Two quite similar destinations, but in different countries. Their proximity to each other and their similarity poses the question for many of whether to visit Dubrovnik or Kotor. Which one should you visit? Dubrovnik sits at the bottom tip of Croatia and remains Croatia’s top tourist destination. It’s no wonder why, the beautiful walled city is divine and the clear waters of the Adriatic can be seen all over, waves lapping against rocks and cliffs on every corner. The historic landmarks in Dubrovnik make it an ideal escape for history lovers or people enjoying a city break, while the plethora of restaurants, photo-worthy viewpoints and secluded beaches also bring in families, couples and groups. It has something for everyone.
Move one country down to Montenegro and Kotor is nestled into the landscape of the Bay of Kotor, which is still on the Adriatic, but winds inland, resulting in some of the most breath-taking scenery that you will find in Europe. The black mountains adorn the landscape while the still waters of the Bay of Kotor make for a beautiful reflection of the landscape against the backdrop of the medieval villages and towns that dot the bay. Likewise to Dubrovnik, Kotor is Montenegro’s most popular tourist destination and hosts an array of restaurants, bars and cafes, a scenic Old Town and plenty of scenic views.
Both destinations ooze history, landmarks, stunning scenery, small beaches and great food. If you have time to visit both then that’s always our recommendation but with busy lives and little holiday time, we all want to make the most of our trips so let’s break it down to see which one is best for you.
Dubrovnik Or Kotor: Ease Of Access
Dubrovnik is conveniently connected via Dubrovnik Airport which caters to a host of international flights, which particularly ramp up in volume over the peak tourist season. The airport is small but well equipped and located around a 30min drive from Dubrovnik city. There are taxis, private transfers or an easy-to-use shuttle service for getting into Dubrovnik City. If you’re coming into Dubrovnik from elsewhere in Croatia, then you can either fly in via domestic flights or you’re looking at a bus journey or transfer, unfortunately Croatia is not particularly well connected with trains. Check out our Dubrovnik travel guide for more information on getting into Dubrovnik from Dubrovnik Airport.
Kotor does not have an airport but Tivat Airport is the closest airport at a mere 8km away. Similar to Dubrovnik, this airport caters to tourist flights mainly and available flights ramp up in the summer months, although flights to Montenegro are not as common as Dubrovnik, so this is something to look up and bear in mind. Tivat airport is smaller than Dubrovnik and less well equipped but is only 10-15min from Kotor. It is quite common for tourists to fly into Dubrovnik for Kotor and get a transfer which can be a journey of 1hr30min to 3hrs, depending on border traffic. Our Kotor travel guide explores the various options for getting into Kotor and includes prices, journey times and ease of use.
Both Dubrovnik and Kotor Old Town are pedestrianised, so no vehicles in this area but are very walkable and compact. Dubrovnik has more stepped areas, although you could avoid these if you wanted to or take a longer sloped route in most areas of the town. There are bus services outside of the Old town in Dubrovnik which runs to various other areas of the city, keeping it well connected. Kotor is too small for bus services to be necessary but there is a bus station with buses running to other towns in Montenegro. Taxis are readily available in both destinations but there are no ride-hailing app services in Montenegro, whereas Uber operates in Dubrovnik.
Verdict: We’d say that Dubrovnik is probably the easier of the two to get to, and the larger city means it has better public transport connections.
Dubrovnik Or Kotor: Scenery
Both Dubrovnik and Kotor boast some of Europe’s, and particularly the Balkans, best scenery. Not only are both Old Towns stunning in themselves, but both also have viewpoints out over the adjacent body of water. Dubrovnik looks over the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, with islands dotted around and fabulous cliffs and rocks. Kotor looks over the Bay of Kotor, a bay off the Adriatic. The Bay of Kotor is simply stunning, surrounded by mountains, greenery and small towns and villages. Both destinations have plenty of viewpoints to marvel at their respective views.
Verdict: Although both destinations have incredible scenery, we think that Kotor, sitting on the Bay of Kotor, has the better, more breath-taking and majestic views of the two.
