Sailing in Montenegro

The Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) is one of the most beautiful bays in all the world. This deep bay penetrates 29 km inland and its appearance is reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. Its backdrop is created by a majestic mountain range, which is reflected on the surface of the sea if the light is good. The bay is named after the town of Kotor and divided into four smaller bays - Herceg Novi, Risan, Kotor, and the Tivat bays. High mountains rise above the narrow strip of coastline, protecting Kotor from bad weather approaching from the north and against the Bora which blows in autumn and winter from inland. 

Daytime thermals work very well in the Bay of Kotor. You can look forward to a powerful steady wind that starts to blow in the afternoon. Thanks to its strategic position and advantageous natural conditions, the bay has been inhabited since ancient times. During the Middle Ages, it provided shelter to fishermen, sailors, and naval vessels, and several important towns sprung up on its shores with massive ramparts and forts protecting the entrance to the bay. The most interesting towns and harbours in the Bay of Kotor are Herceg Novi, Kotor, Perast, Tivat, Risan, and Perast. 

Perast

Perast is a true architectural jewel. The harbour is still not well-known and is hardly visited. But that is beautiful, too. Before Perast are two ancient monasteries on two little islands. The easternmost is St George (St Dorde) and the westernmost is Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpelja). A magnificent pilgrimage church is on this island. At the church is a short pier with adequate depth. Anchoring at the pier is not permitted, although this is not signposted anywhere. When you land here at night, you can spend a quiet and romantic night near the church. 

Tivat

This is a very lively town situated in the Bay of Kotor. It was settled in ancient times, a fact proven by archaeological finds from the seabed. During the Middle Ages, the town belonged to wealthy seafaring families who built their residences here. Points of local interest include the Church of St Anthony and the defensive tower of the Buća family with a chapel. The original seaport has been converted into the luxury Porto Montenegro Marina. There is a pump here offering duty-free diesel!

There are many beautiful beaches along the coastline of Tivat Bay—for example, near the Veritage strait, Opatovo Beach near the lighthouse (a sandy beach 200 m long), a beach about a kilometre long with a breakwater near the settlement of Donja Lastava with small sandy patches, a pebbled and sandy beach near the cape of Seljanovo, and the sandy beach called Belane. Opposite the town are several small islands boasting a rich history. The ruins of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael can be found on the island of Prevlaka, known as Flower Island. The French organisation Club Mediterranée, previously had a resort on the small island of Sveti Marco, built in the style of a Polynesian village.

Budva

Budva is the most popular tourist destination in Montenegro. Budva is situated in the wide Bay of Budva. The Lovćen and Pastrovići mountain ranges protect it from strong winds blowing from inland. The town’s history reaches back 2600 years when the town was, according to legend, founded by Cadmus, the son of a Phoenician king. The whole peninsula is surrounded by monumental fortifications dating back to the 14th century. The walls protect the citadel and the old town, you can walk around the whole town on them. Budva suffered during its troubled past, from sieges to a major earthquake in 1979. It does not excel in monuments of the highest order like Kotor, but it will charm you nonetheless with its special, Medieval town atmosphere. Seven castle gates lead into the city. The two most impressive are the Mainland Gate (Kopnena vrata) and the Sea Gate (Morska vrata), behind which you will find a maze of narrow little lanes, cafés, passages and little squares.

You can see the most beautiful historical monuments in the southern part of the old town. You will, for example, find the Church of St John the Baptist with a bell tower, the Bishop’s Palace, the Church of St Sava, and the fort with a Holy Trinity chapel. One of the oldest buildings is the Church of Our Lady which was built on the cape in 840 AD. In the northern part of the town is a modern gallery and the town museum where you can learn about the history of the town. The town has one of the best archaeological sites in Europe. Extensive ruins were discovered here from ancient and Greek times. Most of these ruins were uncovered by the major earthquake of 1979.

Budva is also famous for its beautiful beaches. Right by the citadel is Mogren Beach, which has been awarded a Blue Flag. This is made up of two parts linked by a path cut into the rock. Its length is roughly 400 m and the surface is rough sand. In the middle of the Bay of Budva is a long pebbled beach called Slovenska pláž. About 15–20 minutes north, is another lovely beach called Jaz.

Dukley Marina Budva

Sveti Stefan (St Stephen)

Opposite Budva on the other side of the bay, lies the island and stunningly beautiful fishing town of Sveti Stefan. It was founded in the 15th century on a rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The fishing village was established here by twelve families from the Pašrovic clan. With their hordes of food, each family had a small house here that served as a hiding place in dangerous times. The stone houses were surrounded by fortified walls and the whole town was built from the booty plundered from intercepted Turkish galleys. Today, it is home to the most luxurious resort in Montenegro, visited by politicians, athletes, and celebrities from around the world. This island is well worth sailing around as it is very photogenic. There are some beautiful beaches, marked off with chains in summer. You can anchor at a depth of 8-12 m.

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Kotor

Kotor Harbour

This is a year-round customs port, where the port manager and customs offices can be found on the waterfront; the police are located in the city. The harbour offers mooring spaces with connections to water and electricity. The most pleasant and tranquil anchorage is near the mouth of the river, next to the harbour office. It is necessary to cast off with your bow against the current (when the current is strong, it is not possible to moor here). You can also land by the main waterfront or at anchor (depth 7 m) at the end of the bay. The harbour is well-sheltered. The price for a berth is approximately EUR 50 for a 46 m boat. It is also possible to anchor at the small Muo Marina. It is located on the west coast of the Gulf of Kotor, just about 1 NM from Kotor. Water and electricity are available here, too. There is a regular bus service to Kotor. Beware! The water in the harbour is safe to drink but not of the best quality. 

