Driving the Bay road from Kotor to Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi guards the Bay of Kotor's western mouth — an hour west of Kotor on the coastal road that hugs the entire shoreline. You pass Perast, Risan, and the Verige strait narrows before the road opens out at Kamenari for the Lepetane ferry shortcut, or you stay on the bay road around Tivat for the longer scenic version.

Most Kotor visitors do Herceg Novi as a day trip, but the town earns an overnight if you want time for the staircase city walk, the three fortresses, or the boat to Mamula and the Blue Cave at Žanjice.

Why drive from Kotor instead of taking a tour bus

Day-tour coaches from Kotor stop in Herceg Novi for 90 minutes — barely enough time for the Old Town walk and a coffee, never mind the fortress trail or the boat trip. With a rental car you split your day between the town and the western beaches, and you choose your own ferry crossing time at Lepetane to skip the inland detour.

Picking up your car

Collect at Tivat Airport on arrival, or in Kotor town the morning of the trip. From Kotor head north on the bay road, take the Lepetane ferry shortcut (5-min crossing, runs every 15 minutes), and you're in Herceg Novi in 45 minutes via the western shore.

Best fleet pick for the trip

The bay road is paved and easy — anything in the fleet does it comfortably. If you're planning to push on to the Prevlaka peninsula or the Croatian border, take a Polo or Yaris (smaller is easier in the narrow village streets). For the boat-trip-to-Žanjice combo, parking is tighter at Mirista — again, smaller car helps. See full options on the fleet page.

Beaches around Herceg Novi

Pebble and concrete shore lines most of the bay, but the western edge has the swimmable spots:

• Mirište: Mirista — the launch point for boats to Mamula and the Blue Cave, plus a small pebble beach you can swim from while you wait.
• Rose: Rose — restored fishing village on the Luštica peninsula, reachable by paid boat shuttle from Herceg Novi or by car via the south bay road.
• Žanjic: Žanjice — pebble bay framed by olive trees, popular boat-trip stop for the Blue Cave loop.
• Igalo: Igalo — wide pebble beach with the famous mud-spa pavilion, 3 km west of the Old Town.

What to see in Herceg Novi

Three fortresses ring the Old Town: Forte Mare on the waterfront, Kanli Kula above the cobbled centre, and Španjola at the top of the hill (steep walk, big payoff view). The town itself is a vertical staircase city — supposedly 100,000 steps total, though the Old Town walk only uses a few hundred. Don't miss the Sahat Kula clock tower at the eastern entrance.

Driving conditions on the Bay road

The shore road is two-lane the whole way, sometimes squeezed between the bay and the cliff. The Lepetane–Kamenari ferry runs constantly and saves 30 minutes versus the inland detour around Tivat. Park outside the Old Town walls; the centre is mostly pedestrianised and parking inside is limited to permit holders.

The coast road east continues to Budva, roughly an hour away, where 21 km of riviera sand begins.

Day trips from Herceg Novi

Boat trip to Mamula and the Blue Cave from Mirista — half-day excursion, multiple operators run it. On the way back stop at Perast for the Our Lady of the Rocks islet if you haven't done it yet.

Prevlaka peninsula — 25 km west, crosses briefly into Croatia for a viewpoint over the bay mouth.

Savina monastery — 2 km from Herceg Novi, set in a pine grove above the bay.

Igalo mud spa — 3 km west, day pass available at the Institute Igalo for the famous mineral mud treatment.

Distances from Herceg Novi