A complete travel guide with things to do, food & drink, and where to stay in Herceg Novi.
A special place in Montenegro, that I consider a true hidden gem, is Herceg Novi. It’s a charming small coastal town, located by the impressive Bay of Kotor. Herceg Novi is one of the most ideal places to base yourself for a vacation, but also perfect for a day trip. Here are the best things to do in Herceg Novi!
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About Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a beautiful quiet coastal town nestled between the high Mount Orjen (tallest peak in Montenegro at 1895 m) and the Bay of Kotor. This charming little town lies only 10 km from Croatia, making it an intriguing day trip option from both Croatia and Kotor.
Herceg Novi is a must-see in my opinion. Famous for its healing sea mud (known as Igalo Mud) and many spa and wellness facilities, Herceg Novi is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday, even just a weekend away.
The spoken language in Montenegro is Montenegran, but English is also very common.
In Montenegro they pay with the Euro.
A brief history of Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi was founded in 1382. With its strategic location, a fortress was built right away, by the first Bosnian king. The fortress was ruled by the Ottomans, the Spanish, and the Venetians, up until the late 18th century. Later it was even ruled by the French, the Russians, Austro-Hungary, Serbia, Italy, and the former Yugoslavian Republic.
Montenegro became its own country recently, on June 3rd in 2006. Still you can admire the beautiful architecture, culture, and spirit, that came from these many different influences.
Best things to do in Herceg Novi
Now let’s get straight to the point! Here are the best things to do in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.
Wander through the old town
The most obvious activity is wandering through the charming old town of Herceg Novi. This incredible old town has several interesting place you’ll want to see, like the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and the St. Jeronim Square + viewpoint.
Along with the many little cafes and terraces, the old town feels truly authentic. You won’t find as many souvenir shops as in Kotor, giving it the ‘’hidden gem’’ feeling.
Keep reading to find more activities in the old town…
Snap a photo of the beautiful clock tower
One thing that will grab your attention as soon as you spot it, is the majestic clock tower, also known as Sahat Kula. This 17th century Turkish clocktower sits atop a staircase and will lead you to the old town’s main square: The Nikola Djurkovic Square.
The clocktower will absolutely look great in any photo you take, so make sure to check it out!
Explore Forte di Mare
Forte Mare (the Sea Fortress) is one of the main fortresses, sitting on the rocks right above the sea in the old town. Legend says the first stone of this fortress was laid back in the 14th century by the Bosnian king Tvrtko. This fortress was built to protect the city from attacks from the sea.
Now, the Fortress serves as a popular tourist attraction in Herceg Novi, and an important historical landmark in Montenegro.
You can find a monument of the Bosnian king opposite of the fortress, on the promenade.
A ticket to the fortress costs €5,- a person.
Climb up to Kanla Kula
From the main square in the old town: The Nikola Djurovic Square, you can find a staircase leading up to the Kanla Kula Fortress (the name meaning: Bloody Tower). The tower originated in the Turkish reign of the city, and was built in 1539.
After that, the Venetians expanded and repaired the tower in 1687, and it became a prison during the Ottoman occupancy.
Now the Kanla Kula Fortress has become a tourist attraction and open stage for festivals and events. You can visit the fortress for €4,-, and admire not only the dungeons, but also the incredible panorama view of the Kotor Bay.
Take a swim at one of the many beaches
As Herceg Novi is a coastal town, a trip to the beach can’t miss. Herceg Novi has many beautiful beaches where you can take a refreshing dip in the water.
Some of the best beaches are:
- Beach Igalo (try out the healing sea mud!)
- Rafaello Beach
- Beach Topla
- Boka Beach
Anywhere you go, you’ll have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim in the salty water of the Adriatic… It’s definitely something not to miss out on!
Enjoy walking down the Pet Danica Promenade
If you’re headed to the beach anyway, you’ll stumble upon a beautiful lively promenade: Pet Danica. The promenade is 7km long and follows a former trainline that used to connect the area to Sarajevo up until 1968. The entire promenade is lined with the most charming cafés and boutiques.
You can hardly see this promenade from the old town and won’t even think it exists. The Pet Danica Promenade is definitely a hidden, but lively hub in the town of Herceg Novi!
Shop for fresh produce at the local market: Gradska Pijaca
Shopping at a local market is always a favorite activity of mine! Even if it’s just a small market like the Gradska Pijaca. With only so many stalls, you’ll walk through the whole market in about 3 minutes. However, you can find incredible local products here, like honey, liquors, oil, fruit, vegetables and so much more!
Once I saw the mouth-watering figs, I instantly fell in love. And believe me, those were the most delicious figs I ever ate!
Small as it may be, I highly recommend taking a look at the local market!
