A favorite place for many European tourists in Montenegro is Tivat. Its beautiful views, neat beaches, and modern conditions for recreation have made this city the pearl of the Adriatic coast of Montenegro. In addition, the only airport on the coast is still located here, so anyone can easily get to Tivat, especially during the summer season. What else is interesting in Tivat and why it attracts tourists so much, as well as other interesting points, we will tell you below in our detailed guide to Tivat.
City`s history
Tivat is considered the youngest city in the Bay of Kotor, but despite this, its history is quite interesting. As for the name of the city, there are 3 versions of where it came from. One suggests that the name comes from the name of the Illyrian queen Teuta. The second explanation refers to the names of Christian saints, which resemble the name of the city in their sound: Theudorus, Theodosius, Theodotus (Theodulus, Theodocius or Theodotus). However, the third version is often found, which says that the name Tivat comes from the Celtic word "teuto", which means city.
Tivat was founded on a plateau at the foot of Vrmac and according to the archives of Kotor, the first settlements (not counting the Illyrians) were here in the 14th century. Until that time, Tivat was not considered an independent city but was only a district of Kotor. In the Middle Ages, the fertile lands of this area belonged mainly to the aristocrats of Cattaro, Prcanj, and Dobrota. There were estates, castles, and chalets, as well as the collective church of St. Anton, built-in 1373.
Like most cities in Montenegro, Tivat constantly changed owners, and only after 1945 did it begin to fully develop as a city, primarily focused on the development of tourism.
Areas of Tivat
If you are going to fly to Tivat for a vacation, then you should think in advance about which area of the region it would be better to stay. In total, there are 6 districts in Tivat where tourists most often like to stay:
- Mrcevac and surroundings near the airport
- Kalardovo
- Old Tivat
- Porto Montenegro (the most luxurious area)
- Donya Selyanovo
- Donja Lastva
A favorite place for most visitors is Porto Montenegro. In the area of the airport and in Old Tivat, real estate, as a rule, is in the least demand. This is due to the fact that here all the buildings are quite old and have a far from presentable appearance. In addition, if you rent apartments in Tivat, and do not stay in expensive hotels on the first line, you will have to walk a little to the beach. It is also worth noting that these areas are quite small in size, so the choice of real estate is not so great, but the prices here are slightly lower than in other places.
Another disadvantage of these neighborhoods is the remoteness from the infrastructure. That is, to get to the store or to public transport, you will either need to walk for a long time (20-30 minutes), or rent a car in Tivat. The same situation is with the Kalardovo area, but if you look from the other side, then this is a great place to stay in Montenegro for those who prefer solitude and silence.
In general, if you want to comfortably stay in Tivat, then choose between the areas of Porto Montenegro, Donja Lastva and Donja Selyanovo.
Population
Tivat is the administrative center of the Tivat municipality, with a population of approximately 15,000 people. About 35% of the inhabitants are Montenegrins, another 30% are Serbs, 17% are Croats, the rest are various ethnic groups, ranging from Albanians to Egyptians. The people here are friendly and, importantly, almost everyone speaks English, so communication should not be difficult.
How to get to Tivat
If you arrive at Tivat Airport, then it will be the easiest for you to get to the city, since the distance to the center is about 3.6 km. Another thing is if you arrive in Podgorica, then your route becomes a little more complicated, we described more about how to get from Podgorica airport to anywhere in Montenegro here. And now let's look at ways to get from Tivat airport to a hotel or apartment.
Taxi
This is perhaps the easiest and fastest way, as leaving the airport you will meet many local drivers who will swoop down on you like seagulls. But keep in mind that the price tag of such drivers is likely to be too high, so do not hesitate to bargain and bring down the price. You can also call local taxi services, but this is more difficult since you need to call and communicate directly. There is no application for calling a taxi in Tivat.
Transfer
You can book an airport transfer in advance of your arrival. In some cases, it will be even cheaper than the starting price of Tivat taxi drivers.
