Yachts and palms at Porto Montenegro, Tivat, the mountains of the Bay of Kotor behind
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Luxury in Montenegro

The Bay of Kotor

A fjord of the south: mountains plunging into a winding bay, the walled town of Kotor, Baroque Perast, and Porto Montenegro, the superyacht marina of the Adriatic.

Porto Montenegro, the Bay of KotorPhotograph: Lena Netkach

Dobrodošli

The fjord of the south

The Bay of Kotor winds deep into the mountains of Montenegro in a series of inlets ringed by limestone peaks, and it is often called the southernmost fjord in Europe, though it is a drowned river canyon. Venice ruled much of it for nearly four hundred years.

At its innermost point stands Kotor, a walled medieval town of stone squares and churches, whose walls climb the mountain above it. The town and the bay are World Heritage, and Perast, a little Baroque town of captains’ palaces, faces the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks.

At Tivat, the old naval yard has become Porto Montenegro, one of the leading superyacht marinas of the Mediterranean, and at the mouth of the bay stands One&Only Portonovi. Tivat airport is minutes away.

A few words of Montenegrin
EnglishMontenegrinSay it
HelloZdravoZDRAH-voh
PleaseMolimMOH-leem
Thank youHvalaHVAH-lah
Good eveningDobro večeDOH-broh VEH-cheh
The bill, pleaseRačun, molimRAH-choon, MOH-leem

Where to go

The Bay of Kotor at a glance

When to go, the one best hotel, and how to arrive privately.

Bay of Kotor

Best time to visitJune and September are best: warm water in the bay and long days, with fewer cruise ships and crowds in Kotor's old town than in July and August.

  • Stay
    One&Only PortonoviForbes Five-Star

    On the bay at Herceg Novi, the first hotel in Montenegro to earn the rating.

  • Dine
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Tivat Airport (TIV / LYTV), about 30 minutes by car to Kotor. Dubrovnik Airport (DBV / LDDU) in Croatia is the second option, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Kotor by car plus the border crossing.
By helicopter
Rarely needed: Tivat Airport is less than 10 minutes from Porto Montenegro and about 30 minutes from Kotor by road.
By sea
Porto Montenegro, Tivat, with about 450 berths including a 250-metre berth, among the largest in the Mediterranean; about 30 minutes by car to Kotor. Portonovi Marina, Herceg Novi, takes yachts up to 120 metres at the entrance to the bay.

Stay

Luxury hotels in the Bay of Kotor

The finest hotels in and around the Bay of Kotor: each rated Forbes Five-Star, holding two or three MICHELIN Keys, or among the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean.

The finest hotels

Each rated Forbes Five-Star or holding two or three MICHELIN Keys.

Sail

Yachting in the Bay of Kotor

Yachting at our standard in and around the Bay of Kotor.

Superyacht marinas

  • Porto MontenegroTivat

    About 450 berths, including a 250-metre berth among the largest in the Mediterranean, in the Bay of Kotor; it holds Platinum marina certification. Visit website ↗

  • Portonovi MarinaHerceg Novi

    238 berths, taking yachts up to 120 metres on the outer breakwater and 70 metres inside, at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor beside the One&Only resort; Superyacht Ready accredited in 2025. Visit website ↗

Refit and maintenance

  • Adriatic42Bijela (Bay of Kotor)

    A superyacht refit yard opened in 2022 by a joint venture of Drydocks World and the Investment Corporation of Dubai under a 30-year concession, with a 180 by 34 metre floating dock and a 720-tonne travelift; its first client was the 107-metre Black Pearl. Visit website ↗

Cruises

The Bay of Kotor by sea

How the ships arrive in The Bay of Kotor, and the luxury lines that call.

Ships sail the length of the bay to Kotor, where one or two berth beside the old town walls and others anchor and come ashore by tender; small luxury ships berth at Porto Montenegro in Tivat.

The luxury lines that call here

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Experience

Events and things to do in the Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor year: the great events, month by month; each event's own website gives this year's dates.

Health spas

  • Chenot Espace at One&Only PortonoviBay of Kotor

    A medical spa at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor, run on the Chenot Method of diagnostics, detox and the Chenot Diet, with cryotherapy and hydrotherapy. Visit website ↗

Live

Luxury real estate in the Bay of Kotor

A home in the Bay of Kotor: the agencies and advisers at our standard, for the purchase and for life after it.

