Montenegro's Adriatic Coast Guide: Sveti Stefan to Ulcinj

Sveti Stefan sits about 6 km southeast of Budva and comprises a small islet linked to the mainland by a narrow tombolo, plus the mainland settlement; the island covers roughly 12,400 m². It first appears as the centre of the Paštrovići community and came under Venetian protection in 1423. Under Yugoslavia the island became a luxury hotel, its residents moved ashore, and it drew guests such as Orson Welles, Sophia Loren and Kirk Douglas. The present Aman Sveti Stefan was completed in 2009 but has been closed since early 2020. I won't state a reopening date or current access and stay conditions without a verified source; on those details I honestly say I don't know.

Budva's old town stands on a rocky peninsula and is fully encircled by stone walls; known in antiquity as Bouthoe, it ranks among the oldest settlements on the Adriatic, and an Illyrian settlement stood here before Greek colonisation. The walls, towers, embrasures, gates and a citadel are largely Venetian-era work. The major earthquake of 15 April 1979 badly damaged the old town, but the buildings were mostly restored to their original form. Today Budva is one of Montenegro's busiest beach and nightlife hubs. I won't give museum or church opening hours and entry fees without a verified source; on those I prefer to say I don't know.

Petrovac (Petrovac na Moru) is a small town between Budva and Bar, where the old mountain road from Podgorica meets the coast. It has a roughly 600 m sandy beach and is seen as a calmer resort than lively Budva and Sutomore. Its history goes back to Roman times; a 4th-century mosaic floor and villa remains were found behind St Ilija's church. At the northern end of the bay stands the 16th-century Venetian fort Kastel Lastva, built to deter pirates. The beaches of Lučice and Buljarica lie within easy reach. I won't write opening hours and current prices for restaurants, boats or the fort without a verified source; for missing detail I say I don't know.

Coastal Bar is Montenegro's port and railway city; its economy rests on the Port of Bar, the Belgrade–Bar railway and the Sozina tunnel. In 1885 King Nikola I built Villa Topolica (King Nikola's Palace) for his daughter Princess Zorka and her husband; the building now houses the city museum. Three kilometres inland, at the foot of Mount Rumija, Stari Bar sits on a hill as a medieval ruined town; when the 1979 earthquake damaged its aqueduct the site was largely abandoned and became an open-air archaeological area. In nearby Mirovica stands Stara Maslina, a state-protected olive tree said to be roughly 2,000 years old. I won't give museum or site opening hours and fees without a verified source; on those I say I don't know.

Ulcinj, on Montenegro's southernmost coast, is known for its sandy beaches, Lake Šas, Ada Bojana and Ulcinj Castle, parts of which date back two millennia. Velika Plaža (Long Beach) runs about 12 km from Port Milena in Ulcinj to the Bojana River and is regarded as the longest beach on the Montenegrin coast; strong afternoon winds make it one of the Adriatic's premier kitesurfing spots. The triangular island of Ada Bojana, formed by the Bojana delta, covers about 4.8 km²; the river separates it from the Albanian side, and the island is known for traditional seafood restaurants and camping. I won't write prices and current times for surf schools, eateries or campsites without a verified source; on those details I say I don't know.