{"id":647,"date":"2026-04-11T19:11:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T15:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/?p=647"},"modified":"2026-04-12T03:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T23:01:17","slug":"visiting-herceg-novi-one-day-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/visiting-herceg-novi-one-day-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"One Day in Herceg Novi: A Gateway to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike Kotor<\/a>, Herceg Novi is an underrated and far less visited town in Kotor Bay. It\u2019s located very close to the borders with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so often used as a gateway for the people coming in or leaving Montenegro. We did the same, stayed in Herceg Novi and visited Mostar from there.<\/p>\n

If you are traveling around the Balkans, I think Herceg Novi deserves at least a day to explore its cute old town. When we visited, the city was pleasantly quiet, and Kanli Kula, which would be overrun with tourists if it was located elsewhere, was so empty that we practically had it to ourselves.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to spend one day in Herceg Novi, followed by practical tips on when to visit, how to get there and where to stay.<\/p>\n

What to See in Herceg Novi: 1-Day Itinerary<\/h2>\n

You can walk in Herceg Novi for the whole time of your stay. We never needed any transport inside the town. However, it is hilly, so if you are visiting the fortresses, you would have to climb uphill. If you have mobility issues, then taxi is your main option.<\/p>\n

Kanli Kula Fortress: The Best Views in Herceg Novi<\/h3>\n

Entrance fee:<\/strong> 4 EUR<\/p>\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> 9 am-8 pm, shorter hours in winter.<\/p>\n

How to get to Kanli Kula:<\/strong> The fortress sits high above the old town. From the waterside area, you will have to climb quite a lot of stairs and steep streets. If you have any difficulty with stairs or steep roads, it is also accessible by car or a taxi from the main road above.<\/p>\n

Start your day with Kanli Kula, which translates rather ominously as the Bloody Tower. The name is entirely earned. Built in the 16th<\/sup> century during Ottoman rule, this fortress served as a prison, and its dark dungeons can still be visited today. The atmosphere inside is gloomy and menacing.<\/p>\n

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That said, we loved the views from the fortress. Due to its elevated position above the old town, Kanli Kula offers panoramas over the rooftops below and across the bay, definitely the best views in Herceg Novi.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The fortress also has a large amphitheatre, heavily renovated in the 20th<\/sup> century and now used as an open-air performance venue. It has lost much of its historical feel, but the original parts of the fortress more than make up for it. Unbelievably, this is a popular wedding venue. Seems people aren\u2019t deterred by the bloody past of this place.<\/p>\n

The Old Town<\/h3>\n

From Kanli Kula, make your way down into the old town and simply wander. We basically did a few circles to look into the small alleys and enjoy the secluded staircases. In September the old town was by far not crowded and very pleasant.<\/p>\n

Belvista Square and the Church of Archangel Michael<\/strong>: The Belvista (beautiful view) square is located not too far from Kanli Kula. The Serbian Orthodox church of Archangel Michael here is free to enter. It is a beautiful building and worth a few minutes inside.<\/p>\n

The Clock Tower<\/strong>: located close to Belvista Square, this is one of Herceg Novi’s most recognizable landmarks. The tower was first built in the 17th<\/sup> century during Turkish rule, while the upper part was added by the Venetians in the 19th<\/sup> century. It\u2019s a lovely sight. I read that it is possible to climb the tower for free, but when we visited, we couldn’t find any obvious way up or anyone in attendance. Worth checking when you are there and let me know if you have better luck.<\/p>\n

There are also several other churches, small museums, and cute alleys throughout the old town. Take your time, grab a burek if you spot one, and enjoy the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

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If you would like to listen to the historical context provided by a tour guide, you can join the old town walking tour,<\/a> which will also take you to Forte Mare.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Forte Mare (Sea Fortress)<\/h3>\n

Entrance fee:<\/strong> 5 EUR<\/p>\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> 9 am-8 pm, shorter hours in winter.<\/p>\n

After exploring the old town, make your way to Forte Mare (Sea Fortress), which sits right at the shore. You can either descend from the old town or climb the steep steps up from the seafront promenade; we came from the old town and exited to the seaside, which worked well.<\/p>\n

