Best beaches in Montenegro near Kotor Bar Budva and Ulcinj

This article was first published on December 16, 2018 and updated in June 2020.

Just south of the border from now utterly crowded Croatia the beaches of Montenegro and its rich past are quickly putting the smallest country in the Balkans on the map.

Recently becoming popular with the wealthy and beautiful who flock to its marinas in their superyacths and fill the newly opened rooms of luxury hotels, Montenegro will soon be as famous as its northern neighbour.

The streets of the walled Medieval city of Kotor, the main draw to the country, are already crowded with day visitors from Dubrovnik and cruise goers exploring the Adriatic Sea from one of the mega cruise ships that dock daily by the city port during the summer months.

But coming to Montenegro only for a day is a crime, for most of its coast is a gem waiting to be explored.

The beaches of Montenegro have some of the cleanest and clearest waters in Europe and the pink pebbly shores against the turquoise blue of the water is a unique sight only found in Montenegro.

The most popular beaches in Montenegro are located along the Budva Riviera, where sunbeds and umbrellas cover the sand in the summertime.

While Kotor is the most touristy part of the country, the city has no beaches as we understand them, contenting itself with small stretches in the nearby villages and with the concrete beaches the locals seem to love.

As you drive farther south, the crowds disappear and the beaches become sandier, but not with the white color you will find in the Beaches of Albania or Southeast Asia. Make sure to save my personalised travel guide to Montenegro, as well as my guide to the best food in Montenegro, when exploring the beaches so that you don’t miss out on any activities, sites or cuisines. You can even go beyond the country on an epic road trip across Europe.

Everything you need to know about the beaches of Montenegro

Before we dive into the list of the best beaches in Montenegro, of which there are many, it is important to note a few relevant facts about Montenegrin beaches.

Types of beaches in Montenegro

Firstly, as anticipated above, Montenegro’s coastline is mostly pebbly, even often time covered in pure gravel, or just concrete.

As you get farther south, there is a bit more sand but rarely the white fine sand you will find in the beaches of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam or the Philippines.

Here are the different types of beaches in Montenegro.

Concrete beaches in Montenegro

Yes, that is correct, some of the most interesting beaches in Montenegro are not actually beaches but a concrete slab that juts out of the rocky shore and often doubles as a pier for the fishermen to tie their boats.

These types of beaches are popular around and north of Kotor Bay and all the way to the Croatian border and the locals seem to love them.

The concrete beaches in Montenegro are usually small and have a metal ladder going down to the water, like the ones found in swimming pools, because the shore tends to be shallow and rocky so you shouldn’t jump in.

It appears incredibly uncomfortable to see the locals sunbathe and relax on their towels laid on hard concrete, but they do, and quite happily.

You may also find some sunbeds strategically located on the concrete, sometimes belonging to the house or building right in front.

While these may not be your cup of tea if you are looking for Montenegro’s fine sand beaches or you like to relax on a comfy sunbed, they are “the local way” and a good option if what you want to simply take a dip in the water and are not as interested in laying down.

You will find this type of beach north of Kotor and some of the nicest are located just next to the famous medieval town along the coastal road or in Perast, where picturesque fishing boats anchor right by these small concrete piers.

Pebble beaches

The most common type of beach in Montenegro is made of pebbles which the local business owners try to cover with sand every summer only for the sea to wash it all away by the end of the season.

While the pebbles make for pretty views and seem to filter the water through to make it even cleaner, they are pretty hard to walk on, so bringing a pair of reef shoes is advised.

Pebble beaches are typical of the Adriatic coast and can be white, grey or even reddish pink. They are more convenient than sand in that you don’t go home covered in them, but they are decidedly hard to walk on and not very inviting.

Gravel beaches

A few of the beaches in Montenegro I visited were not even made of pebbles but plain gravel.

This is sometimes the case when the beach did not exist and was man made, as is the case at Lustica Bay, or if the pebbles have not eroded yet.

Gravel beaches are, in my opinion, the worst of all because they are truly hard to walk on. Gravel is usually sharper than pebbles and totally uninviting.

