Sailing Route · Montenegro
Classic Week (Bay of Kotor + South Coast)
A relaxed seven-day circuit combining the sheltered waters of the Bay of Kotor with Montenegro's southern coast, balancing cultural harbour stops with quieter anchorages and a comfortable return rhythm.
Is this route for you?
- Typical day
- 14.8 nm over 6 sailing days
- Longest day
- 20.4 nm, day 3 (09:00–12:44)
- Returns to base
- Yes — a loop from Porto Montenegro
- Nights
- 5 in a marina, 2 alongside
- Deepest draft accepted
- 2.5 m — set by the shallowest stop on the route
Distances and times are sailing distances over water at 6 kn, computed from the charted route between each stop — not straight lines.
- 09:00 Sail 7.6 nm to Port of Herceg Novi
- 10:36 Berth for the night, Port of Herceg Novi
The short crossing to Herceg Novi eases the crew into the route and positions the boat at the bay's outer edge. Arriving early allows time to explore the old town's steep lanes and fortifications before settling in for the night.
NW maestral at 37° · upwind on course 278° W — expect to motor or tack
The course is upwind at 37° TWA in the NW maestral (F3–4, occasionally F5), requiring beating. The maestral builds from late morning, peaks mid-afternoon and dies away around sunset, making early morning departures impractical under sail alone as winds are calm.
Most crews motor or motor-sail this leg because at 37° the course cannot be laid without tacking in the prevailing conditions.
Port of Herceg Novi has 3m minimum depth with 2.5m maximum draft and is sheltered by mountains but open to the west.
Port of Herceg Novi is a marina in Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, offering 40 berths, depths to 6.5m, and fuel services.
Ashore
- Old Town Herceg Novi
- Fortress Forte Mare
- Kanli Kula fortress
Provisions Nearby cafes and shops; details not specified
Dining Cafe on pier with toilets; restaurants nearby
Anchor nearby Anchoring not permitted in harbor; use nearby bays
If it's full, or the wind is wrong
Anchoring not permitted in harbor; use nearby bays
- Lazure Marina 1.7 nm away · marina berth
- Marina Zelenika 2.0 nm away · marina berth
- D-Marin Portonovi 4.0 nm away · marina berth
- 09:00 Sail 20.4 nm to Dukley Marina Budva
- 12:44 Berth for the night, Dukley Marina Budva
The longest single leg of the week takes the boat out of the bay and along the open coast to Budva. Departing after breakfast gives a mid-morning arrival, leaving the afternoon free to walk the old town walls or rest after the passage. Budva serves as the base for the next two nights, avoiding the need to repack and move daily.
NW maestral at 171° · run on course 126° SE
The 126° SE course and NW maestral at 171° TWA make this a dead run. The maestral builds from late morning and peaks mid-afternoon, so this passage is workable from late morning onward when wind fills in, though it dies around sunset.
Crews typically motor this leg early in the morning when conditions are calm, before the maestral builds. Long passages are usually started early under engine for this reason.
Marina Budva offers shelter from NW winds and has a maximum draft of 5 meters.
Marina Budva is a 560-berth luxury marina in Budva, Montenegro, accommodating superyachts up to 70m, with concierge service and direct access to the old town.
Ashore
- Budva Old Town (UNESCO)
- Dukley Gardens
- Dukley Hotels & Resort
Provisions Provisions available; specific shops not named in sources
Dining Dukley restaurants nearby; specific names not in sources
Anchor nearby Anchor in 8-12 m sand 0.5 nm SE of the marina entrance
If it's full, or the wind is wrong
Anchor in 8-12 m sand 0.5 nm SE of the marina entrance
- Sveti Nikola 1.3 nm away · anchor, no fee
- 09:00 Sail 7.6 nm to Petrovac na Moru
- 10:36 Lunch and swim, Petrovac na Moru
- 12:06 Sail 7.7 nm to Dukley Marina Budva
- 13:42 Berth for the night, Dukley Marina Budva
A morning sail south to Petrovac breaks up the day with a lunch stop in the harbour, where the beach and waterfront tavernas are within easy reach. Returning to Budva in the afternoon keeps the same berth and allows crew to revisit favourite spots or simply relax on board.
NW maestral at 179° · run on course 134° SE
Passage details not yet generated.
Petrovac na Moru is a small harbour town on Montenegro's Budva Riviera, known for its sheltered bay, sandy beach, and Venetian Kastel Lastva fortress.
Ashore
- Kastel Lastva fortress
- Roman mosaics
- St. Elijah Church
- Katic and Sveta Nedelja islands
- Petrovac-Rezevici hiking trail
Provisions Supermarket in village center near park
Dining Restaurants on pier; fortress interior seasonal restaurant
NW maestral at 1° · upwind on course 314° NW — expect to motor or tack
Passage details not yet generated.
Marina Budva is a 560-berth luxury marina in Budva, Montenegro, accommodating superyachts up to 70m, with concierge service and direct access to the old town.
