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Recommended Stay
1–2 Days
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Best Time to Visit
May to September
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Top Highlight
Coastal Town
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Transit Hub
From Dubrovnik
Best Things to Do in Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi — the City of a Thousand Steps — tumbles down a hillside at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor, just 6 km from the Croatian border.
Exploring Herceg Novi: Top Attractions & Hidden Gems
Founded in 1382 by Bosnian King Tvrtko I as a salt-trade fort, it has since been ruled by Bosnians, Spaniards, Venetians, Ottomans, Austro-Hungarians, and Yugoslavs — each leaving behind fortresses stacked up the slope like a stone timeline.
Local Culture & Food in Herceg Novi
The elevation gain from the seafront to the upper neighbourhoods is roughly 200 metres, and locals say the town contains over 100,000 stone steps in total — nobody has counted them all, but the nickname stuck. Its microclimate, the mildest on the Montenegrin coast, lets Mediterranean and subtropical plants run riot: palm trees, agaves, magnolias, and citrus trees line nearly every staircase and courtyard, earning it the reputation as the greenest town on the Adriatic.
🍽 Food & Drink
Seafood dominates here — Konoba Skver, right on the harbourfront terrace, is renowned for black risotto with cuttlefish ink, tuna tartare, and oysters. Konoba Feral, tucked in the old town, edges it for grilled octopus and fresh Adriatic brancin (sea bass). For a splurge, Casa Epico (run by Michelin-starred Chef Eros Picco, open June–September only) serves black tagliolini with cuttlefish in sea-urchin sauce and an 11-course "Casa Epico Experience" tasting menu. Rosemarine at Lazure Hotel does legendary beef-ribs pappardelle and a separate sushi menu. Budget tip: Bife Beograd on Njegoševa Street has a roof terrace with bay views and does linguine in truffle sauce and Salad Nicoise with raw tuna for under €12. Classic Montenegrin dishes to try: njeguški pršut (smoked ham), kačamak (buckwheat porridge with cheese), and slow-cooked lamb or veal under the sač (bell-shaped lid) — Stari Mlin (Old Mill) in the Podi neighbourhood serves a fixed meat-heavy tasting menu for groups of 6+ with no written menu, just homemade wine. Drink Vranac red wine, loza (grape brandy), or a local craft beer.
🚗 How to Get to Herceg Novi by Bus, Car & Boat
By car: From Tivat or Budva, take the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry (€5, 10 minutes) — it cuts up to 2 hours off the drive around the bay. From Dubrovnik Airport (30 km), expect 30–60 minutes at the Croatia–Montenegro border in summer. The main road through town is one-way, so drive slowly. Parking: Use the multi-storey Parking Opština (€1.20/hour, ideal for old town access) or Parking Skver (€1.50/hour). Free street spots are nearly non-existent. By bus: Regular buses connect Herceg Novi with Kotor (€5–7, ~1 hour), Budva (€7–10), and Podgorica. Check schedules on busticket4.me. Water taxis: From the small harbour by the old town, a taxi to Rose village costs €5 one-way/€8 return (15 minutes), to Žanjice Beach also €5. Private transfer: From Tivat Airport about €35–45. Walking: The town is compact but vertical — good footwear with non-slip soles is essential; flip-flops on the stone steps are a bad idea.
🥘 Where to Eat in Herceg Novi: Authentic Local Cuisine
For fresh seafood on a harbourfront terrace, Konoba Skver serves black risotto, tuna tartare, and oysters sourced from the Adriatic that morning. Konoba Feral, tucked into an old-town alley, is locals' favourite for grilled octopus and brancin (sea bass). For breakfast, Kantina 65 (steps from the old town) does avocado toast on whole-grain bread and a classic Montenegrin breakfast of eggs, Njeguši prosciutto, cheese, sausages, and kajmak. Koffein Specialty Coffee Shop on the 28 Oktobra stairs serves the best flat white in town (also cocktails at night). Peter's Pie & Coffee on Šetalište Pet Danica is a popular vegetarian cafe with savoury pies and vegan options. Gradska Kafana, operating since 1924, has a sweeping outdoor terrace overlooking Forte Mare — Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić once drank coffee here. For wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, La Terrazza near the old town rates among the best in Montenegro. La Pasta di Bocca, a tiny family-run pasta spot run by chef Dule, requires booking in summer. Moritz Eis gelato on the promenade is a cut above the fluorescent alternatives, especially the sorbets.
🏨 Best Hotels in Herceg Novi
Accommodation clusters in four zones. Old Town / Centre (steps everywhere, maximum atmosphere): Guesthouse Villa Stari Grad has fantastic views and a communal terrace (from €70/night). Igalo (west, quieter, spa district with mineral springs): Hotel Perla offers modern resort-style rooms with free sunbeds at its beach area, a 20-minute waterfront walk from the centre (from €80/night). Meljine / Zelenika (east, quieter, near the Tivat ferry): apartments from €25–40/night. Đenovići (southeast, best beaches, luxury): One&Only Portonovi (from €350/night), Lazure Hotel & Marina (5-star, home to Rosemarine restaurant), and Iberostar Waves. For self-catering, Boka Apartment 7 (modern, steps from the water) and Savina Bliss Residences (seafront balcony studio) are top-rated Airbnb options. For an unforgettable splurge, Mamula Island by Banyan Tree — a 19th-century fortress turned 32-room luxury retreat on its own islet — is accessed only by boat or helicopter.
Find a stay in Herceg Novi
Compare apartments, guesthouses, and vacation rentals while you finalize your route. Flexible cancellation can help when drive times or border plans change.
Browse stays in Herceg Novi on Vrbo →💡 Insider Tips: Enter Herceg Novi from the top (the E65 main road) and walk downhill — the climb up is punishing in 35 °C July heat. Keep your Forte Mare ticket and ask for half-price entry at Kanli Kula (they don't advertise this). The Šetalište Pet Danica promenade is best in the early morning (quiet, €1 pastries at Pekara Škver) and at sunset (golden light on the bay). For a sundowner, head to the 28 Oktobra stairs — Koffein does cocktails, Pub Got (cash only) has craft beer, and the spot called Drunk Octopus has a resident French bulldog. The Mimosa Festival is in February (not September), when subtropical mimosas bloom and the town bursts into concerts and street art. Best coffee in town: Koffein. Best burek: Pekara Škver. Wear shoes with grip — the old-town steps are slick in places and punishing in sandals.
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