Dubrovnik to Montenegro Day Trip – Is it Worth it?

Is a Dubrovnik to Montenegro Day Trip actually worth giving up a full day of your Croatia itinerary for?

After taking this exact tour myself while staying in Dubrovnik… my answer is a huge YES.

I couldn’t resist squeezing in another country since Montenegro was so close, and honestly… I think I may have loved it even more than Croatia.

Which is a bold statement because I absolutely loved Croatia.

From the dramatic Bay of Kotor views to the sleepy stone villages and refreshingly affordable prices, this ended up being one of my favorite days of the entire trip.

If you’re on the fence about doing a day trip to Montenegro, then keep reading. I’m sharing exactly what to expect, my honest impressions, things I’d maybe do differently, and whether I think this tour is truly worth it.

Why Choose Montenegro as a Day Trip from Dubrovnik?

If you’re staying in Dubrovnik for a few days, I honestly think taking a day trip to Montenegro is such a great way to see more of this part of Europe without needing to fully relocate hotels and plan another whole trip.

I decided to do it because Montenegro was just so close to Dubrovnik… and I’m so glad I did.

It ended up being one of my favorite days of the whole trip!

✅ Pros: 

• You get to squeeze another country into your trip.
• The scenery is absolutely stunning. The Bay of Kotor completely blew me away with the dramatic mountains dropping into the bright blue water. I think it’s even prettier than Croatia!
• The towns feel straight out of a fairytale with cobblestone streets, stone buildings, little churches, and cozy cafes tucked into alleyways.
• I loved having a guide because I got to ask endless questions during the drive and learn more about the culture, food, history, politics, and daily life in both Croatia and Montenegro.
• Montenegro was noticeably more affordable than Dubrovnik. Food, drinks, and souvenirs were all way cheaper, which was a huge plus.

❌ Cons: 

• You don’t get a ton of time at each stop, so it definitely feels more like a “taste” of Montenegro rather than a deep dive.
• Border delays can happen depending on the day and season. Luckily, I had no wait at all on my tour.
• It’s a long day with several hours spent in the van between stops.
• You’ll likely get back to Dubrovnik after dark and be pretty tired by the end of it. Totally worth it in my opinion… but still tiring.

Is Montenegro Safe to Visit?

Yes… Montenegro is considered exceptionally safe for tourists, and to be honest, i felt very safe during my visit.

The country has very low crime rates, with petty theft being the most common issue tourists may encounter, just like in most popular travel destinations in Europe. The U.S. State Department currently lists Montenegro as a Level 1 Travel Advisory, which is their safest classification and simply advises travelers to exercise normal precautions.

I visited Montenegro on a guided day trip from Dubrovnik, but I was traveling solo and had plenty of free time to explore on my own throughout the day. Not once did I feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

I actually broke away from the group several times to wander side streets, explore little alleyways, and just enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at my own pace. Everywhere we visited felt calm, laid-back, and welcoming.

Honestly, Montenegro ended up feeling much quieter and less chaotic than Dubrovnik in peak summer.

I was actually solo traveling through Croatia during this trip, including this day trip to Montenegro. If you’re planning a similar trip, you can also read my full guide on solo female travel in Croatia.

What to Expect on a Dubrovnik to Montenegro Day Trip

This day trip was honestly really easy and low-stress, which I appreciated because crossing into another country always intimidates me. And having a guide that took care of everything was so nice.

The day is pretty fast-paced and requires a lot of driving, though. You’ll spend the day hopping between gorgeous little coastal towns, driving around the Bay of Kotor, and stopping for plenty of photos along the way.

And because I booked the small group tour, the whole experience felt much more relaxed and personal instead of rushed and overcrowded like some big bus tours can feel.

The Pickup

If your accommodation is outside Dubrovnik’s city walls, the tour offers hotel pickup directly from your hotel. Since I was staying inside the Old Town walls, they gave me a pickup point at a nearby hotel just outside the walls instead.

It was super easy to find and only about a two-minute walk from the Pile Gate.

I was picked up in a comfortable air-conditioned van, which honestly felt amazing because it was already hot outside even early in the morning.

And since I booked the small group tour, there were only four other people besides me, which made the whole experience way more chill and personal.

We had plenty of room in the van, it was easy to ask questions, and we never felt stressed trying to keep track of a huge group of people all day.

The Border Crossing

Okay… first I have to mention this because it can really make or break your experience.

If you plan your Montenegro day trip wrong during the busy summer season, you could end up sitting at the border for hours. Our guide told us waits can sometimes reach up to 3 hours on peak weekends.

