Can you swim in Montenegro in early May?
👙🩳 I'm getting lots of questions on a hot topic — can you swim in Montenegro in early May?
From my two years of experience, I'd say yes. But without much pleasure)) On 18 April the water was searingly icy. On 28 April it was already bracing, like morning coffee. It feels like it has reached about 19 degrees today. My 5-year-old splashes around and can't be pulled out, but kids seem not to feel the cold at all)
⛱️If you have no other options and this spring is your only chance to see the sea, then of course you should go for a swim, if only to test yourself)) especially since the weather for early May is forecast to be great. The sun is already scorching, so you want to get into the water to cool off. But if anything below 24 degrees makes you go brrr, you can just lounge on the sand.
One objective plus: no crowds of tourists on the beach.
🏖️Top beaches with the warmest water among those where I've gone "winter swimming":
1. Horizonti, Tivat☀️
2. Bečići.
3. Velika Plaža, Ulcinj
4. My beloved Mogren
5. Przno
6. 🥶And the iciest — Orahovac, Kotor. Because of the huge number of underground freshwater springs, the water, which hasn't warmed up yet anyway, becomes simply freezing.
🌊 Definitely pack a swimsuit! You can swim in early May. If you're comfortable in water at +18 to +20 °C, you're quite ready for Montenegro. Otherwise, enjoy the sea with your eyes, and only step into the water for a photo and to test how «full of life» you are. 😅
in the video: proof and an objective water rating from a Montenegrin grandpa)
Published April 29, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗
A guide to Montenegro is simply impossible without beaches.
Pržno — one of the most beautiful, a beach that inspires 🏖️
Pržno is a cozy fishing village on the Adriatic coast, 6 km south of Budva. Its history dates back to ancient times, and it was part of the territory of the Paštrovići tribe, known for its autonomy. The life of this tribe was described by Stjepan Mitrov Ljubiša in the novella "Kanjoš Macedonović".
In front of Przno beach there are three rocky reefs, the Kršići, which create a natural harbour sheltered from waves and strong wind. An old building stands on the biggest of them.
Even the local old-timers and their grandfathers don't remember what this building is or what it was used for. Presumably it's a watchtower meant to guard against Turkish pirates from the town of Ulcinj. The pirates' leader was the well-known Kılıç Ali, who miraculously survived the famous Battle of Lepanto, where the Turkish fleet suffered heavy losses.
In the 19th century this was the summer residence of the royal Karađorđević family.
The most popular beaches in Pržno are the Queen's Beach, named after Maria Karađorđević, and King Alexander Karađorđević's Beach, set on the shores of two cozy bays.
In the postwar years Pržno became a place of inspiration for artists and writers such as Marko Čelebonović, Milo Milunović and Vuko Radović. In this picturesque corner surrounded by mountains and pine forests, they created their best works.
Just 50 years ago Pržno was a fishing and farming village buried in olive groves, fig and pomegranate trees. Today it has kept its authenticity: narrow medieval streets, old houses with blue shutters, a guard post on the rock. The only thing spoiling this splendor is the modern-style hotels. What can I say, this place is mesmerizingly beautiful and truly inspiring! Highly recommend a visit.
By the way, from Pržno you can walk through the park to Sveti Stefan.
Published May 1, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗
Mogren, Budva's favourite beach
More about Montenegro's beaches. I decided long ago on my favourite beach in Budva — it's Mogren
and only Mogren.
According to local legend, the beach got its name from the Spanish sailor Mogrin, who was shipwrecked and washed up on this shore. In gratitude for his rescue, he built the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. However, after World War II the church was destroyed, and a restaurant now stands in its place.
On the way to the beach stands a bronze statue of a girl gymnast, known as the «Budva Ballerina». According to one legend, it depicts a girl who came to the sea every day, waiting for her sailor sweetheart to return.
The beach is 500 meters from Budva's Old Town. A perfect location😍 The path to it runs along a picturesque stretch of coast, past the cliffs, and takes about 5 minutes on foot. The beach is divided into two parts: Mogren I and Mogren II.
🌊 Services and facilities
Mogren I: has sunbeds, umbrellas, a café, showers and toilets. But they're sooooo shabby🙈. The entry into the sea is gentle, which is convenient for families with children.
Mogren II: less crowded, sandy, with a gradual entry into the water. There's also a café and water equipment rental.
🏰 Mogren Fortress
On the hill above the beach are the ruins of the Austro-Hungarian Mogren Fortress, built in 1860. The top offers a panoramic view of the Budva Riviera and the Adriatic Sea. The fortress can be reached on foot.
Mogren Beach is an ideal place for those looking for a combination of beautiful nature, clean sea and a secluded getaway (just not in summer)
#montenegro #beach #Balkans #sea
Published May 1, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗
I've finally gotten around to recapping my spring trip to Montenegro!
I'm continuing to add to my guide to Montenegrin beaches — today, a review of a beach with the poetic name Plavi Horizonti (Blue Horizons).
📍 The beach is on the Luštica peninsula, in a picturesque bay by the village of Radovići. You can get there in 10–15 minutes by car from the centre of Tivat, or in 20 minutes by bus (ticket ~1.50 €). There is paid parking nearby (~3–5 €/day). The ideal option is to stay close by or come to the beach in your own car; public transport in the heat is more of a one-off «adventure».
🏖 Beach and sea
Plavi Horizonti is considered one of the most beautiful beaches near Tivat and one of the most environmentally clean.
We were there at the start of the season, and I remember the water was noticeably warmer than elsewhere.
