Herceg Novi, a popular tourist destination, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year—and for good reason. In this guide, I’ll share must-see attractions, an overview of the city’s beaches, and recommendations for the best restaurants. You’ll also find information on excursions you can take by land or sea.
Table of contents:
- Herceg Novi: General Information About the City
- How to Get There from the Airport and Other Cities
- Best Restaurants in Herceg Novi
- Hotels & Apartments in Herceg Novi and Igalo: Top Picks and Best Areas
- Beach Guide: Herceg Novi and Igalo
- What to See: Top Attractions in Herceg Novi
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Montenegro without these websites
Herceg Novi: General Information
Let’s start with the correct spelling of the city’s name. In Montenegrin, it’s written as Herceg Novi, which translates to Duke New—a name derived from Duke Stefan Vukčić, under whose rule the city flourished.
Now, a bit of background:
- By Montenegrin standards, Herceg Novi is a relatively young city, founded in 1382. Why “young”? Because its neighbors in the Bay of Kotor—Kotor, Budva, and Ulcinj—date back to the 3rd-5th centuries BCE.
- The city has a population of around 16,000-17,000 people. It may seem small, but it’s actually Montenegro’s fourth-largest city and the largest on the coast.
- Herceg Novi boasts an 8-km-long seaside promenade—the longest of its kind in the country.
- 📍Coordinates: 42.457022691774725, 18.53122355367921
- 📍Location: Bay of Kotor
Good to know:
Herceg Novi doesn’t have as many beaches as the Budva Riviera, nor does it have the historic landmarks of ancient Kotor. And yet, it remains a tourist favorite. Why? Hopefully, by the end of this guide, you’ll see for yourself.
How to Get There from the Airport and Other Cities
Public transport in Montenegro is somewhat limited—it’s available, but often requires multiple transfers. However, Herceg Novi has excellent bus connections to other cities.
It’s important to know:
Montenegro has two international airports: Tivat and Podgorica. While there are no direct airport transfers to Herceg Novi, buses run frequently from major cities, including Tivat and Podgorica.
There are at least 30 daily buses from Tivat, Kotor, and Budva, departing every 20-30 minutes from their respective bus stations.
- For a detailed guide on public transport in Montenegro, where to check schedules and fares, and how to buy tickets.
Best Restaurants in Herceg Novi
Like the rest of Montenegro, Herceg Novi has a thriving dining scene, with countless restaurants, taverns, and cafés. Montenegrin cuisine is known for its generous portions and meat-heavy dishes, but seafood and Mediterranean specialties—such as pasta, pizza, and risotto—are also widely available.
Insider Tip:
The Bay of Kotor is home to about 10 oyster farms, each with a small restaurant serving freshly shucked oysters right in front of you. They also prepare mussels and various seafood dishes. If you’re a seafood lover, visiting an oyster farm is a must—it’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else in Montenegro.
Here are a few personal favorites:
- Konoba Risan (Tavern Risan) – 📍42.45132, 18.5359
A cozy family-run restaurant serving traditional Montenegrin cuisine. Located in the heart of the Old Town, but a bit hidden—look for a small sign near the stairs leading down. - Konoba Škver – 📍42.45094503656636, 18.533565289418824
Located right on the waterfront. Modest from the street, but with fantastic views once you’re seated. Serves both local specialties and seafood. - Tri Lipe Restaurant – 📍42.45032, 18.53544
Another excellent option known for huge portions. - The nearest oyster farm is just 12 km from Herceg Novi. 📍42.45932, 18.67244
Interesting to know:
Many restaurants in town serve fresh oysters and mussels in wine sauce—even those on the list above. But visiting an oyster farm in the Bay of Kotor is a must for any foodie traveler. Check out my detailed guide to the bay’s best oyster farms, prices, menus, and why the water here is colder than anywhere else in Montenegro.
Hotels & Apartments in Herceg Novi and Igalo
Herceg Novi offers a wide range of accommodations, from hotels and apartment rentals to boutique guesthouses. Personally, I prefer apartments when traveling (not just in Montenegro) because having a kitchen is incredibly convenient.
Below, you’ll find a dynamic list of the most popular places to stay in Herceg Novi and Igalo. Click on any option to view photos, prices, and reviews.
Good to know:
Igalo is a former fishing village on the northern side of Herceg Novi. Today, the two have grown so much that the border between them is virtually nonexistent—even locals aren’t sure where one ends and the other begins. They share the same seafront promenade.
