Tivat: complete travel guide

Tivat — where the Bay of Kotor reinvented itself

Tivat was, until about 2009, a pleasant but unremarkable coastal town known mainly for its airport and its former Yugoslav naval base. Then Peter Munk’s investment group converted the decommissioned Arsenale into Porto Montenegro, a 630-berth superyacht marina with restaurants, boutiques, and a Regent Hotel. Tivat has not looked back.

The result is a town with two distinct personalities that coexist without fully merging: the old Tivat town with its residential streets, market, and local cafes; and the Porto Montenegro marina promenade, which could be transplanted to Monaco or Antibes without anyone noticing. Both are genuinely worth your time — the marina for spectacle and restaurants, the town for context.

Tivat also serves as the gateway to the Lustica Peninsula: a peninsula of wild bays, pine forests, an 18-hole golf course, and one of the larger resort developments in Montenegro (Lustica Bay). For visitors arriving by air, it is the first town they see after landing at Tivat airport, 3 km from the marina.

Porto Montenegro — the marina district

The marina occupies the former naval arsenale on the northern waterfront of Tivat bay, protected from the open bay by a long breakwater. From the promenade you can watch superyachts of 30–80 m manoeuvre into their berths — a genuinely impressive spectacle in the summer season. The largest yachts are in the outer marina; smaller sailing boats take the inner berths.

The promenade (Ulica Njegova Visosti knjaza Nikole I) runs the length of the marina with restaurants, cafes, and a small selection of boutique shopping. The Regent Porto Montenegro is at the western end, its pool and beach club directly on the water. See the dedicated Porto Montenegro guide for more detail on the marina precinct.

The Kotor, Perast, Tivat & Porto Montenegro Tour covers the full circuit: Kotor old town, Perast, and Porto Montenegro in a single guided day — the most efficient way to combine the historic and the modern in one trip.

Tivat old town and waterfront

The original Tivat town centre is a 5-minute walk from Porto Montenegro and feels like a different century. The main square (Trg Magnolija, named for the magnolia trees that line it) has local cafes that predate the marina’s arrival and charge local prices. The small waterfront park near the town hall is popular with evening walkers. There are several well-preserved summer villas from the Habsburg period — notably Villa Drago and the Buća-Luković summer palace, now a cultural centre.

The town’s covered market (pijaca) near the bus station sells local produce: cheese, honey, and vegetables from the Grbalj valley behind Tivat. It runs mornings only and closes by noon.

Beaches near Tivat

Plavi Horizonti (Blue Horizons): The most popular beach in the Tivat area, about 4 km from Porto Montenegro on the Lustica Peninsula side. A long pebble and sand beach with clear water, beach bars, and sun lounger hire (approximately €10–15 per set). Gets busy in July–August but is manageable compared to Budva beaches. Accessible by road or by water taxi from Porto Montenegro.

Župa Beach: 2 km from Porto Montenegro toward Kotor, a small pebble beach used mainly by locals. No facilities, which keeps it calm.

Opatovo: A quiet cove below the old Tivat town, with clear water and a small beach bar. Easy to reach on foot from the main square.

Lustica Peninsula coves: The interior of the Lustica Peninsula (Žukovica, Dobrec, Mirišta) has several wild coves accessible by rough roads or on foot. Bring your own supplies — no facilities. Clear water and far fewer people than the main beaches.

Lustica Bay resort and golf

Lustica Bay is a large integrated resort development on the western tip of the Lustica Peninsula, about 15 km by road from Tivat (20 minutes). The development includes the Chedi Lustica Bay hotel (five-star, pool, beach club), an 18-hole golf course, private apartments, and a small marina of its own.

The golf course — Lustica Bay Golf Course — is the only 18-hole championship course in Montenegro. Green fees are approximately €100–150 per round in 2026. The Chedi hotel’s spa and pool club are accessible to non-guests for a day fee (approximately €50 per person in summer).

For families, the combination of the beach club, pool, and golf makes Lustica Bay the most self-contained resort option in the Bay of Kotor. It is significantly more expensive than typical Montenegrin accommodation — but delivers resort-standard amenities that are rare on this coast.

Where to stay in Tivat

Regent Porto Montenegro: The flagship property inside the marina. Rooms from approximately €300–600 per night in summer. Pool, beach club, spa, multiple restaurants on-site. Location is unbeatable for marina access.

Hilton Mediterranean Tivat: A reliable five-star on the waterfront, slightly east of Porto Montenegro. Pool, private beach area, good restaurant. More accessible pricing than the Regent — approximately €200–400 per night in summer.

Chedi Lustica Bay: 15 km from Tivat proper, on the Lustica Peninsula. A genuine five-star resort experience, best for guests who want beach and golf without the marina scene. €250–500 per night.