Every time I saw a gravel beach in Montenegro, I carried on driving. However, they are very popular and some of them are in nice bays and the beaches more than make up for the need for reef shoes.

Sandy beaches in Montenegro

Although sand is not as common as in other countries, there are a few sandy beaches in Montenegro, especially towards the south of the country near Ulcinj and the border with Albania, worth a visit.

However, bear in mind that the beach sand in Montenegro tends to be darker in color, sometimes even brownish grey, rather than white, making these beaches less appealing than the pebbly ones.

As a result, I found the sandy beaches in Montenegro to be uninviting because of their color which looked like the water was dirty.

Rocky beaches in Montenegro

Some of the best beaches in Montenegro are not even beaches per se but small bays surrounded by cliffs or rocky mountains with the most beautiful waters. They reminded me a bit of some of the beaches in Malta or in the Balearic Islands.

These bays are sometimes only accessible via rough steps down the cliff or on your own private boat so they tend to be pretty empty. If you have the chance to rent a boat or go on a boat trip in the Bay of Kotor, don’t miss the opportunity to stop at some.

Beach etiquette in Montenegro

By law, the beaches in Montenegro are open to everyone, are public and are free, but there are a few exceptions to this rule.

For example, if you stay at Aman Sveti Stefan, in the country’s most famous landmark, you will have access to three of the resort’s beaches, two of which are publically accessible to anyone who can pay the sunbed and umbrella fee, and a third one which is only for guests and fenced out.

While this is probably the only truly private beach in Montenegro, there are others which are technically public but which you will not be able to use unless you pay for an umbrella and sunbed because they are covered in them.

That is usually the case for breaches in front of hotels, like for example the Maestral in Przno, which is technically free but there is no actual space for you to put your own towel down.

Also by law, 50% of every beach should be left free for everyone to put their towel while only 50% can be covered in sunbeds and umbrellas.

But, in the summer months, Montenegro’s beaches are so popular and crowded that you will not be able to find a free spot so the sunbeds end up being the only option.

Renting a sunbed and umbrella in Montenegro

The prices for sunbeds and umbrellas can vary significantly from 10 euro all the way up to the 120 euro charge for Aman Sveti Stefan’s beaches but the prices will be clearly marked.

Pay the person in charge when you arrive and try to bring small change to make the transaction faster. If you can’t find the person in charge, just pick a sunbed and he or she will come over.

When you rent a sunbed, you are paying to use it for as long as you want that day. If you vacate it, say for lunch, it may be given to someone else, so talk to the owner if you plan to leave for a while and let him know you are coming back, or leave your towels on.

Even if you plan to rent a sunbed, make sure to bring your own towels to put on it as these see hundreds of people every summer. Having enough water is also a good idea although where there are sunbeds, there will be a beach bar.

When to visit Montenegro’s best beaches

As mentioned, the summer months from June to September and, in particular July and August, see the most amount of visitors to the country and as a result, the beaches in Montenegro are completely crowded.

Come September and, as children go back to school across the Balkans, most of Montenegro will progressively become quieter.

By the end of September, some parts of Montenegro will be empty, especially its beaches. I  visited at the beginning of September and some of the restaurants had stopped restocking the wine list in preparation for the slow winter.

In the winter, the beaches in Montenegro are devoid of sunbeds and completely empty, but the weather and water are too cold to enjoy them.

If you want to enjoy the beach without the crowds, June and September are the best months. Traffic will also be more manageable on the narrow coastal highway. If you’re coming in from Dubrovnik, you may want to book a guided tour instead of going it alone. I would recommend this highly rated day trip from Dubrovnik which goes through Boka Kotorska Bay, Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, Kotor and Budva with a very knowledgeable guide.

Best beaches in Montenegro

Montenegro has 293 km of coast and 73 km of beaches to explore. That means you could pretty much spend the entire summer trying out a new beach and never run out of options. And this is almost what I did, driving along the shore and stopping to check them all out.

