Herceg Novi Travel Guide: Visit Montenegro’s Sunniest City

Herceg Novi is hard to put into words, but this quote by famous Yugoslav poet Ivo Andrić comes pretty close: “This city of eternal greenery, sun and stairs stays stuck between the sea and the hill as a place whose magic can be experienced more and more as a place with the soul.”

Herceg Novi is famous for many things– it’s the sunniest city in Montenegro (it averages around 200 days of sunshine a year!), has a popular mimosa festival every year, and is well-known for its fortresses… but more on that later.  

Located at the western end of the country, Herceg Novi is the perfect introduction to Montenegro (if you’re traveling from Croatia) or a fantastic continuation of your trip around Montenegro.

Ready to dive into this fantastic city? Let’s check it out!

PSA: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book something through them. This is at no cost to you and helps keep this site running. Thank you! 

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HERCEG NOVI CITY GUIDE
Perfect for …
Culture and relaxation 😌 Montenegro without the crowds 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦
An easy day trip from Croatia 🇭🇷 Forts! So many forts! 🏰

The best way to get acquainted with Herceg Novi is with a little history lesson. *clears throat*

Once upon a time, in western Montenegro a land far far away, a Bosnian King (Tvrtko I) founded a tiny fishing village and decided to build a fort. Interestingly enough, the village was originally called Sveti Stefan — although nowadays, that name has been reserved for the ultra-luxurious resort a bit further down the coast. ;)

Anyway, back to the story. The village was located in a strategic location and needed all the fortification it could get… However, that didn’t stop various groups from taking over the city, such as the Turks, then the Spaniards, Italians, Austrians, Russians (even if it was only for 6 months), French, Montenegrins, Austro-Hungarians, Yugoslavians, Italians (again), Yugoslavia (again), and eventually it became part of the Montenegro that it is today. 

Phew, wasn’t that quite a story? Thanks to its tumultuous and long history, Herceg Novi is a mixture of interesting architecture, attractions, and traditions that have all left their mark on the city.

Herceg Novi is the perfect city to add to any itinerary — its calm atmosphere, beautiful vantage points, and seaside promenade are sure to delight any visitor! 

How many days do I need in Herceg Novi?

We spent 4 days, but you can easily do Herceg Novi in 2 or 3 days depending on how much time you have. Heck, if you’re traveling from Croatia to Montenegro, you can even use Herceg Novi as your stopping point for a day before traveling further inland to Kotor. 

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HOW TO GET TO HERCEG NOVI 

Herceg Novi is the westernmost city in Montenegro, which means it’s easy to get to from another country (Croatia) or by driving along the Bay of Kotor. Here is how to get to Herceg Novi: 

From Croatia: Herceg Novi is only 10 kilometers from the border with Croatia, which makes for a nice day trip if you want to add one more stamp in your passport.

There are two border crossings that you can use. The ‘main’ one is the border on Debeli Brijeg (Montenegro) and Karasovići (Croatia), which most travelers use when going between the two countries. Further south is the smaller border crossing between Kobila (Montenegro) and Vitaljina (Croatia). 

The most popular route is Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi, which usually takes about 1.5 hours one way, although during high tourist season (i.e. June through August) it may take longer. 

There are a few companies that operate busses between Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi (such as Blue Line and Čazmatrans), but usually they’re only active during the summer. The average price is around 15 to 20 EUR. 

If you’re set on visiting Herceg Novi from Croatia, I recommend getting a private transfer, especially if you’re a group and want to split the cost (which can work out to less than buying a bus ticket individually!) 

From Montenegro: Herceg Novi is well-connected to the rest of Montenegro, which means you can visit no matter where you’re coming from :) 

Here’s a quick chart of the distance and approximate travel time (by bus/car): 

Kotor to Herceg Novi — 1 hour | 44 km
Budva to Herceg Novi — 1 hour 20 mins | 65 km (without ferry) *
Tivat to Herceg Novi — 1 hour | 21 km (with ferry) *
Podgorica (the capital) to Herceg Novi — 2 hours 20 mins | 107 km (with ferry) *

You can look up schedules on the www.busticket4.me and buy tickets online or at the bus station (although be aware that they tend to be booked up quickly in the summer!)  