Ashore
- Budva Old Town (UNESCO)
- Dukley Gardens
- Dukley Hotels & Resort
Provisions Provisions available; specific shops not named in sources
Dining Dukley restaurants nearby; specific names not in sources
Anchor nearby Anchor in 8-12 m sand 0.5 nm SE of the marina entrance
If it's full, or the wind is wrong
Anchor in 8-12 m sand 0.5 nm SE of the marina entrance
- Sveti Nikola 1.3 nm away · anchor, no fee
- 09:00 Sail 11.8 nm to Bigova
- 11:18 Berth for the night, Bigova
The sail to Bigova shifts the pace down, trading Budva's busier waterfront for a quieter fishing village tucked into a narrow inlet. Arriving by early afternoon gives time to swim off the boat and settle into the slower rhythm before dinner ashore.
NW maestral at 8° · upwind on course 307° NW — expect to motor or tack
The 307° course is upwind at 8° TWA in the prevailing NW maestral (F3–4, occasionally F5), requiring beating or tacking which cannot lay the course directly. The maestral is calm most mornings, builds from late morning, peaks mid-afternoon and dies around sunset, making early departure under sail impractical.
Most crews motor or motor-sail this leg because the 8° true wind angle makes the course unlayable without tacking.
Bigova offers shelter from N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, and W with minimum depth 2m.
Bigova is a small fishing hamlet in Montenegro with a sheltered inlet offering mooring buoys, a village quay, and anchorage, known for its tranquility and fresh seafood.
Ashore
- Church of Saint Nikole
- Horizonti Beach (Blue Horizons) hike
Dining Grispolis on quay; Pod Volatom 50 m south
Anchor nearby Anchor north of buoys in 6-7 m sand and weed
If it's full, or the wind is wrong
Anchor north of buoys in 6-7 m sand and weed
- Lustica Bay Marina 2.6 nm away · marina berth
- Dobra luka 3.3 nm away · anchor, no fee
- 09:00 Sail 19.1 nm to Perast
- 12:31 Berth for the night, Perast
Perast marks the return into the bay and a change in scenery, with the route threading back through the narrows toward the inner fjord. The harbour sits directly below the old stone town, so mooring stern-to puts cafes and the church islands within a few steps.
NW maestral at 43° · upwind on course 358° N — expect to motor or tack
The 358° course is upwind at 43° TWA in the prevailing NW maestral (F3–4, occasionally F5), requiring beating or tacking which most crews avoid. Mornings are calm; the maestral builds from late morning and peaks mid-afternoon, making this a challenging windward leg.
Most crews motor or motor-sail because the course cannot be laid without tacking at 43° TWA. Long passages are typically started early under engine to take advantage of calm morning conditions before the maestral builds.
No hazards, restrictions or depth limitations are recorded for either Bigova or Perast harbours.
Perast is a baroque village on the inner Bay of Kotor, famous for the islets of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) and St George just offshore.
Ashore
- Our Lady of the Rocks island church
- St. George island
Dining Conte Hotel & Restaurant: waterfront terrace dining
- 09:00 Sail 5.8 nm to Marina Kotor
- 10:18 Lunch and swim, Marina Kotor
- 11:48 Sail 9.0 nm to Porto Montenegro
- 13:38 Berth for the night, Porto Montenegro
The final day splits into two short legs, first motoring deeper into the bay to Kotor for a late-morning arrival and a few hours ashore. The return to Porto Montenegro in the afternoon closes the loop, with enough time to refuel, pump out, and begin the handover process before the evening.
NW maestral at 175° · run on course 140° SE
The dead run on a 140° course with the NW maestral at 175° TWA is workable from late morning through mid-afternoon when the wind builds to F3–4, occasionally F5, then dies at sunset.
Most crews motor this short leg in calm morning conditions before the maestral establishes, allowing an early start and reliable arrival time.
Marina Kotor has 3 m minimum depth and accepts vessels with draft up to 4 m maximum.
Marina Kotor is a 50-berth marina in Montenegro located directly in front of the UNESCO-listed old town of Kotor at the end of the Bay of Kotor, offering depths of 3-7 metres.
Provisions Market across the street; supermarket 10-15 min walk north
Dining Restaurants in Old Town nearby
Anchor nearby Anchor in Kamenarovici cove or Orahovac cove
NW maestral at 35° · upwind on course 280° W — expect to motor or tack
The 280° course is upwind at 35° TWA in the NW maestral, requiring beating or tacking which cannot lay the course directly. The maestral builds from late morning and peaks mid-afternoon, making early morning departures under calm conditions most practical.
Most crews motor or motor-sail this leg because the 35° apparent wind angle prevents laying the course on a single tack without repeated tacking maneuvers.
Porto Montenegro monitors VHF channel 71 and offers excellent protection within the Bay of Kotor, with minimum depth 5m and maximum draft 12m.
Porto Montenegro is a superyacht marina in Tivat, Montenegro, on the Bay of Kotor, offering 580 berths for vessels up to 250m length.
Provisions Marina village with shops and provisioning services
Dining Gourmet and casual dining options in Marina Village
Anchor nearby Anchor in designated docks; Jetty 4 shallow waters and buoys
If it's full, or the wind is wrong
Anchor in designated docks; Jetty 4 shallow waters and buoys
- Navar Marina (Bonici) 1.4 nm away · marina berth
- Airport Marina Tivat 2.4 nm away · shelters from N · marina berth
- Marina Solila 2.7 nm away · marina berth
Explore next
Destination guide
Montenegro
Sail Montenegro's Adriatic coast, where deep fjord-like bays meet open sea. Base yourself at Porto Montenegro or Marina Budva and explore the Bay of Kotor's fortified towns.
