How Much Does Kotor Cost? 2026 Budget Guide | Prices & Tips
Kotor offers a scenic and moderate-to-luxury coastal experience with daily costs typically ranging from $53 / €45 to $412 / €350 depending on whether one chooses hostel living or high-end bay resorts. While more affordable than nearby Adriatic hotspots like Dubrovnik, the city’s popularity as a major cruise port has elevated prices for activities and dining within the medieval walls. Visitors can expect to pay around $18 / €15 for major historical sights, though the surrounding bay villages offer a more economical pace. The budget is heavily influenced by the choice between public transport and private boat charters, with the latter significantly increasing daily spend. Current daily budget benchmarks are roughly $53 / €45 for solo budget travelers and up to $412 / €350 for luxury stays.
Is Kotor expensive to visit?
Kotor is moderately priced for the Adriatic — expect a daily budget of $53–$412 / €45–€350 depending on your choice of bay-front luxury or old-town hostel living.
On This Page
Daily Budget
How much to budget per person per day in Kotor
$53
per person /day
$147
per person /day
$412
per person /day
Trip Costs by Duration
Total estimated costs per person, excluding flights
| Trip Costs by Duration | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip | $159 | $441 | $1,236 |
| 5-Day Trip | $265 | $736 | $2,060 |
| 7-Day Trip | $371 | $1,030 | $2,884 |
per person — Excludes international flights
Budget Buffer
Recommended contingency for unexpected expenses
It is recommended to set aside a 15% buffer to cover the mandatory Tourist Registration Tax of approximately $1.18 / €1 per day and the $1.18–$1.77 / €1–€1.5 per-person fee required to access the platforms at the main Kotor bus station.
How Does It Compare?
See how Kotor stacks up against other popular destinations
What Things Cost
Real prices for common tourist expenses in Kotor
Food & Drink (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Mixed Meat Plate at BBQ Tanjga A massive platter of Balkan grilled meats for one person costs ~$14–$18 / €12–€15. | $18 €15 |
| Kotor Krempita at Forza Café Standard price for the city's famous custard dessert at Trg od Oružja. | $5.3 €4.5 |
| Pivo Heineken 0.25l (Supermarket) Standard retail price for imported beer. | $1.05 €0.89 |
Transport (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Kotor-Lovćen Cable Car Round-Trip The 11-minute ride ascends 1,350 meters for panoramic views of the bay. | $27 €23 |
| Airport Transfer (Tivat TIV to Kotor Old Town) Official fixed rate for the 15-minute journey. Negotiated street taxis may charge ~$18–$24 / €15–€20. | $35 €30 |
| Intercity Bus (Kotor to Budva) Add ~$1.18 / €1 for luggage if stowing in the bus hold. | $7.06 €6 |
| Local Bus (Blue Line) to Perast The most economical way to travel along the bay villages. | $1.77 €1.5 |
Accommodation (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hostel Pupa - Dormitory bed Prices for dorms in the Old Town typically range from $12 / €10 to $29 / €25 depending on the season. | $12 €10 |
| Hotel Astoria Kotor - Double Room Standard mid-range rate for a boutique hotel inside the Old Town walls. | $182 €155 |
| Huma Kotor Bay Hotel & Villas - Luxury Suite Premium 5-star beachfront resort in Dobrota, just north of the Old Town. | $453 €385 |
Activities (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| St. John's Fortress (San Giovanni) Entry Payment is cash-only at the gate. Climb early to avoid the ~$18 / €15 fee before 08:00. | $18 €15 |
| OJU Muzeji Kotor Combined Heritage Ticket Includes Perast Museum, Solidarity Gallery, and Roman Mosaics in Risan. | $18 €15 |
| Njegoš Mausoleum Entry Fee Does not include the separate $5.89 / €5 entry fee for Lovćen National Park. | $9.42 €8 |
Connectivity (1)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tourist SIM Card (500GB / 15 days) Excellent value for data-heavy travelers; available at Tivat airport kiosks. | $18 €15 |
Food & Dining
What to eat and what it costs
Dining in the Bay of Kotor focuses on fresh seafood and Balkan grill favorites, with a massive meat platter at BBQ Tanjga costing approximately $18 / €15. For dessert, the famous Kotor Krempita custard cake is a staple at Forza Café for $5.3 / €4.5, while supermarket prices for imported beers like Heineken sit around $1.05 / €0.89 for a 0.25l bottle.
Cheap Eats
Where locals eat — real places, real prices
BBQ Tanjga
$14–$24 / €12–€20Outside South Gate · Local chain
Pick your raw meat from the display and they grill it fresh; portions are massive.
Fast Food As
$4.12–$9.42 / €3.5–€8Old Town · Street food area
Best spot for a quick ~$4.12 / €3.5 pizza slice after a night in the bars.
Pizzeria Pronto
$4.71–$14 / €4–€12Old Town · Bakery
They sell whole pies for ~$12–$14 / €10–€12, perfect for sharing on the square.
Marenda Grill House
$11–$18 / €9–€15Old Town · Local chain
Try the Cevapi in lepinja bread for a filling lunch under ~$12 / €10.
Getting Around
Transport costs and the smartest ways to move
Navigating the bay is most cost-effective via the Blue Line local bus, which charges $1.77 / €1.5 to reach villages like Perast, compared to $35 / €30 for an official airport transfer from Tivat (TIV). For panoramic views, the Kotor-Lovćen Cable Car provides a round-trip ascent for $27 / €23, while intercity buses to nearby Budva cost $7.06 / €6 plus a $1.18 / €1 luggage fee.