Prime real estate

  • Montenegro Sotheby's International RealtyTivat

    The Sotheby's affiliate for Montenegro, with its office in Porto Montenegro, covering the Bay of Kotor and the Budva Riviera.

  • Dream Estates MontenegroKotor

    Savills' partner agency in Montenegro, based in Kotor Old Town for about twenty years and specialising in waterfront and historic stone houses around the Bay of Kotor. Visit website ↗

All the leading agencies in Montenegro ›

Looking for a home in the Bay of Kotor? Write to travel@TheMediterranean.com and we will introduce you, in confidence, to the right agency.

Branded residences and new developments

  • Porto MontenegroTivat

    Owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai since 2016, the superyacht marina village (about 450 berths) offers resort apartments and penthouses, including the completed Regent Pool Club Residences and the managed Boka Place residences, alongside the Regent hotel. Visit website ↗

  • PortonoviHerceg Novi

    A 26-hectare resort at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor with a 238-berth marina; homes include The Marina and Village residences, Sky Villas and One&Only Private Homes next to the One&Only Portonovi resort and its Chenot Espace spa. Visit website ↗

International schools

  • Knightsbridge Schools InternationalTivat

    Founded in 2010 in Tivat, home of Porto Montenegro, an English-language IB World School for ages 3 to 18, authorised for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes.

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in the Bay of Kotor and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

Plan your journey to the Bay of Kotor

Where is the Bay of Kotor?

On the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, near the border with Croatia. Tivat airport takes private jets and is minutes from Porto Montenegro and about 30 minutes from Kotor; Dubrovnik airport is about an hour and a half away, with the border crossing.

What is the Bay of Kotor famous for?

Its fjord-like scenery, the walled town of Kotor and Baroque Perast, the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, and the superyacht marina of Porto Montenegro.

When is the best time to visit the Bay of Kotor?

June and September are best: warm water in the bay and long days, with fewer cruise ships and crowds in Kotor's old town than in July and August.

Where are the best luxury hotels in the Bay of Kotor?

One&Only Portonovi (Forbes Five-Star).

How do you arrive in the Bay of Kotor by private jet?

Tivat Airport (TIV / LYTV), about 30 minutes by car to Kotor.

Do you tip in the Bay of Kotor?

Around 10% is customary in restaurants when service is good. Rounding up is usual for drivers. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day. The currency is the euro.

What should you wear in the Bay of Kotor?

Orthodox monasteries such as Ostrog expect modest dress. Cover your shoulders and knees, and women should carry a light headscarf. Away from the beach, wear clothes over your swimwear. Budva fines people €200 for walking in its Old Town in swimwear or bare-chested. The universal yacht rule applies: no hard-soled shoes on deck. Evenings are dressier than the daytime beach scene, and smart outfits are expected at the better bars and restaurants.

Beyond the Bay of Kotor

More in Montenegro

The rest of Montenegro, and the Mediterranean beyond.

MontenegroLuxury Montenegro: Bay of Kotor TravelExplore MontenegroThe MediterraneanTwenty-two countries and Gibraltar, first class onlyExplore the MediterraneanPlan your journeyFrom your home to the Bay of Kotor, with the costsOpen the trip planner

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in the Bay of Kotor

How Montenegro does things.

Language
Montenegrin is the official language. Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian are also in official use, and both Latin and Cyrillic scripts appear. English is widely spoken in luxury hotels, marinas and restaurants along the coast, especially at Porto Montenegro and around Kotor and Budva.
Greetings
A handshake is standard. Friends often greet with cheek kisses. People are warm but appreciate formality at first meetings.
Dress
Orthodox monasteries such as Ostrog expect modest dress. Cover your shoulders and knees, and women should carry a light headscarf. Away from the beach, wear clothes over your swimwear. Budva fines people €200 for walking in its Old Town in swimwear or bare-chested. The universal yacht rule applies: no hard-soled shoes on deck. Evenings are dressier than the daytime beach scene, and smart outfits are expected at the better bars and restaurants.
Dining
Long, late summer dinners are the norm on the coast, from about 8 pm. Reserve ahead in July and August.
Tipping
Around 10% is customary in restaurants when service is good. Rounding up is usual for drivers. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day. The currency is the euro.
Good to know
Ostrog Monastery is one of the most important Orthodox pilgrimage sites in the region. Visit quietly and dress modestly, and ask before photographing worshippers.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.