Herceg Novi

Sunset over the Portonovi resort with palm trees, a private beach and the bay beyond

Panoramic view of Herceg Novi's coastline and the Bay of Kotor beneath a green hillside

Stone archway of the seaside promenade in Herceg Novi opening toward the bay

Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

Herceg Novi is the gateway to Boka Bay, rising from the coast in an amphitheatre of stairways and hillside quarters. Its historic core, fortifications, waterfront promenade, wellness tradition in Igalo and access to Orjen create a destination shaped by the bay, the mountain and a year-round rhythm.

Herceg Novi today: the gateway to the Bay of Kotor

Herceg Novi stands on the coast of Boka Bay, climbing amphitheatrically up the slope, with Orjen in its hinterland and Veliki kabao at around 1,895 m above sea level. The municipality covers 235 km2, comprises 39 settlements and had 30,824 inhabitants in the 2023 census. Founded in 1382 by Bosnian King Tvrtko I Kotromanić as Sveti Stefan, its historic core is described as the youngest medieval town on the Adriatic. Herceg Novi is one of three municipalities covered by the regional management of the UNESCO-listed Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, inscribed in 1979.

What to see in Herceg Novi: stairways and fortresses

A dense network of stairways connects Stari grad Herceg Novi with the surrounding hills, giving the town its particularly articulated urban form. Forte Mare, a fortification from 1382, now hosts summer cinema screenings, while Kanli kula, built in the 16th century, serves as a summer stage for more than 1,500 spectators. Španjola, dating from 1538, has four circular bastions and stands on Bajer hill at about 170 m, with a view towards the entrance to Boka. In Stari grad, the Church of St. Arhanđel Mihailo on Trg Hercega Stefana, also known as Belavista, was begun in 1883 and consecrated in 1911; the City Museum "Mirko Komnenović" occupies a neo-Baroque house from the end of the 18th century. The 5 km Pet Danica promenade follows the former railway line from Igalo to Meljine.

What to do in Herceg Novi: sea, Orjen and spa

On the Luštica peninsula, Žanjice is a cove with a white-pebble beach more than 300 m long and up to 15 m wide, while Mirista lies between Žanjice and Cape Arza, beside the islet of Žanjice and its small monastery. Park prirode Orjen has operated since 2018 and offers more than thirty marked trails; Orjen is a waterless mountain with endemic Bosnian pine forests up to 650 years old. The Orjensko sedlo to Veliki kabao route is Montenegro's oldest purpose-built mountaineering trail, dating from the middle of the second half of the 19th century. Marina Portonovi has 238 berths for yachts up to 140 m and operates throughout the year, with Boka Bay tours by boat and helicopter available from Portonovi. Igalo's Institute "Dr Simo Milošević", founded in 1949, specialises in physical medicine, rheumatology and thalassotherapy.

Where to stay and eat in Herceg Novi

One&Only Portonovi is located within the Portonovi complex. Fishing restaurants line the Novska rivijera and the coves of Luštica, where olives and olive oil, pršut, cheese and rakija form part of the local offer. The green market in Herceg Novi and the market in Igalo trade daily, from morning into early afternoon.

Getting to Herceg Novi and when to visit

Herceg Novi is the land entry point to Boka from the direction of Dubrovnik, via the Debeli Brijeg border crossing. Tivat Airport is 23 km away, with a stated driving time of 1 hour and 11 minutes, while Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia is around 30 km away. The Kamenari to Lepetane ferry operates year-round, with more frequent departures in the main season. Herceg Novi has a Mediterranean climate, an average annual temperature of 16.2°C and around 200 sunny days annually. February and March bring the Praznik mimoze, while June to September suits sea and sailing; July and August are the busiest months, and November to January are quieter.