Dubrovnik - where to stay... port or old town

I'm surprised a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor is practical by boat. It's 60 miles, and I'd have guess a boat would take too long. The approach through the bay is spectacular, though.

Oh right, perhaps we better re assess that. It was just a tour I had found on Viator - coach maybe the better option ffor kotor

Just check the timing. You may be able to find a review of the trip/tour on TripAdvisor.

I do not have any direct knowledge beyond having gone from Kotor to Dubrovnik by bus. A very, very pretty ride with a good view of the bay, though obviously from a different perspective than you would get from a boat. Perhaps the boat isn't all that slow. But Kotor's old town is fun to explore on foot (especially if there's not a monster cruise ship in port that day). You can walk on the walls--it's sharply uphill in one section, so not a quick process.

Hi heal. A few things come to mind about your inquiry.

I'm not really sure a tour to Kotor is necessary. Perhaps you have something specific in mind that the tour covers which you can't easily see on your own, or you want someone else to do the driving. Our visit to Kotor in 2014 was also a day trip and we simply rented a car for the day. Kotor has a pretty uncomplicated old town that you could visit in an afternoon. On the way to Kotor you will pass through a few interesting villages that might be worth a coffee stop. If driving, you have the option of staying on the road all the way around the Bay of Kotor, or taking a short car ferry ride across the narrowest part, avoiding a bit of driving. Kind of an interesting little diversion.

If you have any flexibility at all for your time in Dubrovnik, I suggest you have a look at this cruise ship schedule http://www.croatiatraveller.com/southern_dalmatia/Dubrovnik/cruise-schedule.html and plan your time when there are the least numbers of cruise ship passengers in Town. Green is good, red is bad. If your days are fixed already, then plan your Kotor day on a red day.

We chose to stay in the little village of Cavtat just a little ways along the coast, south of Dubrovnik. There are water taxis and tourist boats which frequently make the crossing. It was a way for us to avoid the crowds in Dub, plus get out on the water. Car rentals are easily available for pick up and drop off at Dubrovnik Airport just on the outskirts of Cavtat.

The suggestion to check the cruise ship schedules is a good one. We did that and stayed in Dubrovnik when it wasn't too crowded at all and we loved it there! We stayed in a little apartment right in the Old Town. Dubrovnik is really beautiful and charming. Markets, charming little alleyways and spectacular views out to the sea. We also went to Cavtat and while it was pretty, there's a lot more to do and a much cooler feel to Dubrovnik. Be warned about the boats between Cavtat and Dubrovnik...the water looked just fine from the dock at Dubrovnik but it was extremely choppy once we got on our way. People were throwing up all over the place and water flies onto the boat continuously. We were SOAKED when we got there - shirts, shorts, underwear, shoes and socks...seriously. We took the bus back - much nicer. I looked up that boat route after the fact and found it's commonly quite choppy - I would avoid it.

Thanks both so much for your fabulous advice. So great to hear from people with experience

Interesting observation about the rough water between Dub and Cavtat. We didn't experience that. Our trip was 5 days in mid September, so probably 4 return crossings and no issues. Maybe the issue is related to the time of year? One thing we did find interesting was the view from the boat of the abandoned hotel, homes and and office buildings on the shore showing damage from shell fire during the war. Big chunks of concrete missing, fire damage, shell craters...that sort of thing.

Alas, Kotor gets mega-ships, too.

For Port of Kotor:

Arrival date, arrival/departure time, ship name but no passenger numbers. However clicking on the ships name does give passenger numbers.

http://crew-center.com/kotor-montenegro-cruise-ship-arrival-schedule-2017

Wow everyone, this post has been beyond helpful. Thanks so much for taking the time to help

We stayed at Hotel Neptun in Dubrovnik. It is north of the walled city, but just one 15-20 minute bus ride away. It is at a beautiful, quite location on the water. It also has a great breakfast buffet, that you can eat on the outdoor patio, overlooking the sea. It was very peaceful and it was nice to be able to take a break from the crowds. We would definitely stay there again.

Having been there a few times, I prefer staying in the old town. We stayed at Lapad once, also just a bus ride away but, during the heat of the summer, it is nice to be able to stop by the hotel for a quick nap or cooling shower. When we go again next summer We will stay in the old town again.

Great to hear, thanks for your advice. Opted for a reasonably priced aPartment that sits just outside the old town gates, totally agree with being able to pop back for a rest ;)