On this list there are over 25 of the best beaches in Montenegro and are the ones I would most recommend.

As you might have guessed, this is not a complete list but it is a great place to start which includes not only the most popular and famous beaches in the country but also some hidden gems I discovered on my road trip and which were clearly away from the tourist crowds.

I even managed to find some tiny coves with nudist bathers and without sunbeds.

To make it all easier to find, I have created a Map of the beaches in Montenegro to help you locate them because the best ones were not even on the map.

I created this Montenegro beach map while I was there, pinning places in the right location as I discovered them, as many were not on Google Maps.

So make sure to check the map before going to explore Montenegro’s best beaches.

To make it easier, I have organised the beaches by geographical location, starting from the southernmost point of the country near Albania and making my way up to the border with Croatia, and I classified them based on the nearest city.

You will also be able to see what type of beach each of them is so you can pick based on your preference.

Beaches near Ulcinj

As mentioned earlier, in the south is where you will find the sandy beaches of Montenegro, and also the largest. However, I do not think these are the most beautiful.

Near Ulcinj you can also find some of the most interesting beaches in Montenegro so make sure to add it to your list.

Ada Bojana

Ada Bojana is an oddity in Montenegro.

This river islands is located at the mouth of the Bojana River and accessing it is only possible if you are staying at the nudist beach resort on the island.

The island has been known for decades to the German community who come all the way to enjoy a naturist summer holiday. The development is small and rustic with clothes optional for all.

If you do not have a booking at the hotels you will not be allowed to go (I tried), but you can just go to the beach next to it, Velika Plaza for about the same experience and keep your clothes on.

How to get there: You can drive all the way to the island but you will need to be staying there to access it.

Type of beach: Sandy

Velika Plaža

This is the largest beach in Montenegro starting on the other side of the Bojana River across from nudist Ada Bojana Island.

Velika Plaza is huge. It is 12km long and pretty wide too. It became famous in 2010 when The New York Times included it as one of the places to visit in 2010 mentioning it as an up and coming kite surfing destination.

The beach is so large and so far from Montenegro’s main tourist sites that Velika Plaza is one of the best beaches in Montenegro for those looking for an empty beach.

Come here if you want a stretch of beach devoid of the masses of tourists in other parts of the country, you are sure to find a spot without another soul in sight.

If you want some facilities to go with your beach, you will find some umbrellas and sunbeds by the mouth of the river, usually frequented by the residents and tenants of the floating river houses and the camping site nearby. Walk farther away and the beach is quite untouched.

If the wind is blowing, you are sure to see lots of kite surfers along the coast. And the wind always seems to be blowing here, as my poor drone realised.

How to get there: You can drive all the way to the beach on a snaking sandy path that follows the river.

Type of beach: Sandy

Valdanos Beach

Apart from being a beautiful Montenegrin bay, Valdanos Beach is best known for the hundreds of ancient olive trees that are planted by its shore.

The trees are on average 800 years old and some are said to be over 2,000 years old. The grove is protected by law.

While this is a truly pretty beach in Montenegro, its location farther away from the main tourist sights and better accessed by car, makes it a quieter option.

Make sure to stroll through the olive grove to marvel at the beautiful trees, and visit the lighthouse too, as well as enjoying some beach time.

How to get there: Valdanos Beach can be accessed by car all the way to the parking lot behind the shore.

Type of beach: Gravel

Ladies Beach

As you would expect from its name, Ladies Beach is only accessible to women from May to November and is a place to find respite from prying eyes. The thermal waters are also said to treat infertility.

Legend has it that a wealthy women who lived nearby and was having trouble conceiving, came to bathe in the beach naked and then became pregnant. If you are looking for a miraculous cure, come at dawn and do the same.

Because of this legend, it is not uncommon to find half of the beach goers here completely naked, and enjoying the sulfur-rich waters.

More than a beach though, this is a cove with concrete and rocky surroundings, so don’t come expecting to lay down comfortably. There are some small parts covered in pebbles and a tiny cave.