Rent a Car
When planning to come to Tivat in the summer, keep in mind that cars here are ended rather quickly, so you need to book a car at least 2 weeks before the trip, and preferably a month in advance. There are many sites for renting a car in Montenegro or Facebook groups where you can rent a car without a deposit. Also at the Tivat airport, there are racks of international rental Hertz, Avis and other companies.
Public transport
Public transport does not go to Tivat airport. As an exception, drivers sometimes stop here, but this is at their own risk. In addition, there is a direct highway, so there is not even a convenient place where one could stop. Therefore, the only budget option is to walk to the place you need using an online map.
Attractions of Tivat
Medieval summer house Buča Luković
This small complex of white stone was built in the 17th century during the Renaissance and belonged to the noble family of Bucha from the city of Kotor. The dacha complex Bucha consists of 5 buildings: a residential building turned into an art gallery, utility rooms, a church, and a chapel of St. Michael, as well as a porch with a garden where small concerts, literary evenings, and other cultural events are held.
Saint Mark's Island (Stradioti)
Located to the west of the Tivat peninsula, the island of St. Mark attracts with its mystery and excellent beach. You can get here by boat, which is usually moored in the port of Tivat near Porto Montenegro. Now the island is, to put it mildly, a little abandoned, and all the buildings that were there were drowned in grass and weeds. However, if you like to visit non-trivial places where there are no crowds of tourists on the way, and where you can enjoy your vacation on an incredibly beautiful beach, then you should definitely look here.
Gornja Lastva
This picturesque village is located on the slopes of the Vrmac hill near Tivat. If you want to plunge into history and feel the local flavor, then it will be the perfect place for this. In Gornja Lastva, you will see the old buildings of houses, as well as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was built in 1410. In addition, this village also attracts tourists with its traditional holidays, which take place mainly in August. At these festivities, visitors can enjoy authentic music, folk dances, as well as various games.
Maritime Heritage Museum
Previously, on the site of the famous Porto Montenegro complex, the Arsenal naval base, founded in 1889, was located. It was considered one of the largest bases on the Adriatic coast, and now, aside from this complex, a naval heritage museum has been opened, which contains about 300 exhibits. There is even a restored Yugoslav submarine on the territory of the museum, so if you are fond of history, then this place is a must-see.
Consulate of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
As strange as it may sound, the consulate of the former Yugoslav state can also be an interesting place for history buffs. Now it, as you might guess, functions as a museum in memory of the period 1945-1989. The consulate displays a variety of exhibits, including flags, the uniform of former SFRY President Josip Broz Tito, and one of Tito's most prestigious cars, known as a black government limousine from the 1960s. In the consulate building, you can see many symbols reminiscent of the times of the former Yugoslavia, listen to the hymn “Hey Slavs”, sign the visitor’s book, and as a memento of your stay at the consulate you can get a once very revered red passport with the sign of the SFRY.
In general, there are few attractions in Tivat that could keep you here for a long time. Therefore, if you do not come here for a beach holiday, then 1 day is enough for you to enjoy the atmosphere of the city.
Tivat beaches
Tivat is not considered a beach city, although it is located on the seashore. At the same time, there are more than 20 beaches, both wild and equipped, where you can relax quite comfortably. We also note that the water in Tivat is warmer and calmer than in other resort locations, since it is situated in the Bay of Kotor, and not on the shores of the open sea. So that you do not waste your time looking for where to relax, we collect here the best beaches of Tivat that are worth your attention.
Waikiki Beach Resort
This is perhaps the best sandy beach in Tivat, where all the necessary infrastructure is: sun loungers, umbrellas, sofas, showers, changing rooms, as well as a good bar. There is even free parking for beach guests, although there are not so many places there.
Plavi Horizonti
If you come to rest in Tivat with small children, then this beach will be the best option for you. It is only 15 minutes drive from the city and is famous for its beautiful clear water with a blue tint. (Translated from Montenegrin Plava is blue, i.e. literally the beach is called blue horizons). This large sandy bay has a very smooth and long entry into the water (about 50 meters), so children will be quite comfortable on this beach.
