Last updated: August 2026
Kotor is an extraordinary base for exploring the Bay of Kotor. Here are the best half-day and full-day boat excursions — with prices, durations and everything you need to plan your trip.
Montenegro's Boka Bay is one of the most scenically dense stretches of coastline in Europe. The bay contains a glowing sea cave, a 19th-century island fortress, a floating baroque chapel, and a Venetian town that looks unchanged since the 1700s — all within 60 minutes of Kotor by speedboat.
Whether you have a few hours or a full day, there is a boat excursion from Kotor that covers exactly what you need. Here is a complete breakdown.
Approximately 3 hours including travel time.
Per boat, up to 6 guests. Includes equipment.
Morning light creates the most vivid blue glow.
The Blue Cave (Plava Špilja) is located near Herceg Novi, approximately 45–60 minutes from Kotor's Park Slobode. The cave produces a remarkable natural phenomenon: sunlight enters through an underwater passage and illuminates the water with an intense turquoise-blue glow.
The standard Blue Cave trip also includes a stop at Our Lady of the Rocks — the baroque island chapel near Perast — making it one of the most complete half-day tours available from Kotor.
What's included: Life jackets, cooler, snorkel mask on request. Captain and fuel. Swimming stop at the cave and at Our Lady of the Rocks.
Half-day. Combinable with Blue Cave for full day.
35–45 minutes from Kotor by speedboat.
Mamula Island is a small circular island dominated by a stone fortress built by the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1853. The fortress served as a military prison during World War II and was used again more recently. Today it sits quietly in the bay, accessible only by boat, with some of the clearest water in Montenegro surrounding it.
The island makes a perfect half-day day trip from Kotor — particularly for those who want swimming and history over the Blue Cave's light show.
Including time in Perast and at the island.
25–30 minutes from Kotor by speedboat.
Perast is arguably the most beautiful stop in the entire bay. The town has no cars, no new construction, and barely seems to notice that centuries have passed. Arrive by boat and tie up at the old stone quay. Walk the promenade, visit St Nicholas church, and take the small boat out to Our Lady of the Rocks — the baroque chapel on its man-made island.
Full day on the water.
Per boat. Covers all destinations.
Blue Cave · Mamula · Our Lady · Perast
The full-day Boka Bay trip is the definitive Kotor boat experience. It combines every major destination — the Blue Cave, Mamula Island, Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast — into a single day on the water. Your captain will navigate the bay's most beautiful routes, stop for swimming, and give you the stories and context that make each place come alive.
This is the tour we recommend for anyone who has just one full day in Montenegro. If you only do one thing in Kotor, make it this.
For solo travellers and smaller budgets, group tours start from €25 per person. You join other guests on a shared speedboat and visit the same destinations — without the private pricing. Group tours depart on fixed schedules and have set routes.
Group tours are a great option for solo travellers who want to meet others, or for couples who don't need a private boat. Check available group departures on the Tours page.
3h · From €300/boat · Private · Best morning
3h · From €300/boat · Private · Great swimming
3h · From €300/boat · Most scenic
5–6h · From €600/boat · Recommended
| Trip | Duration | Departures | Private (1–6 guests) | Group (per adult) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady & Perast Classic | 1.5 h | 12:00 · 15:00 | €150 per boat | €25 |
| Blue Cave & Our Lady | 3 h | 09:00 · 12:00 | €300 per boat | €40 |
| Kotor Bay Swimming | 3 h | 09:00 · 12:00 · 15:00 | €300 per boat | Private only |
| Blue Cave & Perast | 4 h | 08:00 · 15:00 | €400 per boat | Private only |
| Hidden Gems of Kotor Bay | 6 h | 09:00 · 12:00 | €600 per boat | Private only |
| Tour Dionysus (all inclusive) | 8 h | 09:00 · 12:00 | €1,100 per boat | Private only |
Private prices are per boat for 1–6 guests; 7–8 and 9–10 guest tiers are shown on the Tours page. Group tours are priced per person, children 3–10 at half price. Our Lady of the Rocks island entry (€5 adults, €2.50 ages 7–14) is not included in group tour prices. All trips depart from Park Slobode pier, Kotor Old Town. Season: April–October.
Private and group speedboat tours departing daily from Park Slobode, Kotor Old Town.
View All Tours & PricesThe 09:00 departure is the best choice for the Blue Cave. The cave faces west, and morning light refracts into the water at a low angle — the blue luminescence is most intense in the first half of the day. By early afternoon the effect is still beautiful, but slightly less dramatic. For Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, the 15:00 or 18:00 departure is ideal: the Venetian facades catch warm afternoon light and the tourist crowds from the morning cruise ships have thinned considerably.
Distance is one of Boka Bay's most appealing features — everything is surprisingly close. Our Lady of the Rocks is just 8 km from Kotor port (about 15 minutes by speedboat). The Blue Cave, near the entrance to the outer Adriatic, is roughly 22 km away (25–30 minutes). Mamula Island fortress sits just beyond the cave, 5 minutes further. Perast is 12 km along the inner bay — reachable in 20 minutes. Because everything is sheltered inside the bay, the water is almost always calm.
The Blue Cave (Plava Špilja) is the famous one — a sea cave whose floor reflects turquoise Adriatic light through an underwater entrance, giving the water an extraordinary luminous colour. The cave is more than 6 metres deep, the temperature in summer reaches 24–26°C, and visibility can exceed 15 metres. The Open Cave, visited only on the 6-hour Hidden Gems tour, is larger, has a collapsed roof open to the sky, and offers more dramatic cliff diving. Both are worth seeing if you have the time.
Mamula is a small circular island at the mouth of Boka Bay, dominated by an Austro-Hungarian fortress built in 1853. During World War II it was used as a concentration camp; today it has been partially converted into a luxury hotel, though the outer walls and fortifications remain open to visit by boat. Most day trips include a 15-minute photo stop — enough to appreciate the scale of the structure and swim in the clear water around its base. The 3-hour Blue Cave tour passes Mamula as a photo stop. Only the 6-hour Hidden Gems tour includes a swimming stop at the fortress lagoon.
Yes — the church interior is open to visitors arriving by boat. The entry fee is €5 for adults and €2.50 for ages 7–14 (free under 7), paid directly at the entrance (not included in tour prices). Inside you'll find 68 votive paintings donated by sailors over four centuries, a collection of embroidered textiles allegedly woven by a local noblewoman over 25 years using her own hair, and the original 15th-century icon of Our Lady. The island also has a small terrace with arguably the best view of Perast across the water. Allow 20–30 minutes to see everything properly.
Swimsuit and towel are essential — all tours include swimming stops. Sun protection (SPF 50+ sunscreen and a hat) is strongly recommended; the reflection off the water intensifies UV exposure. Water shoes are useful inside the Blue Cave, where the entry is through a rocky channel. A simple snorkel mask is available on request (no fins), so bring your own mask or fins if you prefer them. Cash in euros is required for payment — no card machines on board. Museum entrance fees (Our Lady of the Rocks €5 adults / €2.50 ages 7–14, Perast church tower €2) are not included.
Yes — and it's the best way to see Boka Bay. The 3-hour Blue Cave & Our Lady tour combines four stops: Our Lady of the Rocks, the Submarine Tunnels, Mamula Island, and the Blue Cave. The 6-hour Hidden Gems tour adds Perast, the Open Cave, Arza fortress lagoon, and an oyster farm lunch. For independent travellers who want to visit Perast separately on foot, it is also reachable by bus from Kotor (Line 15, about 45 minutes), though the view from the water is substantially more impressive than from the road.