How warm is the sea near Kotor in June and September?

In June the sea in the Bay of Kotor reaches roughly 22–24 °C by mid-month — comfortable for swimming, especially on sunny afternoons. The water warms progressively through summer and peaks around 25–26 °C in August. By September the surface temperature is still in the 23–24 °C range, which many swimmers find ideal: warm enough for long sessions, refreshing rather than bath-like. The bay's sheltered geometry means it holds warmth longer than open-coast spots, making September particularly pleasant. Shoulder-season visitors often get the best of both worlds — warm water without the July–August heat and crowds.

What is the closest beach to Kotor Old Town?

Orahovac Bay is the closest proper swimming beach to Kotor Old Town, roughly 10 km south along the E65 coast road — about 15–20 minutes by car in shoulder season with no traffic. The bay offers a pebbly shore with calm, sheltered water and basic sunbed hire at around EUR 10–15 for a set of two sunbeds and an umbrella. There is no large beach bar, so it suits visitors who want a quiet swim rather than a full beach-club day. For a livelier experience with a full bar menu, Plavi Horizonti near Tivat is about 20 km away and is the next obvious step up in amenities.

How do I get from Kotor to Plavi Horizonti beach?

The quickest route from Kotor to Plavi Horizonti is via the Lepetane–Kamenari car ferry, which cuts across the narrow strait in about 5 minutes and costs a few euros per car. The ferry runs year-round and the crossing is one of the most scenic moments on the Bay. Alternatively you can drive the full road loop around the Bay, which adds roughly 30–40 minutes. From the Kamenari side it is a short drive to Tivat and then to Plavi Horizonti beach. Total journey time via ferry is around 25 minutes from Kotor Old Town. In shoulder season (June and September) there are rarely long waits for the ferry, unlike the 20–40 minute queues possible in August.

Are beach bars near Kotor open in June and September?

Yes — most beach bars in the Bay of Kotor area open by the second or third week of June and stay open through late September, sometimes into early October depending on weather. In June expect full menus but slightly reduced staff; in September the experience is essentially identical to peak season but without the crowds. Prices for food and drinks do not drop in shoulder season — a beer runs EUR 5–8 and a grilled fish main EUR 10–18 year-round. One thing to check in September is exact closing dates, as some smaller bars wind down in the final week of September. Calling ahead or checking social media pages is worthwhile if you are planning a visit in the last days of the month.

Beach days from Kotor in June & September (2026)

By beachbar.me Editorial · Updated 2026-06-11

Why June and September are the sweet spot

Kotor sits at the innermost point of the Bay of Kotor, so the sea here warms slowly — by mid-June it reaches roughly 22–24 °C, and it holds that warmth well into September. Crucially, the July–August crowds that pack Budva and the open-coast beaches don't materialise in the same way in June or September, which means sunbeds are plentiful, parking is easy, and the beach bars are relaxed rather than frantic.

Swim season around the Bay runs from mid-June to late September. Outside those weeks the water is swimmable on warm days but the beach service infrastructure — sunbeds, bars, water sports — is only reliably running within that window.

Getting from Kotor Old Town to the beach

Kotor itself is a walled city pressed against a cliff — there is no beach at the foot of the walls. The nearest swimming spots are a short ride away.

**Orahovac Bay** is the closest proper beach to Kotor Old Town, roughly 10 km south along the E65 coast road. In June or September the drive takes 15–20 minutes with no traffic. A few concrete platforms and a pebbly shore give way to clear, calm bay water that is wonderfully sheltered. A sunbed pair with umbrella typically runs around EUR 10–15 for the set in shoulder season. There is no large beach bar here — bring a cooler or grab something from the small kiosks.

**Plavi Horizonti (Blue Horizons)** near Tivat is roughly 20 km from Kotor — a 25-minute drive or a combination of the E65 road and the short Lepetane–Kamenari car ferry (runs year-round, crossing time about 5 minutes, a few euros per car). Plavi Horizonti has a sandy feel by Montenegrin standards and a full beach bar with cocktails, grilled fish, and shade structures. A baldahin or cabana here can run EUR 40–80 per day at peak but drops noticeably in June and September when you can often negotiate or simply find one free.

**Žanjic** in the Herceg Novi municipality is accessible by road (about 35 km from Kotor) or by boat taxi from Herceg Novi. In shoulder season confirm boat-taxi schedules before going, as frequency reduces. Žanjic is a quiet cove with clear water, a bar, sunbeds, and some of the most scenic views in the entire bay.

What to expect from beach bars in shoulder season

In June, beach bars across Montenegro typically open in the second or third week of the month and are staffed at around 60–70 % of high-season capacity. The menus are complete and the prices are the same as August — Montenegro does not do off-season discounts on food and drink in the way some other Mediterranean destinations do. Expect to pay EUR 3–5 for a soft drink, EUR 5–8 for a local beer, and EUR 10–18 for a grilled fish main.

September is arguably the best month of all. The sea temperature is at its annual peak — around 25–26 °C in August, still 23–24 °C through September — but the school holidays are over and families have largely gone home. Beach bars often run until mid to late September before closing for winter, and the atmosphere shifts from busy to sociable and unhurried.

Sunbed prices: expect EUR 5–10 per sunbed per day in shoulder season at most bay-side spots; a full set (two sunbeds plus umbrella) EUR 15–25.

Logistics worth knowing

**Getting to the bay beaches without a car** is straightforward in July and August when local boats and minibuses run frequently. In June and September the timetables thin out. Taxis from Kotor Old Town to Orahovac run EUR 10–15 each way. Renting a scooter in Kotor for a day (EUR 25–40) is a popular option for shoulder season and lets you explore several bays in a single day.

**Tivat Airport** is only 8 km from Tivat and about 28 km from Kotor — making it the easiest entry point if you are flying in specifically for a stay based in Kotor. Podgorica Airport is roughly 90 km away and better suited for exploring the southern coast.

**Water quality** in the Bay of Kotor is generally excellent at the open-water beaches. The innermost bays closest to Kotor's industrial waterfront are less attractive for swimming; always aim for beaches at least 5–10 km out from the Old Town toward the open sea.

A sample shoulder-season beach day

Leave Kotor Old Town by 9:30 am to secure a sunbed before the late-morning wave of day-trippers. Drive to Orahovac, swim before 11 am when the sun is still at a pleasant angle for the cove. Lunch at a roadside konoba on the way back, or push on to Plavi Horizonti for a longer afternoon session with cocktails. Head back to Kotor by 5 pm in time to walk the city walls in the cooler evening air. Total beach spend: roughly EUR 30–50 per person including sunbed, food, and two drinks — comfortably less than the same day in peak season.

Final thoughts

Kotor is rightly famous for its medieval walls and fjord-like scenery, but it also makes an excellent base for low-key beach days. June and September offer the best balance of warm sea, uncrowded shores, and full beach-bar service. With a car or scooter you can reach three or four distinct beaches within an hour of the Old Town, making a multi-day beach-and-culture trip from Kotor genuinely rewarding.