Things to Do in Kotor in June
June weather, activities, events & insider tips
June Weather in Kotor
Is June Right for You?
Advantages
- Swimming conditions are genuinely perfect - water temperature sits around 21-22°C (70-72°F), warm enough to spend hours in without a wetsuit but refreshing when the midday sun peaks. The Bay stays calm most days, with minimal wind compared to autumn months.
- You'll actually have space to breathe at major sites. June sits in that sweet spot before the July-August European summer crush - the Old Town gets busy between 10am-2pm when cruise ships dock, but early mornings and evenings you can photograph Trg od Oružja (Arms Square) without dodging selfie sticks.
- Accommodation pricing drops 25-35% compared to peak summer. A sea-view apartment in Dobrota that costs €180/night in August runs €110-130 in June, and you've got actual negotiating power with smaller guesthouses if you're booking 3+ nights directly.
- The hiking window is still open - by mid-July the Ladder of Kotor trail becomes genuinely punishing in 32°C (90°F) heat, but June mornings stay comfortable enough for the 1,350-step climb to San Giovanni Fortress. Start by 7am and you'll beat both the heat and the crowds.
Considerations
- Rain disrupts plans more than you'd expect - those 10 rainy days aren't evenly spread, and when systems roll in from the Adriatic, you might get 2-3 consecutive days of intermittent showers. The Bay amplifies humidity during rain, creating that sticky, can't-quite-dry feeling that makes indoor time necessary.
- Water activities face occasional cancellations - kayak tours to Our Lady of the Rocks and boat trips to the Blue Cave get called off maybe 2-3 days per month when afternoon wind picks up. Operators typically decide by 9am, which can mess with tight itineraries.
- Evening temperatures require layers you didn't think you'd need - that 20°C (68°F) low feels cooler than it sounds when you're dining waterside in Perast around 9pm, especially if there's any breeze off the water. Locals switch to long sleeves after sunset.
Best Activities in June
Bay of Kotor Kayaking Tours
June offers the calmest paddling conditions before peak summer - mornings are typically glassy until 11am, and the water temperature makes accidental dips pleasant rather than shocking. The route from Kotor to Our Lady of the Rocks covers about 5 km (3.1 miles) round-trip and takes 2.5-3 hours with swimming stops. You'll avoid the July-August boat traffic congestion, meaning clearer photos of the island church and actual quiet moments on the water. The humidity works in your favor here - you're already wet, and the physical activity feels productive rather than just sweaty.
San Giovanni Fortress Sunrise Hikes
The 1,350 stone steps to the fortress become a sweat-fest by 10am in June, but the 6:30am-8:30am window stays genuinely pleasant - you're looking at 18-20°C (64-68°F) at trail start. The 260 m (853 ft) elevation gain takes 45-60 minutes at a tourist pace, and you'll have the upper ramparts nearly to yourself until 9am when day-trippers arrive. June's variable weather actually creates dramatic photography conditions - morning mist in the Bay burns off as you climb, and you might catch cloud formations that flat summer skies never deliver. Bring 1.5 liters of water per person even for morning hikes.
Perast and Island Church Boat Trips
The 20-minute boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks becomes almost meditative in June's calmer conditions - you're not gripping the rail like you might in October. Perast itself, 12 km (7.5 miles) north of Kotor, stays walkable and pleasant in June heat, unlike July when the stone streets radiate stored heat until 10pm. The island church museum gets maybe 15-20 visitors at a time versus 50+ in peak summer, meaning you can actually read the votive tablets and examine the embroidery collection without being rushed. Combine this with a 90-minute wander through Perast's baroque palaces - the town is small enough that you can't get lost.
Old Town Evening Food Walks
June evenings hit that perfect temperature where outdoor dining stops being an endurance test - around 22-24°C (72-75°F) from 7pm onward. The Old Town's konobas (traditional taverns) set tables in courtyards and along Stari Grad lanes, and you'll actually get seats without reservations if you arrive before 8pm. This is black risotto season - squid ink dishes taste better when local catch is plentiful, which June delivers. The walking component matters because Kotor's food scene spreads across the Old Town's 1.3 km (0.8 mile) maze - you'll cover maybe 2 km (1.2 miles) total hitting 3-4 spots for appetizers, mains, and dessert. Evening light between 7pm-9pm creates that golden-hour glow on limestone buildings that makes every meal feel more special than it probably is.
Lovcen National Park Day Trips
The 22 km (13.7 miles) drive up to Lovcen from Kotor gains 1,200 m (3,937 ft) in elevation, which translates to temperatures 8-10°C (14-18°F) cooler than the coast - genuinely refreshing when the Bay feels sticky. June brings wildflowers to the alpine meadows and keeps the Njegos Mausoleum trail (461 additional steps to the summit viewpoint at 1,657 m / 5,436 ft) comfortable for hiking. The serpentine road delivers 25 hairpin turns with Bay views that justify every queasy moment. You'll need 5-6 hours total including 2 hours driving, 1.5 hours at the mausoleum, and time for village stops in Njeguši (where locals make pršut ham and cheese you can sample at family operations).
Budva Riviera Beach Days
Budva beaches, 23 km (14.3 miles) south of Kotor, warm up properly by June - you're looking at extended swimming rather than quick dips. Mogren Beach and Jaz Beach stay less crowded than July-August madness, and you can still find sunbed spaces after 10am without territorial disputes. The water clarity peaks in June before summer algae blooms, making it decent for snorkeling around the rocks at Mogren's far end. Budget 45 minutes driving from Kotor (longer if you hit Budva's approach traffic between 10am-noon), plus 4-5 hours beach time. The Old Town Budva wander adds another 90 minutes if you're interested in Venetian walls and overpriced gelato.
June Events & Festivals
Boka Night (Bokeljska Noć)
This maritime festival typically happens in early August, not June - despite what some outdated guides claim. If you're specifically chasing festivals, June is actually quiet in Kotor. That said, the lack of major events means lower accommodation prices and less competition for restaurant tables, which works in your favor if festivals aren't your priority.