Bay of Kotor Driving Guide: Serpentine Roads, Viewpoints and Parking

Why Drive the Bay of Kotor?

The Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) is Montenegro’s most iconic landscape — deep blue water ringed by mountains that rise straight from the Adriatic, medieval towns stacked against the shore, and a serpentine road that climbs 1,300 metres in 25 hairpin bends. No bus tour captures it properly. You need your own car to stop at the viewpoints that matter, detour to villages the ferries skip, and experience the scale of the mountains on your own schedule.

If you are picking up a rental car at Tivat Airport, the Bay of Kotor is fifteen minutes away. From Kotor itself, you can reach every major viewpoint, town and side road in under an hour. This guide covers the driving routes, the best stops, where to park, and what the roads actually feel like behind the wheel.

The Serpentine Road: Kotor to Lovćen

The Kotor serpentine (serpentine Lovćenske) is the single most photographed road in Montenegro. It climbs from sea level in Kotor to roughly 1,300 metres on the road to Lovćen National Park, with 25 numbered hairpin bends over about 8 km of tarmac.

What to expect on the road

• Width: Single lane in each direction but tight on the bends. Two cars can pass if both slow down, but you will occasionally need to stop and let uphill traffic through on the narrowest switchbacks.
• Surface: Good asphalt with occasional patched sections. No potholes to worry about in dry weather.
• Guardrails: Sparse to non-existent on the outer edge. The drops are real — hundreds of metres in places. Drive at a speed where you could stop within half your visible distance.
• Traffic: In July and August, expect coaches and vans on the switchbacks. They need the full lane on tight corners. Pull into a wider section and let them pass rather than squeezing past.
• Timing: Allow 40–50 minutes from Kotor to the top viewpoint without stops. The road is more peaceful before 9 am and after 6 pm.

Best viewpoints on the serpentine

The classic shot is from Viewpoint 9 (the 9th hairpin counting from Kotor), where the road curves back on itself with the bay below. There is a small pull-out for 3–4 cars. Arrive by 8:30 am in summer or you will wait for a parking spot.

Higher up, Viewpoint 22 offers a wider panorama of the entire bay, the open Adriatic, and on clear days the mountains of Dubrovnik. The pull-out here is slightly larger but fills by mid-morning.

At the top, the road flattens and you reach the village of Krstac. From here you can continue to the Njegoš Mausoleum (turn right, 20 minutes on a rougher road, €3 entry, 461 steps to the top).

Kotor Old Town: Parking and Access

Kotor’s Old Town is small, walled, and completely car-free. All parking is outside the walls. The three main options:

• Town Gate car park (Kamena Ploča): 80 spaces, €1–2/hr in summer, free in low season. This is the closest to the Sea Gate entrance. Arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm in July–August or it will be full.
• North Gate car park: 40 spaces, similar pricing. Closer to the north entrance and slightly less congested.
• Old Town South car park: 60 spaces, €1.50/hr, 5-minute walk to the walls. Good fallback when the Town Gate lot is full.

For detailed zone-by-zone pricing and street parking rules, see our parking in Kotor Old Town guide.

Inside the walls

Allow 2–3 hours for the Old Town: St Tryphon’s Cathedral (€2 entry), the Maritime Museum, the cats (Kotor is famous for them), and walking the narrow lanes. The Castle of San Giovanni (Kotor Fortress) climb is 1,350 steps to the top — allow 45 minutes up, 30 down, €8 entry. In summer, go early to avoid midday heat.

Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks

Drive 15 minutes north from Kotor along the shore road to Perast, a tiny baroque town with 16 churches and two islands sitting just offshore.

Parking in Perast

• Waterfront parallel parking: 30–40 spaces along the main road, €2–3/hr in summer, free off-season. These fill by 10 am in July.
• Overflow: A small lot at the north end of town, another 15 spaces. Same pricing.