BUY TICKETS TO HERCEG NOVI HERE 

* PRO TIP! When looking at bus tickets online, make sure to pay attention to the total travel time. If you see a bus that has a shorter time frame, it’s most likely because it takes the ferry between Kamenari and Lepetane. Our driver took this route when we traveled from Herceg Novi to Cetinje and it saved us a considerable amount of time! 

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TRANSPORTATION & GETTING AROUND HERCEG NOVI

Herceg Novi is a bit bigger than other cities in Montenegro (such as Cetinje, Ulcinj, Kotor, and so on) because it’s more vertically spread out along the coast. However, that doesn’t mean it’s hard to get around the city! 

There are two main ways of getting around: by taxi (which usually costs a few EUR to get from one end of the city to the other) and by walking. Herceg Novi is divided into two “levels”: the upper part of the city, which has the old town and where the main street (Njegoševa) runs through, and the lower part, which has the beaches and seaside promenade. 

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WHAT TO DO IN HERCEG NOVI

Go back hundreds of years at Herceg Novi’s forts — It’s no secret that Herceg Novi is obsessed with forts and castles (and that’s putting it lightly).

Herceg Novi was originally founded as a medieval fishing village and soon built a fort to keep out intruders. Every few centuries new leaders took control and were then kicked out, but each built their own fortress: the Bosnian king Tvrtko I built the Forte Mare in 1382, the Turks created the Kanli Kula (‘blood tower’), while the Spanish built the Hispaniola fort and the Italians reinforced Herceg Novi with a wall and watchtowers wrapped around the city (unfortunately destroyed in an earthquake in the 1970s). Heck, even the name Herceg Novi translates to ‘new castle’ —  I told you the city loves its forts.

Now that we’re done with our little history lesson, let’s take a closer look at each of the forts: 

     🏰 Forte Mare (pictured above)—  Perhaps the most famous fort in Herceg Novi, Forte Mare (Sea Fortress) is a fantastic place to stroll around, enjoy the views of the sea, and feel the history of the city. This fortress is so old that it’s rumored to have some of the original stones that King Tvrtko I used back in the 1300s! By the way, you can see a statue of the King near the promenade, with the fortress in the background. Just a tip if you want a cool photo op. ;) 

     🏰Kanli Kula — Although this fort tower looks pretty innocent, it has a sinister backstory: not long after the Turks built the tower, they began to use it as a prison (which is where its name, ‘the bloody tower,’ comes from). In fact, there’s a legend that says the doors to the castle open only one way, because escaping was impossible. Nowadays, the tower is an unassuming outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts, film festivals, art expositions, opera shows, and so on.  

     🏰The Spanish Fortress — If you’re up for an adventure, the Tvrdjava Spanjola is calling your name! It’s one of the least visited forts in Herceg Novi because of its location (a solid 1 km hike from the main square) and dilapidated state, but it offers fantastic views over the bay and a history lesson. 

     🏰Mamula Fortress — Although not technically on the mainland, Mamula deserves its own special mention because it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Herceg Novi. :) 

Mamula fortress is actually located on an uninhabited island (also, surprise, called Mamula) and was built by the Austro-Hungarian empire back in the mid-1800s to stop invaders from attacking the cities along the bay. Ironically, not a single cannon shot was fired from the fortress, and in the 1940s it was unfortunately turned into a concentration camp to hold prisoners from nearby areas. Nowadays, the island/fort is completely abandoned, except for the locals (rabbits and birds), as well as tourists who visit the island as part of a tour around the bay. You can check out tours that include Mamula fortress here.

Stroll along the seaside promenade & relax on the beach — Herceg Novi has a 7 km-long promenade that stretches from the neighboring town of Igalo all the way to Meljine at the city’s edge. No worries if you don’t want to walk the entire length — just pick a spot and enjoy! The seafront promenade right in front of Herceg Novi features a ton of things to do, from relaxing at the beach to chilling in a cafe, sitting in the park, or strolling along the walkway. 

