Car Hire in Bar from Kotor

Driving south from Kotor to Bar

Bar sits 90 km south of Kotor on the open Adriatic, past Budva and the Sveti Stefan headland. The drive runs the full coastal road — about an hour forty in light traffic, longer in July when caravan traffic clogs the bends near Petrovac.

Most Kotor visitors think of Bar as a transit point, but the modern port town and the older Stari Bar ruins inland are both worth the day. With your own car you can do both in one loop and be back at the Bay before dinner.

Why drive to Bar instead of taking the bus

Bar's bus connection from Kotor exists but it's slow — three transfers, four hours minimum, and the routes drop you in the modern town with no easy way up to Stari Bar 4 km inland. By rental you cover both, plus you pick the time you head back along the coast in late-afternoon light.

Picking up your car for the trip

Collect at Tivat Airport on arrival or in Kotor town the morning of your trip. The southbound coastal road E65 starts at the Bay road exit, runs through Budva and Sveti Stefan, then opens up after Petrovac for the long stretch into Bar.

Best fleet pick for the Bar run

The road is mostly two-lane coastal asphalt with sweeping bends — comfortable in anything from a Polo upwards. Choose a Yaris or Polo for fuel economy on the back-and-forth, or a Kadjar if you want extra ground clearance for the rough track up to the Stari Bar ruins. See the full list at the fleet page.

What to see in Bar

Stari Bar (Old Bar) sits 4 km inland — abandoned medieval town under Mount Rumija, dramatically ruined and quietly atmospheric. The modern town has a long palm-lined promenade, the King Nikola palace and museum, and the working ferry port where the overnight boat leaves for Bari, Italy.

The olive groves

The Bar region has the highest concentration of ancient olive trees in Europe — the Stara Maslina near Mirovica is dated to over 2,000 years old and still produces fruit. A short side road from the coastal highway gets you within walking distance.

The Italian ferry connection

Bar's port runs an overnight ferry to Bari, Italy, useful if you are combining a Montenegro week with onward travel to Puglia. You can drive the rental down for sightseeing only, or check vendor terms if you intend to put the car on the ferry (most reject cross-Adriatic).

Bar is also well connected inland; Podgorica Airport is around 45 minutes by road, making it an easy drop-off point.

Driving conditions on the Kotor → Bar road

The coastal road is well-maintained but bendy. Expect roadworks at any time during summer — Montenegro is upgrading sections to dual-carriageway in stages. Fuel up in Petrovac if you're below half — the long stretch between Petrovac and Bar has only one or two stations.

Day trips from Bar

Stari Bar ruins — 4 km inland, 10-minute drive from the modern town, and the most atmospheric stop in the area.

Virpazar and Lake Skadar — 25 km north over the Sutorman pass; a working fishing village on the lake's south shore with boat trips into the wetlands.

Ulcinj south coast — 26 km further south. Push on to Ulcinj for sandy beaches and the Ottoman old town if you have a second day.

Podgorica airport — 42 km north on the E80 if you're returning a car at flight time.

Distances from Bar