Bay of Kotor hosts Boka Marathon on 12-13 December

The Bay of Kotor hosts Boka Marathon from 12 to 13 December 2026, with the route linking Tivat and Kotor Old Town in Montenegro. The event is the current travel peg for the bay because its races use the coastal road and finish beside Kotor's historic centre.

Boka Marathon links Tivat and Kotor on 12 December

The organiser lists the sixth Boka Marathon for Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 December 2026. The programme places the 10 km race and Pleasure Run on 12 December at 3pm, followed by the marathon and half marathon on 13 December at 9am.

The official route runs from Tivat towards Kotor. The organiser's 2026 programme describes a flat route, an AIMS certificate and several race formats, including a 5 km race and the Boka Mile. The full marathon starts at Pine in Tivat and finishes in Kotor Old Town.

The race route meets a UNESCO-listed landscape

The event crosses a setting that is more than a scenic backdrop. UNESCO says the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor covers the best-preserved inner south-eastern part of the bay, where fortified towns, settlements, palaces and monasteries are integrated with steep mountain slopes.

The World Heritage property was inscribed in 1979 and covers 14,600 hectares. Its landscape includes two interconnected bays and mountains rising to nearly 1,500 metres. The route therefore connects an active sporting programme with the historic urban and maritime setting that defines the region.

Kotor's old town is particularly relevant to the event because it is the finishing area for the full marathon. UNESCO describes Kotor and Perast as authentically preserved small cities, while also noting that the region's monuments and historic urban areas were restored after serious damage in the 1979 earthquake. The UNESCO description of Kotor places the city within the wider cultural landscape rather than treating it as an isolated attraction.

What the December programme means for visitors

The two-day schedule gives non-runners a defined point at which the coast road becomes the setting for a public sporting event. The official programme names Tivat and Kotor as the endpoints, so travellers can plan around the race weekend rather than around an undated seasonal festival.

The shorter races take place on 12 December, while the longer races use 13 December. The full marathon's finish in Kotor Old Town makes the historic centre part of the event's route, although the published programme does not state a separate visitor timetable for the old town.

Visiting Bay of Kotor: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Boka Marathon takes place from 12 to 13 December 2026 between Tivat and Kotor, with the full marathon finishing in Kotor Old Town.
• The 10 km race and Pleasure Run are scheduled for 12 December, while the marathon and half marathon are scheduled for 13 December.
• The organiser identifies Tivat's Pine waterfront as the full marathon start and Kotor Old Town as its finish.
• The UNESCO-listed region covers 14,600 hectares and includes steep mountain terrain around the inner bay.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Bay of Kotor

When does Boka Marathon take place at the Bay of Kotor?

The 2026 event runs from 12 to 13 December, with races between Tivat and Kotor.

Where is the Bay of Kotor and how do you get there?

The bay is in Montenegro on the Adriatic coast, with the race route connecting Tivat and Kotor.

What is the Bay of Kotor?

It is a historic natural harbour and UNESCO World Heritage region inscribed in 1979, covering 14,600 hectares.