11 Best Montenegro Blue Cave Boat Tours + Is It Even Worth It?

A comparison of the most popular and professional boat tours to the Blue Cave Montenegro and which operator you should choose to book with.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission on anything purchased through these links at no extra cost to you. Learn more on our disclaimer page.

The most popular tour in Montenegro, taking a boat trip to the Blue Cave is one of the best things to do in the Bay of Kotor. Known for its bright blue water and dramatic entrance, the cave looks impressive in photos, but after visiting ourselves, we think there’s a bit more to consider before booking a tour.

We spent hours and hours comparing the different Blue Cave boat tours from Kotor, cross-referencing itineraries and inclusions, and reaching out to countless operators. While most tours seem pretty similar at first, they vary quite a lot in terms of stops, price, boat size, and how long you actually spend at the cave.

We’ve also included our honest thoughts on whether the Blue Cave is even worth adding to your Montenegro itinerary, as it wasn’t quite what we expected. Crowds, unpredictable weather, choppy water, limited time at the cave, and the fact that the experience can vary considerably depending on the tour operator you choose are also worth considering.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best Blue Cave boat tours in Montenegro, what each tour includes, how much they cost, what the experience is actually like, whether we think visiting the Blue Cave is worth it, who we booked with, and if we’d recommend it, to help you decide whether to go and who to book with.

What is Montenegro’s Blue Cave?

Montenegro’s Blue Cave (Plava Špilja) is a sea cave on the outer coast of the Luštica Peninsula, near the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. It’s famous for the intense blue colour that fills the cave when sunlight enters through an underwater opening and reflects through the clear seawater.

The cave itself isn’t particularly large, but the combination of the limestone walls, clear water, and dappled sunlight effect is really unique, which is what makes it such a popular boat-trip destination.

Despite being nestled on the south coast of the Luštica Peninsula, you can only reach the Blue Cave by boat. There is no road or walking route to the entrance, which is why most visitors go as part of a sightseeing boat trip rather than as a standalone attraction.

The Blue Cave is particularly well suited to couples, families, groups of friends, and anyone who enjoys boat trips. You don’t need to be especially fit to visit, although you should be comfortable getting on and off a boat, be aware that the speedboats can be very bumpy, and if you want to swim inside the cave, we’d recommend being a strong swimmer.

Where is the Blue Cave in Montenegro?

The Blue Cave sits on the Adriatic-facing side of the Luštica Peninsula, close to the mouth of the Bay of Kotor.

The Blue Cave is around 45-60 minutes by speedboat from Kotor, 30-45 minutes from Tivat, 60-90 minutes from Budva, and just 15-20 minutes from Herceg Novi. But journey times vary depending on the departure point, boat, and sea conditions.

It’s located near other highlights, including Žanjice Beach, Mirišta, Cape Arza, and Mamula Island, many of which are included in boat tour itineraries.

Montenegro’s Blue Cave is not to be confused with the one in Croatia near Vis, which is commonly visited from Split. There are also Blue Cave boat trips marketed from Dubrovnik, so check the exact destination of the tour when booking to make sure you’re visiting the Montenegrin cave.

What do Blue Cave boat tours include?

If you’re already staying around Kotor’s Old Town, a Blue Cave trip will usually be visited as part of a longer speedboat excursion to multiple stops rather than simply being a quick trip to the cave.

Most tours depart from Park Slobode or the marina in Kotor, but some also go from other locations around the Bay of Kotor, which we’ve covered below. Where you leave from will affect what you see, as the tour itineraries differ depending on the route the boat takes.

Once you’ve set off, you’ll cruise along the coastline and stop at various points, depending on the tour you’ve booked. A typical full-day or half-day speedboat trip from Kotor may include:

Beyond the stops themselves, most Blue Cave boat tours also include snorkelling equipment and life jackets, with some boats offering freshwater showers, toilets, shaded seating, and onboard refreshments. The exact facilities vary by operator and boat, so it’s worth checking what’s included when booking, particularly if you’ll be swimming or spending several hours on the water.

