7 best resorts in Montenegro: beaches, sea, reviews

Resorts of Montenegro: where is it better to relax as a beach-goer, where - as an eco-tourist, and where - in general in winter?

Despite the name, people go to Montenegro (aka Montenegro) not just around the corner, but for the sake of the beaches. The three-month visa-free period in the season, the almost absence of a language barrier and postcard views make the resorts of Montenegro very attractive. In addition, due to the small size of the country, beach holidays can be easily combined with sightseeing. It is not surprising that there are traditionally many Russian tourists here.

Have you been tempted by the low price of tours to Montenegro or have decided to go on your own, first of all you need to decide: which resort to choose for your vacation?

Resorts of Montenegro - when is the best time to go?

My experience.

I have been to Montenegro twice as part of long travels in the Balkans. I liked the country the first time: compact, relatively inexpensive - and there is something to see. On the second trip, my impressions were only confirmed. I am not a big fan of purely resort leisure a la "all inclusive" and prefer independent rest. I was attracted by cool locations for photography - and this is enough here!

Both times I was in Montenegro in April: the sun was hot, but the sea remained icy. And if you are interested in the beach resorts of Montenegro, be patient until the end of spring.

Monastery of Saint George near Perast
About the weather.

Already in the second half of May, sunny weather sets in, and the water - although cool, + 21 ° C - is suitable for swimming. But the best time for this is summer... When the Mediterranean countries (Turkey, Cyprus, Greece) languish from stuffiness and heat, Montenegro is pleasantly warm and fresh: in July and August The Adriatic Sea warms up to + 26 ° C, and the air - up to + 29 ° C. True, it is then that tourists flood the already cramped beaches.

It gets a little colder in September, but until the end of the month - and in hot years and until mid-October - the water temperature does not drop below + 22 ° C. I recommend the velvet season if you want to swim and go on excursions without crowds.

In winter the main resorts of Montenegro are the ski regions of Zabljak and Kolasin. The holiday season opens in mid-December. On the coast at this time it is relatively warm (+ 10 ° C… + 12 ° C), but windy and rainy. But this is a good moment for a budget trip with excursion purposes - prices for tours, accommodation and tickets are sagging.

About tours.

Not to say that Montenegro is a railway "package" direction. There are vouchers - a lot and not only from Moscow. But when there is so much to see around, being bound to one hotel can be stressful. Especially those who have it in their blood to rent a car and plan their route 🙂

Tours are good for a casual getaway with daily beach, town / village walks and one or two outings. I search and book tours on online aggregators, it is convenient for me - offers from all leading tour operators are collected directly - and saves time:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

A week's vacation in Montenegro in 2021 - in season - will cost a minimum of 60,000 rubles for two. Prices for family trips (mom, dad, child and all inclusive) - from 120 thousand for 7 days. Not Turkey, of course.

Don't miss our article about Montenegro impressions. There - everything about organizing an independent trip: from tickets and hotel recommendations to car rental.

There are 10 resorts on the map of Montenegro:

• Herceg Novi
• Kotor
• Tivat
• Budva
• Sveti Stefan
• Ulcinj
• Zabljak
• Perast
• Petrovac
• Sutomore

I will talk about seven major and major ones. Getting started?

On the way from Herceg Novi to Kotor

Herceg Novi (Herceg Novi)

Herceg Novi travel guides call it the northernmost and greenest resort in Montenegro. The first is indisputable, and the second is similar to the truth: here you have apple trees, and peach and pomegranate trees, and bunches of grapes.

Beaches.

The beaches in Herceg Novi are predominantly concrete or pebble, so it is better to go into the water in slippers.

• A pebble beach can be found, for example, near the fortress of Forte Mare
• There is a sandy beach in nearby Meljin, and there are many of them in the nearby health resort of Igalo - Central Beach, Blatna beach, Rough Tesoro and Stara Banya.

The beach area in the city is not wide, but long, so with proper perseverance, you can find a secluded corner even during the peak season.

Sights.

