Spizza Haven

Nestled in a quiet corner of Montenegro in idyllic Talići, with fresh, clean air and a local atmosphere, the villa is perfect for those who love to get away from it all. If you're ready to tear yourself away from the comfort and peaceful serenity of the villa, the historic port city of Bar is just a 15-minute drive away, while thriving Budva takes 30 minutes to reach.

The main attraction in Bar is King Nikolas' Palace. The King built this graceful house to create a home for his daughter and son in law and the palace now houses an impressive museum of folk costumes and historical relics. Stari Bar - the Old Town - sits atop a steep hill, encompassing ancient ruins. Over the years, it has been occupied by the Venetians, Hungarians, Serbians and Ottoman Empire, all of whom made their mark.

Over time, some of the ruins have been overrun by nature, while some of the architecture is reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire. The Omerbasica Mosque is the most prominent example of this, rectangular in structure and surrounded by stone walls. Bar is home to one of the world's oldest olive trees, the Stara Maslina. An important symbol in Balkan history, this tree is two millenniums old and marked by a series of square stones that encircle it. One side of the tree is burnt, and the real reason why remains a mystery.

The area around Bar is locally well known for canyoning, particularly and Medjurecje, where you can get into the adventure sport that encompasses abseiling, navigating gorges and rock climbing. Magnificent Lake Skadar, the largest in the Balkans and topped with water lilies, is just a 30-minute drive away. A great location for wildlife spotting and home to many species of bird, it's a perfect place to switch off and reconnect with nature. There are also many fine wineries in this region, where you can take a tour and sample some local Montenegrin wine.

Lively Budva town is a great day trip and extremely popular with travellers to Montenegro. A buzzing hive of activity, Budva has a charming Old Town and an infectious atmosphere. Get pleasantly lost discovering hidden nooks and crannies around the narrow streets and alleyways. There are many boutiques and street stalls to discover here, and several piazzas to enjoy a coffee and people watch. With its imposing stone Venetian walls that once guarded the city from intruders and its cosmopolitan cafes and nightlife, Budva is the beating heart of this stunning Balkan country.

If you're after some days at the beach, there are no fewer than 17 named beaches that stretch along the coastline from Jaz to Buljarica in the area known as Budva Riviera. Some great choices for a beach day include Becici beach, where you can go paragliding, and Kamenow, with its crystal-clear turquoise waters and powdery sand. Mogren Beach is the closest to the Old Town, while Jaz beach got the top spot in Lonely Planet's best beaches in Europe. Stop at a seaside cafe for some fresh seafood and a glass of local wine.

Read more about Sveti Stefan & South Coast

About Sveti Stefan & South Coast

The southern coast of Montenegro is largely made up of the Bar and Ulcinj Municipalities. This area is ideal for those who enjoy the lack of crowds and are in pursuit of a serener setting.

Sveti Stefan is probably the most likely image you will find on a Montenegrin postcard and with good reason too! With pink sandy beaches and delightful little shops, you will find yourself in a world of your own. Due to the seasonality of Sveti Stefan, its island gate is open to guests from May.

The South Coast –

Bar’s testing past is chronicled in its partially restored towns, which have seen a Turk invasion during the 19th Century and a severe earthquake in the late 70’s. Bar really is a treasure and efforts have been made to rebuild its old town and surrounding communes, which has given rise to one of our more peculiar, but captivating destinations.

The clearest way to understand the dichotomy of this area’s past is to pay a visit to Stari Bar. Firstly, you will be bewildered by the striking Mount Rumija that frames this beguiling town. A heavy presence of Ottoman architecture can be seen scattered amongst renovated structures, dilapidated buildings and relics. This image alone denotes the staggering degree of one town’s inauspicious history and lends a careful reminder to visitors of an era long-gone. More stately buildings have stood the test of time, so pay a visit to the Church of. St Jovan Vladimir (formerly the Patron Saint & Protector of Bar) and King Nikola’s Palace that now acts as the town’s museum. Perhaps one of the most inspiring feats of this town is Stara Maslina and its olive grove. This olive tree has remained in place for over two millennia and acts as a sign of fortitude for a prised town.

A short trip from Bar will land you on the doorstep of Skadar Lake and its National Park. This reserve encourages its guests to view exceptional indigenous wildlife, enjoy water sports & boat trips and taste the wines of Vinarija Bogojević & Cemovsko Field. A true marvel for those who get a kick from the outdoors!

South of both Bar and Skadar Lake, the town of Ulcinj is found bordering Albania. This is where the best beaches in this region can be found, which include Valdanos Beach and Velika Plaža & Mala Plaža. Here you will finally find some space to breathe! Unlike Budva, Ulcinj hasn’t quite been touched by the hordes of European tourists. The old town of Ulcinj stands proud as the oldest in Montenegro and with this comes a humbler style of life…people come here for good old-fashioned R&R! The town has a remarkable presence of farmer’s markets and street vendors, which tend to operate most days. What better way to start the morning than picking up some fresh & locally grown fruit? You will also be pleased to know that Ulcinj has a reputation for having the best gelato in Montenegro and the Adriatic coast, so don’t feel guilty upon your daily return visits! When the evening falls and you're craving something savoury, stroll along the Bojana River and you will find some of the more renowned restaurants in the area.

Prior to Booking

As many of our regions in Montenegro are coastal, there can sometimes be some adverse weather. This tends to only really occur outside of the Peak Season though. When thinking about booking your holiday to Montenegro, please consult Foreign travel advice for more information.

Entry Requirements

Tourists who are British Citizens will not require a visa upon arrival, unless their stay lasts longer than 90 days. Please check Entry Requirements before departure.

2020 Local Public Holidays

1st January - New Year's Day
2nd January - New Year's Day Holiday
6th January - Orthodox Christmas Eve
7th January - Orthodox Christmas
8th January - Orthodox Christmas Holiday
20th March - March Equinox
10th April - Good Friday
13th April - Easter Monday
17th April - Orthodox Good Friday
19th April - Orthodox Easter Day
20th April - Orthodox Easter Monday
1st May - Labour Day
2nd May - Labour Day Holiday
21st May - Independence Day
22nd May - Independence Day Holiday
13th July - Sovereignty Day of Montenegro
15th July - Sovereignty Day of Montenegro Holiday
31st December - New Year’s Eve

Getting There

Sveti Stefan, Bar & Ulcinj are served by Tivat Airport and Podgorica Airport. Please note that Tivat is a smaller International Airport, which can experience overcrowding in Peak Season. Due to its proximity to Orjen & Lovćen Mountains, flights are sometimes re-directed to Podgorica Airport or cancelled in the case of bad weather.

From the UK:
Direct flights are available from London on Montenegro Airlines, easyJet, TUI, Ryanair and many others. Chartered flights are also available from several other UK airports.

From Dubrovnik, Croatia:
Connecting flights are available from Dubrovnik Airport to Podgorica Airport.

By Bus:
GetByBus operates from Dubrovnik, Tivat and Podgorica to Sveti Stefan, Bar & Ulcinj. Journeys can take up to 4 hours and 45 minutes.