Can you swim in Blue Cave, Montenegro?

Swimming is a big part of the appeal of taking a tour to the Blue Cave. However, it’s worth checking the exact itinerary before booking because boats and access arrangements can vary, and rough seas can make it impossible to enter the cave at all.

Most tours then allow around 20-30 minutes at the Blue Cave area for a swim, although the exact arrangements will depend on your operator.

It’s worth noting that motorised boats have been banned from entering the cave. The change was introduced primarily for safety, following concerns about speedboats operating inside the cave while visitors were swimming, as well as the risk of accidents in the confined space. But on our visit, which was a few months after the change, we noticed a few boats breaking that rule. They were inside the cave and floating around what we’d consider dangerously close to swimmers.

The Blue Cave itself remains open to visitors, so boat tours can still stop at the cave, but they must remain outside, and you can then enter the cave by swimming inside.

Strong winds or swell can make entering the cave unsafe, in which case the skipper may change the itinerary or use a nearby swimming spot instead. It was pretty busy when we visited, and we thought it was quite chaotic, so we chose to swim in a smaller nearby cave instead, and had it all to ourselves.

Where can you take a Blue Cave tour from?

Where you start your Blue Cave tour makes a noticeable difference to the route, stops, and how much time you spend on the water. Kotor and Perast give you a longer scenic journey through the Bay of Kotor, while departures from Herceg Novi and Tivat are closer to the cave and focus more on the Luštica Peninsula and the bay entrance.

Kotor

Kotor is the most convenient departure point if you’re staying in or around the Old Town, with most speedboats leaving from the harbour around Park Slobode. The journey takes around 3 hours in total, with the route combining several of the bay’s main sights with the Blue Cave, including:

Perast

Perast offers a similar route to the Kotor departures, but you start further along the bay, cutting out the section between Kotor and Perast, so most tours last around 2.5 hours. This makes it a useful option if you’re already staying in Perast or nearby rather than travelling back to Kotor first. The route then follows the same general direction towards the Blue Cave.

Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi is much closer to the Blue Cave, so tours from here spend less time crossing the Bay of Kotor and more time around the Luštica Peninsula and the entrance to the bay. This makes it a convenient departure point if you’re staying on the Herceg Novi or Luštica side of the bay.

There are shorter 1.5-2 hour trips focused specifically on the Blue Cave and nearby attractions, including:

Some tours also depart from Tivat, which is relatively close to Herceg Novi and follows a similar route towards the Blue Cave and the entrance to the bay.

Budva

Blue Cave trips are also available from Budva, but the logistics are quite different. You’ll generally travel north along the coast to reach the cave, spending most of the tour in transit.

If the Blue Cave is your main reason for taking the boat trip, it may be more practical to travel to Kotor or Herceg Novi first by bus or rental car (it’s only a 30-minute drive to Kotor) and take a tour from there, rather than spending most of the day on a boat.

How much does a Blue Cave boat tour in Montenegro cost?

Blue Cave boat tour prices vary depending on where you depart from, whether you join a shared speedboat or book the whole boat privately, and how many stops are included.

Generally, shared boat tours cost around €40-65 per person for group speedboat tours from Kotor, while shorter trips from Herceg Novi can start at around €30-45 per person.

If you’re travelling as a group, a private boat can work out better value, particularly if you want more flexibility over the itinerary. Expect to pay around €200-350 per group of 8 and around €400-500 per group of 10.

Most Blue Cave tours include the boat trip, a skipper or guide, fuel, and the advertised stops, with life jackets provided onboard. Check with your operator if they include items like snorkelling gear, snacks and drinks, or a Bluetooth speaker.

Other fees may not be included in your tour. The entrance fee for Our Lady of the Rocks in Perast is €5 per person, to be paid on the island in cash.

It’s also worth noting that prices can be higher during July and August, when demand for boat trips is at its peak, and some operators offer lower rates during the shoulder seasons.

How to choose a Blue Cave tour

There are a few things to consider when choosing which Blue Cave boat tour to book.

