Where to Stay in Montenegro: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide

(This post may contain affiliate links. Find more info in my disclaimer)

Heading to Montenegro this year for some summer sun? 

Montenegro has nearly 300km of coastline and is an increasingly popular summer destination. Nearly the entire shore sits directly at the foothills of lush mountains making for dramatic scenery, especially around the photogenic Bay of Kotor.

Its resort towns are packed with charming old quarters, a buzzing nightlife, and endless activities.

Here’s a guide to help you figure out the best place for you to stay in Montenegro, be it a swanky all-inclusive resort or a handy base for budget adventures.

This guide will cover:

  • a shortlist of the very best hotels on Montenegro’s coast 
  • a quick overview of Montenegreo’s seaside scene and what you need to know
  • a guide to each region and its best beach resorts and hotels, including Kotor, Tivat, and Budva

Shortlist – the Best Places to Stay in Montenegro 

View of the cliffs from Petrovac Castello.

The Best Places to Stay in Montenegro for Every Type of Traveller

  • Best Places for Nightlife: Budva
  • Best for Activities and Daytrips: Budva, Herceg Novi, Tivat
  • Best Old Town: Kotor, Herceg Novi
  • Best Place for Sandy Beaches: Ulcinj
  • Best Quiet Unspoilt Places: Forte Rose
  • Most Romantic Places for Couples: Kotor, Perast
  • Best for Nature: Petrovac
  • Best All-round Beach Break: Petrovac
  • Underrated: Ulcinj, Petrovac

The Montenegro Coast – A Quick Overview

Przno Beach.
Przno Beach.

The Montenegrin coast can roughly be divided into 3 sections: 

  • The Bay of Kotor
  • Northern Riviera – Budva to Petrovac
  • Southern Riviera – Petrovac to Ulcinj

The Bay of Kotor is the northernmost section and the most popular tourist attraction in the country. It’s commonly referred to as ‘the fjord of the Mediterranean’, resembling Norway’s glacial inlets. But it’s not technically a fjord, it’s a ria – a flooded river valley. The bay is sheltered but big enough for the cruise ships that flock to the area.

One of the bigger towns on the bay is Tivat, home to the region’s only international airport. Dubrovnik Airport is only 1 hour away by car, although queues at the border can increase travel time. If you need to travel from the capital city Podgorica, it takes just over an hour.

Tivat has been at the epicentre of Montenegro’s luxury development boom, with many new resorts and marinas aimed squarely at the international jet set looking for exclusive resorts with modern facilities. Access to Montenegro’s highlights from here is easy – not just the coast but Cetinje and Lovecen National Park, Lake Skadar, and even Durmitor National Park within driving distance.

As you head south along the coast, the level of development in the  Budva Riviera might surprise those who think of Montenegro as an off-the-beaten-track destination. This stretch of coast serves as the summer playground for a huge chunk of the Balkans. Most resort towns are built up and modern, although some have old town areas.

The scenery is stunning but peace can be hard to find in the peak summer months (July – early September). Hotels and resorts are generally good value.

There are some lovely hotels in converted old town buildings with atmospheric interiors however it’s worth noting that this type of construction can feel damp and humid, especially in the bathrooms. If you’re sensitive to smells and particles then it’s worth restricting your search to modern buildings.

The beaches in Montenegro are mostly shingle and pebble, and usually very busy. The prettiest beaches are between Budva and Petrovac, and the sandiest are around Ulcinj.

Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi from the air.

Herceg Novi is the first coastal town you come across if you’re coming from the direction of Dubrovnik and the Croatian Coast. But many visitors speed past on their way to the more famous Bay of Kotor.

Underrated Herceg Novi is an attractive town in a sheltered bay at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor that represents great value for international visitors.

It has a charming (and hilly) Old Town, a fortress, and an Ottoman tower. Herceg Novi itself means ‘new castle’. It’s a good all-round destination with plenty to do in the town and the local area – it’s got nightlife, family-friendly, vineyards, boat trips, caves, and a strong cultural scene.

Herceg Novi is known for its wellness hotels and there is a thermal spa nearby at Igalo (the two towns blend together). The surrounding landscape is lush and green with plenty of hiking opportunities and amazing views.

