Kotor Bay (Boka Bay) in Montenegro often appears on lists of the world’s most beautiful places to visit. And for that reason, it can become incredibly busy during the travel season. Combined with steep streets, uneven pathways and crowded old towns, enjoying Kotor and its bay isn’t always easy – especially if you prefer to travel at a slower pace or have mobility challenges. In this blog, we share some of the quieter places and gentler ways we experienced Kotor Bay – with calm and ease.

Introduction to Montenegro and Kotor Bay

Montenegro is one of the smallest of the Balkan countries and in its compactness comes a blaze of natural glory. Montenegro who gained its independence in 2006, has roots going further back than we might imagine and a fusion of cultures. And its tempestuous past provides colour and texture to this Balkan beauty. Lonely Planet describes it as;

A minature marvel

Montenegro is best known for its dramatic coastline and majestic mountains that loom high above the azure waters. For nature lovers, water lovers and history buffs, Montenegro has it all, in big doses.

So it’s not surprising that Kotor Bay should be a hot-spot for those seeking an experience that satisfies so many travel desires. It is said that half a million overnight visitors come each year, and thousands more on day-trips from daily cruise ships that line up in the harbour. The Bay of Kotor has become a traveller’s magnet and it is easy to see why.

Kotor Old Town itself is the babe of the area. Nestled in the shadow of the Lovćen National Park, UNESCO Kotor revels in its medieval past, Venetian palaces and towering churches. Interestingly Lonely Planet sell the dream of the visit but make no mention of doing so with mobility issues. The cobbled streets, the unforgiving 260m climb along the historic city walls and the heat of the day, all combine to make this a challenge if you are immobile and battling the crowds. So we had to look at this area differently.

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We came to Montenegro in our motorhome in May 2026, crossing over from Croatia and entering into Schengen-free territory. That means that we are no longer looking over our shoulder at how many days we have left on our 90 day calendar. And the chill factor is a very real feeling here in Montenegro. They call it Samo Polako – just slowly – loosely translated.

Despite arriving in poor weather, it quickly became apparent that we were going to love this landscape But it also revealed how navigating its roads might be a challenge. Add to that my recently broken ankle that made walking any distances difficult, and we knew we had to think differently about Kotor Bay.

Navigating Kotor Bay with Ease

We’ve come to learn after 10 years of van-life travel, that there are environments we love and those that cause us stress and fatigue. So we have adapted our travel experiences to give us the most rewarding moments. Here is what we did to give us a flavour of Kotor without sacrificing either my health or our sanity.

1. Driving The Panoramic Bay of Kotor – or Pay the Ferryman?

The first thing we noticed as we entered from Croatia is that we are instantly on a scenic drive. Montenegro has four scenic routes. The road that hugs the the Bay of Kotor is beyond beautiful and with the mountains seeming to fall directly into the sea, the road is all the more incredible.

It’s 28 miles (45km) which may not sound like much and doable in an hour. But build in the tourist factor and the photo opportunities, it needs at least 2 hours to navigate. We were staying in Tivat on the southern edge of the bay, and given the weather, we decided to cut short the tour of the Bay route in favour of the ferry that runs from Lepatane to Kemanari. There are plenty of boats that run 24/7 and are completely suitable for all vehicle types. For our 7.5m van we paid €7.50 and for a car it cost €5. The journey only takes 15 minutes and cuts off a massive leg of the journey.

A really important point to note – and this needs capital letters, in bold, underlined and preferably shouted at full strength.

Do not turn left from the ferry.

This road may be one of the most charming roads in Europe, however it is not suitable for large vehicles. Whilst it could be argued that the bus takes this route, there few passing places and it is a busy short cut for locals. We’ve heard reports of motorhomes who have taken this route without knowing its challenges and had damage to their van and their sanity.

So our advice for driving the Kotor Bay Panoramic road? Do it – it’s beautiful. But choose your timing carefully and take your time.

2. Use Tivat as your base

On the southern edge of the Bay you have Tivat. It is a hot-spot for three reasons. Firstly it houses the airport that services Kotor. Secondly it offers the elegant Porto Montenegro. Finally it’s slightly removed from the chaos of Kotor and the cruise ships that dot the bay every day from May through to October.

Whilst Tivat might be a 10-30 minute drive from the UNESCO old town – depending on traffic, it brings with it convenience, transport via bus or taxi (although they are quite expensive), and its very own cultural vibe. We stayed at Boka Camping right next door to the airport. With a local supermarket, a bus network and a short cycle to the port, it;s a perfect solution for just €10 per night with services. There’s a couple of EHU points available so better to check ahead if you need hook up.

And the best bit? You can easily reach the Cable Car from the site and there is plenty of parking for motorhomes, if this is the way you travel.

Porto Montenegro has plenty of parking too, if you head here (42.436242, 18.693430) and is well worth a mouch. Since 2000, Tivat has had a significant refit, which in part is thanks to the building of the high-class Porto Montenegro. The wealth from the port has brought visitors looking for births, classy hotels and top-end shopping – and the town has responded. This is a place to hang out for some blinging vibe with its fabulous eateries (our favourite is Al Posto Giusto), Gelato shops, cafés and plenty of places to spend your hard earned cash.

For a more historic view of the area, check out the Naval Heritage Museum and the submarines, which for €5 per person you can look around on a guided tour.

My sense of it is that Kotor and Perast are the main draws of this area. Tivat is perhaps seen as the poor relation and simply the entry exit point with the airport. But don’t be fooled. It’s charming and stands strong in its own identity.

