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This budget guide to Kotor will help you plan your trip to this coastal town on the Adriatic Sea. Once a bit of hidden gem, Kotor is growing in popularity for good reason. The fjord-like Kotor Bay is gorgeous, while the Old Town is perfect for wandering and exploring. Read on for free things to do in Kotor and hostel recommendations.

Quick Kotor, Montenegro History and Facts

Kotor (also known as Cattaro) was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. It has a strategic location along trade routes which contributed to its relative prosperity. It grew to prominence in the 12th century.

The well-preserved medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features narrow streets, churches, and fortifications.

Throughout several centuries, it saw rule under various empires—Byzantine, Ottoman, Venetian—shaping its architecture and culture. Venetian rule ended in 1797.

During World War I, it was a naval base for the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

Kotor has a relatively small population of about 13,000 people today. The country overall has a population of about 600,000 people.

Montenegro declared independence in 2006, making it one of the youngest internationally recognized countries in the world.

Is Kotor expensive?

Compared to most of Europe, Kotor is not expensive. Montenegro overall is a very affordable country for backpackers and budget travelers. However, within Montenegro, Kotor is a tourist hot spot so prices within Old Town are higher than other places in the country.

As of 2023, most hostel dorm beds start at $20 a night. You can eat three meals a day for less than $10 if you utilize a hostel kitchen and grocery store. Kotor is walkable so you won’t need to spend on local transit or taxis. Kotor activities are mostly based on outdoor leisure like beaching or hiking, saving you money there as well.

Related: Backpacker’s Guide to Fiji

Best Time to Visit Kotor

Weather in Kotor is pretty comfortable most of the time. Early summer or late summer are the best times to go to get both the best weather and less crowding. May through early June and September through early October are the best times to go. Temperatures in June are a high of 82 °F (28 °C) on average, with lows in the 60s °F. August is the hottest month.

In April Kotor hosts the Montenegrin Dance Festival and in late July and early August you can catch the International Summer Carnival. A four-day music festival called Refresh also usually occurs in the summer. The best event though is Boka Nights in late August when boats fill the bay and fireworks are launched.

How Many Days in Kotor

The small country of Montenegro is a great place for a road trip as the towns are pretty close to each other. Plus, the coastal roads are beautiful. Whether you experience Montenegro as part of a 12-day road trip or are just passing through, you’ll likely want to stop in Kotor.

The length of your Kotor trip will depend on your budget and how slow you’d like to travel. If you are on a very strict budget, I’d stay in Kotor for just 1-2 full days to see the great views of the Bay of Kotor and the charming Old Town. However, you’ll find more affordable places in other parts of Montenegro.

If you’ve got a little wiggle in you backpacker budget, Kotor is a wonderful place to relax for a week. You’ll meet lots of people and take it easy on the beach. You can hike nearby mountain trails and take it day by day.

How to Get to Kotor

As a budget traveler, your best bet is to take the bus to reach Kotor. Other popular ways to get to Kotor are by cruise or rental car, however these options are more expensive.

There are hourly buses from Podgorica to Kotor and buses every half hour from Budva to Kotor. The ride from Podgorica is 1.5 hours, while Budva is only 30 minutes away. Other nearby cities with frequent bus routes are Bar and Cetinje.

Outside Montenegro, you can arrive to Kotor from Croatia easily as well. You can find frequent buses from Dubrovnik to Kotor. The Kotor bus station is a 5-minute walk from old town.

Hostels in Kotor

Kotor has many budget-friendly hostels to choose from. In 2019, I stayed at Hostel4U for a week and had an amazing experience. Here are my top hostel recommendations after having stayed there, seen it myself, or heard from other backpackers in town:

1. Hostel4U: Top rated on Hostelworld, this hostel is beach front on Kotor Beach, a short walk to Old Town, and hosts nightly parties, BBQs, and bar crawls. It is a very social hostel.
2. Old Town Hostel: This hostel is also top rated on Hostelworld and a somewhat newly renovated spot housed within a centuries old building that once belonged to local nobility. They have dorms and private rooms.

Related: How to Pick a Great Hostel

Free Things to Do in Kotor

1. Explore Kotor Old Town: Wander through the UNESCO-listed Kotor Old Town, enclosed by ancient walls and filled with narrow streets, squares, and historical buildings. Viewing landmarks like the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon are totally free and provide insight into Kotor’s rich history and culture.

2. Hike the City Walls to San Giovanni Fortress: Venture on a hike up the city walls to San Giovanni Fortress (sometimes thought of as the Kotor castle) for breathtaking panoramic views of the town and the stunning Bay of Kotor. There is a small fee to enter the fortress, but there is a popular back trail to get in free if you’re on a tight budget.

Optional: The Kotor hike to the fortress is an alternative free way to get in. There is a hiking trail around the back where you can get into the fortress without an admission fee. There is a ladder and a gap in the fortress wall that you can climb through. This hike is also where you’ll get the best view of Kotor. You may even be joined by goats on the trail.

3. Enjoy the Bay of Kotor: Take advantage of the beautiful bay by doing budget-friendly activities like a leisurely walk along the waterfront promenade or relaxing at one of the small beaches nearby. Visitors can take in the picturesque scenery, watch boats sail by, or simply enjoy the calming ambiance of the bay without spending any money. The water is also a nice temperature for swimming in the summer.

Kotor beach guides usually feature Kotor Beach and Galebova Stijena. Kotor Beach is definitely the easiest to access, although like most beches in the area it is a bit rocky and narrow. If you are looking to get out of town a bit more to get away from people, Galebova Stijena is the next best option. Bring your own towels or chairs.

Other (Not Free) Activities

If you have a looser budget, you should consider a boat trip to the Blue Grotto or Blue Cave in Kotor. As the name suggest, this is a cave on the sea where the water takes on a distinctively blue hue. You can jump off the boat and swim.

Another boat trip to consider is a visit to Our Lady on the Rock Monastery, a small church and monastery on a tiny island in the bay off the coast of Perast. In addition to its unique location, it’s also memorable for its soft blue dome roof. Often, you’ll find day trip guides that will take you to both location as part of one trip.

Kotor is also well known for its nightlife. While not expensive, most of Kotor’s nightlife is not entirely free. Despite the town’s small size, some bars will host DJs or bands that will charge a cover to get in. The biggest nightclub in the country, Maximus, is in Kotor. They also generally charge an entry fee on the weekend. If you’re out, you’ll also likely be buying a drink (or more than one). While these costs can add up, beer is especially cheap.

Related: How to Travel for Cheap

Budget Friendly Eating

As Kotor Old Town is a tourist magnet, budget dining options are limited. However, prices are still cheaper than most other places in Europe. For affordable breakfast or pastries, head to Pekara Vrmac. This is good spot to try burek, a flaky cheese, meat, or potato pastry. If you want to try other Montenegrin specialties, head to the rustic Konoba Scala Santa for njeguški pršut, a dry-cured ham, or other veggie friendly options.

As Kotor was part of a three-month European road trip for me, I was on a strict budget. I picked up most of my food from the grocery and prepped meals at the hostel kitchen. Voli is a good supermarket in Kotor, and well situated near the hostels and Old Town.

Kotor travel can be done on a backpacker budget. Hopefully this Montenegro travel guide has helped you plan your next trip.

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