Want to be close to the Old Town and main attractions? Stay in Herceg Novi.
Prefer better beaches? Stay in Igalo.
- For a full list of hotels and apartments in Herceg Novi, click here.
- For top-rated budget hotels in Montenegro, check out this guide.
A Guide to the Beaches of Herceg Novi and Igalo
Important to Know:
Beach holidays in the Bay of Kotor are quite limited. Due to the surrounding mountains, daylight hours are shorter, and the water is colder than in the open sea because of the mountain streams flowing into the bay. The number of beaches is also far lower than in popular resorts like Budva. In fact, classic sandy beaches, as we imagine them, are almost nonexistent here.
However, if you look at the map, you’ll notice that Herceg Novi is located at the very entrance of the bay, right before it opens into the sea. This is a huge advantage for tourists. Compared to Kotor, Perast, Tivat, and other towns in the bay, Herceg Novi enjoys more beaches, more sun, and warmer water.
From a beach holiday perspective, Herceg Novi is somewhere between Kotor and Budva—where Kotor scores a 1, and Budva a 10. The beaches here exist, they are far from the standard of Budva’s Riviera, but at least they are present, unlike in Kotor! Hopefully, you get the idea.
A Mini Guide to the Main Beaches of Herceg Novi and Igalo (from north to south)
- Galeb Beach – A pebbly, semi-wild beach about 200 meters long and only 10 meters wide, located on the outskirts of Igalo. No sunbeds for rent, no beachside restaurants.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45468, 18.50835 - Igalo Beach – The main beach of Igalo. A mix of concrete slabs and large pebbles. Fully equipped with sunbeds and plenty of restaurants. This is an urban beach with all the infrastructure. However, like all beaches in Herceg Novi, it’s quite narrow (about 10 meters wide).
📍 Coordinates: 42.45877, 18.51589 - Rafaello Beach – A small, 100-meter-long pebbly beach. It gets extremely crowded in high season but offers full beach services. For reference, in peak season across Montenegro, renting a sun umbrella and two sunbeds costs around €15–20 per day.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45677, 18.52229 - Topla Beach (or Tunnel Beach) – Named after the pedestrian tunnel along the promenade. This beach consists entirely of concrete slabs.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45473, 18.52563 - Boka Beach (Yacht Club Beach) – The only sandy beach in the area, though it’s just 5 meters wide! The water entrance is quite good, making it suitable for families with children—if you can find a spot.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45173, 18.53141 - Herceg Novi Beach (also called Žalo Beach) – Named after the long, narrow pier nearby. Located in the heart of the Old Town, right below the walls of the Sea Fortress. A fully pebbly beach.
📍 Coordinates: 42.44992, 18.53519 - Plaza Hotel Beach – Named after the hotel across the street. A mix of concrete slabs, pebbles, and some sand. Many sources claim it’s a sandy beach, but don’t believe them—it’s more of a mix. The beach is public, though the hotel has a small private section.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45044, 18.54188
Important Notes:
Besides the main beaches, Herceg Novi has dozens of improvised swimming spots. People sunbathe along the promenade, on rocks, piers, and concrete slabs—anywhere they can find a spot. Sunbeds are placed on every available patch of land, not just on designated beaches. Keep in mind that in peak season (July–August), sunbathing here is like everywhere else in Montenegro—only the top layer of people gets direct sunlight!
The Best Beach in Herceg Novi?
In my humble and subjective opinion, Žanjic Beach is the best. However, it’s located outside the city and requires a boat trip to reach. I’ll cover it in more detail in the What to See section—it’s truly a fantastic spot for a relaxing getaway.
What to See: Attractions of Herceg Novi
I wouldn’t call Herceg Novi a city rich in historical landmarks, but there are definitely places worth visiting. Travelers will find enough interesting sights and scenic locations to explore for at least a couple of days.
Map of Beaches, Restaurants, and Attractions in Herceg Novi
Below, you’ll find detailed descriptions, opening hours, ticket prices, and visiting tips.
The Old Town of Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi has a unique feature—unlike other coastal towns, its Old Town is not enclosed by walls and has no clearly defined boundaries. Perhaps that’s why it has grown to such an impressive size, making a walk through its narrow medieval streets an unforgettable experience.