Do some sightseeing in the Old Town — Herceg Novi’s Old Town is conveniently condensed into a few square meters, which means you can see the city’s main sites without spending time going back and forth. Here are a few attractions to check out: 

     📍 Nikola Djurkovic Square — This small yet cute square has everything you could ever want from a typical plaza in Montenegro: colorful historic houses, cobblestone streets, and outdoor cafes competing with one another to see who can come up with the tastiest ice coffee.

     📍 Clock Tower — One of the most recognizable symbols of Herceg Novi, the clock tower was built by the Turks in the mid-1660s and served as the entrance gate to the city’s Old Town. Nowadays, you can find souvenir shops and cafes wedged inside the tower, as well as a staircase to an observation platform. 

     📍 Church of Michael the Archangel — Tucked away in the main plaza is this beautifully-designed church. Tip: If you go behind the church, there’s a nice lookout / place to sit and people watch. :)  

Swim in the Blue Cave — Sure, Montenegro might have the twisting lush valleys along the Tara River, the country’s namesake mountains at Lovćen National Park, and the famous Lake Skadar, but one of its lesser-known natural wonders is located not too far from Herceg Novi! 

The Blue Cave (also known as the Blue Grotto) is a cave that sits on the Lustica Peninsula and is only a 20-minute boat ride from Herceg Novi. The cave’s uniqueness comes from the beautiful iridescent hues that light up the waters inside — it almost looks like someone shined a flashlight from below. :)

The easiest way to visit the Blue Cave is on a tour (either a group tour or a private tour), which usually combines other stops along the bay. Here are a few to check out: 

Relax at a spa in Igalo — Located 2km to the west of Herceg Novi is the famous spa town of Igalo, which is famous for its healing mud and spa resorts (similar to Soviet-era sanatoriums). 

Igalo’s mud is famous for healing various ailments like inflammation, treating skin conditions, and increasing blood and lymphatic circulation. The mud is ‘harvested’ from the waters of the Bay of Kotor and is used in spas across the city. Speaking of spas, local resorts and hotels like to use this ‘muditerranean’ gem in their treatments — one of the best spa hotels in Igalo is Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa (whose spa spans 500m²!) or Institut Dr Simo Milošević (also known as Igalo Institute) if you prefer to do a drop-in session. 

Stroll around Tito’s Villa Galeb — We can’t talk about Igalo without mentioning Tito’s Villa!

The villa was originally built for Josip Broz Tito, then-president of Yugoslavia, in 1976 because he was getting treated at the nearby Igalo Institute. Tito liked the area so much that he ordered a villa to be built (one of a dozen around former Yugoslavia!), but unfortunately he visited only four times. Nowadays, travelers can take a guided tour through the villa and see the different apartments, restaurant/bar, lounge, Tito’s office, and his spa. Be sure to book in advance because the villa only does tours on request. 

Welcome spring at the mimosa festival — Every February, Herceg Novi hosts the mimosa festival… and no, I don’t mean the bottomless mimosas you order at brunch, I meant the yellow flowers ;) 

The mimosa festival started all the way back in 1969 and marks the start of spring with a grand parade, a masqueraded carnival, and gastronomic festivals that attract more than 20,000 visitors every year! 

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Guesthouse Villa Stari Grad

WHERE TO STAY IN HERCEG NOVI
ACCOMMODATIONS IN HERCEG NOVI

Guesthouse Villa Stari Grad – This guesthouse is a fantastic choice if you want to stay close to the old town — it’s one block away from the central square and even its name, Stari Grad, means old town. The guesthouse features a modern and chic interior design, a shared lounge and bar, and super friendly staff. If you want to go all out, definitely book the Studio with Terrace, which has amazing views of the city!
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com  

Apartments Jadran – This was our ‘home base’ for the four days we spent in Herceg Novi, and I believe it’s a very reasonably priced and solid option. We opted for a studio, which was spacious and had a small kitchenette (with mini fridge), balcony, and modern furniture. The apartment is within walking distance to minimarkets and other stores, and a 10-ish minute walk to the center of Herceg Novi. Although it doesn’t mention it in the Booking.com ad, the owners were kind enough to allow me to pay by credit card (they had a terminal for CC payments). :)
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com 

Lazure Hotel & Marina ⭐️ LUXURY— Derek Zoolander famously once said, “Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?” … and I think that’s exactly what this hotel feels like.

