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Herceg Novi is definitely one of Montenegro’s most underrated destinations. Most visitors to Montenegro stay in and around Kotor or Budva, but Herceg Novi is definitely worth a visit.
This beautiful little gem is full of charm and has lots to offer, with long stretches of glistening blue coastline, cafes, bars and restaurants and plenty of activities and daytrips. As it has not yet gained the recognition that some of its neighbours have, it feels less crowded and more spacious. You can stroll along the bayfront promenade at a leisurely pace, even in peak season, without feeling like you are being herded along.
Instead of high-rise, modern tower blocks and hotel chains, you’ll find more locally run apartments. There are no queues for popular restaurants, and plenty of beaches and beach bars to choose from.
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Herceg Novi: At a glance
Where to stay: Apartments Belvedere for the views of Kanli Kula fortress and Boka Bay, enjoy the seafront infinity pool at Hotel Perla, for budget friendly sea views, check out Panorama Apartments, or splurge and stay at the luxurious Lazure Hotel & Marina
Best things to do: Wander the Old Town, wine tasting at Savina Winery, or hire a speedboat for a private tour of Boka Bay.
Best time to visit: As with most European destinations, the best time to visit Herceg Novi is just either side of the peak summer season. June, early July and September are great times to visit as it will still be warm but not blistering and there will be less crowds.
Best things to do in Herceg Novi, Montenegro
Despite going under the radar slightly, Herceg Novi is a great addition to any Montenegro itinerary. Below are some of the Best things to do in Herceg Novi to help plan your trip.
Stroll the small but charming old town
Start at Belavista Square, a cute meeting point, surrounded by local bistros. Taking centre stage in the square is the Saint. Michael Archangel Church. Sitting just in front of the church is a historic water fountain.
Another central meeting point in Herceg Novi’s old town is Nikola Djurkovic square. Here, you will find a few more modern restaurants and modern shops. Sitting between the two squares in the old town museum and Clock Tower.
It won’t take too long to walk around the old town, but it is a nice area to sit and have a coffee or enjoy dinner and watch the world go by.
Related: Don’t leave Montenegro before visiting Kotor’s Old Town!
Visit Kanli Kula
Kanli Kula is a Turkish-built fortress and prison, which dates back to the 1500’s. It has been restored and renovated over the years and today it is a popular events venue, with an open air amphitheatre. There are many shows that are hosted at the venue, but you can also visit and walk around the fortress. Entry is €4 per person. It won’t take you very long to wander round the fortress, but the views across Boka Bay and the old town are worth it.
Visit Fort Mare
Fort Mare dates back to the 1300’s and was one of the earliest fortifications of the mediaeval city, protecting the rest of the town from the sea and intruders. Much of the original walls have been rebuilt and replaced over time and today, the fort is used as an open air cinema. You can visit the fort and wander around at your own pace. Entry is €4 per person.
Walk Šetalište Pet Danica Walkway
This small, local vineyard sits in an enviable position, next to the Savina Monastery, overlooking the bay. There are a range of tasting experiences to choose from, which include a tour around the vineyard. You can book directly from the Savina website.
For another great culinary experience, check out this Kotor food and wine walking tour.
Savina Monastery
The Savina Monastery is a good place to visit if you are combining with an experience at Savina Winery. This Monastery is made up of 3 small churches and has sweeping views across the Bay. You can also enjoy a quiet, shaded walk amongst the trees in the Savina Forest.
Take a boat trip to the Blue Cave
One of the best things to do in the Bay of Kotor is to take a boat trip. The large bay is protected by the surrounding land and mountains, so the water is calm and smooth. There are many itineraries and companies to choose from, and you can easily book a tour from one of the tourist stands along the promenade. I’d recommend choosing a smaller boat so that you can get close to the beautiful coastline and interesting sights in the bay.
One of the most popular places to visit on a boat trip from Herceg Novi is to the Blue Cave. My husband and I chose an express sightseeing tour, which went past Mamula Island – a former prison on a small island, now turned luxury resort, as well as a visit to the Blue Cave, where we had the chance to have a swim in the sea and a quick stop at the submarine tunnel. This is a great option if you are short on time. Another option is to extend your boat trip and spend the day at the beach in one of the scenic coves around the bay.
Tip: If you are travelling in a group, it might work out better to hire your own private boat so that you can plan your own itinerary. Book your private speedboat here.
Spend the day at the beach
Herceg Novi has plenty of beaches that stretch the full length of the coastline. As with most Montenegro and other Adriatic destinations, the beaches are rocky / pebble beaches, so I would really recommend wearing water shows to help you get in and out of the water. They might not look great, but trust me, they are worth it! There are also some areas where the ‘beach’ is simply a concrete platform with ladders to get in and out of the water.