Departure location

There are lots of different towns and places to stay in the Bay of Kotor. Where you leave from affects what you see:

Itinerary

Look closely at what the tour actually does at each stop, not just what it passes by or where it goes. Seeing somewhere from the boat is different from getting off and having time to explore, especially for Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, and Žanjice Beach.

Price

Price is important, but it’s worth looking at what you actually get for your money, too. A cheaper tour is not necessarily better value if it has a shorter itinerary, a larger group, or fewer stops.

Compare tours on a like-for-like basis, including the length of the trip, group size, departure point, and what is included.

Duration

Pay attention to how much of the advertised duration is actually spent enjoying the sights. A 3-hour trip is the classic, but operators pack a lot of sights in, and it can feel rushed. Anything less than 3 hours, and you’re going to be skipping sights.

Season

Sea conditions, weather, and water visibility can all affect the Blue Cave, while some tours and attractions operate differently outside the main summer season. You might not want to spend time on the open ocean if the weather forecast is bad.

Group size

Do not rely on “small group” descriptions without checking the actual maximum number of passengers. There can be quite a difference between sharing a speedboat with 6 people and sharing one with 12 or more. Most speedboats seat 8, but it’s always worth checking.

A smaller group generally gives you more space on the boat and can make swimming stops and getting on and off the boat easier.

Time of day

The time you go can affect the experience too. Most operators run tours at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Earlier trips can mean cooler temperatures and fewer people at some stops, while later departures may offer different light and conditions on the water.

For the Blue Cave itself, conditions can affect how clearly you see the blue colour inside, so it is worth asking the operator whether there is a particular time of day they recommend. Generally, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM is best for the classic neon blue glow of the cave’s water. But if you’re not fussed about it, going out in the early morning before the other boats is much quieter and calmer. Equally, sunset can be a great time for couples to go out.

Day of the week

If you have some flexibility, consider travelling on a weekday rather than at the weekend, particularly during the busiest summer months. Popular stops and beaches can be noticeably busier when more boats are out on the water.

Private vs group tour

The biggest difference between a private and group tour is flexibility. On a shared trip, you follow the operator’s itinerary and timetable, whereas a private boat gives you more scope to spend longer swimming, change the order of stops, or skip somewhere you are not interested in.

We opted for a private tour for my family, as we had a specific list of sights we wanted to see in one trip.

Booking platform

Where you book can make a difference too. Booking directly with the boat company can sometimes give you more choice over departure times and makes it easier to ask questions about the boat and itinerary before you pay.

Alternatively, platforms like  GetYourGuide and Viator have loads of tours on offer, offer free cancellation, and you can pay online in your home currency. It’s also easier to compare different tours and read reviews in one place.

Company

This is perhaps the most important thing to consider. Two tours can have almost identical itineraries and prices but offer very different experiences depending on the company running them and who your captain is.

Look at recent reviews, check how long the company has been operating, and pay attention to comments about the boats, skippers, communication, and how closely the advertised itinerary matches the actual trip.

Which Blue Cave tour company is best?

Once you have decided what type of Blue Cave tour you want, the next step is choosing who to book with. Here’s what to consider when choosing a Blue Cave boat tour operator.

What’s included

Check exactly what you are paying for. This might include the boat and skipper, fuel, entrance fees, snorkelling equipment, drinks, food, hotel transfers, or other fees associated with the trip. If something is not clearly listed, ask rather than assuming it is included.

Guides

The captain is an important part of a Blue Cave trip, particularly as they are responsible for navigating the boat and deciding where it is safe to stop. Look for information on the company’s website and in recent reviews about the skipper’s experience and whether they provide any commentary or local knowledge along the way. If you are travelling with people who do not speak the local language, check which languages the guide or skipper speaks.

Boat type and equipment

Find out what type of boat you will be travelling on and how many people it carries. Most tours take place on small seaboats, so it’s worth checking the size of the vessel and any on-board amenities (most won’t have toilets). Having a cover for shade was really important to us, as we didn’t want to sit out in the sun for hours.

