If you’ve been researching a trip to Montenegro, chances are you’ve stumbled across Tivat and wondered the same thing I did before going: Is it really worth visiting, or should I just stick with Kotor and Budva?
Tivat is known for its glossy marina, Porto Montenegro, filled with luxury yachts, high-end restaurants, and designer shops—but does it have more to offer than that?
I recently spent three nights in Tivat (my second time in Montenegro), and while it’s not packed with historic sites like Kotor, I did uncover a few reasons why Tivat might deserve a spot on your itinerary—depending on the kind of trip you’re looking for.
Article overview
Is Tivat worth visiting?
Tivat, the sunniest town in Montenegro, often divides opinions—but the general consensus is that it’s not a must-visit place on its own, especially when compared to more charming destinations like Kotor or Sveti Stefan. And I have to agree. Here’s a quick overview:
✅ YES if you…
- Love luxury marinas, huge yachts, and designer shops (Porto Montenegro is the highlight).
- Want a peaceful and safe base for exploring the Bay of Kotor.
- Enjoy seaside walks, cafés, and people-watching in a glamorous setting.
- Prefer modern comforts over traditional or historic charm.
- Value convenience (Tivat has an international airport just minutes from town, and a new bus station).
❌ NO if you…
- Plan to visit only one or two places in Montenegro—Kotor, Budva or Sveti Stefan offer more bang for your time.
- Are looking for historic Old Towns or traditional Montenegrin character.
- Prefer budget-friendly destinations—restaurants and shops here are pricey.
- Want lots of things to do right in town—Tivat is more about relaxing than sightseeing.
- Don’t care for luxury vibes or yachts—it can feel superficial if that’s not your scene.
My experience
Since we were visiting Montenegro in late August and early September, I knew Kotor would be crazy busy. So I decided to stay in Tivat to get away from the chaos, while still being in easy reach of all the must-see sights by bus, taxi or boat.
To make things easier, we splurged on a boat transfer from Herceg Novi to Tivat for €120, which only took around 30 minutes and saved us a lot of time compared to the bus.
Porto Montenegro is absolutely gorgeous, with its glossy new buildings, superyachts, and plenty of cafés and restaurants. At some points, I felt like I was in Dubai, because everything is so new and shiny with lots of luxury stores. Not really my thing, but fun to see.
The rest of the town is small, with a few shops and boutiques for necessities.
It’s definitely worth stopping by for a stroll and maybe a coffee or lunch during the day. But as for staying overnight, I wouldn’t really recommend it unless you’ve been to the other surrounding towns.
That said, Tivat is convenient in some ways—the airport and bus station are both here. The bus station is bigger and more modern than what you’ll find in Kotor.
I rented an apartment right on the water, just north of the port, so we had great views of the yachts coming and going. That part was really nice, and the area felt a little more local, with narrow beaches and some casual beach clubs.
Still, I much preferred my stay in Herceg Novi to Tivat—it has more charm and character.
Foodie highlights
🍩 Lavish Bakehouse: I think the name says it all. A small, yet beautiful bakery and coffee place with a nice terrace. Plenty of hot and cold drink options, including matcha, with plant-based milks available. I loved the iced tea and vanilla custard donut.
🥙 Ponta Veranda: Family-run restaurant serving up large portions of Montenegrin food. Both the fries and the tzatziki were the best we had during our time in Montenegro. It might be a bit strange to point that out, but as a foodie, very little makes me happier than a simple, good French fry and tzatziki.
🍕Soul Casa Montenegro: On our way to the supermarket, we stumbled upon this restaurant in someone’s backyard. They serve homemade sourdough pizza, which, in my mind, has the perfect crust.
🍸360° Rooftop Cocktail Bar and Restaurant: On top of La Fleur Boutique Hotel, you’ll find this gem serving higher-end food and cocktails. Don’t forget to try the mushroom dessert!
Accommodation
The best part about staying in Tivat is all the gorgeous accommodation right on the water. We had the beach right outside and could sit at our table and watch the yachts come and go.
