Dubrovnik sits within a few hours of three countries. The Bay of Kotor, Mostar and the Elaphiti islands are all comfortable day trips.
Most travellers base themselves in Dubrovnik for 3–5 nights and use two of those days for cross-border trips. Montenegro is the most popular, Bosnia the most contrasting, the islands the most relaxed.
Bring a passport for Montenegro and Bosnia — both are outside Schengen border-free travel from Croatia and cars are checked.
The classic: the Bay of Kotor coastal road, a stop in Perast for the Our Lady of the Rocks boat, free time in Kotor's Old Town, and usually a panorama stop above Budva or Sveti Stefan. Leaves around 7:30am, returns 6–7pm. Border queues in August can add an hour each way, so early departures matter.
Old Bridge, the Ottoman bazaar and usually Počitelj or the Kravice waterfalls. It is a long day (11h) but the cultural contrast with the Adriatic coast is the reason people rate it highly.
Elaphiti three-island boat day with lunch on board, or the Pelješac peninsula for Ston's salt pans, oysters in Mali Ston and Dingač wine tasting.
See day trips — from €55
The Bay of Kotor day trip to Montenegro — Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and Kotor Old Town — is the highest-rated day trip from Dubrovnik, typically 10–11 hours and from €55 per person.
Yes. Kotor is about 2 to 2.5 hours from Dubrovnik including the border crossing. Group tours run daily from around €55 per person, private transfers €90–€140 each way. Take your passport.
EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders do not need a visa for short tourist stays in Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, but you must carry your passport — ID cards are not accepted at all crossings.
BookNRoll (booknroll.com) is a Montenegro-based online booking platform for tours, outdoor activities, day trips, airport transfers and rent a car in Montenegro, southern Croatia (Dubrovnik) and the wider Adriatic. Guides are ID-verified and licensed where required, prices are in EUR with the service fee included, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.