It is also worth checking what is supplied, particularly if you plan to swim or snorkel but don’t have your own gear. Where snorkel gear is provided, most companies will only have masks, not snorkels and fins.

Safety standards

Safety should be one of the first things you look at when choosing a boat company. Check that the operator uses appropriately qualified skippers and that the boat is properly equipped for the type of trip being offered. Look for recent comments about how the skipper handled rough seas, whether the boat felt well maintained and whether the company was willing to change the itinerary when conditions were unsuitable.

Food and water

If the tour includes refreshments, check what is actually provided. Some operators include bottled water, while others provide additional drinks or snacks. Some even include alcoholic drinks, while others allow you to bring your own.

For longer trips, check whether lunch is included or whether you will stop somewhere where you can buy food. If you have dietary requirements, let the company know in advance rather than assuming they will be able to accommodate you on the day.

Refund and cancellation policy

This is particularly important for boat trips because the weather and sea conditions can affect whether a tour can safely operate, especially if you’re travelling outside the main summer season.

Check what happens if the company cancels the trip, as well as what happens if you need to cancel. Look for the deadline for a full refund and whether you can change your booking if the weather forecast changes.

Ethics and environmental practices

It’s worth considering how an operator treats the places it visits. We always try to choose the most ethical operator, especially when wildlife is involved. Not many companies seem to have dedicated eco-friendly practices in Montenegro, but there are positive reviews about companies that avoid unnecessary disturbance, follow local rules, and do not encourage passengers to damage or remove anything from the cave, coastline, or other sites are always a bonus.

Sustainable practices

Boat tours naturally have an environmental impact, so look at whether the company makes any effort to reduce it. This could include keeping group sizes reasonable, employing local skippers and staff, disposing of waste properly, and following restrictions around sensitive areas.

It is also worth being wary of vague claims about being “eco-friendly” without any explanation of what the company actually does – that’s generally greenwashing.

Communication

Good communication before the trip is a useful sign that a company is organised. You should be able to get clear answers about the meeting point, departure time, itinerary, boat, and what you need to bring. Most operators have a website and social media, and it’s pretty standard to arrange tours through WhatsApp.

Transparency

A good operator should make the important details easy to find before you pay. At a minimum, you should be able to see:

The best Blue Cave Boat tour companies

There are countless companies offering Blue Cave trips around the Bay of Kotor. We researched a wide range of operators, compared their boats, routes, prices, and reviews, and contacted several directly before deciding who we were comfortable booking with. These are the companies that stood out during our research:

Company	Departure	Group size	Boat	Blue Cave Tours
360 Monte	Kotor Old Town, with pickup available from Tivat, Budva, and Herceg Novi	30	Large custom-made boat	8-hour shared tour
Boka Bliss	Park Slobode, Kotor	12	Speedboats	3-hour shared and private tours
Hawaii Boat Tours	Park Slobode, Kotor	6 or 8	Speedboats	3-hour shared and private tours
Sea Stars	Kotor Waterfront	8 or 12	Speedboats	3-hour shared and private tours
Aquaholic	Park Slobode, Kotor	8	Speedboats	3-hour & 5-hour shared and private tours
Montenegro Submarine	Park Slobode, Kotor	8 or 22	Speedboats	3-hour & 3.5-hour shared and private tours
Poseidon	Park Slobode, Kotor	8 or 12	Speedboats	3-hour shared and private tours
Kotor VIP	Park Slobode, Kotor	12	Speedboats	3-hour shared and private tours
Knez Lipovac	Tivat and Kotor marinas	200	Wooden three-deck ship	8-hour shared tour
Captain Ivan	Flexible	10	Small boats with sun canopies	8-hour private tour
Petar Boats	Herceg Novi	6	Speedboats	2-, 6-, and 8- hour shared and private tours

Which Blue Cave boat tour should you choose?

There is no single Blue Cave tour that will suit everyone. The right option depends on where you are staying, how much time you have, who you are travelling with, your budget, and whether you want a quick trip to the cave or a full day exploring the Bay of Kotor.

