How to Take the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry in Kotor

Discover how to take the Bay of Kotor Ferry between Kamenari and Lepetane to save time driving around the bay, including schedules, prices, and tips.

The red and white Kamenari-Lepetane ferry, one of the most convenient ways to cross the Bay of Kotor.

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The Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry is one of the easiest ways to cross the Bay of Kotor without driving all the way around it. Connecting the two sides of the bay, the short ferry journey can save you a surprising amount of time and is particularly useful if you’re travelling between Herceg Novi and Kotor’s Old Town.

We used the ferry countless times during our Montenegro road trip and found it very straightforward, although there are a few practical things worth knowing before you arrive, particularly during the busy summer months when queues can build up. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking the Bay of Kotor Ferry between Kamenari and Lepetane, including prices, how it works, how long it takes, where to queue, and our tips for using it.

A red car on the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry in the Bay of Kotor.

More from Kotor

What ferries depart from Kotor Bay?

The Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry (known locally as the trajekt) is the main car ferry across the narrowest part of Kotor Bay. It connects Kamenari on the Herceg Novi side with Lepetane near Tivat, allowing drivers to avoid going all the way around the Bay of Kotor.

If you’re renting a car in Montenegro, check that your rental agreement allows you to use the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry. Most standard rental cars should be fine, but it’s worth checking the terms before travelling, particularly if you’re crossing between different parts of Montenegro during a longer road trip.

There is also a ferry that leaves Kotor for Dubrovnik each day, but it’s a passenger ferry and not useful for crossing the bay.

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The Our Lady of the Rocks church on a small island off Perast, viewed from the Bay of Kotor Ferry.

Where is the Kotor Bay Ferry?

The ferry has two terminals, one at Kamenari and one at Lepetane. Kamenari is on the western side of the bay, near Herceg Novi, while Lepetane is on the eastern side, just north of Tivat.

The two terminals sit on either side of the 300 metre-wide Strait of Verige, the narrowest passage in the Bay of Kotor.

Taking the ferry saves you from driving 18 miles (30 km) around the bay via Lipci, Risan, Perast, and Orahovac, which is great as the road can become incredibly congested, especially in summer. It can cut your journey time down by around an hour.

Read our Bay of Kotor Guide

A map of the Bay of Kotor with labels highlighting the locations of towns on the bay, including Herceg Novi, Lipci, Risan, Perast, Dobrota, Kotor, Tivat, and Rose, as well as labels highlighting key attractions and locations, including Orahoac, Njegusi, Lovcen National Park, Muo, Prcanj, the Vrmac Peninsula, the Lustica Peninsula, the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry, and the border with Croatia,

Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry Schedule

There is no official Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry timetable. Instead, there are multiple vessels running across the bay constantly, 24/7.

They leave when full, so run continuously throughout the day. Generally, the ferry leaves every 10-15 minutes.

In Summer (May to October), you can expect the service to run continuously every 10-15 minutes or so, even at night.

In Winter (November to April), they’re still pretty consistent throughout the day. But they drop down to every hour between midnight and 6:00 AM, leaving Kamenari on the hour and Lepetane at half past the hour.

This means you don’t normally need to plan your journey around, or worry about missing, one particular sailing.

It’s worth noting that the queues for the ferry can get long, especially in summer. There’s no guarantee you’ll get on the first ferry, so you might have to factor in 10-20 minutes of wait time, too.

Cars on the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry crossing the Bay of Kotor.

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Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry Tickets

You can buy tickets in person at the ferry terminals.

You simply drive up, join a queue – staff are around to assist and wave you into the right queues – and then hop out of the car and head to the little ticket counter at the head of the queue.

You can also purchase tickets online on the Trajekt website, but we didn’t find the need as it was so quick and easy to buy them in person.

Houses lining a waterfront, seen from the Bay of Kotor ferry.

Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry Price

The prices for the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry are as follows:

Passenger car: €5
Motorcycle: €2.50
Van: €7.50
Bus: €17.50
Bicycle: €1
Pedestrian: Free

You can pay in cash or by card, and we used contactless. You’ll be given two pieces of paper – your receipt and your ticket. Keep both.

