May around the Bay of Kotor is warm, with highs around 24°C, but it can be showery, so pack summer layers plus a light rain jacket.
Kotor's walled old town and the steep climb to the fortress above it are the highlights, with boat trips around the bay.
The weather in Montenegro (Kotor) in May
Shoulder months for comparison
| Station | April | May | June |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herceg Novi (on the Bay of Kotor, about 25 km from Kotor) | 19.3 °C / 9.9 °C67 °F / 50 °F · 162 mm | 23.8 °C / 13.9 °C75 °F / 57 °F · 105 mm | 28.3 °C / 17.8 °C83 °F / 64 °F · 71 mm |
Source: WMO 1991–2020 climate normals, published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI accession 0253808). Stations: Herceg Novi (on the Bay of Kotor, about 25 km from Kotor) (WMO 13455). Normals are long-term averages, not a forecast. Sunrise, sunset and daylight are calculated for the 15th of the month in 2026 (local time). °F and inches are converted from the metric figures. “n/a” means the station doesn’t report sunshine in this dataset.
- Herceg Novi (on the Bay of Kotor, about 25 km from Kotor) May normals (1991-2020): highs about 24°C, lows about 14°C, about 8 days with 1 mm or more of rain (105 mm in the month).
- Sunset is around 20:00 in mid-May, so you get about 15 hours of daylight.
- The nearest WMO station is Herceg Novi, on the same bay about 25 km from Kotor. May rain is around 105 mm there, so a light rain jacket is worth packing.
This week in Kotor
The outfit plan in this guide is built from 30-year averages for May. This panel is the real forecast for the next 7 days, turned into packing tips for your cabin baggage.
The live forecast needs JavaScript. Everything else in this guide works without it, and the climate-based plan above covers any May trip.
Weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips.
Karen’s tipWeather changes fastLayer it up
Three thin layers from your capsule beat one thick coat in Montenegro (Kotor) in May: add or peel them off as the day changes.
- Base · next to skin
- Tee
- Mid · warmth
- Fine knit
- Outer · wind and rain
- Denim or trench jacket
☀ When it warms up: Sunny afternoon: tee and sunglasses.
🎒 Stash it: The knit folds into your day bag.
Check the live “This week” forecast above for big swings between morning and afternoon.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Karen’s tip On the plane
- Wear your heaviest items on travel day: coat, knit and your bulkiest shoes. They’d take the most space and weight in your bag.
- Planes can be cold with the air con, so take a jacket on board.
- Pack a neutral wrap or pashmina too: it doubles as an evening wrap and a shoulder cover for churches here.
- An inflatable cushion that packs into its own small pouch: a head cushion on the flight, a pillow on the sunbed, and as firm or soft as you like. Try that with a foam neck pillow!
More comfort tips for flying economy → · Is a lounge worth it? →
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
What locals actually wear
Sourced tips summarise or quote the linked source; anything marked editorial is our own advice. We never make up “local” style tips.
- Expect casual summer clothes, with shoulders covered in churches.PackToWear editorial advice, not a quote
3 outfit formulas
Your style: best fits here are Riviera / Euro summer and Relaxed sporty chic. Find your holiday style →
Fortress climb
- Tee
- Leggings or shorts
- Trainers
- Cap and sunglasses
Tip: Go early: the steps are steep and there is little shade.
Old town and bay
- Linen shirt
- Midi skirt
- Flat sandals
- Light scarf
Tip: A light scarf covers shoulders for churches.
Evening by the water
- Midi dress
- Denim jacket
- Block sandals
- Earrings
Tip: Polished stone in the old town is slippery: low, grippy sandals.
Swatches are a colour guide for each formula, not product photos.
The key pieces for each formula
Already got something similar? Pack that. If you're missing a piece for Montenegro (Kotor), pick a shop you like: the links open each shop’s own search, so you can browse their take on it.
01 Fortress climb
-
Cotton T-shirt The workhorse of any capsule. A few go with absolutely everything. -
Fleece-lined leggings Snug under jeans or trousers, and nobody need know they're there. Shop at Amazon UK ↗Check price -
Cushioned trainers Wear them to travel and they'll carry you through long sightseeing days. -
Cap Keeps the sun out of your eyes on long days out. -
Sunglasses Easy on your eyes all day, and they finish off any outfit.
