Kotor — 12 Minutes Through the Vrmac Tunnel
Exit TIV, turn left, and enter the Vrmac tunnel 3 km down the road. The tunnel cuts straight through the mountain that separates Tivat from Kotor's side of the bay. You emerge at the Kotor approach road — follow signs for Stari Grad (Old Town) and you will reach the city walls in about 12 minutes total from the airport gate.
If you prefer the scenic bay road, stay on the waterfront route through Muo and Prcanj. It adds 8 minutes but follows the water the whole way, with pull-off viewpoints at the narrowest section of the bay. Both routes end at the same roundabout below Kotor's north wall.
Parking in Kotor
Where to Leave Your Car
Tabacina multi-storey (paid, covered, 5-minute walk to the Sea Gate) fills fast in summer — arrive before 10 am. The River Gate lot along the Skurda stream is free off-season and cheaper than Tabacina year-round. In July and August, a temporary overflow lot operates on the approach road with a shuttle to the walls. Street parking inside the old town does not exist.
Inside the Walls
The Old Town is car-free and entirely walkable in 20 minutes end to end. The fortress hike (St. John / San Giovanni) starts from the north-east corner — 1,350 steps, allow 45 minutes up and 30 down. The Maritime Museum near the Sea Gate covers Boka Bay's naval history. Most restaurants cluster along the main square and the cathedral plaza.
Onward from Kotor
Continue north along the bay road to Perast (8 minutes from Kotor). Boats to Our Lady of the Rocks island leave from Perast's waterfront — roughly 5 EUR return. Beyond Perast, the road climbs to Risan and then loops back toward Herceg Novi or connects via the Verige ferry shortcut across the bay mouth.
Head inland on the Kotor–Cetinje serpentine road — 25 hairpin bends climbing 1,000 metres above the bay. The viewpoint at the top (Krstac pass) is one of the most photographed spots in Montenegro. Cetinje itself is 45 minutes from Kotor and houses the old royal court and Cetinje Monastery.
The monastery holds religious relics and sits at the centre of Montenegro's former royal capital. Combined with the serpentine drive, this makes a solid half-day trip from Kotor before returning to Tivat via the tunnel.