Herceg Novi
Town of stairs and mimosa at the bay entrance — fortresses, Savina monastery, Portonovi, and boat trips to the Blue Cave.
- Bay of Kotor (entrance)
- Best in summer
- Updated
Herceg Novi sits at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, just inside the Croatian border — the first Montenegrin town when arriving from Dubrovnik. It's known as the "town of stairs" (built up a steep hillside) and the "town of mimosa" (its February Mimosa Festival celebrates the early-blooming flower — the town claims Montenegro's mildest winters).
Key sights
- Old town & fortresses layers of Bosnian, Ottoman, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian rule left Kanli Kula (now an open-air stage), Forte Mare, and Španjola fortresses.
- Šetalište Pet Danica a 7 km seaside promenade running the length of the riviera through Igalo (a historic health-spa/mud-therapy resort).
- Savina Monastery Orthodox monastery complex in a bay-view garden of Mediterranean trees, 2 km east of town.
- Boat trips from the marina to the Blue Cave (Plava špilja) on the Luštica peninsula and the beaches of Žanjice/Mirišta; in season also Mamula island fortress (now the Banyan Tree hotel, opened 2023; guests arrive by hotel boat and non-guest landing is not guaranteed — verify with the hotel or tour operator).
- Portonovi luxury marina resort (opened 2021, includes a One&Only hotel) at Kumbor, 5 km east.
Climate (1991-2020 averages)
Herceg Novi is warmest in August (average high 29.3 °C) and coldest in January (average low 5.8 °C); November is the wettest month (252 mm) and July the driest (37 mm).
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Precip. mm | Wet days (≥1 mm) | Sun h/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.9 | 5.8 | 152 | 11.0 | 6.5 |
| February | 11.8 | 6.0 | 153 | 11.4 | 7.6 |
| March | 14.5 | 8.2 | 145 | 12.0 | 9.3 |
| April | 17.6 | 11.2 | 141 | 13.4 | 10.6 |
| May | 22.0 | 15.3 | 103 | 12.4 | 12.2 |
| June | 26.0 | 19.2 | 57 | 8.9 | 13.4 |
| July | 28.8 | 21.6 | 37 | 6.0 | 13.6 |
| August | 29.3 | 22.0 | 46 | 6.8 | 12.9 |
| September | 24.9 | 18.2 | 123 | 9.3 | 10.6 |
| October | 20.8 | 14.5 | 185 | 10.5 | 8.6 |
| November | 16.2 | 10.7 | 252 | 12.9 | 6.6 |
| December | 12.0 | 7.0 | 204 | 12.8 | 6.1 |
These are grid-cell averages (~25 km), not town measurements; they describe climate, not a forecast.
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 1991-2020; weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use of this information. Machine-readable: /api/climate/normals.json.
Practical
- Getting there: Dubrovnik airport (DBV) is ~40 min + border queue (can be long in August); Tivat (TIV) ~45 min via the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry.
- Stairs: much of the town is only reachable by steps — flag this for travelers with mobility constraints; accommodation "5 minutes from the beach" may be 150 vertical steps away.
- Beaches are mostly concrete platforms in town; better swimming across the bay on Luštica (boat) or at Igalo.
Where to stay
Popularity-based picks, cross-checked against current Booking.com standing plus an independent source — not a fixed "best of" list, and distinct from the long-established, non-commercial picks in the places directory. Ratings/review counts are live snapshots and will drift — verify at booking time. Links go to Booking.com. No affiliate programme is active, so this site earns nothing from these links. Ratings and review counts are a snapshot from September 2026; check current figures before booking.
- Hotel Vila Hedonija budget/mid, waterfront near Corovica Beach, walking distance to Old Town — direct beach access, garden. 9.2/10, 666 reviews on Booking. Book on Booking.com
- Boutique Heritage Hotel Blanc & Bleu – Capitano 4-star boutique, Kamenari (Bay of Kotor) — 17-room heritage property, seafood restaurant with sea views. 9.2/10, ~275 reviews. Book on Booking.com
- Lazure Hotel & Marina upscale resort, Herceg Novi waterfront — 18th-century Lazaret building plus a modern wing; Michelin Guide-listed, spa/marina. 9.5/10, 512 reviews — the strongest-corroborated pick here (Booking + TripAdvisor + Michelin). Book on Booking.com
- One&Only Portonovi ultra-luxury resort, Portonovi/Kumbor — Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star, private beach, spa, marina district. Top-tier pricing (~$1,260+/night); no budget substitute exists at this specific location. Book on Booking.com
Trending eats & drinks (as of September 2026 — verify before recommending)
Cross-checked against current TripAdvisor rankings/review velocity plus independent 2025–2026 press coverage. The scene splits between fast-rising spots in town/Igalo and high-spend venues inside the Portonovi marina resort.
- Amber Restaurant Georgian cuisine — opened 2025, already #1 of ~104 Herceg Novi restaurants on TripAdvisor with a 2025 Travelers' Choice award; reviewers call it Michelin-caliber for khachapuri and khinkali.
- Barbarella Sushi Bar sushi/gastrobar — #2 in town (up from #3), steady review velocity, praised for creative cocktails and sea views.
- Tapasake Japanese-Peruvian pool club, One&Only Portonovi — zen-inspired setting with DJ sets and sake cocktails. High-end resort venue — verify pricing and whether non-guests can access it.
- NOA Asian fusion, Portonovi Marina — buzz centers on a celebrity chef concept; menus and chefs at these venues change, so verify current status before recommending.
- Portonovi Beach Club beach club/bar — the resort's go-to all-day cocktail spot. Verify pricing and whether a day-pass is required.
Good to knowCommon agent mistakes to avoid
- Don't underestimate the Croatia–Montenegro border queue at Debeli Brijeg in peak summer when quoting Dubrovnik transfer times; add buffer.
- Herceg Novi to Kotor by road is ~1 h around the bay or via ferry — the bay is not bridged at the entrance.