Montenegro, Europe

Kotor in December

Quiet, rainy, and local, with some festive decorations in the old town. Good value if you accept the weather.

TradeoffsCool and wet, highs near 56F (13C)

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro — KotorPhoto: User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Kotor. Quiet, rainy, and local, with some festive decorations in the old town. Good value if you accept the weather.

Weather: Cool and wet, highs near 56F (13C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What December is like in Kotor

December is cool and wet, with highs near 56F (13C). The old town is quiet, rainy, and local, with some festive decorations around the squares. Cafes, restaurants, and churches stay open, but boat trips and many seasonal hotels and shops are closed. Prices are low and crowds are almost nonexistent.

It suits budget travelers and anyone who wants a calm, local stay and accepts the weather. It is not a month for swimming or reliable views. If you want a quiet trip with better odds of sun, pick March or April. For the full bay experience, go in May, June, or September.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Kotor this month.

A festive old town

Decorations brighten the squares, and the atmosphere is local rather than touristy.

No cruise crowds

Without ships in port, the narrow lanes are peaceful at any hour.

Good value stays

Hotels around the bay offer some of their lowest rates of the year.

What to pack for December

A waterproof jacket
Waterproof shoes with grip
A warm sweater
A compact umbrella

Our timing tip

Keep your plans flexible and climb the fortress only on a dry day, since the stone steps get slippery in rain.

Book Kotor for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Kotor
Opens a hotel search for Kotor in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Kotor
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Kotor
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Kotor for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Kotor

Full guide

Kotor Old Town

Wander the squares, the Cathedral of St Tryphon, and the maritime museum. Early morning and evening are the calm hours.

Tickets and tours →

The fortress walls and San Giovanni

Roughly 1,350 steps to the top. Start at dawn in summer; there is an entry fee in season and little shade.

Tickets and tours →

Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks

Short boat rides from Perast's waterfront go out to the island church. Stay for dinner once the day-trippers leave.

Tickets and tours →

Ladder of Kotor trail

An old switchback mule track climbing from the town toward Njegusi, joining the fortress path. Best in spring and fall.

Tickets and tours →

Lovcen National Park and the Njegos Mausoleum

A mountaintop mausoleum reached by 461 steps with views over much of Montenegro. The drive up via the serpentine road is an event in itself.

Tickets and tours →

Boat trip on the bay

Small boats run to Perast, the Blue Cave, and the open coast in summer. Weather permitting in the shoulder months.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Check the Port of Kotor's published cruise schedule and plan your old-town days for no-ship or single-ship days.
Climb the fortress at first light. It is cooler, empty, and the morning sun lights the bay.
Stay in Perast, Dobrota, or Prcanj rather than inside the old town, and visit Kotor early and late.
Do Lovcen and the serpentine road on big cruise days, when the old town is at its busiest.

Know before you go

Kotor's old town is lived in year-round; cafes, restaurants, and churches stay open in winter, though some hotels and shops close.
Boat excursions, beach clubs, and many seasonal restaurants around the bay operate mainly from about April through October.
The fortress walls can be climbed year-round. There is a paid entry in the main season, and steps become slippery in rain.
The high road over Lovcen can be affected by snow and ice in winter.

Kotor in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Kotor?

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Kotor. Quiet, rainy, and local, with some festive decorations in the old town. Good value if you accept the weather.

What is the weather like in Kotor in December?

Cool and wet, highs near 56F (13C).

Is Kotor crowded in December?

December is one of the quieter months in Kotor; most sights can be done without long waits.