Beaches near Kotor: a guide for cruise guests

Picture a beach unlike any you’ve experienced before: a cobalt-blue bay is surrounded by emerald-green forested limestone mountains sloping directly into the water. There are pebble coves, rocky platforms and outcroppings and the water is clear and warm. The sheltered Kotor, Montenegro beaches’ more enclosed bay geography creates conditions unlike a “typical” beach that’s open to the sea.

Cruise guests arriving in Kotor have access to some of Montenegro's most distinctive beach experiences within a short excursion travel distance from the port, from the bay's calm, clear waters to one of the country's longest sandy beaches. This remarkable area is truly a hidden gem, and offers beach experiences you might not expect in this part of the world.

The Bay of Kotor features a sheltered, fjord-like setting of steep limestone mountains ringing a beautiful bay, its blue surface set off by the contrasting bright red-orange of the clay tiled rooftops of the surrounding town. This enclosed geography creates a setting secluded from the Adriatic Sea, and the water is generally calm and surprisingly warm in the summer (June to September brings the warmest water temperatures).

The bay's shoreline is dotted with pebble coves, flat rocky platforms and concrete swimming areas. Montenegro's beach culture is built around this terrain, and the clear, warm water (combined with the remarkable surrounding scenery) is the main draw.

Jaz Beach, outside the bay near Budva and easily reachable by Princess excursion, is the notable sandy exception to the typically pebbled or rocky Kotor, Montenegro beach terrain.

Water shoes are highly recommended for most Montenegrin beach terrain, as even the sandier stretches are still typically mixed with pebbles, and most beaches are entirely pebbled, rocky or concrete platforms.

A curated beach excursion is a great way to experience Montenegro’s coastal beauty without having to worry about logistics.

Jaz Beach

At roughly 1.2 km (about three-quarters of a mile), Jaz Beach is one of Montenegro's longest stretches of sandy shoreline (technically a sand and pebble mix). For guests who are looking for a more traditional beach day in this area, the Jaz Beach Break Excursion is the go-to. From the Kotor pier, you take approximately a 30-minute motorcoach drive through scenic countryside until you arrive at the beach, featuring crystalline water well suited to swimming, with a gentle descent from the shore and a pebbly sandy bottom. You can see the emerald-green mountain backdrop and views of Kotor Bay from the beach (which is located south of Kotor, along the Adriatic Sea).

The beach is child and family friendly, and sunbeds and umbrellas are included for excursion guests, as is a welcome drink. Local currency is needed for additional beverages, rentals or cafés along the beach. This excursion typically lasts around 4 hours.

Solila Beach by catamaran

The Kotor Bay Catamaran Sail & Beach excursion stars as guests depart from Kotor pier on a catamaran and sail the strikingly blue Boka Bay (another name for the Bay of Kotor) past Perast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its Venetian-style architecture, and Our Lady of the Rocks, a historical church sitting on its own tiny island in the bay. Your guide will point out other natural and historical highlights along the way to the Movida Beach Club on Solila Beach, where your comfortable lounge chair awaits. After you have time to soak up the sun and enjoy the water and the views, a motorcoach will take you back to the pier. Total time is around 4.5 hours for this excursion.

Other beaches in and around the Bay of Kotor

For guests who enjoy exploring independently, the Bay of Kotor has additional beaches to choose from.

• Dobrota Beach is a small pebble beach in the village of Dobrota, a short taxi ride, pending on traffic, e north along the bay from the cruise terminal. This is one of the most accessible bay swimming spots for cruise guests wanting a quick dip close to port.
• Luštica Bay is a newer marina development on the Luštica Peninsula, featuring a beach club and calmer bay swimming. This is also accessible by taxi (approximately 15–20 minutes depending on traffic).
• Budva and the Montenegrin Riviera: the broader Adriatic coastline south of Kotor has more extensive beach options including Mogren, Slovenska and others, and are best accessed by guests with a full day to spare.

Budva has more and longer beaches than Kotor bay itself, but an excursion to Jaz Beach (a bit closer to the pier) offers some of the best features of both locations for cruise guests with limited time ashore.

Planning your beach day from Kotor

As noted earlier, June to September offers the warmest water and most reliable sunshine, while May and early October bring generally pleasant conditions with a more relaxed atmosphere. Princess European cruise itineraries run throughout this window.

The most stress-free transportation option is to book a curated Princess shore excursion, all of which depart from Kotor pier. This way there are no logistics to arrange. For guests exploring independently, taxis from the terminal typically reach the nearby bay beaches in under 15 minutes, though the beaches further south along the Adriatic Sea will take longer to get there and back.

It’s always a good idea to bring water shoes for the pebbly, rocky terrain at these local beaches and coves, as well as sunscreen, a rash guard, sunglasses, a hat and local euros for beachside cafés and vendors not covered by the excursion.

As an alternative for guests who might prefer a scenic, nature-filled drive and a freshwater lake to the beach, the Skadar Lake excursion offers a 90-minute drive (each way) into Lake Skadar National Park, the largest freshwater lake in the Balkans, with a fish lunch at a local restaurant included. The full excursion runs 7.5 hours.

Cruise guests can choose from a range of beach options during a port day on a Kotor, Montenegro cruise itinerary: the calm, clear bay swimming at Dobrota nearby; the catamaran sail across the blue bay to Solila Beach with its backdrop of medieval villages; the long stretch of Jaz Beach with its sandy shore and lush mountain views. Each offers a different experience of Montenegro's coastline. Explore European cruises to discover which one is perfect for you.

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