How To Get From Kotor To Dubrovnik (& Dubrovnik To Kotor)

Chasing the Donkey may include affiliate links - if you decide to make a purchase through these links, we receive a commission without any additional cost to you. Disclaimer & privacy policy.
Post author SJ

Written by our local expert SJ

Sarah-Jane has lived in Croatia for 10+ years. SJ, as she is known, has been traveling the Balkans & beyond since 2000. She now shares her passion for traveling with her husband & kids.

Here is your guide on how to get from Kotor to Dubrovnik or from Dubrovnik to Kotor.

KOTOR BAY MONTENEGRO - CROATIA TRAVEL BLOGThe great thing about visiting any specific country within the Balkans is that you can easily pop in and see a neighboring country! Border crossings are relatively easy, and even if you are waiting a short while due to traffic, the experience is more than worth it.

One of the routes traveled in the South of Croatia is between Dubrovnik and Kotor. Popular as one-way transfers and for a day trip from either city, travel between Dubrovnik and Kotor is a road regularly traveled by the modern-day tourist.

The ease of the journey and the proximity of Kotor to Dubrovnik allow you to see two UNESCO-listed cities for a very low cost. That said, both Kotor and Dubrovnik have plenty to see and do. In Dubrovnik, you have the beautiful Old City walls, architecture, culture, beaches, and loads of history. Likewise, you have Venetian fortifications, fjords, soaring mountains, and simply stunning natural sites in Kotor.

So, let’s explore how to get from Kotor to Dubrovnik and back again. Any instructions should be reversed to get from one way to the other.

Dubrovnik To Kotor Map

Dubrovnik To Kotor To Dubrovnik Map

Kotor To Dubrovnik Drive

Driving to Kotor from Dubrovnik is, without a doubt, the easiest and most scenic way to get there. If you are not driving your own car, you can hire a car from Kotor and Dubrovnik.

If you’re traveling from Dubrovnik, it is probably best to hire your car from Dubrovnik Airport, and from there, it is around 20 minutes to the Montenegro border. Once at the border, have your passports and vehicle green card ready for the officials. Once you cross the border, the drive to Kotor is around 1 hour and 40 mins, but that doesn’t include the time you will need to wait to cross the border. From there, you will wind along the bay of Kotor along this fabulous stretch of Montenegrin coastline.

Overall, the drive from Kotor to Dubrovnik center is a distance of around 91.1km and will take you about 2 hours and 10 mins, depending on traffic and the border crossing.

We just mentioned a ‘green card,’ so we need to cover that. You need this card to be able to cross the border from Croatia into Montenegro and back again, and when renting a car, this should be given to you.

TOUR RECOMMENDATIONS

Brands We Use And Trust

  

Kotor To Dubrovnik Transfer

728*90 Octopus GIF Dec

If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can’t be bothered with the hassle of crossing a border on your own steam, and you want to relax and enjoy the journey, then your best bet is a private transfer from Dubrovnik to Kotor.

Whether you want a private Montenegro day trip from Dubrovnik or a one-way transfer from Kotor to Dubrovnik, a private transfer is the most convenient and comfortable way to travel. No need for you to navigate, the driver takes care of it for you, and if you like, you can organize to make stops along the way.

The best thing with private transfers is you dictate the pace, where, and when you are going. Select your start time, whether you want a Kotor day trip or a one-way transfer. Perhaps Our Lady of the Rock in Perast? It’s totally up to you.

Catching The Kotor To Dubrovnik Bus

Fort St. John_Dubrovnik__shutterstock_253784749
Fort St. John

If you are budget-conscious, then public transport will be more suitable. The bus route from Kotor to Dubrovnik is undoubtedly very scenic too. Both towns are coastal, which means that the route hugs the coastline. The bus takes a little over 2 hours, depending on border crossing times, and the overall distance is, as we mentioned, around 90 km.

Buses depart daily, and there are several services. The first bus from Kotor is at 7.10 am, with the last one leaving at 3.55 pm; there are around.

Eight different buses per day on this route. Several bus companies run this route, and the number of buses increases during the peak months of July and August. You can save money on your route by combining bus company tickets, so shop around online. You can expect to pay about 15 Euro for a one-way adult ticket, with discounts possible for children and the elderly; a child’s ticket is around 3 to 9 Euros.

In the opposite direction, between Dubrovnik and Kotor, there are more buses daily, with around ten on average. The first bus leaves Dubrovnik at 7 am, arriving in Kotor at roughly 10.45 am. The last bus leaves at 8.30 pm. Again, various lines are running this route, and tickets are the same price as for the Kotor to Dubrovnik route.

As you’re crossing a border, remember to have your passport with you at all times and be aware during summer, there can be huge delays at the border due to people forgetting or leaving passports in luggage.

RECOMMENDED POST

Comments (7)

  1. Thank you for this helpful information.

    If we are coming from the United States and stay in Dubrovnik for a few days… are we still able to cross the border into Kotor and back again. Will the Covid test we took for entry in to Croatia allow us to travel for the full week we are in the country?

    1. Crossing the borders is tricky, it depends on the rules at the time of travel – and how long to stay over the border. The only way to be sure is to check at the time of your travel.

    1. #COVID – things are all wonky. At this stage, there are no buses, but as borders open for travel the bus companies will once again go back to driving.

  2. We will be staying in Kotor for about a week May 25-31. Will bus travel be available from Kotor to Dubrovnik at that time?

    1. Hi, I’m thinking of going the same route. Did you cross the border? Has a PCR test been requested? Was there a public bus between kotor and dubrovnik in the current situation of the virus?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Move This Adventure To Your Inbox & Get An Instant Freebie

Subscribe To Unlock Your FREE Customizable Travel Packing List & All Our Best Tips!