On the territory of Plavi Horizonti, there is a restaurant where you can order food, ice cream and drinks. There is also a large car park that costs 3 euros per day.
Ponta beach
This beach is located directly in the city, but it is pebbly. It is worth noting that this is the only beach with an equipped descent into the water for people with disabilities. There is a cafe, changing cabins and a toilet.
Solila beach
On this beach near Tivat, you can also ride catamarans and admire the beautiful bay. Near the beach, there is parking for guests, as well as all the amenities for a comfortable stay, but it is worth noting that it is pebbly and the sunbeds on it are paid (about 15 euros/day, but umbrellas are included immediately).
The beaches in Tivat are small, and in some places quite tiny, clearly inferior in size to the Slavic beach in Budva or the sandy Big Beach (Velika Plaža) in Ulcinj, 17 km long.
Tivat beaches area: Opatovo (500 m²), Donja Lastva (1000 m²), beach in front of the Kamelia Hotel (2000 m²), Selyanovo beach (1700 m²), Mimosa hotel beach (350 m²), Palma Hotel beach (2400 m²), Belane (1200 m²), Bonici (250 m²), Zupa (500 m²), Mulo Oko (200 m²), beach on the Flower Island (1200 m²), Kaladrovo (4200 m2), Sveti Marko (4000 m²), beach on Ciglana street (500 m²), Plavi Horizon (8500 m²), Krasici (1500 m²) and Oblatno beach (1200 m²).
Parking
You can find free parking on the streets of Tivat, but every year there are fewer and fewer such places and the city government plans to expand the areas where there will be paid parking in Tivat.
If we talk about the city center, then all the parking there is paid, as indicated by the signs, where the price and phone number for payment are indicated. You can pay for parking via SMS, or by purchasing a ticket at a kiosk. Yes, there are no special payment machines here. The cost of parking depends on the zone, the cheapest one starts from 0.4 euros/hour. You can find out more about working hours, as well as paid parking places on this website: https://parkingservistivat.me/
Read more about parking at Tivat airport.
In general, if you drive your own car or rent a car, it is better to choose accommodation with parking.
Prices
Tivat is considered almost the most expensive city on the coast for recreation. The reason for this, of course, is the good location and developed transport infrastructure. However, as throughout Montenegro, it is difficult to say that it is expensive to relax in Tivat. If you decide to come here on vacation, then expect that you will need about 70-100 euros per day, taking into account the rental of sunbeds on the beach, food, and excursions. During the season, prices in Tivat, of course, skyrocket, so feel free to bargain and get yourself the best price.
Weather
Tivat is the sunniest city in the Bay of Kotor. On average, there are about 240 sunny days a year. It has a rather mild Mediterranean climate, with warm, albeit rainy, winters.
The average annual air temperature is 15°C.
Season
The swimming season in Tivat lasts approximately 180 days, starting at the end of April and ending at the end of October. In summer, the weather here is quite hot, with an average temperature of 30°C. Due to the proximity to the sea and its mild climate, it is quite comfortable to relax in the city, but at lunchtime, it is better to refrain from walking and relaxing under the sun, as you can quickly burn out or get sunstroke.
Therefore, if you want to come to Montenegro for a beach holiday, then choose dates from mid-May to the first half of October.
Rental of property
In Tivat, modern buildings and old houses are close to each other, so here you can rent both modern apartments (for example, in the same Porto Montenegro) and stay in an old stone house with its own atmosphere. We note right away that you can rent accommodation in advance through various booking services, such as Booking, Agoda or AirBnb, or look for apartments upon arrival. Here, in many houses, residents rent out rooms and hang signs near the courtyard with the inscriptions Soba (room in Serbian).
Hotels
There are many good hotels in Tivat right near the coast, but the prices there are 2-4 times higher. In general, you can find an overnight stay in Tivat at a hotel starting from 60 € per day, depending on the conditions of residence. There are practically no All-inclusive hotels here, the maximum you can find here is a hotel with breakfast, which is extremely rare.
