Kotor Beach Guide
While there are 117 beaches in Montenegro with a total length of 72 kilometers, Kotor seems to have got a raw deal. Due to its position at the outer end of the Bay of Kotor, there is little space for our so beloved stretch of sand.
photo: Boka News
The town’s main strand, Kotor Beach, is situated between Kotor’s Old Town and Dobrota, a 10-minute walk from either side. It’s your typical urban beach, does its job but is not the most scenic nor the cleanest one.
And how could it be, being just 400 meters away from Kotor’s infamous cruise ship port? The cleanness of the seawater changes with the ebb and flow of ships coming in and out of the harbor. On some days though, the water quality is astonishingly good.
Kotor Beach backs open to the coastal promenade that connects the old town to nearby coastal villages and constitutes a charming walkway, especially in the afternoon hours. It goes without saying that the views of the surrounding bay are breathtaking from the beach.
Sun loungers and parasols are available for hire, 25€ per set. There is also a free public section that seems to be popular with the younger generations. It is however not so comfortable laying on the coarse gravels and pebbles that this beach is made up of. It is advisable to bring your water shoes.
Onsite, there are showers and changing rooms, and you can rent paddle boards from a stand nearby. Kotor Beach is embraced by restaurants and bars, offering a wide variety of local dishes and drinks to satisfy your post-swim cravings.
The Alternatives
Luckily, there are a couple of good alternatives to the main city beach of Kotor, most of which are not within footwalk distance from the old town but accessible by car, bus, or taxi.
Galebova stijena
This wild and rocky beach sits between the coastal settlements of Dobrota and Ljuta on the sunny side of the bay, perfect to enjoy long hours of sunshine and a marvelous sunset afterward. The views from here of the mountains are probably one of the best in the entire bay.
Galebova stijena is named after a large rock that finds itself on one side of it from which beachgoers love to jump into the deep-enough water. It’s a small beach, mostly visited by locals. It might not be the perfect beach to spend a whole day at but sufficient to be idle for a couple of hours.
Virtu Beach
“Expensive as hell but beautifully landscaped and great vistas” – This is how the hotel-owned Virtu Beach can probably be best described. It is operated by the 5-star Hotel Huma Kotor Bay. You don’t need to make a conscious effort to spend a couple of hundred Euros here.
Virtu translates into ‘knowing the fine arts’, which in this case comes down to looking as good as you can while sipping some cocktail on the expensive but comfortable sun loungers while watching others do the same. It’s typical to see and to be seen venue.
Virtu Beach is a good choice for families with children but also for couples and single travelers. Expect to pay 10€ for fries and 80€ for a shisha.
Bianco Beach Bar
The Bianco Beach Bar might be another option but the prices are now 50€ for two sun loungers and a parasol, quite a price increase from last year. In return you get a picture-perfect instagrammable beach club with Boheme-style umbrellas and a general laid-back vibe, only the music should be softer. A bottle of water is 5€.
Beach Bar El Cortez
A perfectly viable alternative to the above-mentioned beach clubs is the El Cortez, a relaxing sanctuary with breathtaking bay views. The beach bar is situated in Orahovac, a lovely fishing village, 8 kilometers from the old town of Kotor.
There is little to critique here, the bar skillfully matches a cozy atmosphere with a good culinary offering. Particularly, the pizza and coffee are excellent here. The El Cortez tops our list for having the best price-to-value ratio of all beach clubs.
Bajova Kula Beach
Just a little further down the bay in the direction of Perast and Herceg Novi, you will find the trendy Bajova Kula Beach which has established itself as one of the best beach clubs in this part of Montenegro. And it is easy to see why – this beach club seems to have it all.
A carefully-manicured white pebble beach with clean waters, a culinary offering to match, and gorgeous views of this one-of-a-kind fjord. Sunbeds are 40€ the pair, cabanas double that amount. An average meal in the beachside restaurant is between 20 and 30 Euros.
It is best to come early because most of the loungers will be in the shade from 4 or 5 pm. Parking might be an issue on the small and narrow lot in front of the club.
Plavi Horizonti Beach
On the other side of the bay, you can find an alluring sandy beach that is ideal for families with small children and non-swimmers, looking for an all-day experience. The water which is not crystal-clear as on other Montenegrin beaches, stays shallow for 100 or so meters until it finally gets deeper.
Plavi Horizonti Beach is backed by a lush mountain landscape and is embraced by coniferous forests with pathways to both sides. In peak summer months arriving as early as 9 am is highly encouraged to secure free space. You can rent sun loungers and parasols for 20€ the pair.
Onsite, there is a large open-air restaurant, showers, toilets, and changing rooms. Parking costs 5€ for the whole day.