The best advice he gave us was to book your tour on an early weekday and aim to arrive at the border before 7:30 am.

I did my tour on a Tuesday in late August, and we had a zero wait at all.

💡 You absolutely need your passport for this trip, so do not forget it. You will not be allowed to cross without it.

The process itself was actually really easy. We stayed inside the van while our guide collected everyone’s passports and took them into the border patrol office for stamping. A few minutes later, we were on our way.

The bonus is that all border crossing fees were already included in the tour price when booking online through Viator, where I booked my tour.

One important thing to know now is that Croatia is part of the Schengen Area, so crossing into Montenegro means crossing an external Schengen border. For non-EU travelers, this can include stricter identity checks and the new Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric registration process if you haven’t completed it before.

Because of this, border processing times can sometimes take a little longer than people expect. Luckily, mine was incredibly smooth.

The Drive

Most often, the drive is just a necessary part of any day tour, that you have to do to get to the good stuff. But I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful even the drive itself was.

Once you cross into Montenegro, you’ll spend a good portion of the morning driving around the Bay of Kotor, with incredible views the entire way. Think dramatic mountains dropping straight into the water, tiny stone villages along the shore, old churches, boats dotting the bay, and little winding roads hugging the coastline.

What also made the drive really enjoyable was our guide. He shared so much history and local insight along the way and was super open to questions.

And I mean… no question was off limits. We talked about everything from the wars and politics to food, tourism, education, and daily life in both Croatia and Montenegro.

I actually learned way more on this drive than I expected to.

Stop 1: Perast

Perast was our first stop in Montenegro.

It’s a tiny, picturesque village sitting directly on the shores of the Bay of Kotor with this old Venetian feel to it. Think quiet stone alleyways, locals fishing along the waterfront, cats wandering around, old churches, and one long scenic waterfront street lined with cafes and historic stone buildings.

It’s a place where not much is really “happening”… and that’s kind of the charm of it.

One of my favorite things was photographing all the beautiful old doors throughout the village. Taking pictures of old doors has weirdly become one of my favorite travel souvenirs to collect. lol And Perast had some gorgeous ones.

The village itself is pedestrian-only, so your driver will drop you off at one of the entrances and you’ll explore the rest on foot.

I was really glad our tour arrived early in the morning before the larger tour buses showed up. You could definitely feel the atmosphere changing a bit as we were leaving, and more groups started arriving.

You’ll get about 1.5 hours here, which felt like the perfect amount of time to slowly wander around and take it in.

One optional thing you can do here is take a little boat ride out to Our Lady of the Rocks, which is a small man-made island with a chapel on it, sitting out in the bay. If this is something you want to do, just let your driver know ahead of time.

Kate’s Tip: If you do want to take a boat out to see Our Lady on the Rocks, this will probably be the only thing you’ll get to see and do at this stop. Personally, I chose to spend all my time wandering around Perast itself instead.

Things to See and Do in Perast

Even though Perast is tiny, there’s still plenty to see and do in this short stop.

• Climb the church bell tower — It only costs about 1 euro and gives you beautiful views over the village and Bay of Kotor.
• Walk the scenic waterfront street — The entire waterfront stretch only takes about 20 minutes to walk end-to-end, but you’ll probably take much longer because you’ll constantly stop for photos.
• Explore the hidden side streets — This ended up being my favorite part. There are gorgeous old doors, tiny churches, quiet alleyways, flower-covered corners, and little staircases everywhere.
• Take a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks — For around €10, you can take a short boat ride out to this small man-made island topped with a chapel filled with paintings and frescoes.
• Swim along the shore — If you visit in summer, the water looks so refreshing. There are several spots where you can swim directly from the stone waterfront platforms or rocky shoreline.

My Impression of Perast

This stop on the tour is completely self-guided, which, personally, was exactly what I wanted. Our driver gave us a few pointers and recommendations, and then basically just let us wander and explore however we wanted.

At first glance, Perast almost felt too sleepy and tiny, like maybe there wouldn’t be much to do there. But the more I wandered, the more I completely fell in love with it.

It’s unbelievably gorgeous and ridiculously photogenic.

I loved the relaxed Mediterranean vibe so much. It felt romantic, peaceful, and honestly like somewhere I’d love to come back to with my husband someday. I found it to be one of those places that’s best explored with absolutely no agenda at all… just getting lost and seeing what you stumble across.

I didn’t end up taking the boat out to Our Lady of the Rocks, and honestly, I wish I’d had just a little more time here to do that and maybe enjoy a slow meal along the waterfront. But honestly… it just gave me another reason to want to come back and properly explore Montenegro someday.