The beach is protected by a thick pine forest and some facilities are available in the summer months.

How to get there: You can only get to Ladies Beach walking along the path. Drive to Hotel Albatros and then walk.

Type of beach: Rocky

Ulcinj Beach

Ulcinj itself has a pretty popular beach. The medieval town, unlike Budva, is pretty much a collection of shops, restaurants and bars and there isn’t much to see beyond walking its super steep cobblestoned streets.

Under the old town, there is a crescent shaped beach with dark sand that is flanked by lots of bars and restaurants and packed full in the summer months. The views of the old town are pretty, but the beach is not very appealing because of the dark color of the sand.

Ulcinj is the most Muslim part of Montenegro so mosques abound as do Muslims and so the beach is colorful from the many sunbeds and umbrellas and the varied swimwear.

Beaches near Bar

While the ancient walled city of Stari Bar is 4km from the sea, the new parts of Bar are right by the ocean. Despite this not being the best part of the country for those in search of beaches, there are a few nice options around.

Even the city’s beaches themselves are an easy option for some sun and sea, if the large port and ferry terminal with direct connections to Italy makes the views a tad less scenic.

Utjeha-Bušat

This lesser known beach is one of the nicest in the south thanks to the underwater wells which mix with the seawater to create a beautifully turquoise sea.

The beach has hotels, apartments for rent, restaurants and other facilities and is largely a resort town frequented by locals.

How to get there:  You can drive all the way into town.

Type of beach: Pebbly

Downtown Bar

The new part of Bar is located by the sea, 4km from Stari Bar, the former medieval village and it has a couple of interesting tourist sights and a long beach with beach bars, restaurants and many other facilities.

I particularly liked the part of the beach that was closest to the port and the Museum where there are a few beach clubs with sunbeds and umbrellas where you can relax.

How to get there: You can drive into town and park your car.

Type of beach: Pebbly

Hidden bay

In my explorations of Montenegro’s beaches I discovered some hidden gems like this bay without a name.

We were looking for the remains of a Monastery in Ratac when we came across this completely hidden small bay that seemed to be popular with couples and nudists.

The bay is pretty hard to reach and you need to come prepared with proper shoes, but once there, you are secluded by a thick pinetree forest and have the cleanest water.

The beach area is very small but there are never too many people here and the rocks provide appropriate space for sunbathing.

How to get there: Drive to the parking area above the Ratac Monastery that is marked on Google Maps, right by the side of the road, and then cross the forest towards the ruins of the fortress. You will be able to follow the path along the shore down towards the beach.

Type of beach: Pebbly and rocky

Sutomore

Sutomore is one of the largest beaches in Montenegro measuring over 2.5km long and it is an overly developed and crowded beach too.

You can find all sorts of facilities from beach huts selling you any souvenir and beach item you may need (floaties, towels, etc.) to restaurants, bars, hotels and apartments.

The town used to be under Venetian rule for the best part of 300 years between the 14th and 17th centuries until it became part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and was the most southern point its territory.

Today, Sutomore tends to be favored by younger crowds from Serbia and Montenegro who look for a more affordable beach to Budva. The railway line from Belgrade to Bar passes through town as does the major coastal road in Montenegro.

I found the beach far too developed and focused on the cheaper end of the scale plus the mostly gravel beach was uninviting. The permanent traffic jams in the summer months, with dozens of cars trying to find a parking spot, a real nuisance.

How to get there: You can drive into town, take the train from Serbia or even one of the many Montenegrin buses.

Type of beach: Pebbles and gravel

Canj Beach

Canj Beach is also known as Pearl Beach because of the white, round pebbles that fill its shores and which look like pearls.

Located by the village of the same name, this is a far quieter beach than the others around, most notably Sutomore, and frequented by families because of the shallow entry. It is nonetheless quite developed.

The beach is long, measuring over 1.5km and has all the facilities you may need including restaurants, bars, sunbeds and umbrellas.

How to get there: Drive to Canj and park in town.