02 Old town and bay
-
Linen shirt Throw it over a swimsuit or a tee, and it keeps the sun off your shoulders. -
Midi skirt Swishy, comfy and smart enough for somewhere nice. -
Comfy flat sandals Comfy all day and light enough to pack a second pair. -
Lightweight scarf Covers your shoulders for churches and mosques, and keeps the sun off your neck.
03 Evening by the water
-
Easy midi dress One easy dress takes you from sightseeing to dinner with a quick shoe swap. -
Denim or light jacket Just right for breezy evenings and chilly air-con. - Comfy flat sandals Comfy all day and light enough to pack a second pair.
-
Statement earrings The easiest way to turn a day outfit into an evening one.
Karen’s tip“I use SHEIN and Temu all the time, and I read every review first, especially ones with photos on real people. They show the true quality and material; model shots can mislead. Check the size reviews too. My returns have always been free and easy, so if you’re unsure, order two sizes (check the returns policy first). And order early: delivery can take a while.”
Just so you know: we may earn a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How our links work. Photos are from Unsplash to show the style, not the exact item (credits).
Day to night in Montenegro (Kotor)
Same capsule, evening version: keep the base, swap one or two pieces. Every swap below stays cabin-bag friendly. How day-to-night swaps work →
01Sightseeing → dinner
- Base (stays the same)
- Denim jacket
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Tee
- Jeans
- Trainers
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Midi dress
- Loafers
- Earrings
Pieces added to your bag: 1, the dress.
Karen’s tipChange your hair, change the look
Swapping my hair from up in the day to down in the evening (or the other way round) gives the whole outfit a different look. Even one piece of jewellery I didn’t wear earlier does the same.
💡 It’s a free trick, and it saves packing extra outfits.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Preview note: placeholder links to each shop’s normal pages, with no affiliate tracking yet.
What’s underfoot
The ground
- Paved and cobbled old-town streets
- Steps and hills to viewpoints
12,000-18,000 steps on a sightseeing dayeditorial estimate
Trouble spots
- Polished stone can be slippery after rain
☀ Day shoes
Comfortable trainers.
☾ Evening shoes
Loafers or flat sandals.
✕ Leave at home
Brand-new shoes on a walking day (editorial).
Season notes: Spring showers are possible: trainers with some grip help.
Karen’s tipHeels and cobbles don’t mix. Check the ground before you pack heels: thin heels catch between cobbles, so a wedge or block heel is steadier for evenings.
One pair, day to night: The best space-savers are a sleek waterproof leather ankle boot (Paris, London, Vienna & Prague, Amsterdam, Rome in December), a clean minimalist leather trainer or slip-on loafer (Tokyo, London), and a low block-heel sandal (cruise). Travel day: wear the heavier pair (see On the plane). Break in shoes before the trip.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: . Shoe recommendations are our own editorial advice based on these sources, checked 20 Oct 2026.
The free baggage packing list
Your bag: 40 × 30 × 20 cm
Planned for 3 nights, using a soft backpack of about 20–24 litres made to the 40 × 30 × 20 cm size. The rule that makes it work: wear your bulkiest items on the plane. The dotted outline is easyJet’s bigger free bag.
Wear on the plane worn
In the bag 13 items
Karen’s tipRoll, don’t fold. I roll my clothes, stuff socks and small bits inside my shoes, and keep socks in a clear bag that comes home full of dirty laundry or wet swimming costumes. How I pack →
Karen’s tipPack a bag in a bag.A shopping bag that folds into its own little pouch, for shopping, dirty laundry and pool towels. No buying bags abroad.Why, and where to get one →
- A heavy coat
- More than two pairs of shoes
Karen’s tipLeave the towel at home. “I use the towels in my room, and hotels usually offer pool towels too, sometimes for a small refundable deposit. Worst case, I buy a cheap towel locally and leave it behind.”
Karen’s tip Check your room first
Check the hotel, Airbnb or hostel listing (or ask the host) for:
- Iron or steamer
- Hairdryer
- Toiletries: shampoo, shower gel (conditioner often isn’t supplied)
- Towels, plus beach or pool towels
- Washing machine or laundry service
- Plug adapters or USB sockets
- Kettle, tea and coffee
- Slippers and a robe
- A safe
Here: Most city hotels have a hairdryer; check the listing if you need one.
Hostels often don’t provide towels or padlocks.
Karen’s tip Bring your own hair products. Most hotels supply shampoo but often not conditioner. Decant favourites into leak-proof travel bottles under 100 ml (fill them about ¾ full), or switch to solid bars, which don’t count as liquids. Amazon UK: Lericttor 100ml Silicone Travel Bottles ↗Check price · Amazon UK: Friendly Soap Travel Bar 95g (hair & body) ↗£4.72, price checked 20 Oct 2026 Every item they provide is one you don’t carry.
