Herceg Novi (map) is probably the most pleasant and warrants several days’ visit. The city is particularly a good alternative to the very touristy Dubrovnik in Croatia. The cities have similar architecture but Herceg Novi is neither as grand nor as touristy and expensive.

Herceg Novi has had a turbulent past, despite being one of the youngest settlements on the Adriatic. It is well known as a spa and health center; nearby Igalo (map) has an abundance of healing sea mud called “igaljsko blato” and mineral springs called “igaljske slatine”.

The most famous tourist attractions in Herceg Novi are castle Forte Mare (map) built by the Bosnian king Tvrtko, a clock tower (map) built by Austrians in the 19th century, the Kanli tower (map) built by Turks.

The Herceg Novi old town (map) is amazing. It is on a fairly steep hill that leads all the way down to the sea. Wandering through the small stairways to the various plazas and fortresses is a many hour adventure.

The Kanli Kula fortress (map) dominating the old town doubles as an open-air theatre and is worth visiting mainly for the splendid views of the town and the Kotor bay. The Spanjola fortress (map) higher up the mountain (170 m above sea level) dates back to 16th century. Take a small street going upwards across from the Kanli Kula fortress.

The Savina monastery (map), approximately 2 km east from the city center has three beautiful Orthodox churches and (yet again) splendid views of the bay.

Hiking. Going from the bus station up towards the hills you can find some wonderful ancient stone paths that lead up to some very rural communities. The paths are not marked and not very visible but if you wander along any road for a mile or so and keep an eye on the vegetation you should find one. Either way take a 5- to 6.5-km walk up into the hills (whether you find the paths or not).  >> + hikingisgood.com

Bus is the only form of public transport in/out of Herceg Novi, and the bus station (located in the centre of town) is busy the day long with buses heading (mostly) down the Adriatic coast.

⇒ Also сheck оut мore info: How can you journey to us? (montenegro.travel)

BUS: Buses are frequent (especially during the summer), safe and are more or less on schedule. This may be the easiest way to get around Montenegro. ⇒ waytomonte.com • busticket4.me.

TRAIN: There is local train service (zpcg.me), operating from Bar, through Podgorica and Kolasin and Mojkovac to Bijelo Polje. It is the cheapest way to travel from north to south and vice versa, the quality of service is not on the high level.

AIRPORT: montenegroairports.com / Tivat Airport is 23 km (14 mi) away.

WATERWAYS: The ferry operates on the Kamenari (map) – Lepetane line (map) at Verige Strait, eliminating the need to go all the way around Boka Kotorska bay in order to reach Tivat, Kotor, Budva and inland Montenegro.

Herceg Novi, as well as Montenegro, can be said to be a well-kept European secret. Herceg Novi, city on the shores of the Adriatic Sea looks fantastic. The very approach to the city through the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) is an adventure in itself.

Apart from Herceg Novi, Montenegro has a couple of other cities that are simply majestic. Kotor, Budva, Ulcinj are just some of the places you must visit if you are on a trip through this part of Europe.

Montenegro is in the shadow of many popular European countries, but it will definitely amaze you if you decide to give it a few days.

⇒ video source: Ervinslens /youtube.com/

• City of Budva
• City of Cetinje
• City of Herceg Novi
• City of Kotor
• City of Podgorica
• City of Ulcinj
• City of Žabljak & Durmitor