Kotor is a beautifully placed town at the foot of the 1,749 m high Lovčen. The ancient town enclosed between the walls is truly beautiful. The fortress towering 200 m over the harbour is also worth visiting. Equip yourself with some slightly better shoes as the hike up to the fort is not that easy. At the pier, mooring lines and electricity are available. Kotor is a customs port, where you can also get customs clearance. I recommend doing your first point of entry clearance after arriving in Montenegro at Kotor and exit at Zelenice. 

Risan

The town was founded by an Illyrian tribe with its warrior-queen, Teuta, once ruling here. In the times of ancient Rome, this town was the most important harbour in the bay, its commanding role later being assumed by Kotor. The oldest mint in the territory of the south Slavic countries was founded there. Today, several interesting monuments can be seen, for example, the excavation site of a Roman villa with its ancient floor mosaic (150 m from the harbour), the remains of two Turkish fortresses, and the palace of the Ivelich family (many famous sailors, traders and diplomats came from this family). 

Risan Harbour

Risan Harbour is a small harbour for yachts. You can tie up here at the head of the pier (depth 3 m) or by the shore (depth 2 m). There is space for 3-4 boats. You are not allowed to moor by the breakwater. The harbour is safe, though the effects of thermals at night may cause strong northerly winds. You can also anchor here at a depth of 8–10 m. Anchors hold well. There is no connection to the electricity at the harbour. At the southeastern corner is a tap where water can be drawn (you need a long hose). Fuel may be purchased in a cannister at the garage 200 m along the Kotor road. A relatively well-stocked mini market is near the harbour, as well as a restaurant and café with WiFi. A little further away is a larger supermarket. 

Risan is a lovely ancient harbour with an excavation site of a Roman villa. The island of Stradioti is also worth visiting. On the southern side of this island in Boka is a pleasant and calm place to anchor. 

Ulcinj

Bijela

Shipyards were established here and the little town you see today gradually grew around them. The boat builders learned their trade from craftsmen who came in from Korčula where there was a famous boat building school. The activities of today’s modern shipyards build on the ancient traditions of boat building. Today they repair small yachts and even ocean-going ships.

Herceg Novi

A.D. Marina Bar

A large marina and year-round port of entry (the customs breakwater is in the industrial OMC port). The harbour office (Lučka Kapetania) is located behind the park opposite the entrance to the main breakwater, next to the garden restaurant. There are 370 berths on the water with connections to water and electricity. Good quality technical services, a shop with yachting equipment, several supermarkets, a farmers’ markets with fruit and vegetables, and numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants—all near the port. A bank, post office, hospital and a pharmacy can all be found nearby, too. 

OMC Marina

An industrial port with a customs breakwater. The port offers 300 hard standings and limited space on water. We recommend you stay in the A.D. Marina. Beware! The harbour office in Bar is not permitted to collect vignette fees. You need to buy your vignette at the post office or in a bank. However, take note, these are closed from midday Saturday to Monday morning. 

Zelenika

A year-round port of entry. Due to customs formalities, you must moor up to the quay with large black fenders hanging from it. To avoid damaging the hull, it is better to moor up bows-to or stern-to rather than side on. You can also anchor by the breakwater overnight (tip: to anchor approximately 10 m, tie two lines to the stern). During the Sirocco, it is better to handle the customs formalities in Kotor. 

This mountainous peninsula divides the Bay of Kotor from the open sea. The southern part of the peninsula is very popular but the whole area is lined with beautiful bays and beaches. There is even a beautiful blue cave here (Plava Špilja) where in sunny weather, refraction creates some incredible lighting effects. You can also swim and sunbathe at Žanjica Beach or Pržna Beach, or at Rosa Beach (a nice rocky beach). 

The new, beautiful and modern marina of Monte Negro has been built in Tivatu. The marina is architecturally well-suited to the local architecture and has transformed the old, unsightly military harbour into the centre of Boka’s yachting life. The old town itself, thanks to this, is gradually being restored to its original beauty. 

The coastal area of Montenegro is predominantly a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, winters mild and rainy. The average temperature in summer is 27°C, the average sea temperature is 25°C. Maximum air temperatures can reach as high as 40°C. Autumn is pleasant and usually sunny until the end of October, sometimes even mid-November. Winds in this area are greatly influenced by daytime thermals (a steady, strong wind that starts to blow in the afternoon and abates in the evening) and the high mountains. The winds most often blow from the NW and SE. The daytime breeze is unable to pass the high mountains and can be strengthened in the afternoon by a predominant NW wind from 3 BFT to 5 BFT. The northwesterly Bora (a cold gusty wind coming down from the mountains) also occurs in this area, as does the southerly to southeasterly Sirocco. The Bora and Sirocco create large waves. The dangerous Bora mainly blows in winter but may also be present in summer. It most frequently blows in the area of the Bay of Kotor, in the Bay of Risan. The Bora rarely blows in the area around Bar.