Dubrovnik Or Kotor: Prices
Being in the Balkans and not the most touristy areas of mainland Europe, both destinations are more reasonably priced, considering their scenery and attractions, than some of their similar European counterparts. Dubrovnik prices can be a little inflated compared to other destinations within Croatia, undoubtedly because of its popularity with tourists. You can find some decent deals but some of the restaurants and bars in the main areas of the Old Town can ask for prices almost double that of some on the side streets, so be wary. Montenegro is a small country and, although it has its tourist pull, is not considered a main tourist destination, therefore the prices are less expensive and more reasonable here than in Dubrovnik. We also found that there were a few more deals in Kotor for a special of the day, or sometimes, a set menu, in restaurants, which can help keep the cost down. The accommodation was also more reasonably priced in Kotor than in Dubrovnik. We recommend checking accommodation through Booking.com to get the best range and best prices.
Verdict: Kotor is the least expensive destination of the two, and Montenegro also uses the Euro which is convenient for any European travellers or anyone tagging the destination onto a European trip.
Dubrovnik Or Kotor: Things to Do
With historical Old Towns in both locations, there are plenty of small streets and squares to get lost in, whichever you choose to visit. Dubrovnik’s Old Town feels slightly bigger and with a plethora of historical buildings and sites, there is probably more to see in the Old Town here. Dubrovnik also has attractions such as Fort Lovrinejac, the cable car to Srd, Dubrovnik Aquarium and a larger selection of beaches (see our things to do in Dubrovnik article for more info). Kotor equally has things to see and do outside of the Old Town (check out our things to do in Kotor article for more info), however, the main attraction of St Johns Fortress could be quite challenging for some, due to the 1350 steps to climb! However, boat trips from Kotor to other areas on the Bay of Kotor such as Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and Tivat are more accessible from the town. Dubrovnik has a wealth of day trips to other islands available, but unless it’s Lokrum, then you’ll need to head out of the Old Town to Gruz Port to catch your boat. Check out our Kotor and Dubrovnik walking tour videos here for more info on things to see and do in each location.
Verdict: Despite both destinations having plenty to do for a couple of days, Dubrovnik has a wider selection of activities and things to see and do available, partly because of its size, but also because it’s slightly more developed. If you’re with children then we think Dubrovnik would definitely have more to keep them entertained, including water sports and more beaches to see. If you’re also a fan of Game of Thrones, then Dubrovnik has plenty of filming spots to see and special Game of Thrones tours to do.
Dubrovnik Or Kotor: Food
The food in both destinations is very similar, focused on classic Balkan cuisine, seafood and some Italian influence. You will get dishes such as Mussels Buzara and Black Risotto throughout restaurants in both. If you’re looking for more diversity in your food and like to have Asian food, Turkish or other cuisines then, although there are a variety of restaurants in both destinations, Dubrovnik offers more selection, likely due to its larger size and developed tourism industry. We have compiled a list of the top foods to try in Dubrovnik here.
Verdict: Both Kotor and Dubrovnik have a great selection of restaurants offering classic Balkan cuisine but if you’re looking for more choice, then head to Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik Or Kotor: When To Go and For How Long
Being very close to each other, the climate in both Dubrovnik and Kotor is essentially the same. The mountains that sit behind Kotor do bring slightly more rainfall there. We’d suggest going to either destination in May – June or September, when the weather is warm, but not at peak summer temperatures and the crowds are less. Kotor is beautiful but small, so you only need 2 days at most to explore the Old Town and see the sights. If you’re looking to do a few boat trips on the Bay of Kotor, then you could extend your trip to 4 days. Dubrovnik Old Town is equally as compact to explore and will only take 2 days, but sights such as
the cable car to Srd and walking the walls can warrant extending your stay to 3 days. The beaches in Dubrovnik are very nice, although not sandy, so if you’re looking to relax then you could spend 5 days to 1 week here and you shouldn’t get bored.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a long weekend trip then either destination works well but if you’re looking for a longer, more relaxing stay then Dubrovnik will cater better.
We hope this Dubrovnik or Kotor comparison has helped you plan your trip to either, or both destinations! These opinions are based off our own trips to both places. Let us know in the comments if you have been to either or both destinations and your thoughts on them. You can also check out our more extensive Dubrovnik travel guide and Kotor travel guide for information such as when to go, where to stay, things to do and how to get around.
Pin this article to save it for later or share it with others