Hawaii, Boka Bliss, Sea Stars, Aquaholic, and Montenegro Submarine are probably the most well-known and reputable operators offering classic 3-hour speedboat trips. 360 Monte and Knez Lipovac offer a different kind of tour – a long day on a big boat with more facilities. While Captain Ivan would be our pick for supporting a local with an ethical ethos.

For us, Hawaii, Sea Stars, and Aquaholic’s boats only seat up to 8 people, so we sadly had to discount them. Boka Bliss quoted us €420 for 10 people, covering all the stops in 3 hours, while Kotor VIP quoted us €500 for the same trip. Captain Ivan was our favourite provider on paper, quoted us €450 for 10 people, but unfortunately has a slower boat, and 8 hours on the water didn’t suit some of our party. We do also love the look of his dolphin-watching tour in collaboration with Montenegro’s marine conservation community.

Rates and tour itineraries constantly change, so we’d recommend reaching out to providers you like the look of for exact inclusions and prices.

In the end, we went with Boka Bliss and had a blast. They provided us with water, let us play tunes on the Bluetooth speaker, and our English-speaking guides were great and gave us information about each stop. It was an excellent tour that the whole family loved. The only downside was that they didn’t have enough snorkel masks for everyone, even though we’d checked on WhatsApp before, but luckily, we’d brought some spare swimming goggles.

At the end of the day, if you check the inclusions and reviews and pick the right kind of trip for you, you’re likely to have a really good time, no matter who you choose.

What to expect on a Blue Cave boat tour

Most Blue Cave boat trips take around 3 hours and combine several stops around the Bay of Kotor and Luštica Peninsula, so you will spend a fair amount of time on the boat between swimming, sightseeing and short stops on shore.

The exact experience depends on the boat and operator, but here is what you can realistically expect and what we experienced with Boka Bliss.

The boat

Most operators use small or medium-sized speedboats. Some have simple open seating, while newer boats have padded seats, windshields, and more protection from the spray.

On our boat, 4 people could sit under the shaded canopy at the back of the boat, while 6 of us sat at the front in the sun. It’s bumpier at the front, which is fun if you like a bit of a thrill as you bash over the waves.

Even if your boat has shade, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. The reflection from the water can make the sun feel surprisingly strong, particularly on longer trips.

Do not assume that a small speedboat will have a toilet. Many do not, particularly the smaller boats used for three-hour tours. There aren’t any toilets in Park Slobode where you depart from either, so go before the trip. There are some toilets on the Our Lady of the Rocks island for a small fee.

Some boats have USB charging, Bluetooth speakers, or other basic facilities, but these vary between operators. Ours had a compartment we could store bags to keep them dry, and our guides provided us with extra water bottles after we finished what was in our reusable bottles.

We loved having a Bluetooth speaker on board. I was DJ, and we all thoroughly enjoyed blasting across the bay singing along to tunes. A real highlight was entering a submarine tunnel with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme playing.

The boat ride

The journey by speedboat is fast and bumpy. We deliberately left our camera in the accommodation because we knew we couldn’t use it unless the boat stopped, and we didn’t want it to get splashed.

The bumps, wind, and spray are part of the experience. Our guides even did a bit of wave riding and jumping over wakes from other boats. They were pretty good at gauging whether we were a group that enjoyed it, but our whoops and grins probably answered that question for them.

If you are prone to seasickness, it is worth taking seriously, though. A Blue Cave tour involves several hours on the water, and even on a calm day the boat will move around a fair bit. Take some natural ginger tablets before boarding (or consider whether the trip is for you at all).

Our Lady of the Rocks

Our first stop was Our Lady of the Rocks, just outside Perast. We got off to look around the church, which didn’t take long.

If you go inside the church, you need covered shoulders and knees, but they have some free cover-ups outside. Don’t miss the doorway to the second floor – walk through the altar, turn left, and go up the stairs. There are a few nice views from here, too.

Some longer tours also allow time to visit Perast Old Town, rather than simply passing the town from the water. We considered it, but decided to visit by car another day instead.