Type of beach: Pebbly

Beaches in the Budva Riviera

The beaches near Budva are the best known in the entire country and usually referred to as the Budva Riviera.

Budva used to be a sleepy fishing village when the Balkan and Russian visitors started to arrive and uncontrolled development created an abomination of high rise buildings right in front of the sea shore. Unfortunately, this is how the new parts of Budva still look today.

However, the old town of Budva, Stari Budva, is a beautiful Medieval city complete with a well preserved fortress, walls and cobblestone streets.

Budva is Montenegro’s party town and the place where the younger crowd congregates. All the nightclubs in Montenegro are located here and every night is a party.

Budva’s popularity is justified. The old city is beautiful and beyond the ugly condominiums are several smaller pretty fishing villages and some stunning beaches.

If you come to spend time on the beaches of Montenegro, Budva and its surroundings is a good place to base yourself.

Buljarica

Buljarica is one of the longest beaches in the Budva Riviera and also one of the least developed, so no matter who you ask, predictions on where it will end up in a few years all agree that tourism development will change it for good.

Since 2018, Buljarica is the center of the Sea Dance Festival. Restaurants, bars and sunbeds are available at one end of the beach closest to the village, but the majority of the beach is absolutely empty and flanked by flat fields.

There is also a campground right by the beach which must get incredibly hot in the summer months.

I did not find the beach particularly appealing because of the gravel, but the large empty space does call for future development with more beach resorts.

How to get there: You can drive all the way to almost the beach entry and park your car.

Type of beach: Gravel

Petrovac

Petrovac is one of the better known beaches in Montenegro because it is near Budva but enjoys quieter days than the party-filled city. It also suffered less indiscriminate development and so still maintains some of its original charm, despite having been on the map since after WWI.

While the main strip of beach is pretty large and has some of the ugly tall condominiums, one end of Petrovac still preserves some of the older stone houses topping a pretty rocky outcrop above a small marina with nice views and a scenic silhouette.

The original Roman castle that once stood in the village when the Romans founded it used to be located where the stone houses are.

The sea promenade is quite nice too and there are all sorts of facilities available on the beach and nearby, including the omnipresent sunbeds and umbrellas.

How to get there: You can drive to Petrovac and park in town.

Type of beach: Pebbly reddish and gravel

Crvena Glavica

The name of this beach means Red Head in Montenegrin and refers to the color of the rocks that surround the beaches in this collection of seven beaches that are hard to reach and thus, relatively secluded.

While one of the seven beaches is already developed (hello sunbeds and umbrellas), some others are tiny, accessible by sea and mostly empty. You may find some fellow nudists when you arrive as the fairly few people who make it there are trying to enjoy their privacy.

The beach offers a nice view of Sveti Stefan from the other end which a less common perspective.

How to get there: Some of them are reachable by car, others require you to walk and some are only accessible to boats or good swimmers.

Type of beach: Rocky and pebbly

Sveti Stefan beach

The country’s most famous landmark is without a doubt the islet of Sveti Stefan, now a private property managed by luxury hotel and resort chain Aman.

I am a huge fan of Aman and I have stayed at many of their resorts, including Amangalla and Amanwella in Sri Lanka, four of the five Amankora lodges in Bhutan and Amanjiwo in Indonesia.

Sveti Stefan had been high on my bucket list for years and staying there was a dream come true.

While non guests can only visit the island on one of the two pre-set daily tours, they can rent an umbrella and sunbed for 100 euro at the beach that is right in front of the hotel and which is used by the guests.

For a more affordable option with similar views, the other side of the bridge to the island is a public beach and accessible to anyone, there is even space to put your towel on the beach without having to rent a sunbed.

Apart from the iconic views, Sveti Stefan is one of the prettiest beaches in Montenegro thanks to the combination of pink pebbles and deep turquoise waters.

When the fishermen’s boats are anchored, they look as if they are floating in the air because of how crystal clear and clean the water is.

How to get there: You can drive all the way down and park at the paid parking lot in front of the beach, or park in Przno and walk along the coast for a scenic stroll.

