Renting a yacht or boat in Montenegro is one of the best ways to experience the Bay of Kotor beyond what any shore-based tour offers. A group speedboat trip runs from €45 per person, a private boat for a half-day costs €250–400, and a weekly bareboat sailboat charter starts at around €1 500 in the shoulder season. The main departure points are Kotor and Tivat, with routes covering everything from the Blue Cave to Mamula Island.
Key facts:
- Departure points: Porto Montenegro in Tivat, Kotor city port, Perast waterfront
- Season: May through October; peak pricing in July–August (40–50% markup)
- Skipper: Required for bareboat charter without an ICC or RYA Day Skipper licence. Cost: €100–200 per day
- Boat types: Speedboats, sailing yachts, catamarans, motor yachts
- Group tour: From €45 per person (3 hours, Blue Cave + Our Lady of the Rocks)
- Private half-day charter: From €250–400 (fuel and skipper typically included)
- Weekly sailboat charter: From €1 500 in May/October, from €2 500–3 500 in July–August
Marinas: Where to Start
Montenegro has four main yachting hubs, and the marina you choose shapes your route.
Porto Montenegro in Tivat is the country's premier yacht hub. It can accommodate superyachts up to 250 metres and hosts the largest charter companies. It sits just 7 km from Tivat Airport, making it the most convenient starting point for fly-in visitors. Facilities include luxury restaurants, boutiques and a yacht club.
Kotor city port at Kotor is where most group speedboat tours depart. Convenient for visitors already based in Kotor, with small boats picking up passengers right beside the Old Town walls.
Marina Solila – located between Tivat and Lepetane, it offers a quieter and more affordable alternative to Porto Montenegro. Local sailing schools and smaller charter companies are based here.
Portonovi – a premium marina near Herceg Novi, accommodating yachts up to 120 m. Useful as a launching point for routes towards Croatia.
Types of Rental and Prices
There are three main formats: group speedboat tours, private day charters and weekly charters with overnight stays on board. Prices below are current for the 2026 season and vary by month, boat size and route.
Group Speedboat Tours
The most affordable option – from €45 per person. A standard 3-hour trip from Kotor covers the Blue Cave, Our Lady of the Rocks island, the Yugoslav-era submarine base tunnels, and Mamula Island. Price usually includes a licensed captain, fuel and bottled water. Entry fees (€3.50 at Our Lady of the Rocks) and food are extra.
Private Charter
(Updated: March 2026)
Important: In peak season (July–August), add 30–50% to these prices. Book at least 2–3 weeks in advance.
Weekly Charter (7 days)
Weekly charters typically start and end on Saturdays. The price usually covers only the boat. Skipper, fuel and marina fees are extra. Security deposit ranges from €500 to €2 000 depending on the vessel.
Do You Need a Skipper?
Short answer: for most travellers, yes.
Bareboat (no skipper) is only possible with a valid skipper licence. Montenegro accepts the ICC (International Certificate of Competence), RYA Day Skipper or higher, IYT Bareboat Skipper and equivalent certifications. You also need a VHF marine radio licence (SRC or LRC). Without both documents, no legitimate charter company will hand over a boat.
A skipper costs €100–200 per day on average. This covers navigation, boat handling and local knowledge. Maritime custom dictates that you feed the skipper – including at shore restaurants. This is not a major expense; skippers order modestly.
The practical benefits go well beyond the legal requirement. Skippers know hidden coves for crowd-free swimming, the best timing for the Blue Cave (11:00–14:00, when sunlight hits the water at the right angle), and can warn about the strong current in the Verige Strait – up to 2 knots after heavy rain.
Tip: If you don't have a licence but want to try steering, many skippers will hand over the helm in open water. Just ask.
Routes: Where to Go
The Classic – Bay of Kotor (half-day to full day)
The most popular route starts from Kotor or Tivat and runs through the bay: Perast with its baroque waterfront, Our Lady of the Rocks (a man-made island with a 15th-century church), the Verige Strait, the Yugoslav-era submarine base tunnels on the Luštica peninsula, Mamula Island fortress and the Blue Cave. This is the route offered by group speedboat tours. The bay is sheltered by mountains, so there is virtually no swell – ideal for families with children and anyone prone to seasickness.
Budva Riviera (full day)
From Tivat or Budva you can head south along the coast: Sveti Nikola island (locally known as "Hawaii"), open coves for snorkelling, Budva Old Town from the sea, and Sveti Stefan – viewable only from the water (the island itself is closed to visitors). Note that the open sea here is choppier than the bay, and afternoon wind is common.
One-Week Route: Montenegro + Croatia
The classic loop: Tivat – Kotor – Perast – Herceg Novi – Prevlaka (border) – Cavtat (Croatia) – Dubrovnik – Elaphiti Islands – back to Tivat. This route requires a minimum of 7 days and paperwork for a sea border crossing (passports, ship documents). A skipper typically handles all the formalities.
When to Rent: Seasonality and Weather
The yachting season in Montenegro runs from April to October. The best time depends on your priorities.
May–June – the ideal window for yacht rental. The sea warms to 20–23 °C, prices are 30–40% below peak, marinas are less crowded, and wind is stable and predictable.
July–August – maximum prices and crowds. Water reaches 25–27 °C, but marinas are packed, popular spots (Blue Cave, Perast) are overcrowded, and morning slots sell out well in advance.
