Montenegro's coves with no road to them

Half of the best places on this coast have neither a road nor a path. No bus goes there, no taxi route covers them, and the only way in is by water. They are the reason people charter a boat here — not the boat itself.

Here is where, and from which town it is shortest: Kraljičina plaža beyond Čanj, the islets off Petrovac, Dobreč cove on Luštica, the Blue Cave, Mamula and the islands off Perast. You charter the whole boat, with a skipper — from €355 for three hours.

Kraljičina plaža

A beach beyond Čanj, between Sutomore and Petrovac: shingle under pines, shade right down to the water, and not a single approach by land. It is named after Queen Milena, wife of King Nikola, who came here to swim — not to be confused with the hotel beach of the same name at Miločer.

The quickest way is a boat from Čanj, ten minutes. With a boat of your own it is closest from Bar: a speedboat from €130 an hour, a sailing yacht for three hours from €390 for the vessel. From Budva it takes longer, but the route is the same.

Katič and Sveta Nedelja

Two islets opposite Petrovac, 700–900 metres offshore. The smaller one carries a chapel that, by local account, was built by sailors who survived a wreck. You can come right up to them; landing is not always possible, since there is no jetty and it depends on the swell.

From Budva — an hour under way, part of the standard coastal route. Three hours from Budva cost from €355 for the vessel.

Dobreč, Žanjice, Mirište

Coves on the Luštica peninsula opposite Herceg Novi. There is no road to Dobreč — it is reached from the water only. Žanjice you can also drive to; from a boat it is simply one more stop on the route. From Žanjice and neighbouring Mirište small boats run to the Blue Cave at €5–10 per person. The water here is among the clearest in the bay because the open sea is just around the corner.

From Herceg Novi boats leave the promenade: a group trip to the coves and the Blue Cave, two to three hours, from €30 per person. A private boat from Herceg Novi for four hours costs from €415 for the vessel. From Tivat the coves come as part of a full day from €650 for the vessel.

The Blue Cave and Mamula

A sea grotto off Luštica where the sun passes under the water and reflects off the pale bottom, filling the vault with even blue light. It works only in clear weather from eleven to three, and in a swell boats do not approach it.

Since 2026 motor vessels have not been allowed inside: the boat or yacht waits at the entrance, and you go into the grotto by kayak, on a SUP or swimming from the boat. Swimming is at the mouth of the grotto.

Next to it is Mamula island — an Austrian fortress of 1853 on bare rock at the mouth of the bay. It is a hotel now, landing is closed to anyone who is not a guest, and you see it from the water. What happened on the island and where access stands now is in Luštica and Mamula. The grotto in detail is in the Blue Cave.

The islands off Perast

Our Lady of the Rocks is man-made: sailors dropped stones here for centuries until there was ground enough for a church. Beside it lies St George’s Island with its cypresses and captains’ graveyard; landing there is not allowed.

From Kotor — forty minutes, part of a loop around the bay: three hours from €580 for the vessel. Separate boats run to the island from Perast itself, about €5 return: Perast and the islands.

How people combine them

Three hours covers one or two points near the town. Half a day links three or four. A full day — from €650 for the vessel out of Tivat — is needed only where the route leaves the bay: Mamula, the grotto, the far coves of Luštica.

What each type of boat costs and what the price covers is in what a yacht charter costs. How the day itself works is in a day on a boat.

The boats, with prices and free dates, are on the yacht charter page, or go straight to a town: Tivat, Kotor, Budva, Bar, Herceg Novi.

What to know before you go

The coves with no road have no café, no drinking water and no shade beyond your own. Bring water, sunscreen and something to cover up — the boat lies at anchor and there is little shade on deck.

And the main thing: access is decided by the weather, not the timetable. In a southerly wind half the route is called off, and that is normal.

Prices are indicative “from” figures, per vessel, checked in September 2026. Whether each point can be approached depends on the swell. Services are provided by independent companies; booking and payment happen directly with them.