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Kotor’s Sea Gate and old stone walls, with the town and mountains beyond
Things to do

Things to do in Kotor on a day trip from Budva

Kotor’s Old Town, on the Bay of Kotor, makes a day trip from Budva a chance to explore historic streets and visit a museum. Use this itinerary to plan your time and check seasonal opening details before setting out.

Published 3 min read6 places

By Yamila Suarez

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Things to do in Kotor on a day trip from Budva include walking through the historic Old Town and visiting a museum. Kotor sits on the Bay of Kotor, and its Sea Gate provides a natural starting point for a day among the town’s historic streets.

  • Start: Sea Gate, the main entrance to Kotor’s Old Town.
  • Museum option: Kotor’s Maritime Museum and its collection of maritime history.
  • Bus journey: The Budva–Kotor journey takes 45–50 minutes.
  • Planning note: Museum hours and ticket information vary, so check the official site before you go.

At a glance

6 places · swipe

  1. 01Begin in Kotor Old TownKotor Old Town is a historic town on the Bay of Kotor, and the Sea Gate is its main entrance.
  2. 02See the squares, churches and historic lanesKotor’s historic centre brings its squares, churches and lanes into a walkable part of the day.
  3. 03Choose a bay-side walk or viewpointKotor’s position on the Bay of Kotor gives you a chance to pair time in the Old Town with a look toward…
  4. 04Allow time for a museum or paid attractionKotor’s Maritime Museum gives you a focused indoor stop in the historic centre.
  5. 05Plan the return to BudvaThe Budva–Kotor bus journey takes 45–50 minutes, and Kotor’s bus station operates daily from 06:00 to 22:00.
  6. 06FAQsThe Sea Gate is the Old Town’s main entrance.
Begin in Kotor Old Town

Begin in Kotor Old Town

Kotor Old Town is a historic town on the Bay of Kotor, and the Sea Gate is its main entrance. Built in 1555, the gate offers a clear first stop as you enter the old centre and begin exploring on foot.

From the Sea Gate, take time to follow the historic streets and get your bearings before choosing a museum or another stop. Keeping the first part of the day flexible lets you decide how much time to spend inside the Old Town before heading to a museum.

See the squares, churches and historic lanes

See the squares, churches and historic lanes

Kotor’s historic centre brings its squares, churches and lanes into a walkable part of the day. Take a route through the old streets, pausing in the squares and around the church architecture as you go.

For visits to several cultural sites, the linked ticket covers the Historical Museum of Kotor (Lapidarium in St Michael’s Church), St Paul’s Church and the Solidarity Gallery. It costs €6, with a €4 ticket for children up to 12 years.

Admission is free for people from the Municipality of Kotor, primary-school pupils in Montenegro, people with disabilities, accredited tourist guides and ICOM card holders. Group and school visits must be booked in advance.

For another day of historic streets and landmarks, the Budva Old Town day itinerary keeps the focus on the trip’s starting city.

Choose a bay-side walk or viewpoint

Choose a bay-side walk or viewpoint

Kotor’s position on the Bay of Kotor gives you a chance to pair time in the Old Town with a look toward the water and surrounding mountains. Allow time for a walk by the bay, or choose a viewpoint if that suits your plans.

After setting aside time for the Old Town and any museum visit, leave the rest of this part of the day open for the waterfront or a viewpoint.

Allow time for a museum or paid attraction

Allow time for a museum or paid attraction

Kotor’s Maritime Museum gives you a focused indoor stop in the historic centre. It is housed in the Grgurina family’s Baroque palace, which dates from the beginning of the 18th century.

The museum’s collection grew from one founded by the Boka Marine Fraternity around 1880, and the museum opened to the public in 1900. Weekday hours are 09:00–18:00 from 1 May to 1 October and 09:00–15:00 from 1 October to 1 May; on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, hours are 09:00–13:00.

Adult tickets cost €5, student and child tickets cost €1, and groups of more than 10 pay €2 per person. The museum also offers an interactive screen and a guide in Braille. Cameras and video cameras may not be used without permission from the head of the institution. Its address is Square of Bokeljske Mornarice 391, Kotor.

The linked Old Town museum sites are open 09:00–16:00 Monday through Friday from 15 October to 15 May, and 10:00–16:00 Tuesday through Sunday from 15 May to 15 October. The sites close every Monday, throughout January, on Easter and on 1 May.

For travel details, the guide to taking the bus from Budva to Kotor covers the connection between the two towns.

Plan the return to Budva

The Budva–Kotor bus journey takes 45–50 minutes, and Kotor’s bus station operates daily from 06:00 to 22:00. Buses from Budva depart at 08:00, 09:00, 13:20 and 19:40; return departure times are not stated.

Check the return arrangements before you set off, especially if you plan to stay in the Old Town for a museum visit. Hotel Aleksandar is in Budva, where the day trip begins.

FAQs

What is the main entrance to Kotor Old Town?

The Sea Gate is the Old Town’s main entrance. It was built in 1555.

What can you visit with the linked Old Town museum ticket?

The linked ticket covers the Historical Museum of Kotor (Lapidarium in St Michael’s Church), St Paul’s Church and the Solidarity Gallery.

Can you visit the Maritime Museum on a weekend?

The museum is open 09:00–13:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Check the official site before you go for current visitor information.

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