Type of beach: Pebbles, gravel and sand

King’s Beach or Milocer Beach

Sveti Stefan guests can also use two other beaches along the coast, King’s beach and Queen’s beach.

King’s beach is open to the public for 120 euro umbrella and sunbed rental and is one of the most beautiful bays in Montenegro.

The beach is made of red pebbles and the water is as clean and blue as the one at Sveti Stefan but the secluded location and the trees surrounding it, plus the beautiful Villa Milocer looking over it make it a very regal beach.

How to get there: While cars can drive all the way to Villa Milocer to drop passengers off, the parking area is either in Przno or in front of Sveti Stefan from which the beach is about a 5 minute walk.

Type of beach: Pebbles, gravel and sand

Queen’s Beach or Kraljičina plaza

The next beach from Sveti Stefan towards Przno is Queen’s Beach, perhaps the most secluded and exclusive beach in Montenegro.

This small bay is where the spa of Aman Sveti Stefan is located and is also home to the only private beach available to guests. Queen’s Beach is truly stunning.

Surrounded by cliffs and forests, the beach is a quiet respite from the hussle of Montenegro’s beaches in the peak summer months.

Boats regularly pass by the beach but cannot get closer because of the line of buoys that protects the guests from prying eyes.

How to get there: You can only get there on foot from either Sveti Stefan (10min) or Przno which is about a 5min walk. Guests can also be dropped off at the entrance by car.

Type of beach: Pebbles, gravel and sand

Przno Beach

Przno is one of my most favorite little villages in Montenegro and I highly recommend a visit. So much so that, although when I travel I always want to see new places, I actually went to Przno three times, including dinner while staying at Aman Sveti Stefan (yes, I found one reason to leave the gorgeous resort!).

Przno is an idyllic fishermen village with a narrow crescent-shaped beach and a rocky outcrop protecting the water. This postcard-perfect setting makes this one of the prettiest beaches in Montenegro.

There is a rustic sea promenade lined with restaurants which are right above the water and serve some of the freshest seafood in Montenegro. I can’t think of a better way to spend a lunch time or an evening than at one of these.

The beach is small and filled with sunbeds and umbrellas so you won’t be able to put your towel on the pebbles for free, but if you are going to pay for a beach, this is probably worth it.

How to get there: You can drive to Przno and then try to park around the town, near the Maestrale Casino Hotel & Resort, which is free.

Type of beach: Pebbly

Saint Nikola Island

Saint Nikola is an island with a long stretch of beach only accessible on a short boat ride from Budva which is a mere 1km away.

The island is quite large but mostly rocky and inhabited except for the three crescent beaches facing Budva and filled with red parasols and a church of the same name.

This is one of the most popular beaches in Budva, crowded by young people in search of music and party, the same crowd which fills this old town.

How to get there: Take a short speedboat, ferry or cutter from Budva, they depart throughout the day in the summer months. Or wait for low tide and walk on water if you dare!

Type of beach: Pebbly

Slovenska Plaza

This is one of the most famous beaches in Montenegro and the largest beach in Budva and the one which attracts most visitors. It is crescent shaped and runs from Old Budva and the Budva marina all the way to the other end of the bay.

All along there are restaurants, bars and other facilities and the city is never too far. There are umbrellas and sunbeds that fill the beach.

How to get there: You can drive to Budva and park in one of the public parkings but bear in mind the rates can be really expensive, much higher than elsewhere in Montenegro.

Type of beach: Peebly

Ricardova Glava Beach

The main beach in Budva Old Town is located right by its walls. It is narrow, small and completely packed with beach huts, tables, chairs, sunbeds and umbrellas. So much so that, in the summer months, all I wanted to do was walk away from it.

Ricard Glava Beach is flanked on one end by the horrific Avala Hotel which comes out onto the beach and whose round swimming pool stands tall above the sand, and the walls of the old town on the other.

Because of its popular location and constantly packed shores, the rental of umbrellas and sunbeds here are some of the highest in the country (save for Sveti Stefan).