Lazure Hotel is situated in a historic 18th-century building and can be described in one word: gorgeous. Each room is lavishly decorated in a contemporary style — think marble, abstract shapes, and natural decor. The hotel also has plenty of plush amenities like an indoor pool, garden, three restaurants (!) and a wine bar, a sauna, and beach access. 

While looking through the reviews, this one was my favorite: “If we knew [the hotel] would be so good, we would’ve stayed in it for the whole journey to Montenegro!” — and I think that says it all.
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

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WHERE TO EAT IN HERCEG NOVI

☕️ Gradska Kafana – Gradska Kafana is one of the most well-known cafes in Herceg Novi, with a history that spans more than 100 years back! It was originally founded in the early 1900s and still maintains its historic charm: the menus are in the form of an old-style newspaper from the era, and the waiters are dressed in early century-inspired costumes. 

However, despite its appearance as an upscale restaurant, the prices were extremely reasonable — especially when you see the jaw-dropping view from the terrace.  

Gradska Kafana is located on a small cliff overlooking the bay and features a nice mix of Montenegrin cuisine along with seafood, Italian and European dishes, as well as an extensive drink menu (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

☕️ Peter’s Pie & Coffee – A true local haunt, Peter’s is always crowded with travelers and locals who want to relax and enjoy a nice view. They serve healthy vegetarian food, coffee, and smoothies. 

☕️ Caffe Pizzeria Boka —A safe bet when you don’t know what you want but you’re hungry… like me 95% of the time. Boka features a large menu and delicious coffee drinks (I loved the iced coffee!)

🥞 Popaj — Budget travelers, add Popaj to your list. This small hole-in-the-wall restaurant near the promenade has cheap and tasty fast food — the palačinka (pancakes) were around 2-3 EUR and the size of my hand!  

🦞 Admiral Club Herceg Novi— Fresh seafood, amazing views of the bay, and a romantic atmosphere — what more could you ask for? 

🍻 Pub Got — This pub probably has one of the most photogenic exteriors in all of Herceg Novi as well as delicious drinks for a modest price. 

🍷 Savina Winery — Last but certainly not least is Herceg Novi’s very own winery! This small boutique winery specializes in excellent, full-flavored wines and offer rose, chardonay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, among others. Wine connoisseurs can enjoy a tasting and tour throughout the estate – just be sure to call or reserve in advance. 

Want to try the best of Herceg Novi’s food scene without spending hours trying to find the best restaurants? Check out this gastronomic food tour!

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USEFUL REFERENCES FOR TRAVELING TO MONTENEGRO

Looking for more information before your trip to Montenegro? I recommend the following websites that I personally used:

🛂 Need a visa to Montenegro? Check out iVisa for more information. 

✈️ Once you have your visa all set, it’s time to book airline tickets! I use both CheapOAir and SkyScanner to book flights.

🛏 Book accommodations on Booking or Hotels. These two offer fantastic options for every traveler, from hostels to hotels, apartments to penthouses, local guesthouses, and everything in between! 

✨ Speaking of amazing accommodations… I have an entire blog post dedicated to the best guesthouses, apartments, and Airbnbs in Montenegro!  

📷  Find tours, day trips, or sightseeing activities at Get Your Guide or Viator. 

❗️One of the most popular day trips is the All Montenegro Tour. This 12-hour tour gives you a taste of Montenegro as you enjoy breakfast at a local village, tour the Old Royal Capital, visit the birthplace of the Petrović dynasty, enjoy a boat ride through River Crnojevica, and finish the day with a panoramic view of the famous Sveti Stefan.

🚗 Prefer to carve out your own itinerary? Rent a car through RentalCars.com, which has the biggest selection of car rentals and the company that I use whenever I rent a car.

🧳 Not sure what to pack? I have an entire blog post that details what to pack for a trip to Montenegro for all four seasons! 

🇲🇪 Looking for even more information before traveling to Montenegro? Check out my Ultimate Montenegro Travel Guide for everything you need to know before your trip OR 17 Montenegro Travel Tips for some bite-sized tips…

🇲🇪 … Or check out all of my blog posts on Montenegro here, including more city guides! Happy travels :)