September–October – the second "sweet spot". The sea is still warm, crowds thin out and prices drop. The only downside is shorter daylight hours and higher chance of rain towards late October.
Winds in the bay are generally gentle: the northern bora and southern sirocco predominate. Spring and autumn bring steadier, stronger winds – good for sailing races. In summer, wind typically dies down by midday.
Popular Boat Tours from Kotor
If a full charter feels excessive, a group speedboat tour is an excellent alternative. The most reviewed option is Kotor: Blue Cave, Secret Tunnels & Lady of the Rocks from €45 per person – a 3-hour group speedboat covering all the bay highlights. For a private experience, VIP Private Charter: Blue Cave & Lady of the Rocks runs from €295 for up to 6 passengers with flexible timing. A full-day option is Kotor Cruise: Perast, Our Lady of The Rocks, Mamula, Blue Cave, Porto Montenegro from €94 per person – an 8-hour tour covering both the bay and Porto Montenegro.
Hidden Costs and Pitfalls
First-time yacht renters tend to fall into the same traps.
Fuel. Included in group tours and short charters. In weekly charters – almost always extra. A sailing yacht uses 20–40 litres of diesel per day (when motoring), a motor yacht 50–150 litres. Diesel at marinas costs around €1.50–1.80 per litre.
Marina fees. An overnight berth at Porto Montenegro for a 40 ft yacht runs €50–100 in high season. Smaller ports (Perast, Herceg Novi) are cheaper, and anchoring is often free.
Security deposit. €500 to €2 000, returned upon undamaged return. An alternative is a damage waiver at €20–30 per day, which eliminates the deposit requirement.
Food on board. Yachts have a galley (kitchen), but the fridge is small. Locals recommend stocking up at supermarkets in Tivat or Kotor before departure. A waterfront restaurant dinner runs €15–25 per person.
Insurance. Basic vessel and passenger insurance is typically included in the charter price. Personal travel insurance is a separate matter – make sure your policy covers water activities. Consider getting a policy through Ekta if you need comprehensive coverage.
Warning: Avoid booking through unverified social media accounts. Travellers report cases where the "skipper" shows photos of one boat but delivers a different vessel on the day. Stick with companies that have reviews and a proper contract.
Getting to the Marina
The closest airport is Tivat, just 7 km from Porto Montenegro. Podgorica Airport is about 90 km away (1.5–2 hours via mountain roads). Dubrovnik Airport (Croatia) is an alternative, sitting 46 km from the border. Check visa requirements for your nationality before planning your route.
From the airport, the easiest option is a pre-booked transfer via KiwiTaxi or Welcome Pickups. If you plan to combine yachting with road exploration, rent a car through Localrent.
More on transfers: How to Get from Tivat or Podgorica Airport to Your Resort?
Practical Tips
Book early. In July–August, popular yachts sell out 2–3 months ahead. In May and September, 2–3 weeks' notice is usually enough.
Mornings are better. The sea is calmer before noon, and the Blue Cave looks best between 11:00 and 14:00 when the sun is high.
Pack wisely: high-SPF sunscreen (you burn twice as fast on water), non-slip boat shoes, a windbreaker (evenings on the water get cool), and a snorkelling mask if one is not provided on board.
Manage expectations. A weekly charter is not an all-inclusive resort. Yachts are compact – one bathroom for 6–8 people, narrow beds. But you gain freedom of route and access to empty coves no bus tour will ever reach.
Accommodation. If you need a land base before or after your charter, book via Booking.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Montenegro for a day? From €250 for a private speedboat half-day (3–4 hours) to €600–1 000 for a sailing yacht full day. Skipper and fuel are usually included. In peak season (July–August), add 30–50%.
2. Do I need a licence to drive a yacht in Montenegro? Yes, for bareboat charter you need an ICC, RYA Day Skipper or equivalent, plus a VHF radio licence. Without these, you must charter with a skipper.
3. Is it better to start from Kotor or Tivat? If your goal is the Bay of Kotor and Blue Cave, there is little difference – the cities are 10 km apart. Tivat is better for weekly charters (Porto Montenegro has superior infrastructure), while Kotor has more options for day speedboat tours.
4. Does it get rough in the Bay of Kotor? No. The bay is sheltered by mountains, and waves inside are virtually non-existent – comfortable even for children. Choppier conditions are only possible when heading into the open sea (Blue Cave route) during strong southerly winds.
5. When is the best time for yacht rental in Montenegro? May–June and September offer the best balance of warm water, reasonable prices and fewer crowds. July–August is warmest but most expensive and crowded.
Conclusion
Yacht rental in Montenegro is not exclusively a luxury experience – it is a matter of choosing the right format. A group tour at €45 provides the basics, a private half-day at €300–400 gives you route freedom, and a week-long charter at €1 500–3 000 replaces both hotel and excursions. The keys: book early, do not skip the skipper, and aim for May–June or September.
Related reading:
- Car Rental in Montenegro: Everything Tourists Need to Know
- Kamenari – Lepetane Ferry in the Bay of Kotor
- Kotor vs Budva: Detailed Comparison – Where Should You Stay in Montenegro?
- Popular Itineraries in Montenegro: What to See in 1 to 7 Days?
Sources:
- Montenegro Maritime Administration – vessel licensing
- Porto Montenegro – marina services
- Port of Kotor – schedule and information
- International Certificate of Competence (ICC) – requirements
- Montenegro Tourism Organisation