Boat trips from Kotor range from short visits to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks to longer speedboat excursions towards the Blue Cave. Some give you time ashore; others spend most of the outing on the water. The best choice depends on which part of the trip matters most to you.
For history and time in town, start with a Perast and island tour. For a longer ride with a swimming stop, compare Blue Cave trips. A private boat is worth considering if you want your own group aboard or need a departure time that fits your plans.
Before booking, check the actual itinerary. A place named in the tour title may be a view from the boat rather than a landing stop, and visiting the Blue Cave now involves different arrangements from those shown in older photographs.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Which Kotor boat trip suits your plans?
| Your priority | Start by comparing | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Perast and the island church | A shorter Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks tour | Landings at both places, time ashore and admission charges. |
| A longer boat ride and swimming | A Blue Cave speedboat tour | Cave access, swimming arrangements and the alternative if conditions change. |
| Walking in Perast as well as the Blue Cave | A route with a stated Perast landing | How long you have in town and whether the island is visited or passed. |
| Your own group or a particular schedule | A private boat | Total party price, agreed route and departure point. |
If one sight is essential to your day, ask the operator to confirm how it is included. Choosing a trip with more place names does not necessarily give you more time to explore.
Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks boat trips
A shorter excursion around the inner Bay of Kotor can work well alongside sightseeing in Kotor. Look for an itinerary that lands in Perast and on Our Lady of the Rocks if you want to visit both.
Our Lady of the Rocks is the small artificial island with a church and museum off Perast. A landing gives you the chance to walk around the island, but entry to the buildings depends on opening hours and the time available. A brief Perast stop is enough for a waterfront walk; for lunch or a museum visit, you may prefer to go independently.
Our Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks guide explains the independent options and what to see ashore.
A shorter tour to compare
This two-hour Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks tour, operated by Montenegro Submarine, currently lists 20 minutes on the island and 30 minutes in Perast. Island admission is listed as excluded. Check the latest itinerary and charges for your departure.
Blue Cave boat tours from Kotor
The Blue Cave, or Plava špilja, is on the Luštica Peninsula towards the entrance to the bay. Excursions from Kotor may combine it with views of Mamula Island, former submarine tunnels and a stop at Perast or Our Lady of the Rocks.
Choose this type of trip if you want the boat ride and a swimming opportunity as a substantial part of your day. Check how long is spent at the cave, and whether other sights are landing stops, short visits or views as you pass.
Blue Cave access changed in 2026
In May 2026, Montenegro’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs announced a ban on motorised vessels entering the Blue Cave area. The official announcement is in Montenegrin.
Some operators now keep the boat outside and offer guests the opportunity to swim into the cave. Ask your operator how its visit works, what equipment is provided and what you can see if you remain aboard. Do not assume the speedboat will carry you inside.
If you do not want to swim, the rest of a bay excursion may still interest you, but decide whether that is enough to justify choosing the longer route. Ask about any alternative access arrangements rather than relying on the tour’s photographs.
Swimming and cave access depend on conditions and the skipper’s decision on the day. Check what happens if the cave stop cannot go ahead, including whether the route changes, the trip is rescheduled or a refund is offered.
A Blue Cave and Perast tour to compare
Sea Stars’ Blue Cave and Perast small-group speedboat tour currently lists a 25-minute Blue Cave stop and 20 minutes in Perast, with Our Lady of the Rocks and Mamula marked as pass-by sights. It is an example of a route where seeing the island does not mean landing there.
Review the participant restrictions as well as the route. The listing describes high-speed travel and includes age, weight and health-related restrictions. Contact the operator if you are unsure whether it suits someone in your party.
Shared or private boat?
A shared tour lets you book individual places on a set departure. It is a sensible starting point for a solo traveller or couple who are happy with the published schedule and route.
A private charter gives your party its own boat. It may make sense for a group, or if you want to agree a different pace or pickup arrangement. Ask about flexibility before paying: a private booking can still have a fixed duration and itinerary.
Compare the full cost for your actual party size. A private boat advertised with a starting price may cost more for a larger group, and a price per boat should be compared with the total cost of everyone’s shared-tour tickets.
A private tour to compare
This private Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks tour, operated by Montenegro Submarine, is listed as a three-hour outing for up to nine people. Its current itinerary includes swimming in the Blue Cave and an island stop but passes Perast. If walking in Perast is important, ask about a different route or choose a trip that explicitly includes it.
How much do Kotor boat trips cost?
Use advertised prices as a starting point, then check the final total for your dates and party. Compare duration, stops and fees alongside the price.
As examples from one operator, Boka Boat Tours’ published catalogue currently lists a shared 1.5-hour Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast trip at €25 per adult, and a three-hour shared Blue Cave trip at €40. Its private options include a 1.5-hour trip from €150 and a three-hour Blue Cave route from €300 for one to six guests.
These are examples, not standard fares across Kotor. Other operators, booking channels and packages can charge different amounts. Check whether fuel, skipper services, pickups and any admission charges are included.
Our Lady of the Rocks fees
In a notice dated 31 March 2026, Sea Stars reported a €5-per-person island visiting fee from 1 April, including for short stops. It said its Blue Cave tours would normally pass the island and stop in Perast instead, with an island landing available on request at the extra charge in place of Perast.
Check your own operator’s arrangements. Ask whether the quoted price covers the island landing and whether church or museum admission costs extra. Carry some euro cash for any charges payable locally.
Where do boat trips leave from?
Use the exact meeting point on your confirmation. “From Kotor” does not mean every operator boards at the same quay.
The Montenegro Submarine tours described above list Park Slobode 1. The Sea Stars listing gives a meeting point on Njegoševa and offers some pickups by arrangement. Check whether pickup is confirmed, where to wait and whether it costs extra.
Leave time for parking and walking to check-in. If your accommodation is outside the centre, plan the journey before choosing a departure time. Our where to stay in Kotor guide compares the Old Town with areas around the bay.
Choosing a boat trip during a cruise stop
Work backwards from your ship’s all-aboard time. Allow for getting ashore, reaching the meeting point, check-in and the journey back to the ship. Use the ship’s instructions about time rather than assuming your phone shows the same clock.
A shorter Perast trip may be easier to fit alongside the Old Town than a longer cave excursion. Ask the operator about expected return time and what happens if the ship arrives late. Avoid a booking whose advertised finish leaves almost no margin.
A tour marketed as suitable for cruise passengers still needs to fit your particular port call.
What to check before booking
- Landings: which places you visit ashore, and how long you have at each.
- Boat: passenger capacity, shade and boarding arrangements.
- Swimming: whether it is included, how cave access works and whether remaining aboard suits your plans.
- Suitability: age limits and other participant restrictions for everyone travelling.
- Total cost: island charges, museum tickets and any pickup extras.
- Changes: weather policy, cancellation deadline and arrangements for a missed departure.
Bring sun protection, drinking water and a layer for cooler conditions. Take swimwear and a towel for a swimming trip, plus suitable clothing if entering a church. Check the boat’s facilities rather than assuming there is a toilet or somewhere to change.
Is a Kotor boat trip worth booking?
A boat excursion is worth considering if travelling across the bay is part of the experience you want. Choose a shorter Perast route for time ashore, or a Blue Cave trip if the longer ride and swimming appeal to you.
If you mainly want several hours in Perast, an independent visit may suit you better. If you would prefer a freshwater outing with wetlands and birdwatching, compare Lake Skadar boat trips, allowing for the journey inland.