I know that a lot of people don’t like pebble beaches, but honestly, I think I almost prefer them. The water tends to be much clearer and you don’t have the annoyance of sand sticking to everything!
If you prefer not to lay on uneven ground, you can hire sunloungers from one of the beach clubs. Prices are between €15 – 20 for the day for two sunloungers and one umbrella which is really quite reasonable.
Take a daytrip to Croatia
Herceg Novi sits right on the border between Montenegro and Croatia, so you can easily take a daytrip to the towns of Cavtat or Dubrovnik from Herceg Novi.
The bus from Herceg Novi to Dubrovnik takes about 1.5 hours and the cost for a return ticket is around £50.00. I always use Omio when booking bus travel in Europe and find that it is reliable. You can view the different ticket prices and times on their website to plan your trip.
Tip: Make sure to bring your passport as you will be entering into a new country. And print out your ticket (you can do this at Herceg Novi station for a small charge (usually around €1).
If you are looking to split your holiday between Croatia and Montenegro, check out my Croatia blogs for some inspiration!
How to get to Herceg Novi
The best way to get to Herceg Novi is by car or bus. There are many buses that connect Herceg Novi with other main towns in Montenegro, such as Kotor, Tivat and Budva. You can also travel from Croatia by bus, as I mentioned above.
If you are visiting in peak season, expect delays. The roads in Montenegro are really busy, especially when travelling through the popular towns. Unfortunately the roads are all single lanes so traffic quickly piles up. Unfortunately, as Herceg Novi is pretty much the end of many bus routes, the buses can often be delayed after being stuck in traffic.
If you are driving to Herceg Novi, and are coming from Budva, Tivat, or even Kotor, I would highly recommend going via Tivat and taking the car ferry across the bay, which can significantly cut the journey down in time as you will skip past the smaller towns like Perast and Risan.
If you are arriving to Herceg Novi by bus, check coach times on the Omio website here.
If you are driving in Montenegro, compare prices of rental cars with Discovery cars. I found a great deal with them when I hired a car from Tivat airport to drive to Durmitor National Park.
Is Herceg Novi expensive?
After staying in Herceg Novi, Kotor and Budva in the Boka Bay, I found Herceg Novi to be the cheapest place we stayed in. Restaurant prices were reasonable and you could pick up a giant pizza slice for as little as €2.50. I also found wine and beer to be cheaper in the restaurants in Herceg Novi.
There is a range of accommodation, from budget friendly options, to the more luxurious spa hotels. I stayed at Apartments Belvedere – a gorgeous apartment overlooking the old town and bay which in peak season, in August cost €530 for 4 nights. The view from the private terrace was incredible plus we had a hot tub with a window overlooking the sea!
Where is best to stay in Herceg Novi?
For beach lovers: If you want to be close to a beach, there are plenty of apartments that sit just above the Pet Danica walkway. This is also where most of the bars and restaurants are, along the promenade. However, just bear in mind that these apartments might be noisy in the evening, especially if they are close to a late night bar, so just check the reviews before booking.
For the views: For the views in Herceg Novi, pick accommodation higher up on the hill. The apartment we stayed in, sat above the old town and we had gorgeous views of the Kanil Kula fortress, the old town and also the bay. The apartments around the old town will be quieter than by the front, as the restaurants are more relaxed in the old town. Just be prepared to walk up a lot of steps from the beach to your accommodation if you pick somewhere around the old town!
For families: For families visiting Herceg Novi, I would recommend staying closer to Igalo. As I was strolling along the promenade, there seemed to be more playgrounds and children’s activities the closer to Igalo I walked. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and shops in Igalo as well and accommodation can be cheaper here, which is also good if you are looking for a more budget friendly stay close to Herceg Novi.
How many days do you need in Herceg Novi?
I had 3 full days and 4 nights in Herceg Novi and felt that was a good amount of time to explore the old town, relax on a couple of beaches and take a boat trip. You could easily spend longer than that if you use Herceg Novi as a base and visit other areas of Boka Bay on a daytrip. You can even cross the border into Croatia and visit Cavtat or Dubrovnik for the day from Herceg Novi.
Is Herceg Novi worth visiting?
I think you can tell from my post that I really enjoyed my few days in Herceg Novi. It struck a great balance of being laid back, yet having lots of amenities to keep you occupied. I visited Budva later on my trip and didn’t enjoy it as much as Herceg Novi. If I had to pick between the two, I would definitely pick Herceg Novi. Budva felt very busy, too commercialised and to be honest, a bit rough and unclean in some areas, whereas I didn’t feel that at all in Herceg Novi.