3. A Bird’s Eye View with the Cable Car

If like us the crowds of a city – however beautiful it might be – is just too much to bear, then perhaps the cable car offers an alternative. We did consider visiting the Old Town early doors, before the cruise-goers descended, but at 0830 the crowds had already started flooding this popular UNESCO spot. Given my limited mobility, we decided to think outside of the box and whilst an intimate view of Kotor was out of the question, the cable car did offer me something. A bird’s eye view of the whole Bay.

Having done our research, there was a serpentine road we could have taken with the van, that with a dose of whit and courage could haven taken us into the bowels of the Lovćen National Park. However, having read some of the reviews this looked like a difficult road to navigate with our size vehicle. It’s worth adding, that we have driven Stelvio Pass in Italy, but having seen this route on Google Maps, this was a different prospect altogether.

So a less stressful option, for me at least, was to head up on the cable car, which was a mere 5 minute drive from our spot at Boka Camping. With ample parking, which cost just over a Euro per hour, I managed to navigate the steps to the Ticket Desk.

It’s not a mobility friendly attraction. Whilst there’s a lift to reach the gondola, there are steps to the office and steps to the panoramic view. So they have some work to do to make this a more inclusive destination.

For €20 return fare, which you can pay for online you get a thrilling experience, climbing steadily to 1348m into the National Park. The views are breathtaking and I found myself in silence – no words were needed. As we climbed, the full vista revealed itself and the view expanded, entrancing me.

Within 11 minutes we were at the top where I found a restaurant, shop and an Alpine Coaster ride that will have you whizzing around a short section of the mountain. And of course the reason I went – the view point. Where it seems that heaven and the sea fuse together seamlessly offering a picture postcard vision that is impossible to capture on the ground.

Once at the top, it is possible to spend the whole day enjoying all that nature has to offer. Whether walking or cycling, the mountains are there to be explored.

4. See the Bay by Boat

If, like us the prospect of sharing your space with hundreds of travel seekers feels too intense, then perhaps choosing the water route is a compromise. We tried in vain to enjoy the Bay road route, but with parking spaces at a premium, especially for larger vehicles, a quick return home was soon secured.

So in an attempt not to let disappointment rule our mood, I investigated getting a last minute boat trip from Kotor harbour. We managed to get a three hour trip that took us to the Lady of the Rock Chapel and the UNESCO fishing village Perast for just €25 per person. Now these sorts of trips are always at the merci of the weather gods, however despite a day with fierce Bura winds, they continued their sailing schedule.

An early rise had us parked (we were in the hire car at this point) and with a very short walk and just 30 minutes we were bouncing on the high seas. We always love seeing places from the water; Polignano in south eastern Italy one case in point and the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland another. They just offer a completely different perspective that land views just don’t offer.

With the wind in my hair, the spray soaking my skin, there is nothing more to make me feel alive than a boat trip. Our first stop was the Lady of the Rock.

Legend has it that in the 15th century three fishing brothers from Perast were blessed by the mysterious appearance of an icon of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child, sitting upon a rock One of the brothers remained at home, becuase he was too ill to fish and so the two brothers took the icon home. Their brother was instantly healed. But mysteriously, the next day the icon had disappeared.

The fishermen found it in exactly the same spot from the previous day. Taking this as a divine sign, the townspeople vowed to build a church on the site. However there wasn’t enough foundation so after every successful fishing trip they would throw a rock into the sea and sink their old boats laden with rocks to create a base for the church. To this day, on 22 July, Perast holds a sunset procession where locals pass the island and throw rocks into the sea, to honour the legendary tale and to preserve the islet’s foundation.

After twenty minutes at the chapel, we were dropped off in Perast giving us 90 minutes to explore whilst the boat continued on to the Blue Cave.

This UNESCO fishing village is a sight for sore eyes.Teetering on the edge of the bay with the mountains looming large behind, this is a peaceful community where whispers from bygone days of Baroque and Venetian culture shaped their fortunes. There are 17 grand palaces, cobbled car-less streets and a 3km promenade that. hugs the water’s edge. With stamina you can climb the many steps and explore the inner heart beat of the town. Or simply sit beside the lapping waves eating ice cream or a breakfast fit for a king.

Experiencing Perast this way was joyful. No crowds. No parking stress. No coaches to battle with. After the disappointment that hung heavily from the previous day, this reset the balance nicely.

5. Visit Kotor Early Doors

I’m sure, if you are like me, visiting these hot-spots, however touristy they might be, will still be in your sights. For us on this trip, it was impractical. And of course one of the highlights of Kotor is seeing the old city walls which means a steep climb. So for those reasons, we have decided to leave it for another day. Kotor is not going anywhere.

But, if you are determined to make the trip, I would suggest a couple of things;

• Take the bus or taxi in to the town, if you’re travelling with your motorhome. That reduces the stress of finding somewhere to park a long vehicle.
• Rent a car to get around more easily. We paid €67 for four days.
• Arrive in Kotor early – by 9am if you can, so that you can beat some of the crowds.
• Check out the cruise situation before you leave, so you know what sort of numbers to expect. We use this website and it’s really helpful.
• Or take the Hop on Hop off bus. For €25 you can take the bus to Orahovac, Perast and then back to Kotor Old Town. If you only have a short space of time, then this is a good way to touch lightly on these iconic bay destinations. With the price of your ticket you get an audio guide for a walking tour of Kotor, which might be your thing.
  
  

Closing Thoughts of the Bay of Kotor

There’s no doubting that Kotor and its Bay are beautiful and worthy of our exploration. But as with many destinations around the world, timing is everything. Planning is everything. And thinking outside of the box is everything.

Travel can be tiring and when we can alleviate stress – then true joy of a travel lifestyle can be fully felt.

Whether you are visiting by plane or in your own leisure vehicle, making a plan to witness the beauty of the Bay with the pleasure that discovery brings, requires just a little thinking ahead. And I hope that this blog might go some way to bringing a plan to life.