Travel Budget for Kotor Visit Kotor on a Budget or Travel in Style

The most affordable highest rated hotels in Kotor include:

• Hotel Casa del Mare - Amfora starting at $151
• Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro starting at $156
• Hotel Vardar starting at $137
• Hotel Palazzo Radomiri starting at $209
• Boutique Hotel Hippocampus starting at $133

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Kotor

If you travel during the low or shoulder season (and avoid summer), you'll find lower accommodation prices and less tourist crowds.

Since Kotor is a smaller coastal town, the hotel selection can be limited, so be prepared to be flexible.

Exploring Kotor on foot is popular among many, so consider staying in a central area. Just keep in mind that this might lead to higher prices.

The coastal town's historic old town is a big draw for visitors. While accommodation in this area may be expensive, they usually have a lot of character and are conveniently located for access to everything.

The nearest international airport is Tivat Airport, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the center of Kotor. It offers many flights within Europe, especially during the summer season. Podgorica Airport is another popular option for flying and serves as a hub for Montenegro Airlines. While these two are Montenegro's main international airports, it is sometimes easier for visitors to arrive via Dubrovnik Airport (in neighboring Croatia), since it operates a greater range of flights and airlines. During tourist season it is also popular for visitors to arrive in port via cruise ship.

Transportation Tips

Make sure your hotel provides easy parking options if you're driving.

Some of the standard transportation options and hotel transfers include:

• Private Transfer from Tivat airport to Kotor for $69 details
• Private Transfer from Kotor to Tivat airport for $69 details
• Enjoy Private Transfers by Car or Van from Tivat Airport to Kotor or Budva for $46 details

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Kotor is around $80 (€74) per person, with previous travelers spending from $33 to $185. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Kotor are as follows:

• Breakfast: $8 to $24
• Lunch: $12 to $32
• Dinner: $24 to $56
• Coffee: $6
• Fast Food or Street Food: $12

Because of its proximity to the sea, Montenegro has plenty of fresh fish and seafood dishes. These dishes are typically garnished with polenta, blitva (a kind of spinach), or broiled potatoes. Drying fish is also traditionally practiced along the coast. Another specialty of Montenegrin cuisine is a variety of soups: "supa" for clear soup, "corba" for a thick soup or stew, and "kasa" for a porridge-style dish. For dessert, there is an assortment of local sweets, including palacinke (a large pancake filled with jam, chocolate or cream), baklava with raisins and walnuts, krofne (doughnut filled with jam or chocolate), and a cream layered cake called krempita. Most sweets are served with coffee. Kotor has a wide variety of places to eat from seafood and national cuisine like the dishes mentioned above to western food like pizza or barbeque. Old town will have the most options for dining.

Food & Dining Tips

Lots of hotels throw breakfast into the room rate, but some will charge for it. The quality and price can differ by hotel. Understanding this in advance can help you figure out if you'll need to spend extra money. It may be worth splurging on the hotel buffet, or you could find a less expensive option at a nearby bakery or cafe.

You can save money while soaking in the scenery by enjoying a picnic. Visit a local grocery store or market, pick out some fresh food, and find a charming park or scenic spot for your meal.

Instead of buying drinks, bring a water bottle. It's also an environmentally friendly option.

Before booking a tour, make a point of knowing which meals are part of the package. You may be responsible for some of your food costs, which can increase your overall budget.

If you're looking to experience the culinary culture in Kotor, taking a food tour or cooking class is a terrific way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. Some of the best food-related activities here include:

• Kotor private cooking class with lunch and Old town guided tour for $239 details
• 3 Hour Kotor Food Tour - Rick Steves' Recommended for $161 details
• Kotor and Perast Private Tour with Cooking Class and Boat Ride for $277 details

Kotor lies nestled on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. Though it resembles a fjord, the Bay is actually a submerged river canyon, surrounded by the beautiful mountain scenery of Mt Lovcen. Together the town of Kotor, the Bay of Kotor, and the surrounding territory of mountains and fjords make up a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The central part of Kotor sits on a triangle of land that juts out into the Bay. It is fortified by medieval town walls and spotted with landmarks like St Tryphon’s Cathedral, which was first built in the 11th century in the Romanesque-Gothic style. Another landmark is St Nicolas Church, the biggest Orthodox Church in the Old Town. Others include the Tower watch (8th century), the Cathedral of Sveti Tripun (13th century), the Church of Sveti Luka (13th century), the Prince's palace (17th century), the Church of Sveta Marija (12th century), the Church of Our Lady of Health (Gospe od Zdravlja) (15th century), and Napoleon's Theater (19th century).

As far as local cultural history goes, the Maritime Museum offers just about anything to do with Kotor seafaring. It is housed in the baroque palace Grgurin, and features the successes of famous Kotor seaman, artists, ship builders, crafts man, states man, and diplomats. Visitors will also find portraits of famous captains, models of old galleys and sail boats, navigational instruments, photographs, uniforms, weapons, paintings, and model ships.

Kotor is a cruise ship destination, and as such, expect crowds on the days that the ships are in port. Generally, there's plenty of room for everyone, though, so it's not something to worry about. If you're planning to visit, check out this guide to spending one day in Kotor if you're on a cruise ship. It has plenty of great ideas for an excursion whether you're on a ship or not.

Also keep an eye out for islands on the Bay. The Island Gospa od Skrpjela or "Our Lady of the Rock" and the Island Sveti Djordje (St George) or "The island of the dead captains" are both associated with local legends.

Kotor is small enough to navigate on foot, but there are plenty of winding twists and turns to discover. Exploring the town is just one of the many things to do in Kotor. Visitors can also climb up the Upper Town Walls more than 1,300 steps for spectacular views of the town and the Bay. There are also adventures to be had on the outskirts of Kotor, like paragliding off the surrounding cliffs or river rafting on Tara River a few hours inland.

Hiking is another common activity in the hills surrounding Kotor. Just outside the north gate of Old Town, visitors can follow a path for a scenic hike over the town and bay, eventually leading through dense woods to a waterfall. And finally, there are many old Austro-Hungarian fortresses abandoned in the hills near Kotor, such as Fort Vrmac just across the bay. Many of these ruins can be hiked to as well.

Sightseeing Tips

Historical Sights:
Visitors love to explore the historic old town area. The city walls and compact historic area make the old town a unique place to explore.

Hiking:
Outdoor lovers will appreciate the hiking near Kotor. The dramatic cliffs and sea views create some of the most beautiful coastal hikes that you'll find. Trails range from walking paths to more strenuous routes like the Ladder of Kotor Hike, which has many switchbacks and stunning views.

A nice way to explore destinations in Kotor is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

• Private Speed Boat Tour to Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks - 3h for $299 details
• Shared Lake Skadar Tour and Biogradska Gora for $80 details
• Canyoning Skurda River - Extreme adventure in Kotor City for $161 details

Nightlife Tips

While nightlife can be a blast, skipping a few rounds can significantly lower your travel expenses.

Nightlife activities and tasting tours are popular in Kotor. A few favorites from other travelers include:

• Private tour: Homemade food and wine tasting at my family home for $184 details
• Private National Park Lovcen with food and wine tasting for $196 details
• Montenegro wine tasting (Private tour) for $281 details