Kotor: Lady of the Rocks, Blue Cave & Submarine Base Boat Tour

Swimming in a sea cave lit from below, then walking through Cold War tunnels

You board a boat in Kotor bay and visit four stops: a church on an artificial island, a WWII fortress, a Cold War submarine base with tunnels, and a sea cave famous for its blue light. Snorkelling gear and bottled water are included. The tour moves at a sightseeing pace, with your skipper explaining the history of each place, and ends with a swim in the cave before returning to Kotor.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Kotor bay's main landmarks — a church, a fortress, a Cold War relic, and a famous sea cave — without arranging a private boat or figuring out which stops matter most. The fixed route and skipper's commentary handle the planning, leaving you free to swim and explore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Boat tour of Kotor Bay highlights

• Depart from Kotor
• Visit Our Lady of the Rocks island
• Tour church and museum on island
• Learn island and Perast history
• Pass by Fortress Mamula island
• Enter old submarine base
• Swim in Blue Cave

The Experience

You're standing on the Kotor waterfront with a few hours to fill, and the water is calling. The boat tour leaves from here and moves slowly through the bay, and something about that pace — the way the limestone cliffs rise straight up from the water, the sound of the engine cutting through quiet — makes you want to see what's around the next corner. The first stop is Our Lady of the Rocks, a small artificial island with a church and museum. Your skipper explains the history of Perast and the island itself while you walk around, and there's a gift shop if you want to take something back. It's not rushed.

After that, the boat passes Mamula, a fortress that sits on its own island. It was a prison and concentration camp during both world wars, and your skipper points out what remains — the stone walls, the shape of it against the sky. You don't get out, but you see it clearly enough to understand why it matters. Then comes the submarine base, which is stranger than you'd expect. The Yugoslav army built three submarine bases near the village of Rose, all of them tunneled into the rock. You walk inside, and the tunnels are dead ends — they were never finished, or they were abandoned. Either way, there's something eerie about standing in a Cold War relic that never got used the way it was meant to.

The last stop is the Blue Cave on Lustica Peninsula, and this is where you swim. The cave gets its name from the light — bright blue water filtering in through an opening below sea level — and you can only reach it by boat or kayak. Snorkelling gear is included, and the water is clear enough that you'll see why people come back to this spot. You get time in the water, time to float and look around, and then the boat heads back to Kotor. The whole tour is a half-day, which means you're back in town with the rest of your afternoon still open.

Top questions

How long is the boat tour?

It's a half-day tour. The exact duration isn't specified in the itinerary, but it covers four stops with time to explore each one.

Do I need to bring my own snorkelling gear?

No. Snorkelling equipment is included in the tour.

Can I visit the submarine base?

Yes. You enter the tunnels that were built by the Yugoslav army. They are dead ends — the bases were never completed.

Is swimming in the Blue Cave mandatory?

The tour includes a stop at the Blue Cave with time for swimming, but it's not clear from the itinerary whether swimming is required or optional.

What's included in the tour?

Bottled water and snorkelling equipment. Entry to the church and museum on Our Lady of the Rocks is included; the submarine base visit is included. Souvenirs on the island are extra.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. It involves boarding a boat, walking on an island, entering tunnels, and swimming.

Where does the boat depart from?

The tour starts from Kotor, on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What’s included

Your tour includes bottled water throughout the day and use of snorkelling equipment at the Blue Cave. You'll visit the church and museum on Our Lady of the Rocks island, where you can also browse souvenirs (sold separately). The submarine base entrance and tunnel walk are included, as is the boat ride past Mamula fortress and time to swim and snorkel in the Blue Cave.