How to get there: You can drive to Budva and park in one of the public parkings but bear in mind the rates can be really expensive, much higher than elsewhere in Montenegro.

Type of beach: Pebbly and gravel orange

Mogren Beach

One of the most popular beaches in Budva is Mogren beach, located along the coastline five minutes walk from Budva Old Town.

Mogren beach is made of two parts split by the mountain. To access the other part you need to cross a cave.

While the beach used to be off the beaten path because of its harder to reach location, it is now firmly on the beaten path and well known to everyone. No list of the best beaches in Montenegro is complete without a mention to Mogren Beach.

The beach is quite narrow and so it fills up pretty quickly. There are the usual sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. On your way to Mogren beach, look out for the famous ballerina statue.

How to get there: Walk along the coastline on the narrow path that departs from under the pool of the Avala Hotel.

Type of beach: Gravel and sand

Jaz Beach

Jaz beach is one of the better known beaches in Montenegro. It is made of two parts, a longer 850m beach and a shorter 450m one which used to be a nudist beach.

The beach area is pretty developed with a campground, hotels, bars and restaurants and plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas. This is because it became famous in the international stage from 2007-2009 due to a series of renowned artists hosting concerts there, in particular Madonna and The Rolling Stones.

Later on, Jaz Beach played host to one of the most important music festivals in the Balkans, Sea Dance which has moved to Buljarica in 2018.

How to get there: You can drive all the way thanks to the infrastructure that the concerts have brought to Jaz Beach.

Type of beach: Pebbly

Beaches in the Bay of Kotor and north Montenegro

The northern part of Montenegro has some of the most scenic views and stunning landscapes, especially in the UNESCO-listed Bay of Kotor, but sadly, beaches here are scarce as the coast is mostly rocky, so this is where you will find most of Montenegro’s concrete beaches.

The area is also the most developed in the country so facilities abound and there are lots of hotels, even four and five star ones, which provide sunbeds to their guests or swimming pools with the same views and more comfort.

For a private tour of Kotor, I would recommend this boat tour where you will get to visit Our Lady of the Rocks, Mamula and Blue Cave. If you prefer a land based guided tour you can take this one that also explores Kotor Old Town and Perast. And here is my personal guide to the city of Kotor with details of things to do.

Beaches of Kotor

Kotor does not have a beach. The medieval city is surrounded by walls and in front of it there is the marina and the dock for the cruise ships.

However, if you drive north from the city along I Bokeske brigade road (not the main road that follows the coast away from the shore) you will find several beaches, mostly concrete, with some small gravel additions.

This part of Montenegro is usually pretty crowded and driving here requires a lot of patience in the summer months as the road is very narrow and two cars can barely drive through.

Restaurants, apartments for rent, hotels and many other businesses fill the shores, but despite the business of the area, the views over Kotor Bay are stunning and well worth it.

If you are staying in the area and looking for a beach in Kotor this would be the closest, even accessible on foot.

How to get there: Drive or walk along the coast from Kotor.

Type of beach: Mostly concrete but also small amounts of gravel

Dobrota Beach

Dobrota is a satellite town of Kotor that is often confused with the city. When you book a hotel many will appear as located in Kotor when they are in fact in Dobrota.

The area is located north or Kotor and I have included it here because there are a few beaches that are considered the beaches of Kotor, even if they can be 5km away.

The beach in the photo is the one in front of Allure Palazzi, the 5 star hotel opened in 2018 and has a nice beach bar and lovely views of the Bay of Kotor. While the beach is lined with the hotel’s sunbeds and umbrellas, you can also find a spot for your towel.

How to get there: You can drive to Dobrota or take one of the many buses that travel along the coast.

Type of beach: Gravel

Perast

Perast was my most favorite town in Montenegro together with Przno. There is something about its picturesque location down by the water and protected by the cliffside and the many old stone houses that make this a truly beautiful enclave.

While Perast can be really crowded during the day with the many day trippers coming to visit or going to the Lady of the Rocks Church, it becomes practically empty in the late afternoon and evening. If you can come for sunset, you will see a completely different village.

