Herceg Novi, Montenegro is a coastal town where fortress walls, terraced steps, and Mediterranean flora cascade toward the Bay of Kotor. Known for its seaside promenades, historic core, and scenic views, Herceg Novi attracts travelers seeking a quieter alternative to Montenegro’s more crowded destinations.

But is Herceg Novi the right destination for your trip? Choosing where to go depends on your travel goals—whether it’s waterfront relaxation, cultural sightseeing, or long-term stay potential. Like any location, Herceg Novi has its pros and cons, and understanding both is key to making an informed decision.

We spent a month exploring Herceg Novi’s neighborhoods, waterfronts, and everyday routines. In this post, we break down the key factors we considered when choosing Herceg Novi and answer frequently asked questions to help you decide if it belongs on your itinerary.

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We spent the whole month of January in Herceg Novi. Based on our experience, we assigned each factor a score from 1 to 5, with one being the worst and five being the best. If the attribute is unavailable or does not apply, we give it a 0.

If you’re asking yourself, “Is Herceg Novi worth visiting?” hopefully, this information will help you make a more informed decision.

Hot in the Summer	2
Cold in the Winter	4

Few Tourists in Large Groups	4
Few Cruise Ship Passengers	4
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families	3
Pedestrian Only Areas	4
Lines at Attractions	5

Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly)	3
Beaches with Rough Water	3
Boating Activities/Kayaking	5
Rocky Swim Spots	4
Sunbathing	4

Wine	3
Beer	4
Specialty Liquor	2
Specialty Food	3
Seafood	5
Meat	3
Street Food	1
Markets	3

History	2
Architecture	2
Art	1
Museums	1
Castles	0
Walled-City	3
Palaces	0
Hiking	4
Running	4
High-Fashion Stores/Shopping	1
Nightlife	2
Dog-Friendly	3
Kid-Friendly	4

Great Grocery Stores	2
English Widely Spoken	5
Outwardly Friendly Locals	3
American Tourists	2
Accessible by Train	0
Day Trips by Train	0
Clean Streets	4
Noise	4

Food Cost	4
Accommodation Cost	4
Activities Cost	4
Transportation Cost	2

Some factors may sway you in one direction or another, depending on your circumstances and interests—for example, the weather. If you like to go to the beach, you may be looking for hot weather in the summer. If you like winter sports, you may be looking for cold weather in the winter. On the other hand, if you want to explore the old town (like us), you may be looking for milder weather in the summer and winter. For this reason, you may need to take your situation into account.

While there are some exceptions, we assume the weather will be good in the Spring and Fall everywhere we consider visiting. So, we focus primarily on the Summer and Winter weather.

Hot in the Summer – 2

The average highs for June, July, and August are 79℉, 84℉, and 84℉, respectively. Herceg Novi can get hot during the summer. If you don’t enjoy sightseeing in the heat and sun, you should consider visiting during the spring or fall.

Cold in the Winter – 4

The average highs for December, January, and February are 54℉, 52℉, and 53℉, respectively. We spent the month of January in Herceg Novi. Some days the weather was mild and beautiful. On other days it was cold and rainy. It also hailed one day. The historic averages say that it is not a very rainy destination, but we did experience many rainy days during the month of January.

Few Tourists in Large Groups – 4

Herceg Novi is a small town near Kotor, Montenegro, and Dubrovnik, Croatia – both popular tourist destinations.

Herceg Novi is a popular summer destination for boating and water activities as well as an easy day trip from either Kotor or Dubrovnik. Since it is not the most popular destination, it is not crowded with large groups of tourists.

Few Cruise Ship Passengers – 4

Herceg Novi is near two popular cruise ship ports, Dubrovnik and Kotor, but it doesn’t have a cruise ship port, so it doesn’t have waves of people moving through the town directly from large ships.

Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families – 3

Most of the tourists in Herceg Novi are couples and small families, but it is still not a crowded destination.

Pedestrian-Only Areas – 4

Herceg Novi has two pedestrian-only areas that make exploring the area very enjoyable. The first is the Old Town of Herceg Novi, known as “Stari Grad,” which has plenty of narrow streets, shops, and areas to explore. The second is the Pet Danica, a 3-4 mile long walkway that runs from Igalo to Meljine. There are many restaurants, beach bars, and cafes where you can enjoy the lovely atmosphere. Walking along the Pet Danica promenade is a must-do activity when visiting Herceg Novi as it offers beautiful views of the bay and mountains in the distance.

Lines at Attractions – 5

The main attractions in Herceg Novi are walking through the Old Town and enjoying the quant architecture, walking along the waterfront promenade, and soaking up the sun at a beach. None of these activities have lines.

Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) – 3

Herceg Novi has several small, rocky beaches with calm water to enjoy. I gave this category a three because the beaches are small. If beaches are your #1 destination requirement and you want to go to Montenegro, I recommend Budva for its many large beaches.

Beaches with Rough Water – 3

When the weather is windy, the calm beaches of Herceg Novi will have rough water, but it is not a surfing destination.

Boating Activities/Kayaking – 5

Herceg Novi has a large marina, and boating, especially sailing, is extremely popular. If you’re interested in a boat trip, many itineraries are available to explore the Bay of Kotor and the Adriatic Sea.

Kayaking is another popular activity in Herceg Novi. Kayaking is the best way to see the area from a unique perspective. Travelers can hire a kayak from several places around the marina or join a guided tour. Many excursions go to the famous Blue Cave or “Plava Spilja.”

Rocky Swim Spots – 4

Herceg Novi does have some swim spots from a rocky entrance, but the pebbled beaches are the more popular destination for swimming.

Sunbathing – 4

Sunbathing is a very popular activity in Herceg Novi during the hot summers. There are many small spots to sunbathe along the water.

Herceg Novi Boating Experiences

Wine – 3

In Herceg Novi and the rest of Montenegro, the Plantaze Winery dominates. It offers a wide selection of wines at very reasonable prices. For more information on Montenegro wine, check out our Montenegro wine page. I gave this category a 3 because while the Plantaze Reserve wines are very good, very affordable, and pair well with the local food, they aren’t going to make you want to ship a case home.

Specialty Liquor – 2

Montenegro produces rakija with Plantaze dominating production. It is something fun to try while there, but not something I would rave about or recommend purchasing a whole bottle.

Specialty Food – 3

The specialty food of Herceg Novi is seafood, smoked pork, and hard cheeses. There are seafood restaurants along the promenade and seafood shops around the produce market in Old Town. For more information on local foods, check out the Herceg Novi Food page.

Seafood – 5

Herceg Novi is a seafood destination and a great place to enjoy fresh grilled seafood with Montenegrin white wines.

Meat – 3

Herceg Novi is a seafood destination. You will find meat as an option on the local menu, but this is not a meat destination. I do highly recommend trying the local smoked pork that is thinly sliced and very smoky tasting.

Street Food – 1

Herceg Novi doesn’t have many street food vendors. Most takeaway options are ice cream and pizza on the Promenade.

Markets – 3

Herceg Novi has a small/medium-sized fresh produce market with stalls for local cheese, smoked meats, and seafood.

History – 2

Herceg Novi is a small town with history. It doesn’t have a history museum or organize its tourism around history, so you will need to do your only research online to learn the history of this pretty little town.

Architecture – 2

Herceg Novi is a small seaside town with well-preserved architecture in the Old Town. The main attractions include the Church of Archangel Michael and the forts.

Forte Mare is one of the oldest structures in the city, dating back to 1382. Nowadays, the fortress holds concerts, open-air cinemas, and other events. Another fortress in Herceg Novi is the Kanli Kula, also known as “Bloody Tower”. This massive stone tower was built by the Turks in 1539 and was used as a prison. Visitors can explore the dungeons and see where prisoners etched writings into the walls. The tower offers stunning views over the old town and the bay. Also, Spanjolla Fort, located high above the Old Town, offers stunning views of Kotor Bay.

Finally, Savina Monastery is a must-see attraction in Herceg Novi. It holds not one, not two, but three beautiful Orthodox churches. The monastery is definitely worth visiting for those who want to explore the religious and cultural history of this charming coastal town.

We gave this a two because the Old Town is small, and the area outside of the Old Town showcases the Brutalist (Soviet) architecture style that became popular during the 1950s.

Art – 1

Herceg Novi is not a destination for art. It does have a few small art galleries.

Museums – 1

Herceg Novi is not a museum destination. It has a couple of small museums, but if your schedule doesn’t allow for a museum visit, it’s not the end of the world.

Castles – 0

There are no castles in Herceg Novi

Walled-City – 3

Herceg Novi has a walled Old Town with many intact walls and a large fortress.

Palaces – 0

There are no palaces in Herceg Novi.

Hiking – 4

Herceg Novi is surrounded by mountains with lots of options for hiking lovers. For more information on Herceg Novi hiking, check out AllTrails.

Running – 4

Herceg Novi’s flat promenade stretches 4 miles and provides fantastic running. We encountered many other runners in the mornings.

For more information on Herc Novi’s running routes, check out RunGo.

High – Fashion Stores/Shopping – 1

Herceg Novi is not a destination for shopping. It has some small shops, but most appear to cater to locals.