In the Old Town alone, you’ll find more than ten fascinating landmarks:
- Nikola Đurković Square – The city’s main square.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45173, 18.53671 - Clock Tower (Sahat Kula) & Medieval City Gate – One of the town’s most iconic symbols.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45169, 18.53718 - Farmers’ Market – Open until 3 PM, but it’s best to visit before 1 PM for the freshest produce.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45201, 18.5363 - Herceg Novi’s Pedestrian Street – A charming street lined with shops and cafés.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45186, 18.53566 - Forte Mare (Sea Fortress) – Located on the waterfront, this fortress now serves as an open-air cinema with a massive screen, a concert venue, a small museum, and an observation deck overlooking the sea and promenade.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45004901547403, 18.535972390456976
🎟️ Entrance fee: €4 - Kanli Kula Fortress – A Turkish-era fortress perched on a hill above Forte Mare. Today, it has been converted into an amphitheater that hosts concerts and events, with a capacity of 1,000 spectators. From its walls, you’ll get breathtaking views of the bay and the city.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45249, 18.5383
🎟️ Entrance fee: €4 - Old Railway Station – Built by the Austrians, this station once had trains running all the way to Dubrovnik. The railway was dismantled long ago, but the station’s sign remains.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45056261804901, 18.534760999379277
And that’s not all! The Old Town is home to five historic churches, several museums, a stone bridge, and many other fascinating locations. The best way to experience it? Simply wander around and soak in the medieval atmosphere.
Visiting Tips:
- If you’re passing through Herceg Novi, set aside at least 1.5 hours to explore the Old Town.
- With visits to both fortresses, plan for about 2 hours—though beyond their viewpoints, there isn’t much to see inside.
- Herceg Novi is built on a hillside, meaning lots of stairs and steep paths. It’s not the best destination for families with small children or strollers.
- I’d rate Herceg Novi’s Old Town a solid 10 out of 10—a must-visit attraction!
Španjola Fortress (Spanish Fortress)
A 15th-century fortress, standing at the highest point in Herceg Novi. It once played a crucial defensive role in protecting the entire bay and withstood numerous battles, including an attack by Napoleon’s army.
📍 Coordinates: 42.45647, 18.53391
🕒 Open 24/7
🎟️ Entrance fee: Free
How Much Time to Plan?
- 30-minute hike from Forte Mare to the fortress.
- 30 minutes to explore the site.
- You can drive up to the fortress as well—there’s a free parking lot right next to its walls.
Visiting Tips:
- The fortress is abandoned, with overgrown vegetation inside.
- However, the walls remain intact, allowing you to walk around the perimeter.
- The best reason to visit? The most stunning panoramic views of the bay in all of Herceg Novi.
- The fortress itself isn’t particularly exciting, but if you come for the sunset with a bottle of Vranac, you won’t regret it!
Monument to Chimney Cleaner Rudolf (Rudi) Karužić
A quirky local landmark with a mysterious backstory—no one knows if Rudolf actually existed or if he was simply a legend created by the townspeople.
According to local tales, in the early 20th century, a chimney cleaner named Rudolf (Njunjo) roamed the streets of Herceg Novi in his work attire. He was always chatting with locals, listening to their troubles, and jotting them down in a notebook, promising to solve them all. His dream? To move to Belgrade.
Strangely, no one ever actually saw him clean a chimney. One day, he simply vanished—just as mysteriously as he had appeared. Maybe he finally made it to Belgrade?
📍 Coordinates: 42.45195, 18.53524
🕒 Always accessible, free to visit
⏳ Time needed: 5 minutes
Visiting tip:
Like with similar monuments around the world, rub his nose and make a wish—it’s guaranteed to come true!
Villa “Galeb” – Tito’s Summer Residence
This villa was built exclusively for Josip Broz Tito, the president of Yugoslavia. He spent his first vacation here in 1976 and returned four times in total. In 1979, a massive earthquake struck Yugoslavia while Tito was staying at the villa, yet the structure remained intact.
After his death in 1980, the villa sat unused for years.
- Coordinates: 42.45533, 18.50684. Located in Igalo, just a 3 km walk along the promenade from the Old Town.
- Guided tours available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 PM & 7:15 PM.
- Reservation required—call the phone numbers listed on the official website.
Visiting Tip:
The villa boasted luxurious features for its time, including a pool and jacuzzi. If you enjoy visiting historical residences, you’ll find it fascinating.