Karen’s tip No-iron packing
Pick fabrics that don’t crease. Woven cotton and linen crease; knits, merino, jersey and most polyester blends barely do.
- Hang creased clothes in the bathroom while you shower.
- Pack a small crease-release spray under 100 ml (it counts as a liquid).
- Roll clothes, and keep crease-prone pieces in a packing cube on top, not in a vacuum bag.
- Check whether your hotel or Airbnb has an iron.
Karen’s tip Buy it there?
A checked bag typically adds around £60–80 return on a budget airline. So if your bag’s full, buying bulky or liquid items when you land is often cheaper.
Think sun cream, full-size shampoo, insect repellent, a beach towel or flip-flops.
Tick items off as you pack (ticks aren’t saved). Liquids rules depend on your departure airport and change from time to time, so check your airport’s current security rules before you decant (see liquids rules by airport).
Flying there on Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz?
Karen’s pickFlying easyJet? A bag that fits the free sizeFLYMAX Underseat cabin case (45 × 36 × 20 cm)
Its stated size is 45 × 36 × 20 cm, exactly easyJet’s free under-seat maximum of 45 × 36 × 20 cm. easyJet counts the wheels and handles in that, so it’s worth popping a tape measure on it before you go.
Karen: “This is the bag I took to Kos for a week this month.”
- Three or four nights fits in a free under-seat bag if you wear the bulky layers on the plane, or a 10 kg cabin bag if you want more room.
- Couples: share one toiletry pouch and one charger.
Duty-free bag: Buying at the airport? On easyJet one shop bag can usually go on board on top of your bag; on Ryanair and Wizz check your allowance. Gate staff decide, so keep it small. Duty free and your free baggage →
Sizes come from each airline’s official page (links in our free baggage reference). Rules change, so check your booking before you fly.
Baggage picks
Ticks compare each bag’s stated outer size with each airline’s free-bag size; a struck-through name means it’s too big for that airline. Soft bags squash a little, hard cases don’t. Karen has used the easyJet one; we haven’t tested the others yet.
Karen’s pick Underseat cabin case (45 × 36 × 20 cm) Stated size: 45 × 36 × 20 cm Want to fit more in? Compression cubes and packing cubes that store more in a free bag →
Pieces that fit the formulas
- M&SM&S Feather & Down Padded Puffer Jacket£68 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- QuinceAustralian merino wool half-zip sweater
- M&SAutograph Pure Silk Stripe Shirt£90 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Leather Block Heel Ankle Boots£60 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&S (Regatta)Regatta Derino Low Waterproof Walking Trainers£65 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Soft Casual Crossbody Bag£18 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Set of 3 Packing Cubes£12 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Umbrella with Windtech£12 · checked 20 Oct 2026
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Prices are shown only where we confirmed them on the retailer’s page (checked 20 Oct 2026); otherwise check the current price.
What drinks and food cost
We don’t have reliable prices for here yet.
Karen’s tip research food and drink costs before you go and check local apps for happy hours and 2-for-1 offers.
Entry and practicalities
Entry requirements
FCDO: British passport holders can visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check the FCDO page for passport validity and registration rules.
Share the load
- share one toiletry pouch and one charger.
- Share one set of chargers, adaptor and toiletries; each of you still gets your own liquids bag allowance.
- Split each person’s outfits across both bags, so a gate-checked bag doesn’t leave one of you with nothing.
General advice from PackToWear.
Other seasons
Dec-Feb
Highs about 13-14°C: a warm coat and closed shoes.
Mar-May
Highs about 16-24°C: layers: a knit and a light jacket.
Jun-Aug
Highs about 28-32°C: summer clothes, sun hat and SPF.
Sep-Nov
Highs about 18-27°C: layers again as it cools.
Sources
- PackToWear editorial guidance (not an official rule; based on general travel experience), PackToWear
- WMO 1991-2020 climate normals via NOAA NCEI (accession 0253808), station Herceg Novi (on the Bay of Kotor, about 25 km from Kotor), World Meteorological Organization / NOAA
- Montenegro travel advice: entry requirements and local laws, checked 20 October 2026, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Airline free-bag sizes: see the free baggage reference. Climate: see the source under the weather table. Live forecast: weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips. Photos: Unsplash, credited on each image and on the photo credits page. Last checked October 2026.