It’s not as busy or expensive as Kotor as it doesn’t get the cruise ships. Herceg Novi is mostly popular with tourists from the Balkans and other parts of mainland Europe. The town itself is bigger although the old quarter is a bit smaller. 

Herceg Novi has a few small strips of shingle beach and rocky platforms popular with sunbathers. Along the waterfront promenade, you’ll find cafes and beach bars. It’s lively in the summer. The whole coastal path is 6km long.

If the beach is your priority then it’s worth getting a boat across the bay to beaches on the Luštica Peninsula such as Forte Rose, Mirišta, or Žanjice.

Herceg Novi is 1 hour from Kotor so you can easily use it as a base for exploring the bay. It’s also the best point for taking the bus to Dubrovnik.

The best hotels in Herceg Novi are:

Small and charming Boutique Hotel Malo Selo is located up in the hills behind the town and can organise various activities including horse riding.

Herceg Novi is also a great location for finding budget apartments for a longer stay.

Portonovi

Portonovi from the air.

Portonovi is an extensive luxury development just along the coast from Herceg Novi. The complex includes an exclusive marina, waterfront restaurants, shopping boutiques, and event venues.

Portonovi is home to the ultra-luxury One&Only Portonovi – currently the only outpost of this brand in Europe. It offers world class facilities for luxury travellers. including extensive spa and wellness facilities, a kids’ club, watersports, and numerous restaurants.

The resort has villas with private seawater pools and what can only be described as a private plunge beach. The resort also has a beach club on a private man-made sandy beach – reservations are required.

Portonovi is sandwiched between Kumbor and Denovici and you’ll find standard accommodation and eateries in those villages. There’s a small pebble beach at Denovici.

Futher up the coast at Kamenari you’ll find the 4-star Boutique Hotel Capitano and the 5-star Boutique Hotel & Spa Casa del Mare which has a private beach.

Tivat

Tivat from the air.

Tivat is a small town which has exploded in popularity thanks to its luxury marina and international airport. There’s a year-round expat scene as many of its new and exclusive housing developments are targeted at internationals.

There’s not much to do in Tivat itself but eat, shop, and relax. It’s calm and manicured, not a bad place to spend a night or two if you’re flying in/out of the airport. It doesn’t have an old quarter, although it does have a few old mansions and the new buildings are sympathetic.

The marina is called Porto Montenegro and is a vast development with designer shopping, high-end dining, and events.

As with the other towns in the bay, the beaches here are not the best and it’s worth boating over to Luštica. 

5-star Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Montenegro is over the water on the Luštica Peninsula but is just a short boat ride from Tivat. It has its own private beach and beach club.

Kotor

View of Kotor Bay from the hills.

Kotor is by far the most famous place in Montenegro. Its popularity has explodeds thanks to its Instagram-friendly setting and frequent appearance on cruise ship itineraries. The sight of these vast behemoths in the fjord-like bay is quite something.

It has a walled medieval old town which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s best seen in the summer months – it can feel a bit claustrophobic in bad weather, especially as the steep mountains mean early sunsets. Cruise ships dock right outside the entrance to the old town.

Despite the crowds, it’s still charming and quirky. And cosmopolitan, with lots of cultural events. The streets are lined with pizza restaurants and wine bars. There is also a modern suburb (Škaljari) just south of the old town.

Don’t miss the hike up the fortress walls, and beyond if you have time. Kotor’s location also makes it a great base for exploring the wider areas.

Best stays in the Old Town include:

Outside the Old Town, you’re more likely to find spacious modern hotels with pools and sometimes a private beach. Many are up the coast towards Dobroto or on the peninsula opposite Kotor.

Perast

Pretty waterfront street in Perast.

If the scenery of the Bay of Kotor appeals but not the crowds then consider Perast, a small town in the middle of the bay. It’s small, picturesque, and sleepy.

Perast is known for its two tiny islands, Our Lady of the Rocks and St George. You can take a boat out to visit the idyllic churches on both islands, as well as the nearby mussel and oyster farm. Perast is a good spot for lazy days spent swimming, enjoying the waterfront cafes, and eating seafood.

There are other spots along the bay to stay such as Muo and Risan. Each has a few places to stay and a few places to eat, perhaps a beach bar by the water.

