Herceg Novi, Savina and Portonovi by car from Kotor
Herceg Novi stands at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, with fortresses above the rooftops and stairways descending to the sea. Ivo Andrić lived here with Milica Babić, and his home and garden can now be visited alongside the historic town centre. From Kotor, you reach the town along the bay's shore, via Portonovi and Savina.

Trip overview
- Trip duration
- 12-13 hours
- Places and breaks
- 8
- Route length
- About 90 km
Why set aside a day for this trip
In Herceg Novi, you can devote a day to coastal fortresses and the home of a Nobel laureate. The fortresses above the sea and Andrić's garden reveal two different relationships with the same bay: the walls guarded its entrance, while the writer made a home here with his wife, arranging the house and garden.
Trip and costs at a glance
| Trip duration | 12-13 hours |
|---|---|
| Transport | A car is needed · car hire offers |
| Sights on this trip | |
| Fuel consumption | Estimated 8-11 litres |
| Tolls | No charge |
| Admission costs | Ivo Andrić's House · €4. Kanli kula · €4. Forte Mare · €4. Total €12 per person for individual daytime visits. |
| Navigation | Open the prepared route for navigation |
Route, visits and breaks
The full itinerary is best suited to the longer days of spring and summer. For autumn and winter, check the current visiting hours of the fortresses and Ivo Andrić's house.
01Along the Bay of Kotor to Portonovi
1 h 15 min driving · 15 min parking · 20 min walking · 55 min exploring

Leave Kotor in the morning, heading towards Dobrota, Risan and Kamenari, then through Bijela to Portonovi in Kumbor. Open the prepared route for navigation. You stay on the northern shore of the Bay of Kotor, without taking a ferry. Allow about an hour and 15 minutes to drive to Portonovi's visitor car park. Summer traffic on the main road can make this leg longer.
Allow about 15 minutes to park, then walk between Central Park, the marina waterfront and Hillside Park. The loop from the car park through these public spaces and back is about a kilometre. Allow 20 minutes for walking and about 55 minutes to spend in the parks, by the water sculptures and along the marina. Use the visitor car park, with access from Adria Street. Parking is charged, so check the current rate at the entrance.
The visit covers Portonovi's public spaces. Hotel pools, beaches and Portonovi Beach Club have separate conditions of use. After the waterfront loop, return to the same car and continue towards Savina.
Questions before a day trip to Herceg Novi
Do you need a ferry for this trip?
No. The prepared main route from Kotor goes through Dobrota, Risan and Kamenari, then on to Portonovi and Herceg Novi. You return along the same shore, so the costs do not include a ferry ticket. The Kamenari-Lepetane crossing is an alternative for a return along the Tivat side of the bay. That change has a separate ticket price and requires time for queuing, boarding and the crossing, none of which is included in the main itinerary.
How demanding is the walk through Herceg Novi?
The town circuit covers about three kilometres of walking between stops, and walking inside the attractions and around the squares adds to the total distance. There are stairs in the Old Town and on the climb to Kanli kula. Savina adds a path about 250 m long from the courtyard to St Sava, which you walk uphill and then follow back. If stairs are a barrier, shorten the full itinerary to accessible waterfront areas, Portonovi and places you can reach by car. Do not expect to visit both fortresses without climbing.
Where should you leave the car during the town visit, and how do you pay for parking?
Opština car park, by Marshal Tito Square, is the selected parking for the entire town circuit. Walk from the car park to Ivo Andrić's house and the Old Town, then return to the same car after the fortresses and a break at Škver. The self-service pay station accepts cash or card, without a local phone number for SMS payment. The car park also charges on Sundays under its own rules, separately from the street parking zones. Portonovi and Savina have separate stops for the car.
More day trips from Kotor
Ostrog by car from Kotor via Grahovo
A full-day trip from Kotor via Grahovo to Carev most and Ostrog, with lunch at Sokoline, both monastery levels, costs and prepared navigation routes.Perast and Risan by car from Kotor
Roman mosaics in Risan, Perast's palaces and its town museum in one day trip from Kotor. Allow around seven hours for visits, a walk and lunch by the sea, with a prepared navigation route.Guides to day trips and stays in other cities
Drives and day trips from other places
Continue with coastal towns, mountain areas, airports and practical guidance for the rest of Montenegro.







