How do you get from Kotor to Dubrovnik? In summer 2026 the fastest way was the Adriatic Lines catamaran, which called at Kotor on 45 days between 1 June and 30 September, for 60 euros one way or 75 euros as a day return. Outside that season you take the bus, about 2 h 15 min and 29 to 36 euros, or drive across the Debeli Brijeg crossing into Croatia, where non-EU travellers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System.
There is no year-round car ferry between Montenegro and Dubrovnik. The details below come from Adriatic Lines, the Port of Kotor's 2026 schedule and our own guides to buses and the border, checked on 25 September 2026.
What are your options?
| Option | Journey | Price | When |
| Catamaran Dubrovnik-Kotor-Dubrovnik | In Kotor from 12:15 to 17:30 | 60 € one way, 75 € day return | 45 days, 1 June to 30 September 2026 |
| Catamaran Budva-Dubrovnik-Budva | Day return from Budva | 60 € one way, 75 € day return, 50 € one way on the 06:00 or 06:30 departure | Seasonal, see the operator's timetable |
| Bus Kotor-Dubrovnik | 2 h 15 min to 2 h 20 min | 29 to 36 € | 3 departures on the day we checked |
| Bus Herceg Novi-Dubrovnik | 1 h 15 min to 1 h 25 min | 24 to 30 € | 3 departures on the day we checked |
| Car | Via Debeli Brijeg and Karasovići | Fuel, plus a green card if your insurance requires it | All year |
On the catamaran, children aged 3 to 11 pay half and under-threes travel free. In Dubrovnik the boat docks at Gruž port, 10 to 15 minutes by road from the old town.
When did the boat run in 2026?
The Port of Kotor's schedule lists the line on Mondays and Wednesdays through the summer, plus nine Saturdays: 9 days in June, 13 in July, 14 in August and 9 in September. The last calls of the season were on 28 and 30 September, so check the operator's timetable before planning next summer.
What happens at the border?
Croatia is in the Schengen area, so the Debeli Brijeg-Karasovići crossing is an EU external border. Non-EU travellers give a face photo and fingerprints on their first crossing under the Entry/Exit System, in full operation since 10 April 2026, and passports are no longer stamped. The live border cameras and entry rules are in our guide to Montenegro's border crossings. By boat, you avoid the road queue but still pass passport control.
How do you plan a day trip?
From Montenegro, the Budva-Dubrovnik-Budva day return is the boat option built for a day in Dubrovnik; the Dubrovnik-Kotor line works the other way, giving visitors from Dubrovnik about five hours in Kotor. From Kotor by bus, take the first morning departure and check the last return time. If you drive, the green card and accident rules are in our guide to car insurance, and bus timetables in our guide to buses in Montenegro. If you are flying into Tivat or Podgorica instead, airport taxi fares are compared in Glatko's guide to airport taxis.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ferry from Kotor to Dubrovnik? Only in summer: in 2026 a catamaran ran on 45 days between 1 June and 30 September. There is no year-round car ferry.
How much is the boat from Kotor to Dubrovnik? 60 euros one way and 75 euros for a day return for adults in 2026; children aged 3 to 11 pay half.
How long is the bus from Kotor to Dubrovnik? About 2 h 15 min to 2 h 20 min, with fares of 29 to 36 euros.
Which border crossing is used between Kotor and Dubrovnik? Debeli Brijeg on the Montenegrin side and Karasovići on the Croatian side.
Do I need my passport to go from Montenegro to Dubrovnik? Yes. Croatia is in the Schengen area, and non-EU travellers are registered in the Entry/Exit System.
Can I do Dubrovnik as a day trip from Kotor? Yes, by the first morning bus, or in summer by the day-return catamaran from Budva.
Sources
Fares and ports come from Adriatic Lines' Dubrovnik-Montenegro line, and the 2026 sailing days from our count of the Port of Kotor's arrival schedule. Bus times and fares come from our bus guide, and the Entry/Exit System from the European Commission's notice that it is fully operational. Checked on 25 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; check the timetable and entry rules for your nationality before you travel.