Stop 2: Kotor Old Town

Kotor was the stop that completely stole my heart.

It’s only about a 20-minute drive from Perast, but the scenery somehow just keeps getting more dramatic the deeper you get into the Bay of Kotor.

The moment I was dropped off outside the gates and walked into the Old Town, I immediately fell in love with it.

Kotor is a medieval fortified city tucked between massive mountains and the bay, and the whole setting feels incredibly dramatic and almost fjord-like. Towering cliffs plunge straight down into the water around the city, making it feel dramatic.

Inside the walls, it’s basically a maze of cobblestone alleyways lined with little shops, cafes, restaurants, churches, and hidden little squares.

And then there are the cats!

Kotor is famous for its friendly stray cats, and they are absolutely everywhere… lounging in squares, following people around, sleeping in shop doorways, and basically demanding attention from every tourist that walks by. lol

You’ll get about 3 hours here, which will go by way too fast! You’ll wish you had more time.

Things to See and Do in Kotor

• Hike to St. John’s Fortress — This is probably the number one thing to do in Kotor. The hike follows a steep, winding rocky path up the mountainside and rewards you with incredible panoramic views over the bay. Entry costs around €10.
• Get lost in the alleys of Old Town — Honestly, this was one of my favorite things to do. Every little alley seemed to lead to another hidden square or church.
• Check out Kotor’s churches — There are several beautiful historic churches scattered throughout Old Town that are worth popping into while you wander.
• Make friends with Kotor’s cats — If you love cats, you’re going to be obsessed with this place. There’s even a small cat museum you can visit.
• Grab lunch in Old Town — Kotor is probably the best stop on this tour to sit down for a proper meal. I found a cozy little restaurant tucked into a side alley and ate outside while people-watching… with several cats begging me for scraps the entire time. lol 

My Impression

This stop on the tour is also self-guided, which I loved because it gave me the freedom to just wander at my own pace.

Honestly… my first impression of Kotor was that it felt like Dubrovnik but way better.

Bold statement, I know.

But it felt quieter, more authentic, less polished, way more affordable, and somehow even more jaw-droppingly beautiful because of the dramatic mountain scenery surrounding it.

I seriously would have been perfectly happy if the tour had just left us here for the rest of the day.

Out of everywhere we visited on this Montenegro day trip, Kotor is the place I most want to come back to and spend several days properly exploring.

Stop 3: Budva

Budva was the final stop on the tour and definitely had a different vibe from Perast and Kotor.

It’s about a 30–45 minute drive from Kotor, depending on traffic, and feels much more like a lively beach town mixed with a historic Old Town.

One thing that makes Budva unique is that it’s one of the few places along this stretch of the Adriatic with actual sandy beaches instead of rocky shoreline.

The Old Town itself is a medieval walled city built by the Venetians with cute cobblestone streets, little shops, restaurants, cafes, and stone alleyways tucked inside the walls. Like the other towns on this tour, it’s pedestrian-only and very easy to wander around on foot.

You’ll get about 2 hours here, which is enough time to explore the Old Town, grab a drink or dinner, and soak up a little bit of the beach-town atmosphere before heading back to Dubrovnik.

Things to See & Do in Budva

• Wander the alleys of Old Town — The little cobblestone streets are full of hidden corners, cafes, boutiques, and pretty stone buildings.
• Visit the Citadel — You can pay around €5 to explore this 15th-century fortress with views over the coastline and Old Town.
• Visit the churches — The Church of St. John and Holy Trinity Church are both located within the main squares and are worth a quick stop while wandering around.
• Enjoy the beaches — If you’re visiting in summer, this is a great place to dip your toes in the water or just enjoy the coastal atmosphere.
• Grab a drink — Budva has a much livelier nightlife and beach-bar scene compared to the other stops, making it a great place to relax with a cocktail or glass of wine before heading back.

My Impression

I didn’t find Budva quite as charming as Kotor personally… but I did enjoy the more relaxed beach atmosphere here.

When I visited, there were actually fewer tourists than Kotor because there weren’t cruise ships docked nearby, which made it feel much calmer and easier to explore.

Budva definitely feels more like a beach resort town with livelier entertainment, beach bars, and a more commercialized vibe overall. But even with that, I still found plenty of quiet little corners and hidden alleyways where I could wander around almost completely alone.

⚠️ What I’d Do Differently:
The exact Montenegro tour I booked actually gives you the option to skip the Budva stop entirely and spend extra time in Perast and Kotor instead. Looking back, that’s probably the version of the tour I’d personally choose now because I completely fell in love with both of those towns and wished I’d had more time there.