Nightlife – 2

Herceg Novi has a small bar and café scene but is not a late-night party destination.

Dog Friendly – 3

Herceg Novi is not the friendliest destination for dogs, but it’s not unfriendly to dogs. Dogs are not allowed on buses or in stores, but we found dog-friendly accommodations and many locals had dogs.

Kid Friendly – 4

We don’t have kids but think Herceg Novi is a kid-friendly destination. It has the bay with many boat activities and beaches with calm water to swim in.

Great Grocery Stores – 2

Herceg Novi has small-sized grocery stores with small-sized selections. Luckily, it has a good market with merchants selling fresh seafood, local produce, and local cheese.

English Widely Spoken – 4

English is widely spoken in Herceg Novi, and we had no problem knowing only a few Serbian words.

Outwardly Friendly Locals – 3

Locals in Herceg Novi are friendly but sometimes require a little time to warm up to.

American Tourists – 2

There aren’t a lot of American tourists in Herceg Novi. They are there but are a minority in the tourist population.

Accessible by Train – 0

There is no train station in Herceg Novi. You will need to rent a car or hire a taxi or private transfer to get to Herceg Novi.

For private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

Day Trips by Train – 0

Day-tripping by train is not an option from Herceg Novi.

Clean Streets – 4

Herceg Novi does a good job at keeping their streets clean.

Noise – 4

Herceg Novi is a small town and not very noisy. It’s a peaceful seaside destination.

Herceg Novi Experiences

Food Cost – 4

Food in Herceg Novi is very affordable and offers excellent value. At one of the highly-rated restaurants, we ordered the most expensive item on the menu, a seafood platter for two, and a good bottle of white wine, which cost $80. The seafood platter was huge, and we couldn’t finish it. On a different occasion, we went to a trendy café, ordered two bistro burgers with fries and a bottle of red wine, and paid $30.

Accommodation Cost – 4

Accommodation in Herceg Novi is less expensive than in nearby tourist destinations like Kotor and Dubrovnik but more costly than in Budva. This is because it is smaller than Budva and has fewer accommodation options.

Activities Cost – 4

Activities in Herceg Novi are not expensive.

Transportation Cost – 2

Since Herceg Novi is not connected to other cities by train, the most popular ways to get there are by plane or car. This increases the cost of transportation when compared to other European destinations.

We now use private transfers and rental cars when moving around the Balkan countries. For private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

Herceg Novi, Montenegro is famous for its healing mud and wellness spa. Also, it’s home to PVK Jadran, the professional water polo club.

Yes, Herceg Novi, Montenegro is very pretty. It has beautiful views of the mountains in nearly every direction, a fantastic view of the Bay of Kotor, and several historic buildings.

You really only need one day to see all the best sights in Herceg Novi. For a list of the best things to see and a suggested walking tour, check out our article “10 Best Things to See in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.”

The time of year with good weather and fewer crowds is often called the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Herceg Novi is April, October, and November. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit. The peak season is the summer months, with August being the busiest month of the year.

There are many great places to stay in Herceg Novi. For the best experience, we recommend staying near the Old Town (the castle marker on the map below). If you don’t stay in the Old Town, we recommend staying near the sea along the promenade. The architecture of Herceg Novi is not as memorable as you go inland and away from the Old Town and the Bay of Kotor.

Here’s an interactive map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!

If you fly into Dubrovnik Airport, you can take a taxi or private transfer to Herceg Novi. It’s only 18 miles (4o minutes with border crossing) from the airport to Herceg Novi.

If you fly into Tivat Airport, you can take the bus to Herceg Novi. The trip only takes 55 min. But the bus only runs once in the morning and once in the evening.

If you need door-to-door service, then a taxi from the airport to the front door of your hotel is best. To arrange a taxi or private transfer, we recommend GetTransfer.

No, Herceg Novi is not expensive. Herceg Novi offers a beautiful destination at a great value. An extravagant mixed seafood platter for two with an excellent bottle of wine at one of the best restaurants in town costs less than $100. However, the cost ultimately depends on the level of luxury required. We prepared a Budget for a Month in Herceg Novi that analyzes all the necessary expenses.

Yes, Herceg Novi is very safe. We spent a month in Herceg Novi and felt extremely safe.

No, speaking the local Montenegrin language is not needed to visit Herceg Novi. A very large percentage of locals speak English.

Your Herceg Novi packing list should include lots of sunscreen for the sun.

Do you need wifi during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t loose it). Click below for more info.

Herceg Novi is a coastal town on the Bay of Kotor in northern Montenegro. It’s 45 min to 1 hr south of the Dubrovnik, Croatia airport (depending on how long it takes to get across the border).