Herceg Novi is one of the most interesting cities in the country. Local attractions include:

• Savina Monastery, whose eclectic architecture reflects its more than a thousand-year history
• Church of St. Michael the Archangel
• The Clock Tower is a snow-white symbol of the city with a bas-relief of the Madonna
• Fortresses of Forte Mare and Spagnola
• Former Prison Bloody Tower

Advice. Choose appropriate clothing for visiting religious sites. They won't be allowed in shorts even on the hottest day.

However, visiting the city in the heat is a test of endurance: Herceg Novi is a city of steep stairs. For a leisurely and relaxed walk, the longest embankment in the country is suitable. For one day from Herceg Novi it ​​is convenient to go to Perast, Kotor and Budva. If you have Schengen, you should go to Croatian Dubrovnik, where Game of Thrones was filmed in the old town.

What is the difference?

✓ Lots of greenery

✓ Long coastline and promenade

✓ Nice center, there is something to see

✓ Hilly terrain

✓ Few sandy beaches

✓ Remoteness from the "rest" of Montenegro

I admire the view of Kotor from the fortress

Kotor

In terms of historicity and beauty, Kotor is the leader on our list of Montenegrin resorts: its entire historical center is protected by UNESCO. The city was French, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Serbian, but the main mark in its appearance was left by the Venetian rule. To me Kotor seemed like a demo version of Dubrovnik - the same magnificent architecture, but the streets are already smaller in scope, but relatively inexpensive.

Sights.

In my opinion, it's better to just walk around Kotor in a relaxed way, and not run from point to point. But I still offer a list of the main locations:

• Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
• Churches: St. Luke, St. Anne, St. Mary
• City gates: Sea (main), South (Gurdich) and North (River)

Advice. Many tourists come from cruises to the city for the day, so to avoid the crowds, go for a walk early in the morning.

But the most impressive to me was not even Kotor itself, but the view of the bay from the top of the fortress of St. John. Climbing the steep stairs from the old town from April to October will cost € 8. But nearby there is a more comfortable and gentle ascent, free. I share the coordinates of the beginning of the trail: 42.427190, 18.773376.

Church of Our Lady of Health, Kotor

Beaches.

Kotor is a large and developed city, so there are no problems with shops, cafes and other infrastructure. But there are no good places for a beach holiday; the port is located opposite, which affects the purity of the water.

• On foot you can walk to the beach in the neighboring village of Dobrota - this is a few km of pebble and concrete areas with changing rooms, toilets, sun loungers
• By public transport you can reach the sandy-pebble beach of Morinj, the pebble beaches in Risan and Orahovac or the concrete one in Perast

It is also worth a trip to Perast for the sake of the islands of Gospa od Shkrpela and St. George - in my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro.

What is the difference?

✓ UNESCO-protected old town

✓ Cool views of the bay

✓ Developed urban infrastructure

✓ Lots of tourists, including those who come on cruise ships

✓ Lack of places for a beach holiday in the city itself and sandy beaches in its vicinity

Tivat

When I was preparing for the first trip, I came across a review that stuck in my memory: "Arriving at the airport in Tivat, vacationers immediately realized that something went wrong."

To put it tolerantly, the main air gates of the country have slightly let us down. This is a former military airfield, converted into a civilian airport, so its size does not allow it to adequately cope with the summer flow of tourists - and most charter flights arrive here. Walking from the plane to the airport building, please be patient and do not judge the city by it, let alone the country.

Advice. There are no bus stops directly at Tivat airport, but you can get out on the highway, walk about a hundred meters to the left to the stop and "catch" the bus in the right direction.

Sights.

Although Tivat was founded before our era, it cannot boast of an authentic look and architectural monuments. It is recommended to look at the Bucha Palace, but, in my opinion, it rather resembles an overgrown mansion (may the Montenegrins forgive me!) And is not very interesting.

Much more curious is the modern attraction - Porto Montenegro, a mini-town with a yacht dock, luxury housing and a hotel: feel like you are in Monaco!

Beaches.

There are very few beaches in Tivat, but we found 🙂

In the city itself, the beach area is short and covered with small pebbles, and sharp stones come across in the sea, so you can't do without slippers.

