Blue Cave tour from Kotor: Swim inside the grotto

Swim inside the Blue Cave, the Mediterranean's most striking sea grotto

A three-hour boat tour from Kotor takes you through the Bay to four stops: the island of Our Lady of the Rocks with its centuries-old church, the Blue Cave where you swim inside a natural vault, the Austro-Hungarian fort on Mamula island, and an abandoned submarine tunnel built by the Yugoslav Army. A live English-speaking guide leads the route. Hotel pickup is included. The museum on Our Lady of the Rocks charges a separate fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Our Lady of the Rocks20m
2. Blue Cave15m
3. Bay of Kotor5m

Island visits and cave exploration

• Ride 15 minutes past Boka villages
• Visit Our Lady of the Rocks island
• Explore church and museum
• Ride 45 minutes to Blue Cave
• Swim inside Blue Cave
• Panoramic ride past Mamula island
• Stop at old submarine tunnel
• Return to start point

The experience

The tour starts with a 15-minute ride past villages along the Boka coastline to Our Lady of the Rocks, an islet built up over centuries by local seamen who threw stones into the sea as an offering after safe voyages home. You get 20 minutes to walk the island, visit the church, and decide whether to pay extra for the museum and its treasury collection. The legend dates to 1452, when fishermen found an icon of Madonna and Child on the rocks. The custom of adding stones continues every July 22 in a local ceremony called fašinada.

From there, a 45-minute ride takes you to the Blue Cave on the Lustica Peninsula. The grotto's sea-level opening spans 100 square meters, and the interior rounds into a vaulted ceiling: the operator calls it the most beautiful natural formation of its kind in the Mediterranean. You swim inside the cave itself, not just view it from the boat. After the cave, the tour passes Mamula island, where a fort built in 1853 by Austro-Hungarian general Lazarus von Mamula occupies 90 percent of the islet's surface. It was part of a defensive strategy to guard the Bay of Kotor. The final stop is a Yugoslav submarine tunnel near the village of Rose, built by the Yugoslav Army and disguised with fake rocks to avoid detection from above. The tunnel is a dead end, but you can swim to the far end and back, walk alongside it, or explore the side passages. A flashlight helps in the darker sections.

The boat carries Bluetooth audio, and the guide speaks English throughout. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour suits all fitness levels, and public transport options are available near the meeting point if you're not using the included pickup.

What’s included

• Three-hour guided boat tour with live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup from Kotor.
• visits to Our Lady of the Rocks island with its church, the Blue Cave for swimming, Mamula fort and the Yugoslav submarine tunnel.
• Bluetooth audio on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sea Tours - Speed Boat Montenegro

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to swim inside the Blue Cave and visit Our Lady of the Rocks Island in one morning with a group following the guide's timing at each stop.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

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 long is the boat ride to the Blue Cave from Our Lady of the Rocks?

The ride from Our Lady of the Rocks to the Blue Cave takes 45 minutes, giving you time to see the Boka coastline and approach the grotto from the water.

Can I visit the museum on Our Lady of the Rocks, and does it cost extra?

Yes, the museum on Our Lady of the Rocks is open during the stop, but entry is not included in the tour price. You pay separately if you want to see the church treasury and learn the island's history.

What is the submarine tunnel, and can you swim through it?

The submarine tunnel near Rose was built by the Yugoslav Army and disguised with fake rocks. It is a dead end, so you cannot swim all the way through, but you can swim to the end and back or explore the walking passages alongside it.

Is hotel pickup included, and what time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup from Kotor is included in the tour price. The operator will confirm your pickup time when you book.

What makes the Blue Cave special compared to other sea caves in the region?

The Blue Cave's 100-square-meter sea-level opening and round interior with a vaulted ceiling make it the most striking natural sea grotto in the Mediterranean. You swim inside the cave rather than viewing it from a distance.