Mid-range apartments in Tivat town: Numerous apartments and small hotels in the residential areas between the airport and Porto Montenegro. Good value at €60–120 per night, local feel, easy access to the marina by foot or taxi.

Day trips from Tivat

Tivat is well-positioned for day trips across the bay and toward the Budva Riviera.

Kotor: 25 km by road (35 min), or across the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry from the Herceg Novi direction. The short private tour option — Tivat: Private Tour from Kotor — covers Kotor from a Tivat/Porto Montenegro base.

Boka Bay cruise: A full-day cruise from the Tivat marina that covers the bay’s main sights by water — Tivat / Kotor: Boka Bay Full-Day Cruise with Swim. This is one of the most relaxed ways to see the bay if you are staying in Tivat and want to avoid driving.

Budva Riviera: 35 km south of Tivat (40 min by road). The Budva Riviera has the best sandy beaches in Montenegro — Bečići (sandy, 2 km long), Sveti Stefan (iconic, but note that beach access requires staying at the Aman Sveti Stefan hotel — the island and beach are private). Approximately 40 minutes by car from Tivat.

Kotor–Perast–Tivat circuit by boat: The Kotor, Perast, Tivat & Porto Montenegro Tour covers the full bay in a single day with historical and marina stops — a good option for those without a rental car.

Getting to and from Tivat

Tivat Airport (TIV): 3 km from Porto Montenegro. One of the most convenient airport locations in the region — you can be checking in at the Regent within 10 minutes of landing. Taxi from airport: approximately €10–15. No direct bus service from airport to marina. Car hire desks are in the arrivals hall.

By road from Kotor: 25 km, 35 minutes. The road runs along the south shore of the inner bay past Dobrota and Muo — pleasant scenery but no coastal road to speak of; most of the route is slightly inland.

By ferry: The Kamenari–Lepetane car ferry connects the Herceg Novi side of the bay to Lepetane, 5 km from Tivat. Frequency every 15–30 minutes, €5 per car. From Herceg Novi town to Tivat marina: approximately 30 minutes total including the ferry.

Seasonal boats: Water taxis run from Porto Montenegro to Kotor and to beach destinations on the Lustica Peninsula during summer months — check schedules at the marina information office.

Practical information

Money: ATMs at Porto Montenegro and in Tivat town centre. Most marina restaurants are card-only; the town market is cash only.

Language: English widely spoken in Porto Montenegro. Less so in Tivat town proper — Italian is more commonly understood by older locals (a legacy of Italian influence in the region).

Nightlife: Porto Montenegro has the most sophisticated bar scene in the bay. Bars on the marina promenade stay open until 1–2 am in summer. Tivat town has lower-key local kafanas and bars.

Parking: Paid parking around the marina perimeter. The town centre has free parking on side streets. The airport has a short-stay car park at approximately €2 per hour.

Frequently asked questions about Tivat

Is Tivat worth staying in or is it just a transit point?

Worth staying in, especially if Porto Montenegro appeals to you or if the Lustica Peninsula beaches and golf are priorities. For those focused on UNESCO old towns and medieval history, Kotor or Perast offer more. Tivat is the best base for beach-first, marina-adjacent holidays in the bay.

What is the difference between Tivat and Porto Montenegro?

Tivat is the municipality and the broader town. Porto Montenegro is the marina precinct within Tivat — a self-contained development with its own hotel, restaurants, and facilities. You can stay in Tivat town and walk to Porto Montenegro in about 15 minutes.

Is Plavi Horizonti beach good?

One of the better beaches in the bay. Long, with both pebble and some sandy sections, clear water, and beach bars. It is on the Lustica Peninsula side, accessible by road (10 min from Porto Montenegro) or water taxi in summer. Quieter than anything on the Budva Riviera.

How far is Tivat from the Budva beaches?

Approximately 35 km by road (40 minutes). Bečići and Rafailovići are the closest quality sandy beaches south of Tivat. Sveti Stefan is 45 km (50 min) — but note that the famous beach below the islet hotel is private; only guests of Aman Sveti Stefan can access it.

Is the Tivat airport large?

Small and manageable. One terminal, simple security, limited duty-free. Arrivals and departures are fast by comparison with larger airports. In summer it handles significant charter traffic for the bay — book car hire in advance, availability runs low in July–August.

What is Lustica Bay resort like for families?

Well-suited: pool, beach club, on-site restaurant, golf. The accommodation mix (hotel rooms, apartments) makes it flexible for families needing space. The trade-off is isolation — you need a car or taxi to reach Kotor or anywhere else in the bay. For a self-contained beach holiday with children it works well; for cultural exploration it requires more driving.