cruise ship!
The Blue Caves speedboat tour will take you on a cruise around the bay en route to the scenic caves.
Lastly, we’ll explore Stari Grad, including the local markets, cafes, and picturesque squares – and have a delicious and authentic meal in one of my favorite restaurants.
About the Kotor Cruise Port
Kotor, Montenegro, is one of the most breathtaking cruise ports in the Adriatic. It is on the itinerary of many Eastern Mediterranean Cruises.
You can find it in the heart of the Bay of Kotor—often called Europe’s southernmost fjord!
Kotor Old Town is only around 15 minutes by foot from the port, which makes it accessible to all travelers.
Port Overview
- Location: Kotor, Montenegro
- Port Type: Tender & Docking (Larger ships use tenders, smaller ones dock directly)
- Distance to Old Town: About 15 minutes on foot
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Language: Montenegrin (English widely spoken in tourist areas)
Guided Shore Excursions From Kotor Cruise Port
If a self-guided itinerary is not your thing, and you are craving some more comfort, a guided shore excursion might be more interesting for you.
One of my favorite activities in Kotor was to take a speed boat tour to the Blue Caves. There you get to swim in the beautiful turquoise water and even enter a bat cave. Make sure to include a tour of the blue caves into your shore day.
Here are my favorite Kotor shore excursions:
Kotor: Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers
Private Tour Cable car -Kotor- Perast- our Lady of the Rocks
Blue Cave Speedboat Tour from Kotor
Private tour: Homemade food and wine tasting at my family home
1. Hike The San Giovanni Fortress
Overlooking the Stari Grad (Old Town) and the beautiful bay of Kotor is the San Giovanni Fortress. It dates back to the 6th century, making it over 1400 years old.
The fortress was built to protect Kotor from invasions and has been reinforced by many different civilizations throughout history.
It is a very important landmark in Kotor, and although the fortress is now weathered, it is still worth visiting.
The official route from the back of the Old Town consists of 1350 steps up to the fortress. It will take you about an hour to get there. This way costs tourists € 15, which is payable in cash.
Insider tip: For a free and scenic alternative, there is another way that follows the shepherd’s trail up the mountain. The trail starts just outside of the walled Old Town at River Gate (North Gate), following a well-marked dirt path into the mountains. It takes a little longer, but is far less busy and you’ll get to see several viewpoints on your way.
2. Speedboat Blue Caves Tour
Located around 20 minutes south of Kotor, near the Lustica Peninsula are the famous Blue Caves.
Also known locally as the Plava Špilja, the caves are popular with tourists because of the vibrant blue color water, rugged cliffs, and narrow passageways.
On our tour, we got to swim in the bat cave, which was pretty exciting. Swimming into the darkness isn’t for the faint-hearted! All I could see was the bright bat’s eyes glowing in the dark, and they made quite some noise.
If you want to skip that part, you are welcome to tan on the boat with a cold drink. Our captain Zoran took time to explain the history of the area as well!
On our way back to the port of Kotor, we also stopped at a manmade island named ‘Our Lady of the Rocks’. It is home to a beautiful Baroque church, along with a small museum.
Important: don’t forget to bring your swimsuit! If you ask nicely, you’ll even get to steer the boat!
3. Exploring Stari Grad (Old Town)
After an exciting boat tour, it is time to explore another highlight of our day in Kotor, the Old Town.
I loved the narrow cobbled streets, ancient architecture, and busy market squares! It created that Medieval feeling, which makes many of the Balkan destinations so fascinating.
You can walk between both gates at the entrance and exit of the walled Old Town in around 10 minutes. But there are many highlights inside you shouldn’t miss.
Hidden streets lead to themed bars and nice restaurants, along with several churches dotted around the area. Visitors are allowed to enter inside the religious buildings, and I recommend that you do!
In total, there are over five churches in the small vicinity, which is a testament to Kotor’s deep religious history.
Although you cannot walk on the walls all the way around the Old Town as you can in Dubrovnik, you can access different sections!
Fun Fact: Not only will you notice lots of stray cats, but you will also see black cat souvenirs in many of the town’s shops. It said that this dates back centuries to when sailors would have cats onboard to control rodent infestations, but many cats stayed, and they are now much-loved inhabitants of the Old Town.
Restaurant Recommendations in the Old Town
I suggest grabbing a late lunch in the Old Town, so you get a taste of authentic, local food. On my trip to Kotor, I stumbled across two sweet restaurants I can definitely recommend!
Pepe Nero Diverse Bar
Pepe Nero Diverse Bar is an awesome choice right in the heart of the Old Town that serves local and Mediterranean cuisine.
I opted for the seafood, as it is always super fresh in Kotor! I recommend the octopus salad, which is delicious and a generous portion.
There is both interior and exterior seating, with both offering a great ambiance through the day and night.
Pepe Nero’s is open for very long hours every day, so you won’t have any problem squeezing it into your one-day itinerary.
The Square Pub
On our shore day, we really enjoyed the Square Pub due to its location right in the heart of the Old Town on one of the main squares.
It is priced very reasonably, and also offers a wide selection of local wines, and some delicious pasta dishes.
It is a great place to relax and take a break in your busy shore day!
Conclusion: One Day in Kotor Bay
Our Kotor Itinerary for a shore day took us up to a stunning fortress with an insane view of the bay right in the morning. It is also my favorite part of the day!
We also saw some stunning scenery on our boat tour and had a nice swim in the clear blue Adriatic ocean.
Of course, we toured the historic Old Town, before enjoying some authentic seafood in the famous square.
I hope you’ll take my tips and travel itinerary ideas on board with you, as you embark on your cruise adventure.
This way, you get to make the most of your time in the beautiful Montenegrin coastal town. I hope Kotor Bay will be one of the most picturesque cruise destinations thanks to our itinerary.
Keep on reading:
One Day in Santorini Itinerary From Cruise Ship (Without Crowds)
One Day in Athens Itinerary: From Piraeus Cruise Port
Awesome One Day in Bari Itinerary: From Cruise Port
About the Author
Justin is a military pilot and travel blogger.
Justin enjoys discovering the world together with his wife and venturing out with his drone to take magical shots.
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