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Kotor - Things to Do in Kotor in August

Things to Do in Kotor in August

August weather, activities, events & insider tips

August Weather in Kotor

30°C (86°F) High Temp
22°C (72°F) Low Temp
2.5 mm (0.1 inches) Rainfall
70% Humidity

Is August Right for You?

Advantages

  • Peak summer warmth with consistently sunny mornings - the Bay of Kotor is genuinely stunning in August when the early light hits the water before 10am, and you can actually swim comfortably without a wetsuit. Water temperatures sit around 25°C (77°F), which is about as warm as it gets all year.
  • Kotor Carnival runs through early August (typically first week) - this is the town's biggest summer event with live music in the squares, traditional dancing, and a genuine party atmosphere that locals actually participate in, not just tourist entertainment. Streets stay lively until past midnight.
  • Longer daylight hours mean you can pack more into each day - sunset doesn't happen until around 8:30pm, so you can hike the fortress walls in late afternoon (starting around 5pm) when it's cooler and still have evening light for dinner on the waterfront afterward.
  • Ferry connections to Croatia and across the bay run on full summer schedules - boats to Dubrovnik leave multiple times daily, and the local ferries across to Perast and Herceg Novi are frequent and reliable. You're not stuck waiting around like you might be in shoulder season.

Considerations

  • August is unquestionably peak cruise ship season - the Old Town can see 3-4 massive ships docked simultaneously, dumping 10,000+ day-trippers into those narrow medieval streets between 9am-5pm. The main square becomes genuinely unpleasant during these hours, packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
  • Accommodation prices are at their annual peak and availability gets tight - expect to pay 40-60% more than you would in May or October for the same room. Anything remotely decent within the Old Town walls needs booking 8-10 weeks ahead minimum, sometimes longer for waterfront properties.
  • The fortress wall climb (1,350 steps up to 280m/920ft elevation) becomes brutal in midday heat - that 70% humidity combines with direct sun exposure on those stone steps, and there's minimal shade. Locals won't even attempt it between 11am-5pm in August, and you shouldn't either unless you enjoy heat exhaustion.

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Best Activities in August

Bay of Kotor boat tours and swimming spots

August is genuinely the best month for getting out on the water - the bay is calm most mornings, water visibility is excellent for swimming, and the temperature is finally warm enough that you'll actually want to spend time in it. The boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks island is particularly worthwhile now because you can swim off the boat afterward at spots near Perast. Most tours leave early (8-9am) to avoid both the heat and the cruise ship crowds.

Booking Tip: Book 5-7 days ahead through your accommodation or licensed operators at the waterfront. Half-day tours typically run 25-35 EUR per person, full-day trips with multiple swim stops cost 45-60 EUR. Morning departures are worth the premium - afternoon tours deal with choppier water and more crowded swimming spots. Look for smaller boats with max 12 people rather than the big tourist barges.

Fortress wall hiking at sunrise or sunset

The San Giovanni fortress climb is Kotor's signature activity, but timing is everything in August. Start at sunrise (around 6am) when it's still cool and you'll have the walls nearly to yourself - the views over the bay with morning mist are genuinely spectacular. Alternative is starting around 5:30-6pm for the sunset climb, though you'll share it with more people. The temperature difference between midday and these times is easily 8-10°C (14-18°F) in how it feels.

Booking Tip: No booking needed - just pay 8 EUR at the entrance gate (cash only, they don't take cards). Bring at least 1 liter (34 oz) of water per person, wear proper hiking shoes not sandals, and factor in 90-120 minutes round trip depending on your fitness level. The steps are uneven medieval stone, not a maintained trail.

Perast and island church visits

The tiny baroque town of Perast, just 12 km (7.5 miles) up the coast, is actually more pleasant than Kotor itself during peak cruise hours. August is ideal because you can combine the church visits with swimming - the water around Our Lady of the Rocks island is clean and calm. The town has maybe 300 residents, so even with tourists it never feels overwhelming like Kotor does. Go in the afternoon when cruise passengers have left.

Booking Tip: Take the local bus from Kotor's main station (runs hourly, 1.50 EUR, 25 minutes) rather than organized tours. Once in Perast, water taxis to the islands cost 5 EUR round trip per person and leave when they have 4-5 passengers. Budget 3-4 hours total including travel time. Bring swim gear - there's a small beach area near the church island that locals use.

Lovcen National Park mountain hiking

When the coast gets oppressively hot and crowded, locals head up to Lovcen mountain where temperatures drop significantly - you're looking at 20-24°C (68-75°F) up there versus 30°C (86°F) at sea level. The drive up the serpentine road is spectacular, and the Njegos Mausoleum at 1,657m (5,436ft) gives you views across the entire bay and into Albania on clear days. August weather is stable enough that you're unlikely to hit the fog that can obscure views in other months.

Booking Tip: Rent a car for the day (35-50 EUR from Kotor agencies) or join organized mountain tours (typically 40-55 EUR per person with guide and transport). The park entrance is 3 EUR per person. If driving yourself, start early - the road gets busier after 10am and parking at the mausoleum is limited. There are 461 steps from the parking area up to the mausoleum itself, so factor that into your energy planning.

Skadar Lake wine tours and boat trips

Montenegro's largest lake sits about 40 km (25 miles) from Kotor and offers a completely different landscape - freshwater marshes, bird colonies, and floating water lily fields. August is actually prime time because the lilies are in full bloom and the weather is stable for boat trips. The area is known for local wineries producing Vranac red wine, and combined tours typically include both a boat ride and wine tasting. It's noticeably less touristy than the coast.

