Getting Married in Bay of Kotor

September, when tour buses and cruise ships thin out and the evening light turns golden, suits the bay best. May and June give much the same conditions with fewer people.

Recommended wedding months

May-June and September-October

Peak season is July and August. The bay is warm and swimmable, but Kotor old town fills with day visitors from cruise ships., and the shoulder months are April and May, with wildflowers on the mountain walls, and October, with golden light, a warm sea and the chance of storms off the mountains..

Venetian palazzo (exclusive hire). A small palazzo hotel on the inner bay can be hired in full, which gives complete privacy and an atmosphere that larger resorts cannot copy.

Grand coastal resort. A large international resort at Herceg Novi, opened in 2019, has the scale to handle large or complex weddings.

Private villa estate. For couples who want privacy and a boutique scale in a natural setting rather than a hotel.

Historic palace (Perast). Several Baroque palaces in Perast can be hired for private events through specialist operators. They are private eighteenth-century palaces on the bayfront, not hotels.

Three airports serve the bay. Tivat is the most convenient in summer, Podgorica is the year-round alternative, and Dubrovnik in Croatia has the widest connections for large groups.

Tivat Airport (TIV). Served by easyJet from Gatwick, and by TUI and Wizz Air from Gatwick and Luton, mainly from April to October. It is by far the most convenient arrival.

Podgorica Airport (TGD). Served all year by easyJet from Gatwick, with better winter connections than Tivat. It is the dependable choice from October to April.

Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), Croatia. The road to Kotor crosses the border at Debeli Brijeg, a passport check. British Airways and easyJet fly from several UK airports, so it suits large groups.

Accommodation runs from small exclusive-hire palazzos to large international resorts at the bay entrance.

Palazzo hotel, Donji Morinj. A Venetian palazzo about three hundred years old on the inner bay, with a private garden down to the water and a boat mooring.

Resort at Herceg Novi. A large resort with residences at the outer bay entrance, opened in 2019.

Boutique hotel, Kotor. A small hotel inside the UNESCO walls, one of very few in the old town, for couples who want to sleep within the medieval walls.

Villas, Luštica. Private villas with pools and direct sea access on the Luštica Peninsula, offering privacy and a boutique scale.

Montenegrin cooking blends Adriatic seafood, Ottoman-influenced meat dishes and Venetian-era traditions, and the inner bay villages have strong Italian connections.

Njeguški pršut. Dry-cured smoked ham from the village of Njeguši above Kotor, protected by geographical indication.

Black risotto and Adriatic seafood. Crni rižoto, black risotto with cuttlefish ink, is savoury and dramatic in colour. Lobster (jastog) and oysters from Ston in Croatia appear on menus around the bay.

Vranac red wine. The native Montenegrin red grape, grown in the Zeta valley near Podgorica. It is full-bodied and earthy, with dark fruit and firm tannin, and pairs with lamb and grilled meat.

Legal marriage in Montenegro. Foreign nationals can marry legally in Montenegro through the local registry office, with both partners present. Many couples marry legally at home and hold the celebration here.

Currency and costs. Montenegro uses the euro although it is outside the eurozone. Cash is preferred at smaller restaurants, market stalls and taxis.

Water quality and swimming. The water is very clear. The inner bay is sheltered and swimmable from May to October, while the outer bay near Herceg Novi is more exposed and has better beach swimming.

The walls of Kotor. The walls climb steeply to the fortress above Kotor, and sturdy footwear is needed. From the top the view takes in the bay, the mountains and, on clear days, the direction of Italy.

Entry rules for Montenegro depend on the passport held. Montenegro is not an EU member and uses the euro as its currency. Current guidance is on the Montenegro government's website and on the traveller's own government's travel pages.

The legal marriage and the celebration are separate. Ask your venue or planner what the town hall requires for the place where you plan to marry.