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Montenegro beaches come in all shapes and sizes:
Whatever your ideal beach looks like, you'll be bound to find your slice of beach heaven on Montenegro beaches.
With almost 300km of coast line to choose from, your biggest problem will be which ones to choose.
Let's explore Montenegro beaches!
Because of the wide variety of beaches, it'll pay for you to read this page and choose which beaches will suit you best before you head off to explore.
The summer traffic can be intense and there's nothing more frustrating that losing precious holiday days searching for the perfect location to spend it. A holiday is supposed to be relaxing right?!
So a few minutes spent here choosing a few options is well worth it.
Most Montenegro beaches are covered with loungers and umbrellas for hire. This goes against the grain for those of us who aren't used to the European habit of paying to use a beach. But you can still use these beaches for free. Each beach must have at least 30% kept clear and free to use.
Loungers and umbrellas vary in price, from €3 to a whopping €150 per pair (at Dukley Gardens) per day. Generally they're around €5 per day.
Most beaches have their own bar or restaurant on site. So you'll be able to get drinks, snacks and full meals. Some will have toilets, but many won't. You'll see little makeshift changing cabins that you can use to get changed in.
The water temperature in July and August hovers around 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit, but can be as warm as 28/82!
With those kinds of temperatures, it's no wonder people come from far and wide to enjoy a summer holiday on Montenegro beaches.
The Blue Flag is an organisation that awards beaches around the world Blue Flag status when they pass certain environmental, safety-related and access-related standards. This means that the water is clean, the facilities are good and the accessibility is good.
These are Montenegro's Blue Flag beaches:
Bar:
Looking for a beach holiday in Montenegro? Click here to find the best places to stay.
Herceg Novi beaches have the clearest water in the Bay of Kotor. The closer you are to the entrance of the bay, the clearer the water will be, so Kotor's water is not as clear as Herceg Novi's.
The beaches here are generally pebbly with little pockets of sand and they're dotted all along the coastline. There are also concrete pontoons where you can hire loungers and umbrellas.
There's a 7km promenade that runs along the length of the coast from Meljine to Igalo. There's plenty of parking in Igalo, making those beaches some of the most accessible. To get to the others, you'll need to park up on the lower road and then walk down to the seaside.
Most of Tivat's beaches are along the stretch north of the town from Seljanovo towards Lepetane, where the Kotor Bay ferry docks. There is a tiny patch of beach in the centre of town, but most of it is concrete pontoon. The good news is you can swim right in the centre of town and the concrete pontoon area is all free to use.
The beaches north of town are pebbly and you'll find loungers, cafes and amenities. The beaches in Donja Lastva are all free to use and you can find half-deserted little spots to park your towel here.
Lustica Peninsula is a popular destination for people from Tivat and Kotor in summer. It's only a 15-20 minute drive and has some of the best Montenegro beaches - like Blue Horizons above.
Most beaches are rocky and wild, but there are large sandy beaches that are ideal for families. Lustica is also home to some of Montenegro's trendiest beach bars. And unlike the Budva Riviera, the atmosphere on Lustica's beach bars are more chillout lounge than rave party.
Read More: Lustica Peninsula Beaches
The beaches along the Budva Riviera are one of the riviera's biggest draw cards. There are long stretches of fine pebble beaches and some of the most exclusive beaches in Montenegro.
The riviera is known for its party vibe and you'll certainly find plenty of party beaches, especially close to the old town. But you'll also find little hamlets, perfect for honeymooners; wide spaces, perfect for families and plenty of activities.
Read More: Budva Beaches
Bar is a popular tourist resort for locals from Podgorica who want to spend a day on the beach, but it's not popular with international tourists because there aren't a lot of attractions here. This makes both Bar and Ulcinj somewhat undiscovered destinations that more intrepid travellers like to explore. They're also good for day trips.
Ulcinj is a dream location for sandy beach lovers. Ulcinj's Velika Plaza is a 13km stretch of sandy beach that's divided into separate leased beaches. Each beach has it's own restaurant and facilities like kite surfing, kayaks and peddleboats for hire.
There's also a smaller beach next to the old town called Mala Plaza where you can grab a lounger and umbrella.
Ulcinj is off the radar for the average tourist to Montenegro, so it's more of an undiscovered destination. It's popular with intrepid travellers, 20-somethings looking for kitesurfing and beach parties and those looking for quieter summer destinations.
Read More: Velika Plaza
Read More: Mala Plaza
Montenegro beaches aren't just restricted to the coast though. You might be surprised to learn that Lake Skadar's waters are around the same temperature as the Adriatic Sea in summer, making it a great place to swim.
If you're looking for more of a quiet getaway than most Montenegro beaches offer, try Murici Beach. The little beach on the shore of the lake is an off-the-beaten track escape that most people don't make it to. You'll need a car to get there, but it's well worth the trip.
Read More: Murici Beach
Read More: Lake Skadar