TIVAT, MONTENEGRO
Montenegro is a remote but beautiful seaside-holiday destination. Often overlooked for its popular neighbours like Croatia and Monte Carlo, but Montenegro has plenty to offer in natural surroundings and scenery, outdoor activities, and relaxation. Montenegro is relatively small and easy to explore by car and boat; and Tivat is one of its more popular coastal towns in the summer - with an old town for a local's experience, as well as a newly built marina for a luxurious stay. A great holiday destination for friends, families and couples alike.
TO STAY
In the coastal town of Tivat, Porto Montenegro is a full-serviced marina with luxurious accommodations and a variety of facilities for holidayers. Considered a five-star haven nestled in modest surroundings, Porto is a destination of its own; built on the Adriatic coast with a waterfront view of the Bay of Kotor and a long promenade lined with restaurants, designer-boutiques as well as service stores. The marina blends the elegance of the French Riviera with the beauty of Montenegrin nature. Though it is completely gated from Montenegro's more historical or cultural side, it serves as a comfortable and luxurious base-point for a holiday.
Porto's first and biggest five-star hotel, overlooking the Bay of Kotor and the yacht-studded marina. The hotel is pretty grand and spacious with a refined but simple elegance. Regent also offers a variety of entertaining facilities like an infinity pool & spa, dining along the promenade, a bakery-café with homemade pastries, The Library Bar for drinks, as well as seasonal events hosted by the hotel. It's certainly worth booking one of the rooms overlooking the sea - the views are spectacular. A comfortable and luxurious stay in Tivat.
FOOD & DINING
Located at The Regent, Murano is an Adriatic restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and a focus on fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant serves a variety of crowd-pleasing options like Greek dips & salads, pastas, grilled meats and fish, and larger dishes to share. A great choice for casual but refined dining on the marina.
Located on its own little island overlooking Lustica Bay, Ribarsko Selo is a charming place to dine at sunset. It's rustic and unassuming, but it's one of the more popular fish restaurants among locals. It's a short ride away from Almara Beach and you can easily request a speedboat from the restaurant. The daily menu depends on whatever fresh fish and produce was picked that day, and they can pretty much make anything to your liking (including a selection of pastas). A delicious and scenic dining experience on the waterfront.
Porto's Promenade offers a range of restaurants and cafés for breakfast, lunch or dinner on the marina. There's plenty to choose from and a variety of cuisines as well. Check out Porto's official website for the latest spots.
PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO
Porto's famous and picturesque infinity pool is located at the Yacht Club, stretching out over the bay with a panoramic view of the mountains. You can spend the day swimming, drinking, and snacking by the pool in an upbeat and lively atmosphere - it's open from early morning to sunset. The general crowd here is young couples or groups, but children are also welcome. Make sure to call and reserve sun-beds in advance, specifically ones on the edge of the pool for a direct view of the bay.
BOAT DAY
The best way to explore and move around Montenegro is by boat; only at sea will you truly enjoy the country's beauty. There are several ways to charter boats here in Tivat but if you're staying at one of the hotels, it's easy and convenient. You can easily spend an entire day at sea, where you can sail around the Bay of Kotor, stop off at the surrounding landmarks and towns, lunch at one of the many seafront restaurants and take a dip in the beautiful water before sailing back to Porto at sunset. Take a look at the map and highlight your points of interest, and the boat's captain will plan out the best route to take. This is one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences here in Tivat.
KOTOR OLD TOWN
The old town of Kotor still stands as one of the most prominent historical and cultural landmarks of Montenegro. A Medieval labyrinth of cobblestoned streets, narrow alleys and passageways, high walls, churches and squares makes Kotor an architectural pastime. Two must-see landmarks there are The Church of Our Lady Remedy and the Castle of San Giovanni (which is a long climb of 1,300 steps to the mountain, but the bird-eye view is worthwhile). Kotor is just a short ride from Porto by car or boat, and easy to explore on foot in an hour or two.
A beautiful and picturesque landmark just off the coast of Perast, the Lady of the Rocks is a small islet floating off in the middle of the sea with a small church as its main attraction. Put this on the map as one of your stops in the Bay of Kotor or if you're spending the day sailing around. Seeing it off in the distance at sea is a beautiful sight.
Located near Budva, just a 20-30 minute drive from Porto Montenegro, Almara is a lively and crowded beach club to spend the day. Frequented by more tourists and locals, it's not as exclusive or luxurious as the Yacht Club but you can go swimming in the bay and take a small kayak boat out to sea. Reserve sun-beds in advance and ask for a speedboat to Ribarsko Selo for a sunset dinner.
Between Almara and Rebarsko Selo is one of Montenegro's most popular water caves, located on the Luštica Peninsula. A high ceiling cave with crystal clear water to swim in, it's a unique experience worth stopping for.
TRAVELING TIPS
1. Exploring the majority of Montenegro is easy if you sail around and take day-trips. Three to four days is enough to enjoy what Porto has to offer, with a day or two dedicated to day-trips and boat tours.
2. If you're looking for a resort-style holiday, Porto offers exactly that. You can easily spend the entire time between the hotel and the marina.
3. For a more adventurous holiday, there are plenty of outdoor activities to go for like zip-lining through the mountains, hike & bike tours, canyoning, and water-kayaking. You can certainly expect to spend most of the time out on the water, as this is the most enjoyable pastime in Montenegro.
4. Organise a boat trip in advance or as soon as you arrive to the hotel to guarantee availability on your preferred day. You can easily fit most of the major landmarks and towns in one full day.
6. Plan your visit according to the weather! Summer is a great time to visit Montenegro but it can get unbearably hot and humid in August.