In 60 seconds
Guarding the entrance to the Bay of Kotor beneath Mount Orjen, Herceg Novi is affectionately known as the 'City of Fortress Towers' and 'City of Sun'. Founded in 1382 by Bosnian King Tvrtko I, the town's steep stone staircases link an extraordinary collection of fortifications: the sea-level Forte Mare, the Ottoman Kanli Kula amphitheatre, and the Spanish fortress Spanjola crowning the mountain ridge. Bathed in over 200 days of sunshine, its maritime microclimate nurtures exotic palms, mimosas, and eucalyptus brought home by centuries of seafaring captains.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You struggle with stairs; Herceg Novi is famously built entirely on thousands of stone steps climbing from the sea.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Herceg Novi fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Fourteenth-century coastal stone bastion built by Bosnian King Tvrtko I and reinforced by Venetians and Austrians
Stand atop the cannon platforms to watch yachts and ferries pass through the entrance to Boka Bay.
Sixteenth-century Ottoman stone fortress standing 85 metres above the sea, featuring a dramatic 1,000-seat amphitheatre
Visit in the evening during a summer musical concert or film festival for unforgettable clifftop acoustics.
Secluded complex of three Orthodox churches set in lush pine woods, housing ancient frescoes and a wonderworking icon
Walk through the quiet oak and pine forest to admire the 18th-century baroque stone bell tower and sea vistas.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Charming family konoba right by the harbour port serving fresh grilled sardines, seafood buzara, and Dalmatian prosciutto
Order a platter of grilled calamari and garlic Swiss chard potatoes on the vine-shaded harbour terrace.
Shaded stone terrace in the main upper square directly opposite the decorative stone fountain and church
Sip your morning cappuccino while listening to church bells echo across the peaceful stone square.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Enigmatic 16th-century fortress erected by Spanish troops during the Holy League and completed by the Ottomans
Explore the atmospheric overgrown stone ramparts at 170 metres elevation for complete silence and panorama.
After dark
Trendy bar inside the converted 1901 Austro-Hungarian railway station on the promenade, serving craft cocktails
Enjoy a gin tonic on the stone platform terrace where historic narrow-gauge steam trains once hissed to a halt.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
The vibrant waterfront marine basin packed with sailing yachts, diving boats, and the historic open-air water polo pool
Watch a local water polo match at the seaside pool where generations of Olympic champions trained.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Green residential quarter nestled among pine villas and boutique hotels with direct access to seaside bathing piers
Stay in Savina for peaceful morning swims in crystal waters and pine-scented coastal strolls.
Practical
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Bosnian King Tvrtko I Kotromanić founds the fortified port of Sveti Stefan, later renamed Herceg Novi.
Spanish fleet led by Andrea Doria temporarily captures the city, beginning construction of Spanjola fortress.
Venetian Republic liberates Herceg Novi after over two centuries of Ottoman rule.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Wild olive-clad peninsula featuring the radiant Blue Cave (Plava Špilja) and historic Austro-Hungarian naval forts
Dive into the incandescent blue waters inside the Blue Grotto illuminated by subterranean light refractions.
