Updated 30 June 2026
The case for renting a car in Kotor is simple. The old town is small and walkable, but everything worth seeing beyond it, the bay villages, the mountains and the quiet beaches, opens up the moment you have your own car.
This guide lays out what a hire car opens up in Kotor, where you can collect it or have it delivered to your door, and how parking, airport transfers and costs work.
The short answer
Renting a car in Kotor turns a single base into the whole Bay of Kotor. Collect at the Kamelija centre, the bus terminal, the cruise port or a Dobrota hotel, or have the car delivered free to any address, then reach the bay towns, the mountains and the quieter beaches on your own schedule, where tours and taxis quickly add up.
| With a rental car | Relying on tours and taxis | |
|---|---|---|
| Bay towns (Perast, Risan) | Go when you like, park and explore | Fixed bus or boat times |
| Mountain trips (Lovćen, Njeguši) | A morning’s drive at your own pace | Pricey private tours |
| Beaches beyond Kotor | Reach quiet bays and Luštica sand | Limited to the nearest town |
| Rough daily cost | From around €30 plus fuel and parking | Often €60+ a day on taxis and tours |
| Best suited to | Families, drivers, multi-stop trips | A short city-only stay |
When a rental car makes sense
A car is the difference between seeing Kotor and seeing the whole Bay of Kotor. Have it delivered to your door or collect it nearby, and you can be in Perast for the island churches, up the serpentine to Lovćen, or on the sand at Plavi Horizonti, all in a single day and on your own timetable.
It makes even more sense for families, for anyone staying in Dobrota, Muo or the outer bay where buses thin out, and for trips that pair the coast with the mountains or Skadar Lake. If your itinerary has more than two or three stops, a hire car is usually cheaper and far less hassle than tours, as long as you have settled which car to rent in Kotor for the roads ahead.
Live prices and availability for your exact dates.
Free cancellation on most cars
Parking made simple
On the days you drive, you leave the car in one of the waterfront pay lots or the larger Kamelija area, each a short walk from the gate. Our Kotor page maps them with walk times so you always know where to go.
On the days you explore on foot, free delivery on most cars means you can have it brought to your hotel or apartment and collect it only when you want to drive out, so parking is rarely something you think about.
Getting to and from the airport
Tivat airport is just eight kilometres from Kotor, so even without a rental you can reach town by taxi or transfer in around twenty minutes. With a rental collected at the terminal, you arrive ready to explore the whole bay rather than tied to one base, which is why many visitors choose Tivat Airport car rental and pick the car up the moment they land.
Costs to weigh up
A small hire car in Kotor starts from roughly €30 a day in the off-season, with fuel and the occasional parking fee on top. Set that against tour prices and taxi fares for the same trips and the maths usually favours a car as soon as you want to see more than the old town. Free cancellation on most bookings means you can book a car in Kotor now and decide later without risk.
Renting a car in Kotor opens up the bay, the mountains and the beaches on your own terms, with collection nearby or free delivery to your door. Check live prices for your dates and have the car waiting when you arrive.
Why rent a car in Kotor: FAQ
The questions travellers ask most when weighing up a hire car in Kotor, from pickup and parking to the airports and the cost.
Where do I pick up the car, or can it be delivered?
Both. You can collect at the Kamelija centre, the bus terminal, the cruise port or a Dobrota hotel, or have the car delivered free to any address in Kotor. If you are flying in, pick it up at Tivat airport and drive straight to the bay.
Is it worth renting a car for a few days in Kotor?
If you want to see Perast, the mountains, Budva or the quieter beaches, yes; a car pays for itself against tours and taxis within a day or two. For a short stay entirely inside the old town, you can manage without.
How do I get from Tivat airport to Kotor without a car?
Tivat airport is about eight kilometres from Kotor, roughly twenty minutes by taxi or pre-booked transfer. Many visitors instead collect a rental at the terminal so they can explore the whole bay from the start.
Where do you park a rental car in Kotor?
In the pay-and-display lots just outside the old-town walls, including the larger Kamelija and Škurda areas a short walk from the main gate. Spaces fill early in summer, so arrive in the morning or choose accommodation with parking.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Kotor?
Small cars start from around €30 a day off-season, more in July and August, with fuel and parking on top. Booking a few weeks ahead secures the best rates and the widest choice, and cancellation is free on most cars.
Live prices and real-time availability for your exact dates.