If you’ve visited similar sites—like Enver Hoxha’s bunker in Albania or the Royal Palace in Belgrade—you won’t find anything radically new here.
💭 Personal opinion: The Tito Villa tour is far more interesting than visiting Forte Mare Fortress. If you have to choose between the two, go for the villa!
What to See Around Herceg Novi
Let me tell you about an amazing spot that’s both an excursion and a sea adventure rolled into one. It’s the area around Žanjice Beach, located on the opposite side of the bay from Herceg Novi. You can get there by car—75 km around the bay or 45 km if you take the ferry. But the best way is by boat, just 7-8 km from Herceg Novi.
Finding a boat to this location is incredibly easy. Along the entire Herceg Novi promenade, you’ll see offers for tours. Some last two hours, others the whole day. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but a half-day or full-day trip is the best option.
Look for boat excursions that include the following stops (all of them are close to each other, as shown on the map above):
- Relaxing at Žanjice Beach – A stunning pebble beach in a sheltered bay, protected from the wind. One of its biggest advantages is the lack of large settlements nearby, meaning fewer crowds.
- 📍 Coordinates: 42.39914, 18.5804
- Usually, you’ll have 2-3 hours here to swim, sunbathe, or grab lunch at one of the five restaurants along the shore.
- This is considered one of Montenegro’s best beaches.
- Exploring an abandoned Yugoslav submarine base – There are no actual submarines left, but you can see the bunker carved into the rock where they used to dock. You can even swim inside. This is a truly unique attraction—much more exciting than another church or fortress!
- 📍 Coordinates: 42.42372, 18.54901
- Sailing past the impressive Mamula Fortress on an uninhabited island – Until recently, tourists could walk around inside the fortress. However, in 2021, an investor bought the island, turning it into a boutique hotel. Now, boats just circle the island, letting visitors admire the fortress walls from the water. Who knows? Maybe access will change next season.
- 📍 Coordinates: 42.3954, 18.55856
- The highlight: The Blue Cave (Blue Grotto) – Most boat tours from Herceg Novi are named after this incredible natural wonder. This is the main attraction, with Mamula Fortress, Žanjice Beach, and the submarine base serving as exciting extras.
- 📍 Coordinates: 42.37407, 18.59633
- The only way to reach the cave is by boat—there’s no land access.
- Swimming is allowed.
- If the weather is sunny and the sea is calm, the water inside turns a breathtaking shade of blue.
Tips for Visiting:
Boat tours from Herceg Novi typically cost €20-30 per person. Try to go on a sunny, wind-free day. Since the boat exits the bay into open waters, strong winds can create high waves, making the ride rough. More importantly, rough seas might prevent the boat from entering the cave. The ideal weather for this trip is calm seas and sunshine.
Other Amazing Places Near Herceg Novi
This is just a small sample of the incredible sights in and around Herceg Novi. If you love exploring, there’s so much more to see! And if you have a car, your options expand even further:
- Perast – The Venetian Jewel of the Bay of Kotor – Just 30 km away.
- Kotor – Home to the Largest Old Town in Montenegro – 40 km away.
- Budva – A Beach Resort with a Beautiful Old Town – 60 km away. (Check out the full guides to each city via the links!)
- And if you have a Schengen visa… just 50 km away lies one of the Adriatic’s crown jewels—Dubrovnik, Croatia. You might recognize it as a filming location for Game of Thrones!
Final Thoughts on Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a unique destination in Montenegro. On the one hand, it lacks the long sandy beaches of Budva’s Riviera. And when it comes to sightseeing, its old town, fortresses, and churches can’t quite compete with famous spots like Kotor and Perast.
But what makes Herceg Novi special is its atmosphere and authentic Montenegrin charm—something you can only truly feel by visiting.
It’s a fantastic place whether you’re staying for just a day or up to 3-5 days. The only downside? Its location at the very edge of Montenegro makes it less convenient as a base for exploring the entire country. Most travelers stay here for a few days, visit the local sights, then move on to Montenegro’s central coast for a beach holiday.
If you’re planning a trip, Herceg Novi is absolutely worth a visit!
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro
- WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
- Car rental in Montenegro:
- LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
- DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
- Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
- Hotels and apartments all over the country:
- Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
- TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
- Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
- GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
- Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- Internet and Calls:
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- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel