If you want to see the best of Kotor Bay from the water, the right boat tour makes a big difference.
Some tours stay close to Kotor and visit only Our Lady of the Rocks or Perast. Others continue much farther, passing the submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and the open seaside of the bay before reaching the Blue Cave.
For most travelers, the best boat tour in Kotor Bay is the route that combines Our Lady of the Rocks, the submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and the Blue Cave in one trip.
It gives you history, beautiful views, swimming, sea caves, and the most dramatic part of the coastline, without taking a full day.
If you want the easiest way to experience this route, the 3-hour Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor is usually the best overall choice.
If you prefer more privacy and flexibility, the private Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor follows a similar route but lets you enjoy the bay at your own pace.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Boat Tour in Kotor Bay the Best?
The best boat tour in Kotor Bay is not simply the longest or the cheapest one.
A good route should give you a balanced experience:
- a beautiful ride through Boka Bay
- at least one cultural stop
- a visit to the open seaside of the bay
- time for swimming
- enough variety so the tour does not feel repetitive
That is why the Blue Cave route is so popular. It does not focus on just one place. It connects several of the most memorable sights in the bay into one clear route.
The usual route includes the following:
Kotor → Our Lady of the Rocks → Submarine Tunnels → Mamula Island → Blue Cave → return to Kotor
If you want a more complete Boka Bay experience, the 4-hour private Boka Bay tour can also include places such as Perast or Porto Montenegro, depending on the itinerary and sea conditions.
The Best Full Boat Tour Route in Kotor Bay
A full Kotor Bay boat tour usually starts near Kotor Old Town, from the waterfront area around Park Slobode.
From there, the boat moves through the calm inner part of the bay before continuing toward the more open coastline near the entrance of Boka Bay. This is where the experience changes.
At the beginning, the route feels calm and beautiful. You pass stone villages, mountain slopes, churches, and small waterfront towns. Later, as the boat continues toward Mamula Island and the Blue Cave, the ride becomes more exciting, with open sea views and a stronger sense of adventure.
This is why the full route works so well: it gives you both sides of Boka Bay. You get the quiet, historic side of the bay and the wilder, open-sea side in the same tour.
Stop 1: Our Lady of the Rocks
Our Lady of the Rocks is usually the first major stop on the route
This small island sits across from Perast and is one of the most famous sights in Boka Bay.
It is known for its church, its history, and its position in the middle of the bay.
For many visitors, this is the calmest and most cultural part of the tour.
You can step onto the island, visit the church area, take photos, and enjoy the view toward Perast and the surrounding mountains.
If you want to learn more about this landmark before your trip, visit the full guide to Our Lady of the Rocks.
This stop is also included in shorter Perast-focused routes, such as the Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast boat tour from Kotor.
Stop 2: Submarine Tunnels
After Our Lady of the Rocks, longer Blue Cave routes continue toward the submarine tunnels.
During the former Yugoslav military period, the navy built these tunnels into the coastline and used them as hidden shelters for boats. Today, they are one of the most interesting stops on Kotor Bay boat tours.
The experience is different from the island stop.
Here, you are not visiting a town or a church. You are entering a quiet, sheltered tunnel carved into the rock. It gives the route a stronger sense of history and makes the tour feel more varied.
The submarine tunnels are one of the reasons why the 3-hour Blue Cave route feels more complete than a short bay tour.
Stop 3: Mamula Island
Mamula Island is near the entrance of Boka Bay, where the bay meets the Adriatic Sea.
The island is known for its round fortress, which has a complex history and a very recognizable shape from the water. Most standard boat tours do not stop on Mamula Island, but they pass close enough for views and photos.
This part of the route is important because it marks the transition from the inner bay to the open-sea part of the tour.
After Mamula, the scenery feels different. The water opens, the coastline becomes more dramatic, and the route starts feeling less like a calm bay cruise and more like a real sea adventure.
Stop 4: Blue Cave, Montenegro
The Blue Cave is usually the highlight of the full route.
Located near the Luštica Peninsula, the cave is known for its glowing blue water, created when sunlight reflects through the sea and fills the cave with a bright, almost unreal color.
This is the part of the tour most people remember.
On good sea days, boats can enter the cave or stop nearby, depending on safety and traffic conditions.
Swimming is usually planned near the Blue Cave area, but the exact swimming spot always depends on sea conditions and the skipper’s decision.
If the Blue Cave is your main reason for booking a boat tour, choose a route that clearly includes it.
A short Perast tour will not reach this part of the bay. For the Blue Cave, you need a longer route, such as the 3-hour Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor or a private Blue Cave boat tour.
You can also read the full guide to Blue Cave Montenegro before choosing your tour.
Which Kotor boat tour includes the Blue Cave, Mamula Island, and submarine tunnels?
The 3-hour Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor usually includes Our Lady of the Rocks, the submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and the Blue Cave on a single route.
This is the best option if you want to see the main highlights of Boka Bay without booking a longer private tour.