Forte Mare was originally built in the 14th<\/sup> century by the Bosnian king Tvrtko for protection against invaders from the sea. It has been damaged and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries, taking its current form in the 19th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

The views here are not as wide as from Kanli Kula, but the setting right at the water is beautiful, particularly in the late afternoon when the light on the bay is lovely. If your timing works out, it is a beautiful place to catch the sunset. Like Kanli Kula, Forte Mare also works as an open-air venue for theatre and concerts.<\/p>\n

The Promenade Walk<\/h3>\n

On your way down to the promenade, you will come to the ruins of a third fortress – the Citadel, which was almost completely destroyed in the 1979 earthquake. Only ruins remain, but they are worth a glance as you pass.<\/p>\n

Finish your day with a walk along Herceg Novi’s lovely promenade, ideally once the afternoon heat has passed. It is a long, peaceful pedestrian path along the waterfront, with the sounds of the sea and beautiful views of the bay. If you feel like stretching your legs, you can walk all the way to the neighboring town of Igalo.<\/p>\n

Keep an eye out for Do Do caf\u00e9<\/a> near Forte Mare. They serve great ice cream and coffee, which is exactly what you want after a day of stair-climbing. Plus, they have wonderful outdoor seats, if you need some rest.<\/p>\n

For dinner, my recommendation is Tri Lipe<\/a><\/strong>. It came highly recommended and absolutely did not disappoint. It is not the cheapest option in town, but still reasonable. The food and atmosphere are great, particularly if you sit in the cute courtyard. While we didn\u2019t have to wait during our September visit, in summer they are rather busy, so you may need to book ahead or arrive early.<\/p>\n

If You Have More Time in Herceg Novi<\/h2>\n

Spanish Fortress<\/h3>\n

Opening hours:<\/strong> Currently closed for renovations and can only be viewed from outside.<\/p>\n

Entrance fee:<\/strong> free.<\/p>\n

If you have more time, the Spanish Fortress is absolutely worth the effort. It is a significant climb from the old town. But you can take a taxi if you would rather not walk.<\/p>\n

While in ruins and now being renovated, seeing fortress even from outside is fascinating. Plus, the views from up here are spectacular.<\/p>\n

The history of the fortress is quite absurd: the Spanish began constructing it during their one-year rule over Herceg Novi in 1538, and the Ottomans finished it after taking over. Still the fortress is called Spanish to this day.<\/p>\n

Boat Trip to the Blue Cave<\/h3>\n

Price of the boat ride:<\/strong> 15-20 EUR depending on which tour you take.<\/p>\n

The Blue Cave is a stunning sea cave in Kotor Bay, one of the most popular excursions in Montenegro. You can visit it from Kotor, as well as from Herceg Novi. We haven\u2019t done this tour ourselves, because I can\u2019t really snorkel, so can\u2019t provide the details, but people rave about it.<\/p>\n

The group tour options online depart mainly from Kotor. For Herceg Novi, you can only book a private Blue Cave tour<\/a>. Or just show up at the waterfront and find boats heading out.<\/p>\n

Savina Monastery<\/h3>\n

About 20 minutes’ walk from the old town, the Savina Monastery is an Orthodox complex dating back to the 11th century. We did not visit ourselves, but it is worth considering if you have extra time and an interest in religious architecture.<\/p>\n

Trip to Mostar<\/h3>\n

We took a tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Herceg Novi, including Mostar and Trebinje, which were the highlights. Herceg Novi’s location near the border makes it a great base for the trip. The overall tour took up to 12 hours.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can head to Mostar by bus and continue your journey onwards to Sarajevo from there.<\/p>\n

Trip to Dubrovnik<\/h3>\n

Given how close Herceg Novi is to the Croatian border, a day trip to Dubrovnik is also very doable. It is a popular excursion from here taking about 1-1.5 hours to get to Dubrovnik depending on the border delays. It will make a long and satisfying day.<\/p>\n

Dubrovnik can also be a great gateway to next stops in Croatia through Split and other coastal cities.<\/p>\n

If you are continuing your journey in Montenegro, after Herceg Novi, you can continue around the bay to Kotor. This is what we did. You can check out my 2-day Kotor itinerary<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n