Unfortunately, the exact apartment we stayed in is no longer available for booking; however, I highly recommend Elysium Tivat Apartments right next door. They are newer and the views from the balconies are just to die for.
Other things to do in Tivat
Try water sports or boat trips: Tivat Bay’s sheltered waters are perfect for SUP, kayaking, or leisurely boat tours—including trips to Our Lady of Mercy Island or a sunset cruise around the bay. You can easily book any tour from stalls along the promenade or online in advance. Just click the widget below for more options.
Explore the Naval Heritage Museum: Housed in a restored 19th-century sawmill, this museum showcases over 300 artifacts from the region’s maritime history—including the chance to step aboard the decommissioned Yugoslav submarine Heroj P-821.
Wander through the Big City Park (Navy Park): Yes, that’s actually the name. Escape the summer heat with a leisurely stroll in the botanical garden featuring exotic plants—including cedars, palms, magnolias, and rare species collected by Austro-Hungarian naval officers. It’s a beautiful escape right in the heart of Tivat.
Hit the beach: In central Tivat, I preferred the beaches on the north side of town. There was a public beach right next to our apartment, called Beach 5C on Google Maps. This was a lovely, light, small pebble beach with clear water. Continue along the same road and you’ll get to Waikiki Beach Resort & Club, where you can rent sunloungers.
On the south side of the Marina, you’ll find a small city beach and a few others, including Belane Beach. These have larger pebbles and are more grey in color.
If you’re up for venturing a little outside of town, head to Plavi Horizonti—a Blue Flag-certified beach with soft golden sand and calm, shallow waters. It’s perfect for families, sunbathing, or simply enjoying a peaceful swim away from the crowds.
Visit the Solila Nature Reserve: Just a short drive, close to the airport, this former salt pan is now a birdwatcher’s dream, home to over 100 bird species, including flamingos. There are walking paths and stunning viewpoints. Stop by on your way to Plavi Horizonti or after Flower Island.
Go beyond Tivat: Visit Gornja Lastva, a picturesque hillside village with olive groves, traditional stone buildings, and sweeping views over Tivat Bay.
Or the Island of Flowers (Ostrvo cvijeća), a small, lush islet connected by a narrow causeway, offering tranquil beaches and the ruins of a 6th-century Benedictine monastery and later a Serbian Orthodox monastery.
🌟 Limited on time? Experience many of Montenegro’s highlights in one day as part of this highly-rated and affordable group tour. Travel comfortably with a driver and visit Kotor, Budva, the village of Njegusi, Lovcen National Park, Cetinje, Sveti Stefan, and more. This is the highest-value tour of the country I could find.
Good to know
🦺 There’s a lot of road work going on around Tivat and Kotor. Which is a good thing in the long run, because the old, one-lane roads are not made for the number of visitors Montenegro sees these days. Just be prepared for standstill traffic, even early in the morning.
🚖 International ridesharing apps like Uber, Bolt, Lyft, etc., are currently not available in Montenegro. We paid €30 for a taxi from Tivat to Kotor. I ordered through WhatsApp with both Halo Taxi and Red Taxi. It was easy and the driver showed up within minutes.
🚶♀️You can walk from the center of Tivat to the bus station in about 30 minutes. We paid €7 each to take the bus back from Kotor to Tivat, which was 45 minutes delayed, like most buses here. Use this site to book bus tickets in Montenegro. The airport is also reachable on foot, but it will take closer to an hour.
💵 Montenegro uses the euro (€) even though it’s not in the EU. Some places, even hotels, still only accept cash, but paying with cards is becoming more normal here than in Albania.
✅ I have always felt very safe in Montenegro, even when staying in a local apartment building with barking dogs outside in chains 🫣 People are generally very nice and eager to help. Other than a few taxi drivers with road rage, I have only had good experiences.
So to wrap things up, Tivat is a convenient and modern base for exploring Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. However, if you’re not particularly fond of yachts and luxury, or are limited on time, I would choose Kotor or Perast instead.
🌟 Read next >> I took the bus from Dubrovnik to Kotor: What you need to know!
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