• The nearest sandy-pebble beach is located 2 km from the city, on the Selyanovo cape, and the full-fledged sandy Donja Lastva beach is 3 km away.
• 5 km from the center there is a well-equipped Kalardovo beach, which is suitable for families with children: the entrance to the sea is smooth, there are children's and sports grounds and you can watch the planes taking off
• A little further is the Island of Flowers with a dilapidated monastery of the Archangel Michael and wild small-pebble beaches

In general, Tivat pleases with the absence of elevation differences, good infrastructure and the availability of places for walking with a child. Its other advantages are its proximity to the airport and convenient transport links to all resorts.

What is the difference?

✓ Developing resort

✓ Relatively uncrowded

✓ Most of the beaches are outside the city

✓ Airport nearby

Budva (Becici and Rafailovici)

Budva - perhaps the most popular resort among Russians. Even out of season, our speech is often heard here, and from July to August it turns into a branch of the Krasnodar Territory: the beaches are overcrowded, like Sochi in Soviet times. Budva is a great place for hangouts and beach parties. The center of nightlife is the old town and the embankment.

If you are looking for a relaxing break, you may want to consider less crowded villages in the neighborhood - Becici and Rafailovici. In the first one there are mainly hotels, better transport links and better conditions for a family vacation - there are attractions and a water park. In the second, there are more mini-hotels and apartments, fewer people and more affordable prices.

The popularity of Budva is also explained by its "central" position: from here it is convenient to get to the Bay of Kotor, and to the southern coast, and inland - to the capital and national parks. Read more about rest in Budva.

Sights.

The city itself also has something to see:

• Citadel (Fortress of St. Mary). Entrance - € 3.5, city view, there is a small museum inside
• Church of St. John with the miraculous icon of the Budva Mother of God
• Fortress walls. The entrance is paid, € 2
• Monastery Podostrog - the former residence of the Montenegrin metropolitans, free
• Ruined fortress Mogren, free
• Monument to the Ballerina (42.277664, 18.835115) - one of the symbols of Budva, with which you get cool photos against the background of the city

Our video from Budva (were in August). What did you like and what did not?

Beaches.

But the main secret of Budva's attractiveness is a large selection of beaches, with which it will plug many beach resorts in Montenegro.

What is the difference?

Sveti Stefan

The fortress and old houses on the island of St. Stephen in the middle of the last century were turned into a hotel complex, which has become the most luxurious vacation spot in Montenegro. Guests of the island hotel were Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren, as well as members of the royal families of Great Britain and the Netherlands.

The elite neighborhood leaves its mark on the resort village of Sveti Stefan, located off the island: on average, prices are one and a half times higherthan in Montenegro. For example, the cheapest tour for two (flight + accommodation without meals) for 7 days in June 2021 in Budva costs 50 thousand rubles, in Sveti Stefan - 65 thousand. The same applies to the cost of food, restaurant menus and other services.

Advice. The relief of the village is hilly, if you are not ready for the daily ascents and descents of steep stairs, choose housing closer to the sea.

On the other hand, the price barrier reduces the flow of tourists, and even in the season it is not crowded.

Beaches.

Beaches of Sveti Stefan:

• Small-pebble, to the left of the isthmus connecting the island with the coast. There are free zones, sun lounger - € 15-30
• To the right of the isthmus and the Royal Beach in Milocer, obligatory rent of a sunbed and an umbrella - € 75-100
• Sand and pebble in the neighboring town of Przno, belongs to hotels, you will have to pay for the entrance

Sights.

There are relatively few other leisure options in Sveti Stefan:

• Admire the island of Sveti Stefan from the side: only guests or those who have booked a table at a local restaurant can get inside the hotel
• Take a walk in Milochersky Park - the former botanical garden of the royal family
• Look into the Praskavitsa monastery, built in the 17th century

Advice. According to tourists, the best restaurant in the vicinity of Sveti Stefan is the Drago restaurant.

What is the difference?

✓ Higher prices than in the rest of Montenegro

✓ Beautiful views

✓ Some of the least busy beaches

✓ Lack of evening entertainment and nightlife

✓ Hilly terrain, constant ups and downs, steep stairs to the beach

Ulcinj

Ulcinj is the southernmost city and the center of the Albanian community: even the road signs are written in two languages. Ulcinj has an oriental flavor, the main contingent of vacationers is Albanians and Bosnians. There are not many Russians here, but if you are primarily interested in the sea and resorts of Montenegro with sandy beaches, then I recommend taking a closer look.

