Getting Between Stops
Dubrovnik to the Bay of Kotor takes about two hours by road, longer if the border queue is heavy in summer. A private transfer is the easiest way to cross. If you take a rental car from Croatia, confirm that the company allows border crossings and check the fees.
In the bay, the coast road is narrow and parking is tight in summer, especially in Kotor and Perast. Many couples park the car and use water taxis, which connect the villages faster and more scenically. The short Kamenari to Lepetane car ferry crosses the narrowest point of the bay and saves a long drive around the inner basin.
From Kotor to Lake Skadar is about an hour and a quarter. Roads around the lake are narrow and twisting, with steep drops in places, so drive slowly and avoid driving at night. Podgorica Airport is about half an hour from Virpazar.
Where to Stay
In Dubrovnik, Ploče is the classic honeymoon area. Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik is a seafront grande dame facing the walls. Villa Dubrovnik is a small modernist hotel on the cliffs. Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik has sea-view rooms above a pebble cove, about ten minutes from the Pile Gate.
On the Bay of Kotor, Perast is the most romantic base. Dobrota and Prčanj, just outside Kotor, have quieter waterfront villas. The Regent Porto Montenegro in Tivat has Venetian palazzo style and a pool above the yachts. The Chedi Luštica Bay has sea-view balconies on the greener peninsula at the mouth of the bay. One&Only Portonovi near Herceg Novi is the full-scale luxury splurge.
At Lake Skadar, most stays are small family guesthouses and eco-lodges in the villages above the western shore. Standards range from basic to stylish, so read recent reviews and confirm air conditioning for summer.
When to Go
Late May, June and September are the best months. The bay's water is usually warm by June, Lake Skadar is green and full of birdlife and the coast is busy without being packed.
July and August are hot and crowded. Cruise ships fill Dubrovnik's Old Town and Kotor's streets from late morning. Border queues between Croatia and Montenegro grow long. If you travel then, do the famous sights early and spend the middle of the day on the water.
October is quieter and often still warm enough for swimming early in the month, with grape harvest in the Crmnica valley. From November to April, many coastal hotels close or scale back, flights to Tivat are limited and the lake is very quiet, so this route works best in the warmer months.
What It Costs
This route spans a wide price range. As an approximate guide, Dubrovnik is the most expensive stop, with Hotel Bellevue starting around $450 a night for two, Hotel Excelsior around $600 and Villa Dubrovnik around $800 in season. On the Bay of Kotor, the Regent Porto Montenegro starts around $300, The Chedi Luštica Bay around $350 and One&Only Portonovi around $900. Boutique hotels in Perast cost less.
Lake Skadar is very good value. Family guesthouses and eco-lodges often cost a fraction of coastal prices. Long winery lunches are inexpensive.
Budget for a private transfer across the border, a rental car in Montenegro, a skippered boat day on the bay and a private boat on the lake. Dubrovnik's city walls and the cable car have set fees.
Tips for the Two of You
The climb to St. John's Fortress above Kotor is steep, with hundreds of uneven steps, so start at sunrise and bring water. Dubrovnik's Old Town is full of stairs as well. Comfortable shoes with grip matter for both of you.
Beaches here are mostly pebble or stone piers, so pack water shoes. Churches and monasteries, including Our Lady of the Rocks and the island monasteries at Skadar, expect covered shoulders and knees for both of you.
At Lake Skadar, bring insect repellent for evenings by the water. Avoid driving the lake roads after dark.
The route gives each of you your own moments. One partner might dive or kayak on the bay while the other books a spa treatment at one of the resorts. At the lake, one of you can rise early for birdwatching while the other sleeps in and joins for a winery lunch.
Make It Shorter or Longer
With a week, spend three nights in Dubrovnik and four on the Bay of Kotor, flying home from Tivat or driving back to Dubrovnik.
With two weeks, start further north with two nights in Split and three on Hvar, then take the catamaran to Dubrovnik. Or add Korčula or Mljet, both reachable by catamaran from Dubrovnik, for a quieter island stay.
In Montenegro, couples who love mountains can add two nights in Durmitor National Park, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Podgorica, for canyon views and alpine lakes. Those who want a beach can add three nights on the Budva Riviera or in Ulcinj, which has long sandy beaches near the Albanian border, before flying home.