The drive around the bay is longer than you might think and buses can get very busy.

Lustica Bay

Lustica Marina from the water.

Previously fairly undeveloped, Luštica is the site of Montenegro’s newest luxury development.

The Luštica Peninsula is an unspoilt area not far from Tivat airport, and Luštica Bay is the name for the body of water between the peninsula and Tivat.

There’s a strong focus on sustainability here. The coast is rugged and perfect for exploring by boat, with some of the most pristine beaches in Montenegro close by -including gorgeous Plavi Horizonti as well as Forte Rose and Žanjic. 

The Marina Village is the social hub at the heart of the development, which is on the south coast of the peninsula. It has a waterfront promenade, plenty of eateries, a state-of-the-art marina with 115 berths, and an 18-hole golf course – Montenegro’s first. 

Budva

Budva Old Town from the air with high-rise hotels along the beach in the background.

Budva is known as being Montenegro’s party capital. It has a cute old town that would look right at home on a postcard from Croatia, but also plenty of high-rise apartment blocks and casinos. It’s the most built-up place on the coast and the best place to stay in Montenegro for beaches and nightlife.

The vibe in Budvka is a mix between all-inclusive glitz and Balkan spring break – it’s sometimes referred to as ‘the Miami of Montenegro’. Like Herceg Novi, it has a rich cultural heritage and a solid calendar of events (including the Mediterranean Film Festival). There are heaps of activities and excursions on offer. It’s the best place for the easily bored.

Budva marks the beginning of the Riviera string of coastal resorts. It’s a short transfer from Tivat airport.

The main town beach is very busy (and noisy) in the summer, but there are lots of smaller beaches to discover along the coast. The nearest are:

  • Jaz Beach
  • Mogren
  • Trsteno
  • Ploce
  • Slovenska Plaza

Budva also has fantastic transport connections. It’s perfect for exploring the coast by boat, with trips on offer both along the coast and inland to the Bay of Kotor. And plenty of party boats. Buses will also shuffle you up and down the coast.

The best resort hotels in Budva town are:

Bečići

Bečići is technically a town in its own right but acts as an extension of Budva. In fact, some of the best hotels listed as Budva are actually in Bečići so check locations carefully!

It has a large pebble beach, lined with sunloungers 8-deep. It sits at the foot of steep lush hills and isn’t as big as Budva, but you can easily bus between the two. It’s about 10 minutes in the car or an hour on foot – there’s a paved sidewalk along the busy road.

There’s a tunnel from the east end of the beach which takes you to the beautiful Kamenovo Beach.

Sveti Stefan

The island of Sveti Stefan.

Sveti Stefan is a small coastal village named after its dramatically beautiful island connected to the mainland by a beach isthmus. It has its origins as a fishing village dating back to the 15th century.

The small walled island is private and used to be home to the luxurious Aman Sveti Stefan resort, one of Montenegro’s most exclusive luxury stays, but it has been closed for the past couple of years after protests over its occupation of the beach. The resort consisted of two parts – an elegant villa directly on the beach, and cottages on the island. The villa was formerly a royal residence. Whilst its future is hashed out in court, the island is currently closed but the beach is open once again to the public.

Sveti Stefan is small but there are a few other hotel options:

Sveti Stefan is in the middle of a beautiful section of coastline scalloped with beaches and facing west for perfect sunsets. Nearby beaches include:

  • Przno
  • Queen’s Beach
  • Milocer
  • Crvena
  • Drobni Pijesak

5-star Maestral Resort & Casino is near Przna.

And 5-star ĀNANTI Resort, Residences & Beach Club – The Leading Hotels of the World is located near Drobni Pikesak, as is 4-star Hotel Vivid Blue Serenity.

Petrovac

Petrovac from the air.

Petrovac is the next main town as you travel south along the coast. It’s just half an hour from Budva but this end of the Riviera is much quieter and less well-known, despite its laid-back old town and photogenic clifftop fortress (known as Kastio or Castelo).

It’s not as built up as Budva and is surrounded by olive groves with hiking trails in either direction along the coast.

