Herceg Novi Travel Guide 2024

Located very close to the Croatian border, Herceg Novi is often overlooked by travelers visiting Montenegro for a short time. But if you are looking for a great destination to relax by the beautiful Adriatic Sea, then Herceg Novi might just be the place for you.

We visited this town during our recent trip to Montenegro, as part of a long Balkan road trip. As a result, we have put together this guide with all our best tips about visiting Herceg Novi so you can plan your trip too.

Best things to do and see in Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi was once known as one of the prime beach destinations in Montenegro but has lately lost its popularity among travelers. That’s not to say that the city is empty, far from that. During the summer, the beaches are still full of people working on their tan or spending the day by the water.

But going to the beach is not the only option of thing to do when in Herceg Novi. The city also has a lot to offer for those interested in beautiful views and historical sites. Here is our short list of the best things to see and do in Herceg Novi:

1. Visit Herceg Novi’s Old Town

The Old Town of Herceg Novi, called “Stari Grad” in Montenegrin, is the most visited place in the city – and it is easy to understand why. The Old Town is the heart of the city. It is quite small and can easily be walked in a pair of hours.

Herceg Novi’s Old Town is officially considered to be 600 years old, but some of its constructions date back even earlier than that. The city was mentioned for the first time by the Bosnian King Tvrtko I, who is considered to be Herceg Novi’s founder.

Over the years, Herceg Novi has had a very troubled history because it is located in such a strategic position, very close to the entrance of the Kotor Bay and what is now the border with Croatia. For that reason, Herceg Novi was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, the Spaniards, the Venetian Republic, Russia, France, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and, later, was part of Yugoslavia. This intense mix of cultures over the years can be seen in the architecture of the buildings and fortresses.

Herceg Novi’s Old Town is quite well preserved and with a couple of highlight locations you should check out:

• Sahat Kula, the Clock Tower, built in 1667 – we recommend this to be your entry point into the city center
• Church of Archangel Michael, located in the square of Herceg Stefan Vukic
• The drinking fountain Karachi, located in the same square, heritage of the Turkish area
• St Jerome Church and Square

2. Forte Mare, the main fortress in Herceg Novi

Forte Mare is located at the edge of the Old Town of Herceg Novi, towards Kotor Bay. This fort is one of the oldest constructions in the city, dating back to 1382. Nowadays, the fortress holds concerts, open-air cinemas, and other events.

Entrance to the fortress costs 2 €.

After you check the fortress, make your way down to the waterfront to see the monument to King Tvrtko I.

3. Check out the open theatre in Kanli Kula

The upper part of Herceg Novi’s Old Town is marked by Kanli Kula, another ancient fort. However, all that is left of it today is an open-air theatre that still functions as such. 

Since it is located a bit higher than the rest of the center, Kanli Kula gives you beautiful views of Kotor Bay so it is worth the walk.

4. Go to the Savina Monastery

Located a bit further away from the Old Town, the Savina Monastery is always listed among the top things to see in Herceg Novi because it holds not one, not two, but three beautiful Orthodox churches. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see this place during our trip, but we certainly wish we had so we made sure to include it on this list for you guys.

5. Go kayaking in submarine caves and an old shipwreck

One of the best things to do in Herceg Novi is to explore the city from the water. You are just by the Adriatic Sea after all.

Hoping on a kayak-guided tour is an excellent way of seeing the city from this different perspective. You can get a tour by the waterfront, you will see a few operators offering them there if you visit during the summer. 

The most traditional kayaking tour will take you to an old shipwreck where you can swim around and see a submarine cave from Yugoslavian times. The trip usually ends in Rose, a small fisherman’s village located right across the bay. It is a very interesting tour and definitely an activity I recommend if you will be spending some time in the city.

6. Boat tour to the Blue Cave

One of the best attractions in Kotor Bay is the speed boat tour to visit the Blue Cave. The same boat tour is offered from different points of the bay – you can purchase it from Herceg Novi, Kotor, Perast, or others.

The itinerary is mostly the same, having the Blue Cave as the final destination, but passing through the Mamula Fort and the Yugoslavian submarine caves along the way.

