The Complete Guide to Marinas in Montenegro
Montenegro has long been overlooked by sailors and holidaymakers as a premier sailing destination. But things are changing and Montenegro is slowly transforming itself into one of the premier sailing destinations in the Med. One of the ways that they are doing this is through the addition of many great marinas in Montenegro.
For Montenegro’s small size, there are lots and lots of marinas or pontoons to moor up to for a night of two. And with unpredictable and strong winds blowing off the steep mountains that line Montenegro’s coastline, you are going to want to know where these marinas are in case you need to make a beeline there.
Marinas in Montenegro
This list covers the major Montenegro marinas from north to south.
Marina Lazure
The first marina in Montenegro on the list is Marina Lazure located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. This moderately sized marina is perfect after a weary day of sailing and has all of the amenities you could want.
Unlimited electricity and water, as well as access to clean toilets and showers, are just a few of the reasons to stop in at Marina Lazure. Included in your mooring fee, you also have access to an umbrella and day beds for your entire crew at the Lazure Beach Bar!
It is also a great place to stay when visiting the nearby town of Herceg Novi which is only a 2-kilometer stroll along the coastline.
One of the downsides of Marina Lazure is that no fuel is available here. (The closest fuel is available at the Herceg Novi town quay or Portonovi.)
There are also no laundry facilities, but the team at Marina Lazure has partnered with a company to provide this service. If you would like to know more details regarding laundry, you can reach them directly at [email protected].
- Website: https://marina.lazure.me/
- VHF Channel: 87
Portonovi
Another new marina in Montenegro is Portonovi located just across the Bay of Kotor from Porto Montenegro. Portonovi is part of the D-Marin Group which you may be familiar with if you have spent any time in Croatia or Greece.
With a capacity to serve 283 yachts including super yachts, Portonovi is another marina in Montenegro with an eye on high-end offerings and luxury. Heck, there is even a helicopter pad at the marina!
Portonovi prides itself on being a modern, clean, and friendly marina, and we could not agree more! One of the downsides to Portonovi, like many of the luxury marinas in Montenegro, is that water and electricity are not included in the mooring fee but are charged extra.
It is possible to check in and out of Montenegro at the Portonovi Marina as there is an immigration office located at the marina! Even if you do not stay for the evening, you can check in and out here but will be required to pay a docking assistance fee of €1 per meter of boat length to the marina for their services.
- Website: https://www.d-marin.com/en/marinas/portonovi/
- VHF Channel: 74
Porto Montenegro Marina
The cream of the crop of marinas in Montenegro is the opulent Porto Montenegro. This mega yacht marina is all about luxury and grandeur.
Once an important naval base in Montenegro, the location of the Porto Montenegro Marina was developed by Hungarian-Canadian billionaire Peter Munk in 2006 and has since become a destination in its own right in Montenegro.
The Porto Montenegro Marina is home to some of the most impressive vessels in the Med, and even if you aren’t staying here just a stroll along the promenade is worth it.
Porto Montenegro Marina can handle boats of all sizes including superyachts up to 250m! You may even get to see the majestic Black Pearl located here which is a sight to behold.
As expected, the facilities are wonderful with individual shower and toilet combos, on-site laundry, and free wifi. Unfortunately, electricity and water are excluded from the mooring fee and must be paid for separately at the marina office.
It is also possible to check in and out of Montenegro at the Porto Montenegro Marina.
- Website: https://www.portomontenegro.com/marina/
- VHF Channel: 71
Porto In
A simple pontoon located just north of Porto Montenegro, Porto In is an option if you are looking to visit Porto Montenegro but want to save a couple of pennies while you do it. The mooring fee includes electricity and water but there are no toilets or showers available.
A €12 week pass to the PMYC gym near the pontoon will give you access to a small clean gym with nice showers between 6 am and 5 pm.
- VHF Channel: 9
Marina Glavati Prcanj
This small family-run marina is perfect for those who want to explore the Kotor side of the Bay of Kotor. Situated approximately 4 kilometers from Kotor, Marina Glavati Prcanj offers approximately 20 mooring spots.
The facilities here are basic but include water and electricity. There is no toilet or shower available for use, but the marina staff are extremely helpful and friendly!
- VHF Channel: None, contact at +382 68 278 141
Luka Kotor
More pontoon than marina, Luka Kotor is a great option to tie up if you want to explore the medieval city of Kotor. You can also anchor in the bay just outside, but strong winds and poor holding are a few of the complaints that get tossed around in the community apps.
At Luka Kotor, the mooring fee includes electricity, water, and peace of mind while you go out to explore this fascinating town!
We booked on Navily and were confirmed, however, when we arrived there was no indication that they knew we had a reservation.
- VHF Channel: 17
Please note that there are a few other smaller marinas such as the airport marina, Jamb marina, Movida Beach Marina, and Port Herceg Novi within the Bay of Kotor that we did not visit. See Navily for more details.
Lustica Bay Marina
Another relative newcomer on the scene is Lustica Bay Marina. Lustica Bay is positioning itself much like most of Montenegro as a luxury destination and the marina is no exception.