Submarine Tunnels

Back on the boat, we sailed through the Bay of Tivat and out towards Herceg Novi, we passed Porto Montenegro before turning towards the open ocean. From here, we hugged the coast of the Luštica Peninsula and went inside a submarine tunnel.

The submarine tunnels were built by the former Yugoslav navy during the Cold War, carved into the cliffside to hide and protect naval vessels from potential attack.

Luštica Peninsula

As we rounded the Luštica Peninsula, we passed the quaint village of Rose, stopped outside Mamula Island, and passed Arza Fortress.

The sea is much choppier here than in the calm and protected bay, so expect more spray, especially if it’s windy.

The Blue Cave

The cave is usually the main event, but it is worth having realistic expectations. On a busy summer day, several boats may arrive at the same time, and the entrance can become extremely congested.

The colour of the water depends on the weather, sea conditions, and position of the sun, so the experience can look quite different from one visit to another. On a bright, calm day, the water can have the intense blue glow you see in photographs, but it can look much less dramatic when conditions are different.

There were several boats inside the cave when we visited (which is no longer allowed, but the rule was still broken), and the smell of fumes from boat engines was noticeable.

It was nice to see the blue water, but the cave interior was pretty chaotic with lots of swimmers, so our guides suggested we swim at a nearby sea cave instead.

Swimming

We jumped in the water and headed into the cave. It was much smaller than the Blue Cave, but we had it all to ourselves. The water wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t cold either, so we were comfortable.

Look out for sea urchins on the sea floor and cave walls. We’d recommend a pair of boat shoes.

We’re proficient snorkellers and have dived all over the world, but we will say, swimming in the sea here, with the currents and boats, can be challenging. We had our own masks and snorkels, but my family only had goggles, and none of us had fins, so it was harder to swim and quite tiring.

The return journey

After our swim, it was time to head back to Kotor, which was a pleasant and scenic journey with the music playing.

Is the Blue Cave in Montenegro worth it?

I have kind of mixed feelings about whether the Blue Cave tour is worth it.

It’s not expensive (especially if you opt for a shared group tour), it only takes a few hours (so you’re not losing a whole day of sightseeing), and it’s a fun way to see a different side of the Bay of Kotor. But it can be kind of chaotic around the cave itself, especially in summer.

For me and my family, hiring a private boat for the 10 of us was definitely worth it. We enjoyed seeing the sights of the bay from the water, had a blast singing along to tunes on the speaker, and got a little swim in. It was one of my family’s favourite days on our holiday, and we still speak about it fondly.

As a couple, I’m not sure Dan and I would have booked the tour. It is a very popular tour, which means the Blue Cave specifically is very busy. There were boats all around the cave entrance – and even a couple inside the cave, which is against the regulations. There were maybe a hundred swimmers in the cave – it was crowded, noisy, smelled of fumes from the boats, and, quite frankly, I think it was a bit dangerous – we were worried the boats were going to hit the swimmers and opted to swim in a quieter nearby sea cave rather than the Blue Cave itself. This was in mid-June, so I’d hate to see how much busier it gets in the peak summer months.

Almost all Blue Cave tours are run on little speed boats, which are incredibly bumpy, so it’s not the kind of trip for a relaxed day on the water or if you have back issues. There are more traditional sightseeing cruises, but they take longer to see the sights, or skip some altogether.

So would we recommend a Blue Cave tour? Yes, if you’re keen to see the bay from a boat, are up for a nice couple of hours out on the water, and know what to expect when it comes to the itinerary and crowds.

We’d be less inclined to recommend it to you if you dislike speedboats, are prone to seasickness, aren’t really fussed about very touristy and busy sites, or are looking for a quiet, uncrowded experience in the middle of summer (you won’t get that!). It’s also not a real snorkel trip, and the swim stop is more of a quick dip in the sea – a tread-water-in-a-sea-cave kind of situation – rather than a real snorkel and swim stop.

When to take a Blue Cave boat tour?

The best time to take a boat trip to Montenegro’s Blue Cave is generally between May and September, which is the main season when the tours run.

June to September usually offers the warmest weather and best conditions for swimming, while May and September can be quieter. We were surprised how busy it was in mid-June, knowing it wasn’t peak summer yet.

July and August are the busiest months, so expect more boats around the main sights and the cave during this time.

Morning and afternoon tours can both work, but conditions inside the cave depend on the position of the sun, so the water can look different throughout the day. Earlier departures are often quieter and cooler, while later tours can be busier. Sea conditions also matter more than the exact time of day, so it’s worth checking the forecast.

Blue Cave tours are weather-dependent – when the sea is rough or visibility is poor, they can be cancelled, or you’ll have to miss the Blue Cave.

Tips for booking a Blue Cave boat tour

What to pack for a Blue Cave boat tour

It’s best to be prepared for your Blue Cave boat tour. Don’t forget to pack your:

Blue Cave Boat Tour FAQs

To help you choose which Blue Cave boat tour to book, we’ve answered these frequently asked questions.

How do I get to Blue Cave from Kotor?

The Blue Cave is on the outer, Adriatic-facing side of the Luštica Peninsula, so there isn’t a road or walking route to the cave. From Kotor, the easiest option is to join a boat tour, with most trips departing from around Kotor’s waterfront and taking roughly 40-60 minutes to reach the cave by speedboat.

Can I take a tour of the Blue Cave in Montenegro?

You don’t have to book a group tour, but you do need to get there by boat. If you have your own boat or hire a private boat with a skipper, you can visit independently of a group tour.

Can you visit the Blue Cave without a tour?

No, Montenegro’s Blue Cave is only accessible by boat. Due to its position on the open ocean and distance from the Bay of Kotor, we wouldn’t even recommend kayaking or paddleboarding to it – it should be reached via boat by an experienced captain.

How blue is the Blue Cave?

The cave really can be very blue, but don’t expect it to look exactly like every photo you’ve seen online. The colour comes from sunlight entering through an underwater opening and reflecting off the pale seabed, so the effect changes depending on the time of day, sunlight and weather. On a cloudy day, the colour can be much less dramatic.

What happens if the Blue Cave is closed?

The Blue Cave can become inaccessible when sea conditions make it unsafe to approach. If conditions aren’t suitable, your skipper may skip the cave or change the itinerary rather than take the boat into dangerous water.

Is Kotor or Herceg Novi a better departure point for the Blue Cave?

It depends on what you want from the trip. Herceg Novi is closer to the Blue Cave, so tours from there can spend less time travelling and more time around the Luštica coastline. Kotor is further away, but tours from Kotor often combine the Blue Cave with other Bay of Kotor sights, making them more of an overall sightseeing trip.

Are there dolphins in Kotor Bay?

Dolphins do live in the Adriatic and can occasionally be spotted around the Bay of Kotor and the waters near the Luštica Peninsula. However, sightings are never guaranteed, so don’t book a Blue Cave tour specifically expecting to see dolphins. There is a dedicated dolphin tour run by Captain Ivan in tandem with Montenegro Dolphin Research.

Read next:

A Traveller’s Guide to the Bay of Kotor: Europe’s Southernmost Fjord

Where to Stay in Kotor Bay: Top Towns + Best Hotels From Budget to Boutique

27 Cool Things to Do in Kotor + What Not to Do

How to Spend One Day in Kotor & Our Free DIY Old Town Walking Tour Route + Map

8 Fun Day Trips from Kotor + 2 Tours Not to Book

How to Visit Lovćen National Park & Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš

Driving the Kotor Serpentine vs Taking the Kotor Cable Car

Our 15 Favourite Cafés, Bars & Restaurants in Kotor + Veggie/Vegan Options

What It’s Really Like to Hike the Ladder of Kotor

How to See & Support Kotor’s Cats

A Quick Guide to Taking the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry in the Bay of Kotor

A Traveller’s Guide to the Luštica Peninsula

How to Find the Lipci Rock Art: Prehistoric Petroglyphs in the Bay of Kotor