There are two main beaches, Petrovac Beach and Lučice, plus nearby Perazica Do and Buljarica. There are two small uninhabited islands offshore you can visit by boat.

Bar

Bar waterfront from the air.

Bar is the third-largest town in Montenegro and the busiest on the coast.

It’s a somewhat functional port town with less to see and do than neighbouring resorts, but its big draw is the old quarter Stari Bar which lies in ruins behind the modern town and is on UNESCO’s tentative list.

Well worth a visit for history buffs, Stari Bar is one of the biggest and most important archaeological sites in the Balkans. However, it’s important to note that it’s an abandoned site 5km inland and uphill, not part of the new city. It has lain in ruins since earthquake damage in 1979.

Bar beach from the air.

Bar, the port town, is completely modern and not the best for beaches (although it does have a long if scruffy pebble beach north of the port – pictured above).

But its is an important transport hub so you might well pass through it. Ferries to Italy leave from its port, and it has the only rail station on the coast – trains will take you inland to capital Podgorica and beyond to Belgrade. It’s known as being an extremely scenic route but you’ll need to reach the mountainous parts of the country for the best bits.

Buses to Albania leave from nearby Skoder.

For accommodation in Bar have a look at: 

Ulcinj

Ulcinj Old Town and Small Beach from the air.

Ulcinj is the southernmost resort town in Montenegro.  Although it has a similar geography to Budva with its walled old town topped with terracotta tiles, it has quite a different vibe thanks to its Ottoman history and proximity to Albania.

It’s family-friendly and caters mainly to Albanian visitors, including a ladies-only beach where you can derobe and rub yourself with mud from the sulphur springs (which according to legend helps with fertility).

But you’ll still find pumping beach clubs and nightlife here. Squint and it could be Ksamil.

The tourist infrastructure for English speakers is not as good as around Budva but it’s a great spot if you have a sense of adventure and are looking for value and history.

The main beach in town is called Small Beach (although there are other smaller beaches such as Liman and Liman II) and it gets absolutely packed. In the other direction is the pebble Valdano Beach.

But most visitors come for Long Beach, a vast dune beach of coarse golden sand surrounded by the wetlands. There are resort and beach bars/restaurants along here but it’s a quiet area, windy and popular with kitesurfers. This is the best sandy beach in Montenegro. It’s 13km long in total and the closest point to Ulcinj is around 6km from the Old Town.

At the far end of Long Beach is Ada Bojana, a river delta island with waterfront restaurants, boaters, and birdwatchers. Its quieter corners attract the clothing-optional crowd.

  • 5-star Senator is ultra-modern and close to Small Beach.
  • 4-star Hotel Palata Venezia is in a historic fortifications just behind the harbour. It has a pool and Ottoman touches in its interior.
  • 4-star Padam Hotel & Spa is 3km from the Old Town but has a pool.
  • 4-star Azul Beach Montenegro is right on the sands of Long Beach and is the best if you’re looking for an all-inclusive family resort.
  • For tranquillity, Pino Boutique Hotel is situated on the rugged coast south of town and has stunning sea views from its infinity pool.

If you don’t need to be near town then the modern KAAB Boutique Hotel is a 15-minute drive to the north, directly on pretty Kruče Rakita Beach. It’s one of Montenegro’s most attractive small boutique beach hotels.

Read more:

10 Most Beautiful Beaches in the Balkans

Where to Stay in Croatia: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide

Enjoyed this post? Follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Image credits:

Sveti Stefan: © iampotonya / Adobe Stock

Petrovac: © Oleg Zhukov / Adobe Stock

Przno Beach: © Tatiana Popova / Shutterstock

Herceg Novi: © radzonimo / Adobe Stock

Portonovi: © Predrag Jankovic/ Adobe Stock

Tivat: © ronedya/ Adobe Stock

Kotor: © The Mediterranean Traveller

Perast: © Olena Zn / Adobe Stock

Lustica Bay: © galitskaya / Adobe Stock

Budva: © DreamPointArt / Adobe Stock

Sveti Stefan: © emperorcosar

Petrovac aerial: © xbrchx / Adobe Stock 

Bar: © xbrchx / Adobe Stock 

Ulcinj: © biggunsband / Shutterstock

 

Share this post:

Share on Pinterest