Look at a map of the Bay of Kotor and you will notice the water pinches almost shut in the middle. That narrows is the Verige strait, and a small car ferry darts back and forth across it all day and night — the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry. For anyone driving the Montenegrin coast, knowing when to take it (and when to skip it) can shave a long, winding hour off your day.
Where the ferry runs
The ferry links Kamenari, on the northern shore near Herceg Novi, with Lepetane, on the southern shore just above Tivat. It crosses the Verige strait, the tightest point of the bay, where the two coastlines lean in toward each other and the channel is only a few hundred metres wide.
That short hop is the whole point. Without it, the bay is a deep, U-shaped inlet — to get from one side to the other by road, you have to drive all the way around the top, through Kotor. It is a gorgeous drive, but it is also slow.
How it saves you the long drive
The road around the head of the bay hugs the water through Risan, Perast and Kotor, threading a string of villages where the speed limit is low and the views are distracting. Beautiful, but not quick. The ferry collapses that whole arc into a single crossing.
| Route | Roughly | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry (Kamenari–Lepetane) | A few minutes on the water | Getting to Tivat, the airport, Budva, Kotor from the Herceg Novi side fast |
| Drive around (via Kotor) | The long way around the bay's head | Sightseeing, or when the queue is very long |
If your goal is simply to get from the Herceg Novi side to Tivat or the airport, the ferry is almost always the faster, calmer choice.
How often it runs and how long it takes
The crossing itself is short — a brief ride across the strait, the kind of thing that is over before you have finished your coffee. The boats run frequently around the clock, 24/7, so there is rarely a real timetable to plan around. You drive up, join the line, and roll on when the next ferry loads. Multiple vessels work the route, so even when one is mid-crossing, another is usually loading on your side.
How you pay
Payment is refreshingly simple. You pay at the booth, per car, as you drive on — there is no need to book ahead and no app to wrestle with. The fare is charged by vehicle, so your passengers ride at no extra cost, and it is modest for what it saves you. Keep a little cash within reach to keep the lane moving, though card is often accepted too.
When you rent with us, every vehicle in our Montrent fleet is yours to take across the strait without restriction — the ferry is part of everyday driving here, not a special excursion.
When it is worth taking — and when to drive around
This is really a route-decision tool. A good rule of thumb:
- Heading to Tivat or the airport from the west? Take the ferry. From Herceg Novi or the border, the Kamenari crossing is the natural, fast line to Tivat Airport and on toward Budva.
- Staying on the Herceg Novi side, or only going as far as Kotor? You may not need it at all — the road around the bay delivers you straight into Kotor.
- In no hurry and want the scenery? Skip the ferry on purpose and drive the long way. That coastal loop is one of the finest in the country, and we map it out in our Bay of Kotor scenic drive guide.
Summer queue tips
In July and August the ferry is popular, and at peak hours a line builds on both ramps. A few habits keep it painless:
- Travel off-peak when you can. Early morning and the middle of the day are usually lighter than the late-afternoon beach exodus.
- The queue moves fast. Because the boats are frequent and turn around quickly, even a long-looking line tends to clear in a few sailings — do not let it scare you into the long drive automatically.
- Weigh the wait honestly. If the queue is genuinely huge on a peak August evening, the drive around via Kotor may win. Most other times, the ferry still beats it.
- Have cash ready and your window down as you approach the booth, so you are not the car holding up the lane.
The Kamenari–Lepetane ferry is one of those small local shortcuts that makes Montenegro feel effortless once you know it is there. Take it when you are crossing the bay, skip it when you want the scenic loop, and let it quietly save you time the rest of the trip. When you are ready to explore the coast on your own schedule, browse our cars and pick the one that fits your route.