Kotor makes a good base for a day behind the wheel. The bay road, the mountain road and the coast road all start here, and the drives below fit comfortably into daylight. Distances are short, but the roads are slow in places, so plan around the driving rather than the map. Carry your licence and rental papers, some cash for ferries and parking, and check border rules before you set off.
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Five drives from Kotor
Budva
Budva is 30 km from Kotor along the coast, an easy half-day out. You can add a stop at Perast or Risan on the way back. In summer, start early to find parking and to avoid the worst of the coastal traffic.
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is 30 km and 40 minutes from Kotor, near the mouth of the bay. Come back on the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry, which crosses the narrowest point in about five minutes and saves the 45-minute drive around the inner shore via Tivat. A standard car pays €5.00 per crossing; foot passengers and bicycles travel free.
Lovćen National Park
Lovćen National Park is 30 km and about an hour from Kotor. The serpentine road up has 25 hairpin bends, so allow time, keep to your side and use a low gear. The climb is the point of the trip as much as the park at the top, so do not rush it.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is 2 hours from Kotor on the coastal E65, with one border crossing. That makes a long but rewarding day out. The crossing is at Debeli Brijeg, the main coastal crossing into Croatia; in July and August queues can last one to two hours, so cross before 08:00 or after 20:00. Check when you book that your rental agreement allows the car to leave Montenegro, and ask about the Green Card, which typically costs around 15 euros for a 15-day period.
Mostar
Mostar is 3–4 hours from Kotor via Trebinje, so treat it as a long day and leave early. Check that your rental agreement covers the countries on your route and that you have the paperwork you need for each border.
A suggested one-day loop
Start early and take the serpentine up to Lovćen first, while the road is quiet: 30 km and about an hour from Kotor, with 25 hairpin bends to count. Spend the morning in the national park, then come back down to the bay and drive to Budva, 30 km from Kotor, for a late lunch and a swim. Return along the coast in the evening and stop at Perast or Risan if you still have energy.
The distances are short but the mountain road is slow, so resist adding a third big stop. If you would rather stay on the water, swap Budva for the ferry: drive to Herceg Novi (30 km, 40 minutes), then cross back on the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry for €5.00 and follow the shore home.
Practical tips
- No cars are allowed inside the old city walls. Parking in Škaljari costs €2–3 an hour and fills by 09:00 in July and August; free parking on the Dobrota road is 800 m from the city gates.
- In the 2026 summer timetable (4 May to 14 October), the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry runs every 15 to 20 minutes in both directions, 24 hours a day. A car pays €5.00, a motorcycle €2.50, and foot passengers and bicycles go free.
- At Debeli Brijeg in July and August, queues can last one to two hours; cross before 08:00 or after 20:00 if you can.
- Not every rental agreement allows cross-border travel. Ask before you book, and budget for a Green Card, typically around 15 euros for 15 days.
- Fill up and check your tyres before the mountain road, and keep some cash for the ferry and for parking machines.
More for your Kotor trip
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