Beaches.

South of Ulcinj is the country's longest beach - Velika Plaza, with a length of about 13 km, where there is a place even in the high season. It is known not only for its length, but also for its coating - black volcanic sand, which looks like cement crumb.

On average, holidays in Ulcinj are cheaper than in other parts of Montenegro. However, getting to it from the airports of Tivat and Podgorica is longer and more difficult. There are few leisure options here: it's still a province.

Sights.

Due to the remoteness of Ulcinj, trips around the country without a car are difficult, but it is convenient to get to Lake Skadar (it didn’t impress me personally and seemed more like a picnic spot than an object of tourist interest).

Alternatively, you can go to the Albanian city of Shkoder, where I recommend the Rozafa fortress and the curved bridge of Mes. Fortunately, Russians do not need a visa to visit Albania in the summer.

In Ulcinj itself, it is worth taking a walk through the old town and visiting the Citadel, where Cervantes was imprisoned. It was there that he invented the image of Dulcinea of ​​Tobos, Don Quixote's beloved.

What is the difference?

✓ Water warms up a little earlier

✓ Long strip of beaches and their variety

✓ Farthest from the airport, inconvenient for excursions

✓ Oriental flavor and proximity to Albania

✓ Do not play - everything is decorous and quiet

Zabljak

Zabljak is the only one of the resorts I am considering not on the seashore. It is located inland at an altitude of 1456 meters, which makes it the highest city in the Balkans. By Russian standards, this is a very tiny settlement that you can get around on foot. At the same time, it has all the necessary infrastructure: cafes, shops, bakeries and hotels.

Zabljak is a year-round resort: in summer nature and trekking lovers come here, in winter - skiers and snowboarders. There are two ski slopes: on the Yavorovacha and Savin Kuk mountains. The first, with a length of about 800 meters, is suitable for beginners, the price of a day ski pass in 2020-2021 is € 8 for an adult and € 5 for a child. The second one with a length of 3500 meters is already more interesting, but the ski pass is also expensive - € 12 and € 8, respectively.

There are no attractions in Zabljak itself, but it is located on the territory of the Durmitor National Park, so there are many beautiful places in its vicinity. Among them:

• The Tara River Canyon is the second longest canyon in the world, passing through the territories of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river has an incredible turquoise color
• The Djurdjevic Bridge is an elegant and at the same time majestic bridge over the Tara, the highest road bridge in Europe
• Black Lake is the most famous of the 18 glacial lakes of the Durmitor massif
• Cape Churevac - the highest point of the canyon

Advice. If you, like me, love extreme experiences, take a zipline ride near the Djurdjevic Bridge. I chose the longer route for € 20 (there is an even shorter one for € 10) and did not regret the money spent.

What is the difference?

✓ Year-round resort with ski slopes and picturesque nature

✓ Natural and man-made attractions in the surrounding area

✓ In order to comfortably inspect them or get to the ski slopes, you need to rent a car or negotiate transportation services with local

Perast views

Choosing a resort in Montenegro - my advice to tourists

More often Montenegro is chosen for a beach holiday, which, on the one hand, is strange: there are few sandy beaches and no resort hotels - but pretty towns, delicious food and a warm sea, and nature seems to be created to admire the views from a sun lounger, sipping wine from a glass. And the very leisurely southern Montenegrins, about whose laziness there are stories and anecdotes in the Balkans, set a relaxed pace.

Finally, I will tell you what you should be prepared for while vacationing in Montenegro:

• Montenegro is not an "all inclusive" country: for a combination of sea holidays with a buffet, it is better to go to proven Turkey
• Montenegrins smoke a lot, so from time to time you have to put up with cigarette smoke
• Roads, especially off the coastal part of the country, are narrow and winding. Serious traffic jams are formed during repairs. Consider this when planning routes and stock up on motion sickness pills
• A lot of tourists come to the country from July to August. Be prepared for queues and crowds at the beach, or plan your trip at a different time. By the way, if you come out of season, you can swim and sunbathe on many "hotel" beaches for free

But these shortcomings did not bother me at all, and remembering the incredible landscapes and delicious prosciutto, I want to go to Montenegro again. Have a great vacation!