For the beach goers, Perast is the perfect example of a concrete beach. There are no sand, pebble or gravel beaches here as the buildings practically reach the sea save for a narrow pedestrian path, but that does not stop locals and visitors alike from laying their towels down or bringing out their sunbeds to enjoy the summer weather.

A lot of the rental apartments by the sea have their own sunbeds right in front, placed on one of these small concrete piers where the fishing boats are anchored and you may be able to find an empty spot for your towel.

Or do as locals do and simply jump in, leave your stuff in the car (parked outside the village) and come with just what you need for the water.

How to get there: Perast is well connected as it is located right by the main coastal road in Montenegro. There are lots of buses and also day trips from Kotor but the best way to avoid the crowds is to come with your own car in the later afternoon. Parking costs 2 euro a day and is outside the village gates.

Type of beach: Concrete

Herceg Novi

The city of Herceg Novi is one of the largest in the country and because of its location near the border with Croatia, you are most likely going to drive through on your travels in the country.

While the city is mostly perched by the side of a cliff and fronted by the old fortress, there is a small beach area right by it with sunbeds and umbrellas.

The seafront promenade is a pleasant place for a stroll and there are lots of restaurants to stop for lunch or dinner.

While this is not the most beautiful beach in Montenegro, it is one of the most local, usually filled with the residents of Herceg Novi rather than tourists.

How to get there: You can drive to Herceg Novi and then park. Note that a lot of the street parking in the summer months is paid and you will need to find the store selling the tickets. Where I parked, the pizzeria nearby was the business selling them.

Type of beach: Gravel

Lustica Bay

Lustica Bay used to be a military training area until Egyptian conglomerate Orascom obtained rights to develop the area with a luxury residential complex, a marina, restaurants and luxury hotel The Chedi Lustica Bay.

While there are some public beaches even with beach clubs (umbrellas, sunbeds, music) the area is far less crowded than other parts of Montenegro, at least for now, while the development is still gathering momentum.

When all the houses and facilities are built, it could become pretty busy.

Lustica Bay beach is mostly gravel and, I was told, accessible only to guests of The Chedi, but drive down the road and you will find other public beaches.

How to get there: By car, drive all the way to Lustica Bay. Follow the signs, although the roads are constantly changing with the residential development and the signs can be confusing, Google Maps can also be incorrect so ask around.

Type of beach: Gravel

Uvala Veslo

Far from Tivat, Kotor and any other civilization, this is one of the most stunning beaches in Montenegro.

The rocky bays around Uvala Veslo have some of the most incredibly crystal clear and clean waters you will find and you will be able to enjoy them with the very few tenants of the rental apartments nearby.

Very few people make the long and zigzagging drive that takes you there, which will consume the best part of an hour from Kotor, keeping this well hidden secret of a beach in Montenegro pretty much off the beaten path.

I flew the drone over it to get up and close and even when it was flying 500m away I could still hear it humming because of how absolutely silent this part of the country is. No traffic, no cars, nothing more than just the few inhabitants and birds.

How to get there: By car, driving through the main hairpin turns and crossing a few villages on a primarily one lane road. You can then descend to the water via the rocky steps.

Type of beach: Gravel and rocky

Rose

Rose is a hard to reach but rewarding little village by the sea located at the end of a zigzagging road about 45 minutes drive from Tivat.

Because it takes time and good driving skills (narrow, hairpin turning roads) to get there, Rose is practically only frequented by local residents.

The village is picturesque and the water dotted by fishing boats. There are a couple of hotels and restaurants to eat at and locals enjoy the sun and sea on the concrete, often times with their own sunbeds.

How to get there: Driving only. Parking can be tricky as the space is pretty limited, so you might have to park by the side of the road. There is no parking in town as the streets are all pedestrian.

Type of beach: Concrete beach

If you’re traveling the world looking for the best beaches, we’ve also written about the best beaches in Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Macau, Malta, California, South Africa and Albania. 

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