Dubrovnik to Kotor & Perast: Bay Boat Ride & UNESCO Old Town

A day across the border: Kotor Bay, island churches, and medieval walls from Dubrovnik

You leave Dubrovnik in a small group, cross into Montenegro, take a boat out to an island church in Kotor Bay, then spend three hours exploring the walled old town of Kotor with a local guide and free time for lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the whole day runs about six hours: long enough to feel like a real trip, short enough to fit between other plans.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Our Lady of the Rocks45m · entry included
2. Bay of Kotorpassing by

Montenegro tour with Kotor and Perast

• Travel from Dubrovnik to Perast
• Free time to explore Perast town
• Boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks island
• Visit Church of Our Lady of the Rocks
• Travel to Kotor Bay area
• Guided 1-hour tour of Kotor old town
• Free time in Kotor for lunch or walk
• Return to Dubrovnik and drop off

The experience

"So we're actually leaving Croatia today?" That's what you'll be asking your guide as the minibus pulls out of Dubrovnik heading south toward Montenegro. The Kotor Bay day trip takes you across the border in a small group, max 18 people, which means you skip the long queues at the main crossing and use smaller vehicle routes instead. The drive itself is part of it: about an hour down the coast, and the guide starts filling in the history of the region as you go. You're heading to three places that don't feel like they belong on the same day, but they do.

Perast comes first, a postcard-sized coastal town where you get free time to wander or grab coffee before the boat ride out to Our Lady of the Rocks. The island itself is small (you reach it in minutes by water), but the story behind it is the kind of thing that sticks with you. Local seamen made an oath to an icon of Madonna and Child that washed up on a rock in the bay, and every time they returned safely from a voyage, they'd throw another rock into the sea. Over centuries, those rocks became an island, and now there's a church on it with over 70 works of art inside, including a ten-meter painting called The Death of the Virgin. The boat ride costs 10 euros per person on top of the tour price, and it's worth it. The water is that particular shade of blue that makes you understand why people settled here in the first place.

After you're back on land, the minibus takes you into Kotor old town, where you'll spend the next three hours. A local guide meets you there and walks you through the UNESCO-protected streets for about an hour, pointing out the medieval architecture and the walls that climb up the mountainside behind the town. Then you've got roughly two hours free: enough time to actually eat lunch at one of the restaurants the guide recommends, or climb those walls if you're the type, or just sit in a square and let the place settle into your head. The old town is genuinely compact and walkable, nothing feels rushed, and the guide's job is to give you the context so the stones mean something when you're standing in front of them.

The return to Dubrovnik takes another hour or so, and you're dropped back at your hotel or pickup location in the Dubrovnik-Mlini-Cavtat area. The whole day is about six hours door to door, which sounds long until you realize you've crossed a border, seen two countries, been on a boat, and walked through one of the Adriatic's most intact medieval towns without once having to figure out logistics yourself. The coach is air-conditioned, luggage storage is on board, and the guide speaks English the whole way.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in the Dubrovnik-Mlini-Cavtat area, round-trip transport in a modern air-conditioned coach with luggage storage, an English-speaking tour guide for the journey, a one-hour guided walk through Kotor's UNESCO old town with a local licensed guide, and approximately two hours of free time in Kotor for lunch and independent exploration. The boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks island costs 10 euros per person and is arranged on arrival in Perast.

Options for this experience

2 options

Day tour from Dubrovnik to Montenegro, taking in Kotor, Perast and a boat rideGuide in English · 06:30Coach option: a modern air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver, pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking tour guide and a local guide in Kotor; pickup is included

Small group of up to 18 peopleGuide in English · 06:30Minibus option: a modern air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver, pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking tour guide and a local guide in Kotor; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Friday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 06:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by ROCK TOURS Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Dubrovnik with a full day free who want to see Montenegro without arranging their own transport or border crossing. The small group size and smaller vehicle routes mean you skip the main crossing queues, which saves time and stress on a day trip.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much does the boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks cost?

The boat ride is 10 euros per person, paid separately on the day. It's a short trip from Perast to the island.

How long do we spend in Kotor?

Three hours total: about one hour with a local guide walking the old town, then two hours free for lunch, exploring on your own, or climbing the walls.

What's included in the tour price?

Round-trip transport from Dubrovnik, the local guide in Kotor, air-conditioned coach, luggage storage, and hotel pickup and drop-off. The boat ride to the island is extra.

How long is the drive from Dubrovnik?

About one hour each way. Total time out is roughly six hours, including stops and free time.

What's the group size?

Maximum 18 people. The small group size lets you use smaller border crossings and avoid long queues.

Do we need a passport?

Yes. You're crossing into Montenegro, so bring your passport. EU citizens don't need a visa, but check your nationality's requirements.

Can we skip the boat ride to the island?

Yes. You have free time in Perast and can explore the town instead if you prefer not to take the boat.