Booking Tip: Full-day tours from Kotor run 55-75 EUR per person including transport, boat ride, and winery visit with tastings. Book 7-10 days ahead during August as these fill up. Alternatively, rent a car and do it independently - boat trips from Virpazar village cost 10-15 EUR per person for 2-3 hours, and you can visit wineries on your own schedule. Bring sun protection for the boat - there's limited shade on the water.

Traditional konoba dining experiences

August is when local produce is at its peak - tomatoes, peppers, and stone fruit are genuinely excellent right now, and the seafood is fresh daily. Skip the overpriced tourist traps on the main waterfront and head to family-run konobas (traditional taverns) in the back streets or just outside the Old Town walls. Evenings after 8pm are when locals eat, and the atmosphere shifts from tourist feeding frenzy to actual Montenegrin dining culture.

Booking Tip: Look for konobas in Dobrota (2 km/1.2 miles north along the coast road) or Muo (1.5 km/0.9 miles south) where prices run 30-40% less than inside Kotor's walls. Expect to pay 12-18 EUR for fresh grilled fish, 8-12 EUR for meat dishes, 3-5 EUR for local wine by the glass. No reservations needed except weekends. Ask what came in that morning rather than ordering from the menu - that's what locals do.

August Events & Festivals

Early August

Kotor Carnival (Bokeljska Noć)

This is the biggest event of Kotor's summer, typically running the first week of August. It's not a carnival in the Rio sense - more like a week-long street festival with live music stages set up in the main squares, traditional folk dancing performances, local food stalls, and a general party atmosphere that goes late into the night. The highlight is usually a big outdoor concert on the waterfront with regional musicians. Locals actually participate rather than just tourists watching staged entertainment.

Late July into Early August

Perast Fasinada Festival

Held on July 22nd annually in nearby Perast, but worth mentioning because if you're arriving early August you might catch the aftermath atmosphere. This centuries-old tradition involves locals rowing out to Our Lady of the Rocks island and throwing stones into the water to maintain the artificial island. It's followed by a big celebration with traditional boats, music, and festivities that extend into early August in some years.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Lightweight linen or cotton clothing - that 70% humidity makes synthetic fabrics genuinely uncomfortable. Your clothes will stick to you in polyester, and it won't dry if you try to rinse things out in your room.
Serious sun protection: SPF 50+ sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses - the UV index hits 8 regularly in August, and you're getting reflected sun off the water and white stone buildings. You'll burn faster than you think.
Proper hiking shoes with ankle support for the fortress walls - those 1,350 stone steps are uneven, sometimes slippery, and sandals are asking for a twisted ankle. I've seen it happen multiple times.
Light rain jacket or packable poncho - those 10 rainy days typically mean brief afternoon thunderstorms that blow through in 20-30 minutes, but they can be intense. You don't need heavy rain gear, just something to keep dry while you wait it out.
Refillable water bottle (1 liter/34 oz minimum) - you'll go through shocking amounts of water in August heat, especially if you're climbing the walls or doing any hiking. Buying bottled water constantly gets expensive at 1.50-2 EUR per bottle.
Modest clothing for church visits - shoulders and knees need covering for Orthodox churches, and this is still enforced. A lightweight scarf or sarong works for women, long pants for men. The churches are worth seeing but they'll turn you away in beach clothes.
Swim gear including water shoes - the beaches around Kotor are mostly pebble and rock, not sand. Walking in and out of the water barefoot is uncomfortable. Water shoes cost 15-20 EUR locally if you forget them.
Small daypack for fortress climbing - you'll need to carry water, sunscreen, snacks, and a layer for the top where it's windier. Your hands need to be free for the steeper sections where there are chains to hold.
Cash in euros - smaller restaurants, the fortress entrance, local buses, and water taxis don't take cards reliably. ATMs are plentiful in Kotor but lines can be long when cruise ships are in.
Portable phone charger - you'll be using your phone constantly for photos, maps, and translation apps. The fortress climb alone will drain your battery with all those view photos you'll want to take.

Insider Knowledge

The cruise ship schedule is publicly posted at the port authority building and online - check it before planning your days. When 3-4 ships are docked, avoid the Old Town between 9am-5pm entirely and use those hours for activities outside Kotor (Perast, Lovcen, Skadar Lake). The difference in crowd levels is genuinely dramatic.
The back entrance to the fortress walls through the northern gate near the river costs the same 8 EUR but has zero queue, while the main southern entrance can have 30-40 minute waits in August. Locals use the north entrance exclusively. The path is identical, you end up at the same fortress.
Book accommodation with air conditioning specifically confirmed - not all Old Town properties have it despite what booking sites suggest, and August without AC in those stone buildings is miserable. Message hosts directly to confirm before booking. A fan is not sufficient in 70% humidity.
The local bus system is absurdly cheap and actually reliable - 1.50 EUR gets you anywhere along the coast from Herceg Novi to Budva. Taxis will quote you 20-30 EUR for the same routes. Buy tickets from the driver, exact change helps but they usually have change for small bills.

Avoid These Mistakes

Trying to do the fortress wall climb in the middle of the day - I cannot stress enough how unpleasant this is in August heat. You'll see tourists struggling up those steps at 2pm looking genuinely miserable, sometimes requiring assistance. Start at sunrise or late afternoon only.
Booking accommodation inside the Old Town walls thinking it's automatically better - yes, it's atmospheric, but August means constant noise from bars and restaurants until 1-2am, narrow streets trap heat and humidity, and you'll pay premium prices. Consider staying in Dobrota or Muo just outside the walls where it's quieter, cooler, and 30-40% cheaper with better parking.
Not carrying cash for small purchases - you'll get caught out repeatedly at the fortress entrance, on buses, at water taxis, and at smaller konobas. Cards aren't as universal as tourists expect, and some places add 3-5% surcharges for card payments under 20 EUR.

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