Our Lady of the Rocks

Boats leave every 15–20 minutes from Perast’s waterfront (€5 per person return, 10-minute crossing). The island church is small but striking — allow 45 minutes total including the museum. The boat operators take cash only.

Driving Along the Bay: Key Routes

Kotor to Herceg Novi (via the coast road)

40 km, about 50 minutes. The Jadranska Magistrala hugs the bay through Dobrota, Orahovac, and around to Herceg Novi. Beautiful but slow in summer traffic. The road is wide enough for two cars throughout but has limited overtaking sections.

Kotor to Budva (via the coastal route)

25 km, about 30 minutes via the E80 tunnel or 40 minutes over the hill road. See our Kotor to Budva drive guide for full details including tunnel toll (€2.50) and parking options in Budva.

Tivat to Kotor

10 km, 15 minutes on the coast road. Straightforward, well-paved, and the easiest stretch of bay driving. See Tivat Airport to Kotor drive for the detailed route.

Practical Driving Tips for the Bay of Kotor

• Fuel: Petrol stations in Kotor (near the bus station), Tivat (on the main road), and Herceg Novi. Fuel is €1.55–1.70/L. Fill up before driving the serpentine — there are no stations on the mountain road.
• Tunnels: The Vrmac Tunnel between Kotor and Tivat is free and well-lit. The Sozina Tunnel on the route to Bar is €2.50.
• Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on open roads, 30 km/h in Kotor Old Town perimeter. Cameras are common on the E80 near Budva.
• Navigation: Download offline maps. Mobile signal drops on the serpentine and in the narrow lanes around the bay. Google Maps is reliable for main roads but sometimes routes you through one-way streets in Old Town perimeters.
• Car choice: A compact car is ideal for the Bay of Kotor — narrow streets, tight parking, and the serpentine is perfectly drivable in a small car. You only need an SUV if you plan to continue into the northern mountains (Žabljak, Kolašin).
• Seasonal warnings: November through March, snow chains are mandatory on mountain roads including the Lovćen serpentine. Check conditions before setting out — the road can close briefly after heavy snow.
• Local driving habits: Flashing headlights means “I am not slowing down, move over.” Indicators are used inconsistently. Double-parking is normal in Kotor. Keep your distance and expect the unexpected.

Suggested One-Day Bay of Kotor Itinerary

1. 8:00 am — Pick up car, drive to Kotor Old Town. Park at Town Gate car park.
2. 8:15–10:00 — Walk the Old Town and climb the fortress (if starting early enough).
3. 10:15 — Drive the serpentine to Lovćen viewpoints (Viewpoint 9, Viewpoint 22).
4. 11:30 — Continue to Njegoš Mausoleum (optional, add 90 minutes).
5. 12:30 — Descend via Krstac back to the coast road.
6. 13:00 — Lunch in Perast, visit Our Lady of the Rocks.
7. 15:00 — Drive to Herceg Novi or back via Tivat.
8. 16:00+ — Return car or continue to Budva for the evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bay of Kotor serpentine road dangerous?

It is not dangerous if you drive at an appropriate speed. The road is well-paved and the bends are numbered. The main hazard is other drivers — coaches, fast locals, and tourists reversing to retake a photo. Take it slow, use pull-outs to let faster traffic pass, and avoid driving it in fog or after snow.

Can I drive the serpentine in a rental car?

Yes. A standard compact rental handles the road perfectly. You do not need an SUV for the Bay of Kotor. Check our driving in Montenegro guide for general road conditions and insurance advice.

How long does the serpentine take?

Kotor to the top viewpoint: 30–40 minutes without stops. Kotor to Njegoš Mausoleum car park: 50–60 minutes. Add time for photos at every viewpoint — most people spend 90 minutes to 2 hours total on the serpentine section.

Is parking easy in Kotor?

In shoulder season (April–May, September–October), yes. In July and August, arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm for the best spots. See our full Kotor parking guide for zone maps and pricing.