Food & Drink on The Trip

You’ll definitely have opportunities to grab food and drinks throughout the day, so no worries about going hungry on this tour.

On the drive into Montenegro, our guide stopped at a little roadside cafe overlooking the Bay of Kotor with absolutely gorgeous views. This is where most people grabbed breakfast. I’m personally not much of a breakfast person, so I just ordered a coffee and enjoyed the scenery for a bit.

You’ll also have enough free time in Perast to sit down along the waterfront for breakfast if you want to.

Kotor is honestly the best stop for lunch in my opinion. There are so many little restaurants tucked into the alleyways inside Old Town. I found a cozy little spot with outdoor seating and just sat there people-watching while I ate… with several cats hanging around begging me for scraps the entire time. lol

By the time we got to Budva later in the afternoon, I honestly wasn’t very hungry anymore, so I just grabbed a drink and wandered around. But if you want dinner before heading back to Dubrovnik, Budva is definitely the best place to do that since you’ll likely return after dark.

Where to Book Your Day Trip?

If you want the exact experience I had, I highly recommend booking the same Montenegro day trip I did through Viator.

I honestly had such a great experience with this tour. The small group size made it feel way more relaxed and personal, the guide was fantastic, the transportation was comfortable, and the entire day felt really smooth and well-organized from start to finish.

I also liked booking ahead of time because it guaranteed my spot during the busy summer season and let me read reviews beforehand so I knew exactly what I was signing up for.

There are definitely other tour companies and booking sites out there, but after personally doing this exact tour myself… I’d absolutely recommend it.

Tips For Taking This Dubrovnik to Montenegro Day Trip

This tour is honestly really easy and low-stress overall, but there are a few things I think you’ll want to know ahead of time that will make the day go much more smoothly.

Here are my top tips after personally taking this day trip to Montenegro from Dubrovnik.

Border Crossing Tips

You MUST check and obtain any visa requirements before your trip. Visa requirements are completely the responsibility of the traveler, so make sure you double-check what applies to your nationality ahead of time.

And most importantly… do NOT forget your passport. Seriously. You will not be allowed to cross into Montenegro without it.

What to Pack for This Day Trip

Wear comfortable shoes! All of the Old Towns on this tour are completely pedestrian only with lots of uneven cobblestone streets, stairs, and walking.

Also, those narrow stone alleyways can get really hot in summer because there’s very little airflow inside the walled cities. I highly, highly recommend packing a neck fan. I was sooo happy I had mine.

I’d also bring a lightweight day bag or backpack to carry your water, passport, sunscreen, and any little souvenirs you pick up throughout the day.

Bring a Refillable Water Bottle

It’s safe to drink the tap water in Montenegro, and there are fountains throughout several of the towns where you can refill your bottle during the day.

You’ll definitely want water with you, especially in summer.

Tipping in Montenegro

Tipping is appreciated in Montenegro, but it’s much more casual than in the United States.

Around 10% for good service is considered perfectly fine, or even just rounding up the bill in cafes and restaurants.

Bring Cash (Euros)

Montenegro uses the Euro even though it’s not part of the EU.

Definitely carry some cash with you because several attractions and smaller businesses only accepted cash when I visited.

For example, the Kotor walls, the church bell tower in Perast, boat rides, and some smaller cafes and shops were cash only.

Is one day enough in Montenegro?

Absolutely not.

Don’t get me wrong… I am sooo happy I took this guided Montenegro day trip from Dubrovnik because it gave me the chance to experience the country and completely fall in love with it. But after visiting, I immediately realized one day barely scratches the surface.

Every stop left me wanting more time.

I especially felt this way about Kotor and Perast. I could have easily spent several days slowly exploring the Bay of Kotor, relaxing along the waterfront, hiking, trying more restaurants, and just soaking up the atmosphere.

Honestly, this tour made me want to come back to Montenegro even more than it satisfied my curiosity about it… and I mean that in the best possible way.

If you’re still planning your Croatia trip, I also shared my full Split itinerary here.

Final Verdict – Is a Dubrovnik to Montenegro Day Trip Worth It?

YES!

This Montenegro day trip from Dubrovnik ended up being one of my favorite days of my entire Croatia trip… and honestly… I think I may have liked Montenegro even more than Croatia itself.

Montenegro completely surprised me. It’s unbelievably stunning, quieter, more relaxed, and way more affordable than Dubrovnik while still having all the dramatic scenery, medieval towns, and gorgeous coastline you dream about visiting in this part of Europe.

This exact tour ended up being one of my favorite experiences from my Croatia trip, and I’m honestly so glad I booked it ahead of time because summer dates do sell out