Things to Do in Kotor in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Kotor
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect shoulder season temperatures - highs around 22°C (72°F) mean you can hike the fortress walls without melting, unlike July and August when it regularly hits 30°C (86°F) plus. Mornings are especially pleasant at 15-17°C (59-63°F) for those early starts up to San Giovanni.
- Adriatic water temperatures hit 18-19°C (64-66°F) by late May, which is actually swimmable if you're not too precious about it. Locals start their swimming season now, and you'll have beaches like Dobrec and Morinj largely to yourself compared to the July-August sardine-can situation.
- Bay of Kotor boat tours operate full schedules but with May pricing - typically 25-35 euros per person for Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast trips, versus 40-50 euros in peak summer. Plus you'll actually get decent photos without 200 other tourists in every frame.
- Jacaranda and wisteria bloom throughout the Old Town in early-to-mid May, creating those purple cascades over stone walls that show up beautifully in photos. The town genuinely looks its best this month, and the light stays good until 8pm for evening photography.
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable - those 10 rainy days can cluster together or spread out, and you might get three gorgeous days followed by two of persistent drizzle. The Bora wind (cold northeasterly) can still kick up in early May, dropping temperatures 5-7°C (9-13°F) and making boat trips uncomfortable.
- Some coastal restaurants and beach clubs don't open until late May or early June, particularly around Perast and smaller villages. You'll find plenty open in Kotor itself, but if you're planning day trips to quieter spots, call ahead or you'll find shuttered terraces.
- Cruise ship season is ramping up by mid-May, with 2-4 ships weekly docking in the bay. When they disgorge passengers between 9am-4pm, the Old Town's main square and St. Tryphon Cathedral area get genuinely crowded. Not August-level chaos, but noticeably different from the peaceful mornings.
Best Activities in May
Kotor Fortress Wall Hiking
The 1,350-step climb to San Giovanni Fortress is actually manageable in May's 22°C (72°F) temperatures, unlike the brutal 30°C (86°F) plus heat of summer. Start by 8am to avoid both the cruise ship crowds and the midday sun - UV index hits 8, so this matters. The limestone steps can be slippery after rain, so if it rained the night before, wait a few hours for them to dry. Views over the bay are clearest in morning light anyway, before afternoon haze builds up. Takes 45-60 minutes up, 30-40 down, and you'll want proper walking shoes with grip, not sandals.
Bay of Kotor Boat Tours
May offers the best combination of calm seas, good visibility, and manageable crowds for exploring Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks island, and the Blue Cave near Herceg Novi. Water is clear enough for swimming by late May when temperatures hit 18-19°C (64-66°F), though you'll want a wetsuit or high tolerance for cool water. Morning tours (9am-1pm) typically have calmer conditions than afternoon, when the wind picks up. The 70 percent humidity means overcast days are common, which actually works well for boat trips - less glare, more comfortable.
Lovcen National Park Hiking
The mountain roads to Lovcen are fully clear of snow by May, and the park sits at 1,000-1,600 m (3,280-5,250 ft) elevation where temperatures are 5-8°C (9-14°F) cooler than coastal Kotor - perfect when the bay feels warm and humid. Njegos Mausoleum requires climbing 461 steps but rewards with panoramic views across Montenegro to Albania. Wildflowers peak in May at these elevations, particularly around Ivanova Korita meadow. Morning fog is common early May, so aim for midday visits when visibility improves.
Perast and Coastal Village Exploration
May is ideal for exploring the quieter bay villages before peak tourism hits. Perast's baroque palaces and waterfront promenade are walkable without the July heat, and you can catch small boats to Our Lady of the Rocks island (5 euros round trip, runs every 20-30 minutes). The village of Risan has Roman mosaics that are genuinely worth 30 minutes, and Dobrec beach offers calm swimming in a local setting. Humidity makes afternoons feel warm despite moderate temperatures, so explore villages in morning, swim or rest midday, then continue early evening.
Kayaking the Bay of Kotor
Sea kayaking works beautifully in May when water is calm, air temperature is comfortable at 22°C (72°F), and you avoid the intense sun exposure of summer months. Paddle from Kotor to Perast (roughly 8 km or 5 miles, taking 2-3 hours with stops), hugging the coastline past medieval villages and abandoned fortifications. Water temperature of 18-19°C (64-66°F) means if you capsize you won't enjoy it, but you won't get hypothermia either. Mornings offer glassier water conditions before afternoon breezes pick up around 2-3pm.
Old Town Food and Market Exploration
May brings seasonal produce to Kotor's small Green Market (Pijaca Zelena) - wild asparagus, fresh figs, and early cherries appear mid-to-late month. The market operates 7am-2pm daily, most active 8-11am when locals shop. Old Town restaurants have outdoor seating open by May, and evening temperatures around 17-18°C (63-64°F) are perfect for lingering over Vranac wine and local cheese. The humidity means seafood needs to be genuinely fresh - look for restaurants displaying whole fish on ice, not pre-filleted portions sitting out.
May Events & Festivals
Kotor Carnival (Bokeljska Noć)
If your May trip catches late April into early May, you might overlap with Bokeljska Noć, a maritime carnival celebrating Kotor's seafaring history. Locals dress in traditional costume, boats parade through the bay, and the Old Town fills with music and street performances. It's not a fixed-date event - timing shifts yearly based on Orthodox Easter - so check 2026 dates specifically if this interests you. Worth experiencing if timing aligns, but don't plan your entire trip around it.