Montenegro is the last undiscovered corner of the European Mediterranean, a small country on the Adriatic coast where the mountains fall almost directly to the sea and the Bay of Kotor (Europe's most southerly fjord, its dramatic mountain walls enclosing a calm inland sea of extraordinary beauty) provides the most spectacular stretch of Adriatic coastline outside Norway. The medieval walled city of Kotor, UNESCO-listed at the head of the bay, rivals Dubrovnik in architectural beauty at a fraction of the price and with a fraction of the crowds.
Montenegro has invested significantly in its luxury infrastructure over the past decade, Regent Porto Montenegro, One&Only Portonovi and Aman Sveti Stefan (a small fortified island connected to the mainland by a causeway, its medieval village transformed into one of the world's most extraordinary hotels) have established the country as a serious luxury destination. The superyacht marina at Porto Montenegro's Tivat has attracted a community of high-net-worth visitors who have driven the improvement in restaurants and services throughout the bay.
The Bay of Kotor
The Bay of Kotor is not a single bay but a series of connected inlets, the outer bays of Herceg Novi and Risan feeding into the inner bay where Kotor sits at the deepest point, surrounded on three sides by mountains rising to 1,900 metres directly from the water. The scale is dramatic and the quality of light extraordinary, the mountains hold cloud and mist in a way that creates constantly changing atmospheric conditions, and the reflections of the medieval churches and Venetian towers in the completely calm inner bay water are among the most beautiful sights in the Adriatic.
The drive around the bay, approximately 75 kilometres from Herceg Novi at the entrance to Kotor at its head, passes through a series of medieval villages each with its own distinctive character: Perast, the finest of them, with two small islands in the bay (Our Lady of the Rocks, a church built on a manmade island over centuries, its interior covered with ex voto paintings) and a collection of Baroque palaces testifying to its wealthy maritime past.
Kotor Old Town
Kotor's walled old town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the Adriatic, enclosed by 4.5 kilometres of Venetian walls (still fully intact, walkable to the hilltop fortress of St John in approximately 45 minutes of climbing through 1,350 steps), its narrow streets containing Romanesque churches of considerable antiquity, a main square of Venetian grace and a cat population of legendary proportion (Kotor cats are a phenomenon, they have their own museum and appear on official tourism materials).
The Hotel Cattaro, in a converted 18th-century building within the walls, and the Palazzo Radomiri (a small boutique hotel in a restored Venetian palace in the village of Dobrota, directly on the bay waterfront north of Kotor) are the best accommodation options for those wanting to be inside or immediately adjacent to the old town.
Porto Montenegro and Tivat
Porto Montenegro in Tivat has transformed from a Yugoslav naval base into one of the Mediterranean's most impressive yacht marinas, the 630 berths accommodate vessels up to 200 metres, the facilities match Monaco standards, and the village of restaurants, boutiques and hotels that has grown around the marina creates a resort environment of genuine quality. The Regent Porto Montenegro is the principal hotel; the One&Only Portonovi, at the mouth of the bay near Herceg Novi, opened in 2019 and immediately established itself as the finest hotel on the Montenegrin coast.
The Marina and the broader investment it has attracted have made Tivat the hub of Montenegro's luxury economy, with restaurants and services that would not have been imaginable a decade ago. The proximity to Dubrovnik (one hour by road) makes Montenegro a natural add-on to a Croatian Dalmatian coast itinerary.
Aman Sveti Stefan and the Budva Riviera
Sveti Stefan is one of the most recognised images in the Adriatic, a small fortified island village connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway, its medieval terracotta rooftops and towers rising from the clear Adriatic water between two sandy beaches. The Aman resort that now occupies the island (Aman Sveti Stefan) is one of the most extraordinary hotel settings in Europe, guests stay in a medieval village converted to private accommodation, with the feeling of inhabiting a museum-quality historical environment alongside all of Aman's exceptional service standards.
The beaches of the Budva Riviera south of Sveti Stefan, Jaz Beach (a long pebble beach that hosts major concerts), Becici and Rafailovici, are Montenegro's most popular, with the clearest Adriatic water and the full range of beach club and water sports infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Montenegro?
May, June and September to October offer the finest conditions, warm enough for swimming, the bay at its most beautiful, and the tourist numbers manageable compared to July and August when the marina area and Budva Riviera are at their most crowded. The winter months are quiet and the mountains receive snow, offering a different but equally beautiful perspective on the bay.
How do you get to Montenegro from the UK?
Direct flights from London Gatwick and Luton to Tivat Airport operate with easyJet and Montenegro Airlines seasonally (April to October). Tivat is directly on the bay, with transfers to Kotor taking 20 minutes and to Porto Montenegro under 10 minutes. Out of season, connections via Belgrade, Vienna or Ljubljana are available.
Is Montenegro good for a yacht charter?
Yes, the Bay of Kotor is one of the finest protected sailing areas in the Adriatic, its calm waters and dramatic mountain setting making it exceptional. The route from the bay south along the Riviera to Albania and north to Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful coastal itineraries in the Mediterranean. Porto Montenegro provides world-class superyacht facilities.
Can you combine Montenegro with Croatia?
Easily, Dubrovnik is one hour north of Kotor by road, and the combination of Dubrovnik Old Town, the Dalmatian islands, Montenegro's Bay of Kotor and the Budva Riviera creates one of Europe's finest two-week coastal itineraries. We regularly arrange the full sequence including private transfers, hotel bookings and boat excursions.
