Montenegro Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Porto Montenegro to Kotor via Perast

Board your yacht at Porto Montenegro in Tivat by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and champagne on the flybridge, cruise 12 nautical miles through the Verige Strait into the inner Bay of Kotor. The mountains close in around you as the passage narrows to 300 metres, and the first glimpse of Perast’s Baroque waterfront appears ahead. Anchor off Perast and take the tender to Our Lady of the Rocks – step inside the 17th-century church, admire the Baroque paintings, and hear the story of fishermen building an island since 1452. Return to the yacht for a chef-prepared lunch at anchor with the twin islands framed in the aft-deck window. After lunch, cruise to Kotor’s waterfront and berth at Kotor Marina, just 100 metres from the old town gate. Spend the late afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed medieval streets: the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (1166), Venetian-Gothic palaces, and the atmospheric squares. Dinner at one of Kotor’s best restaurants – try Galion for harbourside seafood with views of the old walls illuminated at night.

Blue Cave, Lustica Peninsula and Herceg Novi

Depart Kotor early and cruise back through the Verige Strait and south along the Lustica Peninsula – roughly 20 nautical miles. Arrive at the Blue Cave by midday for the optimal light effect. Swim in the neon-blue glow, then continue along the peninsula’s wild coastline, pausing at a hidden cove for a late-morning snorkel. Your chef serves lunch on the aft deck as you cruise north to Herceg Novi, the gateway to the Bay of Kotor at its northern entrance. Tender ashore to walk the fortified old town, browse the seafront promenade, and visit the Savina Monastery – an 11th-century Serbian Orthodox complex set among Mediterranean pines. Dinner aboard or at one of Herceg Novi’s waterfront restaurants. Overnight at anchor in the bay.

Mamula Island, Rose and Return to Porto Montenegro

Cruise to Mamula Island at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor – a 200-metre circular fortress islet built in 1853 by the Austro-Hungarians, now converted into the Mamula Island by Banyan Tree luxury hotel. Swim off the rocky shore, then continue to Rose, one of the last unspoilt fishing villages on the Montenegrin coast, for a mid-morning coffee and a wander through its stone lanes. Your chef prepares a farewell gourmet lunch on the aft deck as the yacht cruises back through the bay. Anchor off Tivat for a final afternoon swim in the sheltered waters, then return to Porto Montenegro by late afternoon – tanned, relaxed and thoroughly charmed by the Bay of Kotor.

Porto Montenegro to Budva and Sveti Stefan

Board your yacht at Porto Montenegro and set course south along the open coast. Pass the dramatic cliffs of the Lustica Peninsula and continue to Budva – 25 nautical miles, roughly 90 minutes at cruising speed. Anchor off the old town for a morning swim at Mogren Beach (two crescent bays separated by a natural rock arch), then tender ashore to explore Budva’s 2,500-year-old walled streets and Venetian citadel. After a seafood lunch in the old town, continue south to Sveti Stefan. Anchor offshore from Montenegro’s most iconic landmark and swim in the crystal-clear Adriatic shallows as the late-afternoon light turns the island’s red roofs to gold. Dinner on the aft deck at sunset, with the mountains behind Sveti Stefan fading to purple. Overnight at anchor.

Southern Montenegrin Coast and Bar

Cruise further south along the coast to discover Montenegro’s less-visited stretches. Pass the beaches of Petrovac and Sutomore, pausing at a hidden cove for a morning snorkel in clear Adriatic water. Continue to Bar – Montenegro’s main southern port, roughly 30 nautical miles from Sveti Stefan. The old town of Stari Bar sits on a hilltop above the harbour: a 6th-century fortress with olive groves (including one tree believed to be more than 2,000 years old) and views along the entire southern coast. Your chef serves lunch at anchor, then spend the afternoon swimming off one of the quiet beaches south of the port. Overnight at Bar harbour or anchor off the coast.

Crossing to Dubrovnik

Depart early and set course north-west for Dubrovnik – roughly 50 nautical miles from Bar, or 38 from Herceg Novi, a comfortable morning’s cruise. Arrive by late morning and berth at the ACI Marina or anchor off the old town walls. Tender ashore to walk the famous Stradun, climb the ramparts for views over terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic, and visit the Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan Monastery (with its 14th-century pharmacy, one of the oldest in Europe). Lunch at a table overlooking the old harbour, then return to the yacht for an afternoon swim off Lokrum Island – a nature reserve just 600 metres from Dubrovnik’s walls, with a saltwater lake, pine-shaded trails and a botanical garden. Dinner aboard at anchor, with Dubrovnik’s illuminated walls reflected in the harbour.

Elaphiti Islands and Return to Montenegro

Cruise 10 nautical miles north-west from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands – Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan – a scatter of car-free, pine-clad islands with sandy beaches and crystal water. Anchor off Lopud’s Sunj Beach for a morning swim in the warm, shallow bay, then tender to Sipan for a late-morning walk through olive groves and a fresh-fish lunch at a harbourside konoba. In the early afternoon, set course south-east back to Montenegro – roughly 45 nautical miles from the Elaphitis to Porto Montenegro. Your chef prepares a farewell gourmet supper on the aft deck as the coastline shifts from Croatian island greenery to Montenegro’s dramatic mountain backdrop. Arrive at Porto Montenegro by evening, with the lights of the marina welcoming you home.

Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day Bay of Kotor itinerary with the 4-day coastal and Croatia route for a full 7-day charter covering the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro’s southern beaches, Dubrovnik and the Elaphiti Islands – without repeating a single stop.