Famed for its rocky island clustered with red-roofed houses, postcard-perfect Sveti Stefan lies along Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. It was established by the Paštrovići to defend against Turkish attacks and was later ruled by the Republic of Venice. Connected to the mainland by a narrow tombolo, the island is now managed as part of a luxury resort.
Things to do in Sveti Stefan
Stretching along the length of the town is Sveti Stefan Beach, which is dotted with beach umbrellas and sun loungers offering exceptional views of the island. You can swim in the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea, grab a drink at one of the beach bars or walk along the pebbly shores to Milocer Beach. If you continue north along the coast, you’ll eventually arrive at Queen’s Beach, which was once used exclusively by the royal family.
Queen’s Beach forms part of Pržno, a seaside village surrounded by olive groves and cedar forests. Clustered with relaxed bars and traditional seafood restaurants, it has retained the atmosphere of a traditional fishing village and remains blissfully undeveloped.
A short drive inland will take you to the Praskvica Monastery, which is named after the peach-scented water that flows from a nearby spring. Legend states that it was founded in 1050, with its 15th-century church designed in a Raška architectural style. The monastery is connected to Sveti Stefan by “Jegor’s Road”, which is named after a one-armed Russian military officer who lived at the monastery in the late 19th century.
Getting around Sveti Stefan
Sveti Stefan is around 15 minutes’ drive from Budva and an hour from Podgorica. Podgorica Airport is about an hour away and has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses travel through Sveti Stefan while the town and its islet are ideally explored on foot.