We did this boat tour departing from Kotor and highly recommend it. It was one of our favorite activities during this trip! Read here our post about the Blue Cave boat trip.

7. Head to the beach around Herceg Novi

Last but not least, save yourself some time to spend on the beach. You can either choose to go to one of the free areas on the beach or pay for a sunbed and umbrellas at one of the beach clubs.

See below our tips for the best beach spots in Herceg Novi.

Best beaches near Herceg Novi city center

The coastline that goes from Igalo to Meljine is the best beach area in Herceg Novi. This promenade is called Pet Danica, with a walkway that is 6-7 km long.

During this part, you will find many options for beach bars and free areas to choose from. We recommend avoiding the middle part next to the city center, where the marina is. Further from that, either to the left or the right, you will find amazing beaches all around.

PS: The beaches in this part around Pet Danica are not sandy beaches, they are made of concrete platforms or staircases that lead you into the water.

Another few beaches that are a bit further away from Herceg Novi’s city center but worth checking out are:

• The mud beach – apparently the mud on this beach has therapeutic properties and it is deemed by locals as a must-see in the area
• Igalo Beach – located at one of the extremities of Pet Danica, Igalo Beach is located very next to the former residence of Tito, the ex-president of Yugoslavia
• Lalovina Beach – Located more in the south, this beach gets sunshine until late in the evening and is considered one of the best beaches around Herceg Novi
• Njivice Beach – Good option for families as the water is shallow and appropriate for kids. There is a nudist beach located separately, called Sutorina Beach

How to get to Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi is located only 10 km away from the Croatian border and, for this reason, it is considered a popular day trip from Dubrovnik. However, you can also get to the city from other destinations in Montenegro.

The best way to travel to Herceg Novi is by car, which will be the fastest option. We recommend renting a car if you won’t be traveling with your own vehicle. Check the rental car options here.

Here is how long it would take to get to Herceg Novi by car from different cities:

• Dubrovnik – Herceg Novi: 50km, approximately 1h (count some time for crossing the international border)
• Podgorica – Herceg Novi: 143 km, approx 2h 30m
• Tivat – Herceg Novi: 21 km, approx. 1h (with a ferry)
• Kotor – Herceg Novi: 43 km, approx. 1h

Note: There are also ferry options if you will be coming from destinations that are connected by sea, such as Dubrovnik.

What is the best airport to fly to when visiting Herceg Novi?

Montenegro has two main airports: Podgorica and Tivat. The closest option is the Tivat Airport, but it is significantly smaller, so it is sometimes harder to find good flights.

Most tourists coming into the country from abroad fly to Podgorica airport instead. From there, you can rent a car, get a bus, or transfer to Herceg Novi.

Read more about the best airport to fly to in Montenegro.

Where to stay in Herceg Novi?

We only recommend staying in Herceg Novi if you want to spend some time enjoying the beaches around the city. Otherwise, it is perfectly doable to visit Herceg Novi and explore its city center during a day trip and have your accommodation based in Kotor, for instance.

However, if you wish to stay in Herceg Novi, we have gathered some interesting accommodation options for you:

• Apartments Bane – This accommodation is located only 80 meters from the beach and, amongst other perks, offers private parking. It is one of the best-rated properties on Booking right now.
• Apartments Mako – This apartment is even closer to the water, only 50 meters away from the closest beach. It offers nice apartments that are air-conditioned and have balconies with sea views.

Accommodation options in Kotor

If you would rather stay in Kotor, which is our main recommendation, here are some of the best options for places to stay:

• Promenade Rose – This was the place we stayed in Dobrota, the promenade next to Kotor, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. The apartment had the most amazing view of the bay, had free parking on site, was very organized, and had a great price. All in all, an amazing deal. 
• Apartmani Maxim – This property has it all, from a children’s playground to free bikes and a private beach area. It’s also one of the best-rated properties on Booking, so are confident about adding it to our list.

Places near Herceg Novi that are worth a visit

If you plan on exploring more of Montenegro during your trip, here are a few places located close to Herceg Novi that we think are definitely worth a visit:

• Perast
• Kotor
• Budva

Or you can read a full itinerary on what to do in Montenegro in 4 days. 

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