When planning a bespoke charter holiday in the Adriatic, one city that you should make sure to visit is Tivat in Montenegro. Located on a sparkling harbor, and recently completely renovated to make luxury yachting its focal theme with a marina that makes St Tropez look a modest fisherman’s village, Tivat is simply perfect for travelers with a flair for the finer things in life.
The former naval base of this gorgeous was transformed to “Porto Montenegro”, a marina so plush that it almost looks like a movie set and offers berths for 450 vessels, full-service maintenance, and glamorous features. The yacht club of Porto Montenegro has an infinity pool, a sports club, and a sailing squadron, to keep guests busy throughout their stay.
And while the prestigious marina does come with a high price tag, you’ll compensate for the expense with the tax-free and duty-free offers, since Montenegro doesn’t belong to the EU. Cheaper fuel means more money for shopping and dining!
If you need to update your wardrobe during your charter yachting vacation, this is the place to do it - along the whole promenade, you will find high-end brands with a well-curated offer of the latest trends for men and women.
Even without saying much more, it’s clear that Tivat is a yachtie’s paradise. But we haven’t even mentioned how amazing its location is. Situated in Kotor Bay, this elegant town gives you the freedom to explore the best Adriatic hotspots. Budva, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Mljet, Split are all within your reach, as well as some lesser-known coves that will surpass your expectations.
While Tivat truly is the new capital of hedonism, those who prefer to learn while they travel will also have plenty to do. The medieval town is saturated in history and provides for some interesting excursions that will spark your curiosity.
The convenience of this town, a nautical powerhouse of the Adriatic, allows you to organize a fabulous vacation even if you don’t have too much time on your hand. The city airport has direct connections from almost all European cities, and one from Dubai - 20 minutes after you land, you could already be on your luxury charter yacht, as the airport is only 3 kilometers away from the marina.
Best Things To See In Tivat
Your list of things to do will greatly depend on your personal preference. Although Tivat is officially the smallest municipality in Montenegro, with under 10,000 residents (and that includes villages outside of town), it really does have something to offer for everyone.
Here are our top suggestions - you choose what best fits your taste.
Porto Montenegro
While it is unavoidable that you’ll find yourself here when you moor your charter superyacht, it is worth mentioning just what awaits you - this is no ordinary marina by any means. You could actually have a pretty good time without leaving. An open-air cinema, infinity pool, 80 luxury shops, including Dior, Hublot, Chopard, Chloe, Ulysse Nardin, and Fendi, and a myriad of restaurants are all organized around the “marina village”, allowing elite guests to let their hair down and simply enjoy. There’s even a spa and a hair salon.
Each year, the yacht club organizes three sailing regattas, one of which serves the purpose of collecting funds for the Red Cross. Visitors will be entertained regardless of age with a multitude of organized activities, including beach yoga, sailing lessons for kids snd adults, water sports, golfing, laser clay shooting, archery, and many others.
If you wish to practice your forehands and backhands, you’ll find three modern tennis courts to stretch after long hours of cruising. Kids might enjoy a visit to the Maritime Heritage Museum, where they’ll see a collection of naval military artifacts, including a real submarine used by the Yugoslav army.
After a few days in Porto Montenegro, you might feel that you’ve become too spoiled to function in the real world - if that happens, you can apply for citizenship by investment right here in the marina. Pretty convenient, right?
The Abandoned Byzanti Mansion
Hidden in a thick pine forest, on a gorgeous panoramic point that overlooks the whole town and the azure Adriatic, you will find a mysterious gothic-renaissance palace that once belonged to a noble merchant family from Kotor. Built by the Byzanti clan in the 14th Century, the huge estate later belonged to the Verona Family and was used by the Austro-Hungarian army who treated it with utmost neglect.
You can come here by luxury yacht, as the estate includes docking for vessels, and offers truly ravishing views and a somewhat eerie atmosphere.
St Roko’s Church
One of the most picturesque churches you’ll ever stumble upon is the church of St. Roko, located just by the shore of the Donja Lastva area. The pretty church was built in 1901., and while it does have some interesting artworks inside and a charming bell tower what really makes it stand out is simply its seaside location with intensely blue hues and surrounding palm trees.