It is especially good for:
- first-time visitors
- couples
- solo travelers
- cruise guests with enough time
- travelers who want the Blue Cave but do not want a full-day trip
The route gives you a strong mix of history, scenery, and swimming. For most people, this is the easiest and most balanced boat tour in Kotor Bay.
Group or Private Boat Tour: Which Is Better?
The best choice depends on how you like to travel.
A group Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor is the best option if you want a simple route, good value, and the main highlights in one trip. You follow a fixed schedule, share the boat with other travelers, and visit the key stops without needing to plan anything yourself.
Choose this speedboat tour if you want:
- the best overall value
- a fixed and easy route
- Our Lady of the Rocks, submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and Blue Cave in one trip
- a simple booking option
- a shared experience
A private Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor is better if you want more privacy, flexibility, and control over the pace. The route can be similar, but the feeling is different. You are not following a group schedule, so you can spend more time at certain stops, adjust the route when possible, and enjoy the boat with only your group.
Choose the private Blue Cave speedboat tour if you want:
- more privacy
- more flexibility
- no waiting for other guests
- a more personal pace
- a route focused on your group
A private Boka Bay boat tour is ideal if you want more time on the water and a more complete experience of the bay. Depending on the itinerary, it can also include places such as Perast or Porto Montenegro.
Book your Boat Tour to see Kotor Bay
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from
€
€
per person
Free cancelation
For a full refund - cancellation at least 24 hours in advance, delay or rerouting of the cruiser
Non-refundable for - cancellation less of 24 hours prior to the tour
Bad weather conditions - full refund or book a new tour
from
€
€
per person
Free cancelation
For a full refund - cancellation at least 24 hours in advance, delay or rerouting of the cruiser
Non-refundable for - cancellation less of 24 hours prior to the tour
Bad weather conditions - full refund or book a new tour
How Long Should the Best Kotor Bay Boat Tour Be?
The ideal duration depends on what you want to see.
- 60-minute boat tour is good if you only want a quick visit to Our Lady of the Rocks.
- 90-minute tour is better if you want to combine Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast.
- 3-hour boat tour is the best balance if you want the Blue Cave, Mamula Island, submarine tunnels, and one of the most scenic routes in Boka Bay.
- 4-hour private tour gives you more space, more flexibility, and a slower pace.
For most visitors, three hours is the point where the route starts to feel complete without taking over the whole day.
What You Actually See on the Full Route
A good Kotor Bay boat tour is not just about getting from one stop to another. The ride itself is part of the experience.
Along the route, you see:
- Kotor’s waterfront from the sea
- mountain views above the bay
- Perast from the water
- Our Lady of the Rocks
- old military submarine tunnels
- Mamula Island
- the Blue Cave area
This is why the route feels complete. This tour is not built around just one stop.
If the Blue Cave is crowded or sea conditions change, the route still offers a memorable boat trip with Our Lady of the Rocks, submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and scenic views across Boka Bay.
Best Time to Take This Boat Tour
Morning is usually the best time for the full Kotor Bay boat tour. The sea is often calmer, the temperatures are easier, and the route feels more comfortable, especially when heading toward the Blue Cave.
Midday is warmer and better for swimming, but it can also be busier.
Late afternoon can be beautiful because of softer light, but sea conditions may vary more.
For most travelers, the best choice is:
- morning for comfort
- midday for swimming
- late afternoon for atmosphere
If visiting the Blue Cave matters most to you, it is better to choose a time of day when the sea is usually calmer and the route feels more comfortable.
What to Bring on a Kotor Bay Boat Tour
You do not need much for this tour, but a few things make the trip easier:
- swimsuit
- towel
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- light jacket
- waterproof phone pouch
- small cash for optional extras
Wear your swimsuit under your clothes if you plan to swim, because there are usually no changing rooms on the boat.
A light jacket is useful even in summer because the ride can feel cooler once the boat picks up speed.
Ready to See the Best of Kotor Bay?
FAQ's
Which Kotor boat tour includes the Blue Cave, Mamula Island, and submarine tunnels?
The 3-hour Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor usually includes Our Lady of the Rocks, the submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and the Blue Cave in one route
What is the best boat tour in Kotor Bay?
For most travelers, the best boat tour in Kotor Bay is the 3-hour Blue Cave boat tour because it combines history, scenery, swimming and the main open-sea highlights.
Can you visit Our Lady of the Rocks and Blue Cave on the same tour?
Yes. Longer Blue Cave tours from Kotor usually include Our Lady of the Rocks and the Blue Cave, along with submarine tunnels and Mamula Island.
How long is the Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor?
The most popular Blue Cave boat tour from Kotor lasts around 3 hours. Private tours can be longer depending on the route.
Is Mamula Island included in Kotor boat tours?
Yes, Mamula Island is usually included as a scenic pass-by stop on longer Blue Cave boat tours from Kotor.
Are the submarine tunnels included in the Blue Cave tour?
Yes, most 3-hour Blue Cave boat tours from Kotor include a visit to the submarine tunnels as part of the route.
Is the Blue Cave boat tour worth it?
Yes, especially if you want to see more than one place. The route includes cultural sights, historic tunnels, open-sea views, and the Blue Cave area in one trip.
