Dubrovnik-Kotor by boat

I havent done it. I would look to the actual ferry company. I understand there are 2. This is one https://adriatic-lines.com/dubrovnik-montenegro-ferry. Its a high speed catamaran and takes about 3 hours. High speed catamarans are not scenic pleasure boats, they are sea going buses.

The one i linked leaves about 7am and returns about 5pm. You spend 6 hours traveling round trip for 5 hours in Kotor which might be 4 productive hours.

The down side for me would be that you miss all the good stuff between Dubrovnik and Kotor on the boat. You only get a quick tour if you hired a guide and a car unless you spend the night in Kotor. There is so much good there that doing it as a day trip is a big compromise.

For my interest the best tour of the region is Split south to Ulcinj.

Sorry I wasnt more help. If you do want to do a driving tour in one day or longer, let me know, I have ideas.

Two Suggestions. But remember I don’t do this for a living. Get someone who does and get a better idea, but this will give you a little to work with. I am not enthuastic about any scheme for a one-day trip, because I know what you are missing. Just one night in Kotor opens all sorts of possibilities and makes for a more pleasant experience.

BOAT Dubrovnik to Kotor OPTION
The boat departs at 09:30 and arrives at 12:15. The all 200+ passengers have to go through passport control. A wild guess is you get to the old town gate by 13:00. Do keep in mind that the boat is a high speed catamaran that is not a pleasure boat, more like a bus on the sea. But it is actually a bit faster than the drive. Because it starts so late, and with the return time at 17:30 (but you need to be there at 16:30 because of passport control and just to be sure). So your time is going to be limited to 5 hours. Not bad really. I would use it to ride the cable car and spend.

For the timing of the ride back to Dubrovnik see Option Two below.

GUIDED TRANSFER Dubrovnik to Kotor OPTION

07:00 have your guide pick you up at the gate to Dubrovnik Old Town (I assume you are staying inside of the walls. You really should at any cost). With the border crossing and passport control you will be in Herceg Novi in 2 hours; so 09:00 am. https://youtu.be/nNtT4Mh2ZTc?si=evKziE2TIPVe3m19

Now walk up to the old town for a look. This is really a sweet location, and it will be your last stop without a lot of tourists. There is more here, but this is the daytrip version, so you must keep moving.

10:00 continue to Perast https://youtu.be/q2nckBnc7_M?si=CohK_4nsI6l7chEB. It is a solid hour drive and if you pull over at some of the viewpoints along the bay, it can take longer. You will have to park at the end of town and take a golf cart into town as they close it to thru traffic during tourist season.

Arriving 11:00 you take the one-hour boat ride in the bay to see the island of Our Lady of the Rocks church. https://youtube.com/shorts/B0REVyKmYjE?si=mVyht9RsXdxuZkb1 Or take a tour of the city https://youtube.com/shorts/tEg_dvmT3a4?si=8vh8-5xObUcAj18G .

12:00 It’s time for lunch outside on the edge of the bay at the restaurant of the Hotel Conte. https://youtu.be/zYJcm2zlXA8?si=w7VstV-oLoVEQLr7

OPTION A – The boat
By 13:00 you need to move on to Kotor. It’s a 30-minute drive.

Have the guide on a 1-hour walking tour with you and then another 2 hours on your own (no more driver guide) bringing you to about 16:00 when you need to be at the dock (very close to the old town gate) for the boat ride home https://youtu.be/G7QgBl7XNKU?si=pK1etsEr8UcAlofr . You might want to relax at the Citadela Restaurant. Have a drink and a snack with excellent views and maybe not so crowded + not far from the dock: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W1pCWfd2MhbUmv5a7

17:30 the boat departs, 20:15 the boat arrives and then the taxi to the gate of old town and find a restaurant for dinner takes you to 21:00.

OPTION B – Guided
By 14:00 you need to move on to Kotor. It’s a 30-minute drive.

Have the guide on a 90-minute walking tour with you https://youtu.be/G7QgBl7XNKU?si=pK1etsEr8UcAlofr .

16:00 is time to head back to Dubrovnik. You are dropped off at the gate to the Old Town between 19:00 to 19:30 depending on passport control. Go eat dinner and enjoy the evening.