Island of Flowers
Minutes away by your luxury charter yacht, the tiny Island of Flower shows off the ultimate splendor of nature. Although it is just 300 meters in length and 200 meters in width, the magnificent ille is a place of extraordinary beauty with important historical monuments. The 13th Century Monastery of St Archangel was built on even older remains and was the palace where many political intrigues and power plays took place, most notably the poisoning of 70 Orthodox monks who were killed by the Venetians. Their relics are still kept in the monastery.
The Island of Flowers was completely closed to the public during the Yugoslav communist era and used as a summer resort for military officials. It is probably for that reason that it now boasts untamed, wild nature and limpid seas.
The Old Corso
If you continue walking along the promenade of Porto Montenegro, the road will eventually take you to the Old Corso. It is hard to describe the feeling that one is overflown with after leaving the borders of the supermodern, super lush Porto - as if someone suddenly showed you an image of the town 40 years ago, or sent you for a trip in a time capsule. Serene, laid-back, with shops that look like vintage films, and gelaterias whose menus haven’t changed since the 70s, the old Riva offers a stark contrast from the glamorous Porto marina, but is equally beautiful, just in a different way. Kids are usually impressed with the sailboat Jadran, which graces the postcards from Tivat, a huge three-mast ship that was used by the Yugoslav army.
Best Beaches In Tivat
While Tivat does boast many attractions that make it a spectacular choice for your cruising base, sandy beaches are unfortunately not one of them. One thing to keep in mind though is that Montenegro is so tiny, that virtually any beach is a maximum of 30 minutes away, so we recommend a swim in Jazine, Queen’s Beach, or Blue Horizons.
While you shouldn’t expect to find a Formentera beach in Tivat, you still have options for a refreshing swim before and after an eventful day on the yacht.
Kaladrovo Beach
An excellent option for a family beach day, Kaladrovo is a quiet beach with only about two dozen visitors even in peak season and a traditional bar where you can get some drinks and refreshments. There is a new and pretty playground for kids and awe-inspiring views of the mountains.
Ponta Seljanova Beach
If sandy beaches aren’t your cup of tea anyway, you might find Ponta Seljanova to be quite nice. There is a bar with huge bohemian Balinese beds for rent, a small harbor that adds character and charm, especially at sunset.
Best Restaurants in Tivat
When it comes to dining, Tivat will completely fascinate any visitor. One might argue that the best restaurants of Montenegro are located right here, where you can find both very trendy spots often frequented by the rich and famous, as well as casual, old-school tavernas with traditional meals.
One
Located by the Riva of Porto Montenegro, One is a stylish restaurant where you can indulge in the tastiest dishes while commenting on the luxury yachts mooring in the marina with family and friends. It is a good choice for any occasion or time of day and has a very friendly staff that will help you choose the perfect dish or bottle of wine. Even though the interior is flawless, as well as the food, somehow One is completely unpretentious and has a nice, soothing atmosphere. Make sure to try the squid ink pasta!
Roberto’s Mare
Another option in Porto Montenegro is the marvelous seafood restaurant whose terrace basically hangs over the sea. The appetizers are amazing, especially the melon prosciutto, and so are the freshest fish dishes that are served in such a way it might be hard to resist the temptation of posting a photo of your plate on IG.
But, to be frank, you can’t go wrong with any restaurant in Porto, so feel free to explore yourself - some worth mentioning is also Al Posto Giusto Pizzeria and Murano, the latter best saved for a special dinner when you really feel like treating yourself.
Kod Dutea
When it comes to high-end restaurants in Tivat, it’s hard to decide which one is the best - the truth is, they’re all pretty good. But, while spending time in the Adriatic, especially the Balkan part, make sure to try some local specialties as well. One of them is burek, a pie variety commonly eaten at breakfast, and a favorite that unites all nations across the area. Head to “Kod Dutea”, an iconic local bakery to get the finest taste of Montenegro for just a euro or two, and pair it with yogurt to get the taste of the local way of eating.