Accommodation Overview
Lodging ranges from budget-friendly dormitory beds at Hostel Pupa for $12 / €10 to boutique experiences like Hotel Astoria Kotor for $182 / €155 inside the Old Town. High-end travelers often gravitate toward luxury beachfront resorts in Dobrota, such as Huma Kotor Bay Hotel & Villas, where suites can reach $453 / €385 per night.
Accommodation Budget in Kotor
Budget
Hostels, budget hotels, shared facilities
Mid-Range
3-star hotels, boutique stays, great locations
Luxury
5-star hotels, suites, premium amenities
💡 Prices vary by season. Book 2-3 months ahead for best rates.
Money-Saving Tips
Insider tricks to stretch your budget further
- 1 Hike to St. John's Fortress (San Giovanni) before 08:00 to avoid the official $18 / €15 entry fee and the midday heat.
- 2 Use the local Blue Line bus for $1.77 / €1.5 to reach Perast or Dobrota instead of paying for private speedboat transfers.
- 3 Buy a Tourist SIM card at Tivat airport kiosks for $18 / €15, providing 500GB of data for 15 days.
- 4 Eat at BBQ Tanjga outside the South Gate, where a $18 / €15 mixed meat plate can often satisfy two people.
- 5 Purchase the OJU Muzeji Kotor Combined Heritage Ticket for $18 / €15 to save on individual entrance fees for the Perast Museum and Roman Mosaics.
- 6 Stock up on drinks at local supermarkets where beer is as low as $1.05 / €0.89, rather than paying Old Town bar markups.
- 7 Negotiate street taxis for the Tivat airport run; they often accept $18–$24 / €15–€20 compared to the fixed $35 / €30 official rate.
- 8 Stay in Muo or Dobrota rather than the Old Town to find better value and quieter waterfront access.
- 9 Carry cash for the $18 / €15 San Giovanni Fortress gate, as card payments are frequently unavailable at the mountain checkpoints.
- 10 Avoid the $1.18–$1.77 / €1–€1.5 bus station 'peronizacija' fee by flagging down local buses at marked stops along the road rather than the terminal.
Seasonal Pricing
When prices rise and fall throughout the year
Jul, Aug
+30–50%
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
-40–60%
May, Jun, Sep
Shoulder months (May/June) offer warm temperatures ~22–25°C (72–77°F) with half the crowds of August. Winter is very quiet but many boat tours stop running.
Events to Watch
- ● Kotor Carnival (February): +20% hotel rates
- ● Cruise Ship Arrival (Daily 09:00–16:00): Crowds and peak restaurant prices
Free Things to Do
The best experiences that cost absolutely nothing
- 1 Exploring the UNESCO-protected limestone streets of the Kotor Old Town.
- 2 Walking the western and northern sections of the city walls between the River Gate and Gurdic Bastion.
- 3 Visiting the 'Cat Square' (Trg od mliječ) to see the city's famous feline residents.
- 4 Sunbathing at the public pebbly stretches of Kotor Beach (Žuta Plaža).
- 5 Admiring the 12th-century Romanesque exterior of St. Tryphon's Cathedral.
- 6 Hiking the 'Ladder of Kotor' trail (the historic caravan route outside the fortress walls).
- 7 Entering through the 16th-century Sea Gate to view the stone relief carvings.
- 8 Watching the sunset from the concrete pontoons in the village of Muo.
- 9 Taking a self-guided stroll along the 5km waterfront path through Dobrota.
- 10 Photographed the Kampana Tower and its massive Venetian fortifications.
- 11 Viewing the exterior of the 12th-century St. Luke's Church.
- 12 Wandering the Kotor Bazaar and local farmers' market near the city walls.
Worth the Splurge
Premium experiences that justify the price tag
Private Speedboat Tour to Blue Cave
Avoid the crowded group boats; having your own skipper allows for extra swimming time in the Blue Cave.
Seafood Dinner at Galion
Widely considered the best view in Kotor; fresh Adriatic fish with a backdrop of the illuminated city walls.
Kotor-Lovćen Cable Car (Sunset Ride)
The view of the fjord from 1,350m is unrivaled, especially during the 'golden hour'.
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in Kotor
Day Trip Costs
Popular day trips from Kotor and what they cost
Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks
$3.53 / €3 by bus / local boat
$2.35 / €2
$18 / €15
Njegoš Mausoleum & Lovćen NP
$27 / €23 by cable car / taxi
$15 / €13
$53 / €45
Payment & Money
How to pay and what to know about money
Euro (EUR)
1 € ≈ 1.18 $
Yes
Widely accepted in the Old Town for shops and restaurants, but cash is essential for taxis, the fortress climb, and small boat operators.
Round up for coffee or casual meals; 10% is standard for good restaurant service. Service is rarely included in the bill.
Use OTP Bank or Erste Bank ATMs to avoid extra local fees. Avoid Euronet ATMs which charge high conversion commissions ~$4.71–$8.24 / €4–€7.
Connectivity
eSIM: $20–$38 for 5GB–Unlimited (opens in new tab)
Local SIM: $12–$24 / €10–€20 for 500GB–1TB data plans
WiFi: Excellent in Old Town cafés and hotels, though speed can drop when large cruise ships are in port.
Buy a local 'Tourist SIM' at the Tivat Airport kiosk for ~$18 / €15 (500GB); it is significantly cheaper than global eSIM providers.
Why you can trust this guide
35+ countries • 8 years analyzing travel data
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
- All neighborhoods verified by walking them
- Curated locations based on walkability & safety
- Real-time availability via live partner maps
- Prices based on Booking.com & Numbeo averages
Methodology: This guide combines on-the-ground neighborhood research, current hotel pricing data, and real traveler feedback to provide honest, actionable accommodation recommendations for Kotor.
Updated: February 16, 2026
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