It’s August, so I’m getting the same question in every group chat: where do you actually swim around here?

Fair question, because Kotor itself doesn’t have a beach. What’s in front of the old town is a marina and a working port, not somewhere you’d want to put a towel down. So people drive out. Every summer I end up explaining where I go, so I figured I’d just write it down once.

I haven’t been to every beach in the bay. A few of the good ones need a boat I don’t have. But two places are the ones I actually keep going back to, so those are the two I’ll talk about.

Bajova Kula

It’s a short drive toward Perast, about fifteen minutes, and it’s small enough that it still feels calm even on a busy day.

The main thing about it is the water’s colder than everywhere else nearby.There’s a spring feeding into the bay right there. After a few weeks of warm sea everywhere else, that’s honestly the best part. It’s pebbles, not sand, so wear water shoes if you don’t want to deal with it barefoot.

There’s shade, loungers you can rent, and a small cafe close by if you want a coffee without walking far. It’s not some hidden spot, plenty of locals go too, but it never feels as packed as the bigger beaches down the coast. It’s just easy. I go here when I don’t want to think about it.

Plavi Horizonti

This one’s my favorite, even though it’s a bit of a stretch to call it “near Kotor.” A quick google search confirms that others as well think it’s the best beach near Kotor. It’s out on the Luštica peninsula, closer to Tivat, about twenty-five minutes by car. Worth it though.

The reason I like it is simple: it’s sand. Real sand, which most beaches around here don’t have. It’s a cove with pine trees along the edge, so there’s natural shade, and the water stays shallow for a long way out, so you can wade in and just float without really swimming.

It’s a good one to bring kids to, or just anyone who doesn’t want to deal with rocks or sea urchins. The bottom slopes so gradually you can watch a toddler splash around without worrying. If you want to actually do something, swim over toward the rocks on the far side - the water gets deeper there and it’s the best snorkeling out of anywhere I’ve been near Kotor. Actual fish, not just rocks.

It gets busy in August, so go early if you want a decent spot. Parking’s fine but fills up.

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