Stories from Kotor
Long-form writing on the town and the bay beyond it — swimming coves, mountain roads, café culture and the practicalities of travel in Montenegro.
More stories
The captains of Boka: Perast's 18th-century sea power
Climbing the 1,350 steps of San Giovanni Fortress in August
What a day in Kotor actually cost me in 2026
A Saturday at the Croatia border: what four hours at Debeli Brijeg taught me
What a cruise ship day really does to Kotor's old town
The eel and carp of Lake Skadar, and why they don't taste like Kotor's fish
Kotor in winter: the rain, the quiet, and what shuts down
The old road to Njeguši: 25 hairpins and a lesson in patience
Pršut of Njeguši and the wind that dries it
Sveti Stefan: the island village you can't actually visit
Why Kotor is full of cats
Good to know about the Kotor blog
The blog is where Kotor Trip steps back from strict planning logistics and covers the questions that shape how a trip actually feels, written with the same honest, no-fluff approach as the rest of the site.
It opens with orientation pieces — what to know before visiting Kotor for the first time, and a direct look at whether Montenegro is really as cheap as its reputation suggests, which stays qualitative rather than inventing precise figures: a backpacker-style trip using self-catering and local buses is genuinely affordable, mid-range comfort with restaurant meals and the occasional boat tour adds up more than expected, and prices in Kotor's old town run noticeably higher than a village a short drive away.
A Kotor versus Budva comparison helps travellers deciding between two well-known Montenegrin bases weigh up the practical differences in atmosphere, beach access and nightlife rather than relying on vague impressions. Safety and etiquette get straightforward treatment: a solo travel piece covers what Kotor and the surrounding regions actually offer, which is a generally low crime rate paired with ordinary caution on mountain roads and around the bay's steep drops, and a Montenegrin etiquette piece covers habits worth knowing, from the relaxed pace of restaurant service to the light-touch approach to tipping and greeting people with a handshake rather than assuming informality.
Food and culture pieces make up a solid share of the blog: a Kotor food guide covering what a realistic meal costs alongside the region's cheese and prosciutto traditions from Njeguši, a piece on crossing borders overland into Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Albania and what the paperwork actually involves, and a bay-days guide covering swimming spots and boat trips around the Bay of Kotor through the summer months.
A best-time-to-visit piece pulls together the seasonal picture in one place: June to September as the strongest window for beaches and boat trips, the shoulder-season months of May, June, September and October offering thinner crowds and lower prices, and the cruise-ship pattern that fills the old town on some days more than others. None of the blog content replaces the destination or guide pages — it's meant to be read for context and reassurance before or during a trip, answering the softer questions a strict itinerary or logistics guide doesn't cover.
Frequently asked questions about the Kotor blog
Is Montenegro as cheap as people say?
Broadly yes, though the exact cost depends heavily on where and how you travel. A backpacker approach using self-catering and local buses keeps costs genuinely low, while restaurant meals and boat tours in Kotor's old town add up faster than a village a short drive away.
Should I visit Kotor or Budva first?
It depends on your priorities: Kotor sits inside the fortified bay with quieter evenings and the fortress walk on its doorstep, while Budva has better beaches and a livelier nightlife scene. The blog's Kotor versus Budva piece compares atmosphere and beach access directly rather than declaring one better overall.
Is Montenegro safe for solo travellers?
Yes — Montenegro has a generally low crime rate, and ordinary caution covers most situations, including in Kotor at night and on mountain roads. The blog's solo travel piece goes into more detail on specific areas and late-night transport.
Is it easy to cross the border into Croatia, Bosnia or Albania from Kotor?
Generally yes, with a valid passport and reasonable planning — the Dubrovnik and Mostar crossings can queue in peak summer, and rental cars need proper insurance paperwork to cross, which the blog's border piece covers in detail.
When is the best time to visit Kotor and this region according to the blog?
June to September is the strongest window for beaches, boat trips and warm swimming, while May, June, September and October offer thinner crowds and lower prices with still-pleasant weather. Cruise-ship traffic fills the old town more on some days than others, worth checking before planning around a quiet visit.