Apartments
If you are going to stay in Tivat for more than a week, we recommend that you opt for renting apartments from the owners, where you will have your own washing machine and kitchen. The cost of renting apartments in the season in Tivat, as a rule, starts from €50, you can also find options for €15, but you shouldn’t expect much in this case. And as a rule, cheaper options are located far from the city center, so you will need to rent a car in Tivat.
Rent a Car
There are a lot of car rental services at Tivat Airport, so you can immediately choose a car for yourself, provided, of course, that there are free vehicles. Cars for rent in the season are quickly dismantled, so it is advisable to book a car a few weeks before the trip. The prices of local distributors are quite democratic, in many cases you can rent a car in Tivat without a deposit, or it will be minimal (about 100 euros). If you book a car through the world's car rental services, then there will be completely different prices and deposit obligations. Therefore, we advise you to study the issue of renting a car in advance by contacting local rental services.
Tours
After visiting all the places that you can see in Tivat, there is a great option to go on tours, and you can choose both group and individual excursion tours in Montenegro. Although the country is small, it is quite beautiful, so it would be a crime not to see the most important sights of Montenegro, which are not so far from Tivat.
You can buy tours in one of the online services or purchase them immediately on the spot, choosing what you like.
From popular destinations in Montenegro, you can meet:
- a walk through the old town of Kotor + ascent to the fortress of St. John;
- a trip to Lovcen Mount with incredible landscapes;
- tour to Zabljak to the Dzhurdzhevich bridge and the canyon of the Tara river + climbing Mount Durmitor and visiting the Black Lake;
- boat trip along the Bay of Kotor + arrival in Perast to the island of Gospa od Shkrpela
- visiting Ostrog (monastery in the rock) and Lipova cave.
This is just a small list of tours that you can go to in Montenegro. Also, in addition, you can visit other Montenegrin cities that have their own sights and features.
In addition, for fans of extreme sports there are the following types of tours and activities:
- kayaking on the sea or kayaking on the Tara River
- cycling on Vrmac hill
- hiking in the Bay of Kotor
- golf
- archery
- paragliding over Budva
In general, there is something to do in Montenegro, but tourists still come here more to admire nature, and together with the warm sea, you get an excellent combo where you can combine both active and relaxing holidays.
Food: what and where to taste in Tivat
And, perhaps, almost the most important item on the list is “Where to eat?” and “What local Montenegrin dishes to taste”. Let's make a reservation right away that Montenegro is a meat country, almost all national dishes in one way or another consist of either meat or cheese. If you are a vegetarian, then most chefs in Tivat restaurants will offer you various fruits, vegetables, and fish, but there are usually very few such dishes on the menu, so check with the waiters.
Local staples include homemade wine, sweet liquor, frustule (sweet crispy cake), cheese, prosciutto (especially in the village of Njegusi if you go on a tour), and olives or olive oil, all depending on the occasion and time of day.
As a main dish, especially during the summer months, grilled fish, freshly caught in the Gulf of Tivat, is cooked. You can't go wrong if you choose seafood risotto or try oysters at oyster farms, which are in abundance in the Bay of Kotor.
Also in Tivat there are a large number of hotels and restaurants where you can try delicious meat dishes, such as: splashes (local cutlets), steaks, meat plate, cevapi, stuffed fillet with ham and more.
Restaurants in Tivat, that we advise you to visit: "Galeb", "Izlet", "Kalimanj", "Montenegro", "Splendido", as well as taverns such as "Bacchusa" or "Maestrala".
After a good lunch or dinner, try the local white wines Krstač, Chardonnay or Sauvignon, or the red wines Vranac, Merlot, Procorde or Cabernet.
Also, a beautiful and pleasant stay, with a light Italian dinner in the company of loved ones, can be spent in many Tivat pizzerias such as: "As", "Lav", "Pine", "Renesansa", "Zodiak".
After a hearty lunch or dinner, if you are not too worried about calories and extra pounds, we recommend you look into the pastry cafes "Biser", "Minjon" or "Pine".