Before you go, here are a few practical things to know.<\/p>\n

When to Visit Herceg Novi<\/h2>\n

If you are coming primarily for the fortresses and old town rather than the beaches, then late spring or early to mid autumn are great. Herceg Novi is a seaside destination, and the waterfront and promenade attract plenty of beach visitors in summer. So while the historical sights stay relatively quiet even in peak season, the seafront area can be busy.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you are dreaming of crystal-clear water and gorgeous beaches, I\u2019ll be honest the sea in Kotor Bay generally is not as clean or as beautiful as on the southern Montenegrin coast. It\u2019s better to plan your beach days in or around Sutomore, Budva<\/a>, Petrovac, Ulcinj<\/a> and so on, rather than here.<\/p>\n

We visited in September as part of a longer Balkans trip and the timing was ideal. The summer heat had softened, the skies were clear, and the old town and fortresses were not crowded.<\/p>\n

How Long Do You Need to Explore Herceg Novi<\/h2>\n

One to two days is the right amount of time for Herceg Novi itself. In a single well-planned day you can cover the main fortresses, the old town, and the promenade comfortably. We stayed for a couple of nights, which gave us time to do all of that plus use the city as a base for a day trip to Mostar, which I would highly recommend if you are in the area.<\/p>\n

How to Get to Herceg Novi<\/h2>\n

The most common approach for travelers already in Montenegro is the bus from Kotor<\/a>, which is how we arrived. The journey takes about an hour to an hour and a half depending on the route and traffic. Buses run regularly between the two cities. As always with Montenegrin buses, schedules are approximate rather than strict. You have to find a bus stop and hop on the next bus.<\/p>\n

If you are combining Montenegro with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Herceg Novi is a great gateway to Mostar and vice versa. The journey takes around 4 hours. Buses run daily in the morning at 8.35 from Herceg Novi and at 9.30 from Mostar \u2013 check the schedule on Busticket4me<\/a>. However, they often have delays.<\/p>\n

If you are planning a day trip from Herceg Novi to Mostar or the other way round, buses won\u2019t work. You won\u2019t be able to take a bus in the evening \u2013 they only run in the morning hours. So for this you would need to join a tour, rent a car or hire a private driver.<\/p>\n

Herceg Novi is very close to the Croatian border, and Dubrovnik is only about an hour’s drive away. Many travelers use Dubrovnik Airport as their entry point into Montenegro, which makes Herceg Novi a natural first stop. Buses run between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi regularly, about 3-4 times a day<\/a>. Alternatively, you can book a transfer from the Dubrovnik airport to Herceg Novi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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While getting around with public transport is possible, this is a part of the world where renting a car<\/a> is useful. This way you can explore the surrounding area better or do day trips to Dubrovnik or Mostar independently. The border crossing will also be more straightforward compared to waiting for a busload of people.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For more information about transport in Montenegro, see my dedicated article<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Where to Stay in Herceg Novi<\/h2>\n

Compared to Kotor<\/a> or Budva<\/a>, accommodation in Herceg Novi is affordable, which is one more reason to like it. You will find a good range of small hotels and apartments, and prices are reasonable even in the summer months.<\/p>\n

Given that the town is small, you don\u2019t really need to stay in the downtown area, but finding accommodation closer to the beach is of course nice.<\/p>\n

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Where we stayed in Herceg Novi:<\/strong> We stayed at a relatively affordable Garni Hotel Bokeska Noc<\/a>, which is about 15 minutes’ walk from the fortresses and a few minutes to the beaches. It had a convenient location close enough to the old town that everything was easily walkable. It was a clean and well-maintained hotel with excellent sea views.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If you are looking for something higher level and pricier, Hotel Talia<\/a> is a great option, very close to the beach and providing 4-star service.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unlike Kotor, Herceg Novi is an underrated and far less visited town in Kotor Bay. It\u2019s located very close to the borders with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so often used as a gateway for the people coming in or leaving Montenegro. We did the same, stayed in Herceg Novi and visited Mostar from there. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1151],"class_list":["post-647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-montenegro","tag-herceg-novi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3261,"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions\/3261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hittheroadket.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}