Length: about 300–400 m
Entry into the sea: very gentle, perfect for kids. Suitable even for toddlers
Waves: almost never — the bay is well sheltered
Water: crystal clear, and farther from shore it's great for snorkeling and watching fish 🐠
Surface: soft sand + fine pebbles. In spring the whole shore was covered with mountains of sand, apparently brought in. The kids were thrilled, as you can see in the photos) By now the shore has most likely been leveled and the sand refreshed
⛱ Infrastructure
At the start of the season the beach looked rather «wild» — the cafés were closed and only a makeshift shower was working.
In season, everything you need is open:
Showers, toilets, changing cabins
Lifeguards, umbrella and sunbed rental (25 €/set)
Cafés, a self-service restaurant, ice cream kiosks
Areas for volleyball, tennis, basketball
Water activities: pedalos, water skiing and more.
🌳 The bay is surrounded by Mediterranean pines, olive trees and palms. The abundance of greenery around the beach not only creates a picturesque landscape but also gives holidaymakers natural shade.
The beach has been awarded a «Blue Flag» for cleanliness and environmental standards.
In high season (July–August) it can get crowded, so it's better to arrive early. The ideal time is early June or September: fewer people and the water is a comfortable temperature.
To sum up:
Entry: ~3 € (sometimes included in the parking fee)
Parking: 3–5 €/day
Sunbeds + umbrella: 25 €/set
🚌 Bus: ~1–1.50 € (Tivat → Radovići → Horizonti)
Pros:
✅ Fine sand, easy entry into the water
✅ Suitable for kids
✅ Facilities, cafés, water activities
✅ Picturesque surroundings and shade from the trees
Cons:
➖ Can be crowded in season
➖ Prices slightly above average
I recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, convenient beach for a holiday with kids, or who simply prefers a sandy shore. The sand on this beach really is wonderful.
#montenegro #beach #review #bluehorizons #balkans #sea
Published June 23, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗
Ada Bojana: from nudism to mindfulness
🏝 Ada Bojana: from nudism to mindfulness
After watching the film "The Beauty of Sin" I couldn't stop thinking about seeing Ada Bojana with my own eyes. This legendary nudist island, a socialist wonder in the delta of the Bojana River.
In spring we made it there, and the impressions really were wonderful — you can see it in the photos: sandy beaches, snow-white cottages, open space and a feeling of freedom.
I started digging into the island's history — and here's what I found out.
It turns out there was no island at all in the 19th century. Everything changed in 1858, when a Turkish ship ran aground at the river mouth. The water began to wash sand up around it — and that's how nature "built" an island. Ada means island in Serbian, hence the name Ada Bojana.
On one side is the Bojana River, on another the Adriatic Sea, and on the third an artificial canal.
📏 Today it's an almost triangular patch of land of about 5 km².
In the 1970s Ada was turned into an official nudist resort — on the initiative of tourists from the GDR and with Tito's support. The bet was that naturism:
fits the spirit of «naturalness»,
means «liberation from bourgeois conventions»,
brings in foreign currency
and doesn't violate morals, since everything was in a closed format — with
passes and security. By the way, Yugoslavs were only allowed onto the island after the 1980s. I'll leave the chronology of the island's nudist life in the comments
🎬 This "socialist paradox" — control in the guise of freedom — inspired the cult 1986 film "The Beauty of Sin" (you can read about the film here).
🩳 And what about now?
The nudist resort still exists, but without its former glory. More and more "textile" tourists come, the infrastructure is very worn out and clearly needs an upgrade.
But Ada itself is the same: wind, open space, bare butts, poplars, houses on stilts and the feeling that you're at the edge of civilization.
The good news - Ada isn't standing still. Since 2021 it has hosted the Ada Divine Awakening festival — 6 days of body practices, yoga, meditation and music.
This year it takes place September 13–18
Participants come from more than 50 countries
Packages from €429
No alcohol, with a focus on ecology, silence and depth
Festival info here 🔗 adawakening.me
So it turns out Ada Bojana is an island that nature created by accident and people turned into a myth: first a bodily one, now a spiritual one
More photos in the comments🖇️
#Montenegro #sea #AdaBojana #travel #Balkans #nudism
Published July 7, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗
Where to watch the sunset in Montenegro: the view of Sveti Stefan
🔥 Sunsets in the Balkans.
I'll leave sunrises to those who like to get up early. I'll share a spot with the most beautiful Balkan sunsets I've seen so far.
Continuing the guide to Montenegro
It unexpectedly turned out that you can't see sunsets everywhere in Montenegro. In Budva, for example, it's pretty sad. High-rises block the horizon, and the sun sets right behind them. So if you want to see a real evening show, look for viewpoints outside the city.
✅ A "3-in-1" location: panorama, chapel and amphitheater
Here's a place where everything comes together perfectly:
🌅A fantastic view of the bay and the island of Sveti Stefan — this is the very view called one of the best in Montenegro.
🌅A cozy little church
🌅A small amphitheater with stone benches — sit down, relax and watch the sky turn into pastels 🎨
🌅 A winding and in places broken road leads here — you'll have to drive slowly, so allow enough time not to miss the sunset. It's best to arrive 30–40 minutes before the sun goes down.
I recently came across a review: «this viewpoint is perfect for capturing breathtaking sunset views… curvy roads, asphalt not great but view worth it»
🗓 When to go
Best time: late May to early September.
In May–June the sun is gentle and the landscape is in bloom.
From July to August it's hot, but the sunsets are especially rich thanks to clouds and humidity, which blur the border between sky and sea.
📍 And finally, the location on the map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5X5b7v53kVESwEWn7
A place worth visiting while we're here! Save it and share with your friends
Published August 4, 2025 · Open post in Telegram ↗
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