The big decision in Kotor is whether to sleep inside the walls or out on the bay. Inside, you get the Old Town to yourself in the mornings and evenings; outside, you get space, pools, parking and water views. Here is how the main options compare, and the hotel we would pick for each kind of trip.
Inside the Old Town walls: for atmosphere
Staying in the walled town means stepping straight into the lanes before the cruise passengers arrive and strolling home after dinner across empty squares. It is car-free, so you will need to arrange luggage and parking, and some rooms hear evening noise, but for a first visit it is hard to beat. Our pick is the Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro, a four-star hotel made from a Napoleonic-era theatre, a prince’s palace and a sixteenth-century guard tower beside the main square, with 19 rooms and a two-bedroom suite for families.
For romance in the Old Town
Boutique Hotel Hippocampus has just seven rooms in an old stone house on one of the narrowest lanes, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the roofs, the mountains and the bay. It is quiet, personal and ideal for couples, though the stairs and compact rooms suit light packers.
On the main square: for convenience
Hotel Vardar sits on the Square of Arms just inside the Sea Gate, with 24 rooms, a sauna and Turkish bath and a terrace on the square. Taxis and buses are just outside the gate, which makes it a practical base for day trips. Ask for a quieter room.
Good value inside the walls
Hotel Marija is a small, simple hotel within the Old Town, listed by the National Tourist Organisation as suited to families and couples. Rooms are modest, but the location is the same as the palaces at a lower price.
On the bay shore: for a resort stay
If you want pools, a spa and water views, look outside the walls. The Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort has around 205 rooms, two outdoor pools and an indoor pool, a spa, rooftop dining and private waterfront access, a short drive from Kotor and Tivat Airport. You will rely on taxis or a car for sightseeing, but the days by the water are the point.
Perast and Budva
Perast, a short drive along the bay, is a lovely quiet place for a night or two once the day visitors leave, with small hotels on the waterfront. Budva, over the hill on the open coast, is the place for beach hotels and nightlife, but is a long way from the bay’s atmosphere.
Matching base to trip
For a first visit with history at the door, Hotel Cattaro. For a romantic break, Hippocampus. For central convenience and day trips, Hotel Vardar. For value, Hotel Marija. For a pool-and-spa holiday, the Hyatt Regency.
Practical tips
Book early for July and August. Ask every Old Town hotel about luggage and the nearest car park. Out of season, check which restaurants and facilities stay open.