Take a boat trip to the Blue Cave
Many coastal countries in the Balkans, have their own version of the Blue Cave. Some are overrun by tourists while others are quite hidden. Similar to the Croatian Blue Cave (near the island of Vis), the Montenegrin Blue Cave gets it’s name from a stunning blue glow. This glow is produced by the sun reflecting through the crystal clear waters and lighting up the entire cave!
This is quite a unique natural phenomenom that you have to see at least once in your life!
While I couldn’t find a trustworthy Blue Cave tour in Herceg Novi, I did manage to find an affordable, high-quality tour in Kotor!
This Manawa Blue Cave tour from Kotor was absolutely incredible! Everything is taken care of, all you have to do is take your camera and swimming suit with you. You also get to see many incredible views of Kotor Bay, and once in the blue cave, you get the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the clear-blue water! All while enjoying delicious food and drinks during this relaxing tour. I loved this unique experience in Kotor and can highly recommend it!
Visit the Savina Monastery & winery
A bit outside the old town of Herceg Novi, the Medieval Savina Monastery is a true hidden gem. This Serbian orthodox monastery is made up of 3 separate churches, which are all very impressive to see!
The Savina Monastery in Herceg Novi is reachable by car or taxi and it’s free to take a look around. There’s also a green little park and the Savina Winery; that’s definitely worth checking out!
Go on a day trip to Durmitor National Park
My absolute favorite destination in Montenegro is Durmitor National Park! You can easily visit this place for just a day or a weekend, to do one of many activities.
My personal favorite activity is accessible to anyone: Driving the Durmitor Ring. This underrated activity will give you incredible views, open up many options for adventurous activities, and so much more!
And specially for you, I have written a guide on exactly how to drive the Durmitor Ring. Make sure to download your FREE copy below!
How to get to Herceg Novi?
By car
The trip to Herceg Novi is easy to make by car. There are several parking spaces in the city, making it quite accessible. Herceg Novi is located in the Kotor Bay and is about 45 kilometers from Kotor, 30 kilometers from Perast, and 50 kilometers from Dubrovnik, Croatia.
If you have a (rental) car in Montenegro, I highly recommend driving to Herceg Novi!
By bus
It is also possible to reach Herceg Novi by bus. There are several buses from Kotor, that pass many other places on the Kotor Bay, so you can easily visit Herceg Novi from any place on the bay.
It’s also possible to take the bus to Kotor from Dubrovnik, Croatia, as it stops in Herceg Novi, too.
By tour
Normally I would recommend taking a tour, however, Herceg Novi is such a hidden gem, there are simply no day trip tours (in 2024). Now, there are some boat tours, but none that will give you the opportunity to really explore this small city.
So transport-wise it basically comes down to visiting Herceg Novi either by car or by bus.
Where to stay in Herceg Novi?
As mentioned in the beginning of this post, Herceg Novi is not only a great day trip destinations, it’s also a perfect place to base yourself! With many incredible hotels on Booking.com (sometimes with spas as well 😉), you will have a nice relaxing vacation!
The best luxury accommodation in Herceg Novi is Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa. With no less than 2 pools, a wellness center, a private beach, different restaurants, free wifi, and delicious breakfast included, Palmon Bay Hotel is perfect for couples looking for a luxurious getaway!
The best budget accommodation is for sure this incredible Apartmani Milosevic. You will get an entire apartment with free parking, air conditioning, free wifi, and sea view for the most affordable price!
Traveling with a family? Then the Apart hotel M S KATUNJANIN is perfect for you! They offer an apartment for 4 people, with private parking, a balcony, a fully equipped kitchen, and free wifi! I highly recommend this hotel for families!
Where to eat and drink in Herceg Novi?
Herceg Novi is a town filled with the coziest local cafes and restaurants. Here are my personal recommendations for food and drinks!
For a good cup of coffee I highly recommend trying out FABRIKA COFFEE and Koffein Specialty Coffee Shop (my favorite).
For breakfast or lunch, Bistro Bellavista is high on my favorites list. With amazing breakfast options and an extensive food menu, Bellavista is the perfect place to eat!
For dinner, you should head down to the Pet Danica Walkway, to find some great restaurants. My recommendation is: Konoba Škver Restaurant. However, there are so many great places on this boulevard, you should check out different ones to find the one that you love!
For cocktails and drink, also the Pet Danica Walkway is the place to be! I personally didn’t spend the night in this town, which is why I didn’t try out different bars.
Final thoughts on things to do in Herceg Novi
Now that you know exactly how to spend your time in Herceg Novi, it’s time to book your trip! Have you ever been to Montenegro? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy travels!
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These Are The 9 Best Things To Do in Herceg Novi, Montenegro!