Red and white ferries docked in Kamenari ready to cross the Bay of Kotor to Lepetane.

How to take the Kotor Bay Ferry

Taking the Kamenari-Lepetane Ferry (or the other way around) is fairly straightforward once you know what to expect. If you’re driving, the process is simply a matter of joining the right queue, buying your ticket, and following the staff’s directions.

Arrive at the ferry terminal – Follow the signs for the ferry and join the appropriate vehicle queue. Staff are usually on hand to direct traffic, with separate queues for cars and coaches.
Queue – Wait in line until you’re directed towards the ticket booth. Queues can build up during busy periods, particularly in summer.
Buy your ticket – Purchase your ticket from the booth when you’ve parked in a queue.
Wait to board – Once the ferry is ready, a staff member will direct you when to pull forward.
Hand over your ticket – Give your ticket to the staff member collecting them before boarding.
Drive onto the ferry – Follow the line of vehicles onto the ferry and don’t stop until you’re directed where to go.
Park where you’re told – Staff will direct you to a specific position on the ferry, so follow their instructions.
Turn off the engine – Once parked, switch off your engine and put the handbrake on.

Once everyone’s on the ferry, it’ll set off, and you can get out of your vehicle if you like. You can wander between the sides and enjoy the views. We saw as far as Perast.

The crossing only takes 5-10 minutes, so it’s pretty quick. When you reach the far side, you can get back into your vehicle and wait for instructions. Staff will indicate which rows of cars can drive off in what order, so you just wait until you’re told to move.

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A paved road winding around the Bay of Kotor.

Onward Travel

Once you’ve crossed on the Kotor Bay Ferry, you can continue your journey by car or bus, depending on where you’re heading next.

By car

The ferry is particularly useful for drivers travelling between the Herceg Novi and Tivat sides of the bay, as it cuts out the longer journey around the water. From Lepetane, you can continue towards Tivat, Kotor, or Budva, while from Kamenari you’re closer to Perast, Herceg Novi, and the western side of the bay, which leads to the border with Croatia.

We took the ferry several times, a few times to enjoy day trips from Kotor to towns like Lipci and Perast, as well as when we went into Croatia for a week. We rented a car from Kombo Rent a Car in Tivat, so we also used the ferry on our return before heading to the airport.

By bus

Local and intercity buses also use the ferry crossing, so you can travel across the bay without having your own car. However, routes and frequencies vary, and you may need to change buses depending on your destination.

Check the route and timetable before setting off rather than assuming the next bus will continue directly after the ferry crossing.

If you’re on foot, there are public bus stops outside each of the terminals, which follow the bay and connect all the towns.

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A church tower above red rooves set against the mountains of the Bay of Kotor.

Tips for taking the Kotor Bay Ferry

The ferry is easy to use, but a few practical things can make the crossing smoother, particularly if you’re travelling during the busy summer months.

Allow extra time – Don’t rely on the advertised crossing time alone. Queues can form at the terminals, especially during July and August.
Arrive early – If you’re catching a flight, tour, or other time-sensitive connection, leave plenty of time for the ferry queue.
Have cash available – Although card payments are available, we’d recommend carrying some euros in case the ticket booth has payment issues.
Don’t buy a return ticket – It’s against the ferry’s policy. You should only buy the one-way ticket you need at the time.
Follow the staff – Ferry staff direct vehicles onto the boats and tell you where to park, so follow their instructions rather than trying to choose your own position.
Use your handbrake – Cars are parked on the ferry very close together. Remember to put your car in park and use the handbrake to stop the car from rolling.
Don’t leave valuables in the car – Take anything important with you when you get out of the vehicle.
Stay aware of your vehicle – If you leave the car during the crossing, remember where you’ve parked and listen for instructions when it’s time to disembark.
Check the weather – Rough weather can make the crossing less pleasant, particularly if you’re travelling on foot or spending time outside on deck.