This marina has the feel of a boutique marina without the hefty price tag. The staff here are extremely friendly and welcoming and go out of their way to make sure your stay at Lustica Bay Marina is enjoyable.
Water, electricity, and showers are all included in the price of mooring.
One downside of Lustica Bay Marina is that there is no laundry facility here. You can have laundry done at the nearby Chedi Hotel but be prepared to spend your weekly budget on a few clean shirts.
- Website: https://lusticabay.com/lustica-bay-marina/
- VHF Channel: 68
Dukley Marina
Dukley Marina is the only marina located in Budva. While it is located right next to the stunning medieval town, the marina itself has a couple of shortcomings. The guest pontoon is open to the constant swell and wake of boats and is very the marina office and amenities. The staff here are famously unhelpful, going as far as telling us our radio was broken to avoid catching a line. The facilities are broken and dirty and you risk being screamed at by the staff if you use them.
If you need a place to fill up water or to leave the boat while you explore the pretty Budva Old Town (or journey inland), then it is an okay stop, but it is not our favorite marina on the list. Water and electricity are included in the mooring fee.
- VHF Channel: 8
Marina Bar
Marina Bar is the last port of call before making your way further south to Albania and beyond, or the first one you’ll arrive in if traveling north. There is a port authority and immigration office here for checking in and out of Montenegro. For this reason, it is a popular marina in Montenegro. The marina itself is basic but has all of the necessary amenities such as water, electricity, toilets, and showers. All of these are included in the mooring fee.
- VHF Channel: 9
Anchorages in Montenegro
We aren’t going to begin to put all of the anchorages in Montenegro that are available, but we will highlight a few of our favorites to get you started. For more anchorages check out Navily or NoForeignLand.
Stevi Marko
Perhaps not the best anchorage in Montenegro, but a safe place for protection from strong northeasterly winds while sailing the Bay of Kotor. It isn’t uncommon to see a handful of boats here, but there is enough space to spread out.
Morinjski Zaliv
Nestled in the far left corner of Risan Bay in the Bay of Kotor, is a picturesque anchorage near the village of Morinj. Exposed to the northeast winds, you would only want to anchor here when wind was expected from the NW, W, or S, but we have read that the anchorage is even good with lots of chain out in a northeasterly wind. There are also a few public buoys here that you can tie up to if needed.
This anchorage is perhaps our favorite of all of the anchorages in Montenegro.
Kotor
Perhaps not the best anchorage in Montenegro, but worth a stop to visit the stunning Kotor.
This anchorage is not well protected from northerly winds.
Dobraluka Bay
One of the few truly wild anchorages in Montenegro, Dobraluka Bay is a great place to stop to get away from the Montenegrian coastal developments.
This anchorage is open only to the south.
Lustica Bay
There are plenty of anchorages to choose from in Lustica Bay, all of which are pretty great. The western side of the bay is large and has plenty of space for multiple boats. There is also a beach club, Almara, for those looking for a bit of fun.
In the north, the small Horizonti Plaza is another great little anchorage.
Lastly, Bigova in the east offers great protection. There is also a buoy here connected to the Grispolis restaurant where you can tie up for free in exchange for a feed at their restaurant.
the one downside of Lustica is the ongoing development which is a little bit of an eyesore in the bay.
Uvala Trsteno
Just before you reach Budva, there is a beautiful, well-protected anchorage. It is popular in the day with daytrippers and there is a beach bar, but things settle around dinner time with everyone headed back to their accommodation leaving you with a beautiful setting.
This anchorage is open to the south.
Sveti Stefan
An absolutely beautiful anchorage is on the outskirts of Sveti Stefan. This ancient village, now a luxury resort, built on a small isthmus is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Montenegro, and anchoring in its shadows is definitely worth it.
There is a little noise from nearby beachgoers and the occasional jet ski, but as the sun starts to set behind the village, these noises will slowly fade away.
You can anchor on both sides of the isthmus. The South Bay anchorage is open to the west, southwest, and south. The North Bay anchorage is open to all northerly and westerly winds.
Maljveik Bay
Another one of our favorite anchorages in Montenegro is the stunning Maljveik Bay, the best anchorage to stay in the south of Sveti Stefan. You may be visited during the day by a few tourist boats and there is a small beach bar, but once the sun goes down things get pretty quiet. Except for perhaps the katabatic winds that come down off the soaring mountains.
The wind is unpredictable and we spent one night when the winds were blowing between 30 – 40 knots all evening. Luckily, there is plenty of space in Maljveik Bay to spread out and we found the holding to be good.
There are, however, a lot of rocks so be careful where anchoring.
If you do anchor here, the hike to the fortress is an absolute must! If modesty is important to you be careful where you tie up the dinghy as the northern end of the beach is the nudist section.
This anchorage is protected from all northerly winds and east winds.
Heading South into Albania?
If you are headed south into Albania, we have put together some helpful resources which you can find below before making the crossing.