Ulcinj Holidays

Montenegro's southernmost town, where a 12-kilometre sandy beach meets a 2,000-year-old fortress and your euros stretch out even longer than the beach.

Highlights of your holidays to Ulncinj

• Velika Plaza – Twelve kilometres of sandy beach stretching to the Albanian border. One of the longest in Europe, it's the kind of place where you can walk for 20 minutes and still have the sand to yourself (private beach? Don't mind if we do)

• The Old Town – A fortified headland with 2,000 years of European history sandwiched in it: Illyrian foundations, Venetian walls, Ottoman mosques, and sunset views from the ramparts that make you forget to blink.

• Kitesurfing capital – Velika Plaza's steady cross-shore winds and shallow water make it the premier kitesurfing spot on the Adriatic. If you've never tried it, it's the perfect place to surf a kite!

• Ada Bojana – A river island at the southern tip of the beach, where the Bojana meets the sea. Sandy shores, wooden river-stilt restaurants serving the catch of the day, and a barefoot-bohemian atmosphere.

Good to Know

• ☀️ Weather – Summers hit 28-32°C with long sunny days and warm sea temperatures (23-25°C from June to September).

• 💶 Money – One of the cheapest resorts in Montenegro. A seafood lunch runs €8-€14, a beer is €2-€3, a coffee is €1-€1.50.

• 🐦 Fun Fact – The Ulcinj Salt Pans, just behind Velika Plaza, are one of the most important bird habitats on the Adriatic. Flamingos, pelicans and over 250 other species use them as a migratory stopover. You can see actual flamingos whilst you're sunbathing and reading your book.

Where to Stay

The hotel options are limited in Ulcinj itself. For a wider range of options, the best nearby bases are Budva and Becici, both with a much deeper hotel set.

💑 Couples

Budva has the strongest range of boutique and mid-range hotels on the Montenegrin Riviera, plus a medieval old town with waterfront restaurants and wine bars.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

Becici is the family base on this coast. The award-winning 2km beach is calm and shallow, and the Iberostar Waves Bellevue is the top-rated family all-inclusive in the country.

🎉 Groups

Budva has Montenegro's best nightlife (Top Hill open-air club, the old town bar scene) plus 11km of beaches, so it covers both the daytime and the after-dark.

Beaches

Ulcinj has 18km of coastline with around 25 beaches. The range runs from the vast sandy sweep of Velika Plaza to tiny rocky coves tucked under the cliffs south of the Old Town.

Velika Plaza (Long Beach) – The headline. Twelve kilometres of fine dark sand stretching south to the Albanian border, one of the longest beaches in Europe. The northern end near town is the most developed (beach clubs, sun loungers, bars), the middle sections are quieter, and the southern end near Ada Bojana is where the kitesurfers and the barefoot-bohemian sunset crowd set up. Free to access everywhere.

Mala Plaza (Small Beach) – The compact town beach right below the Old Town walls. Sandy, busy, and backed by the fortress cliffs. Best viewed from the cafés above with a cold drink in hand.

Ada Bojana – A sand beach on a river island at the southern tip of Velika Plaza. Wooden river-stilt restaurants (kalimere), shallow warm water, and a naturist section on the far side. Reached by car or boat.

Rocky coves south of the Old Town – A string of small ladder-access swimming spots below the cliffs, shaded by pine trees. No sand, just clear water and quiet. Ladies' Beach (women only, with a sulphur mineral pool) is the most distinctive.

🏨 Hotels

Our top pick for Ulcinj is The New Hotel Mediteran Villa Edition. Right by Ulcinj's town beach with views over the Old Town and the Adriatic. Lush gardens, a laid-back family-friendly feel, and a short walk into the Old Town's lanes and restaurants.

If you want more choice, try looking in nearby Becici and Budva.

Local Lingo

Ulcinj has a majority Albanian population alongside Montenegrin speakers, so you'll hear both languages on the street. English is understood in hotels and restaurants, but a few words in either language go down well.

• Faleminderit, fah-leh-min-DEH-rit, Thank you (Albanian)

• Mirëdita, meer-uh-DEE-tah, Good day (Albanian)

• Hvala, HVAH-lah, Thank you (Montenegrin)

• Zdravo, ZDRAH-voh, Hello (Montenegrin)

• Živjeli, ZHEE-vyeh-lee, Cheers (Montenegrin, for the rakija)

Travel Guide - Things to do in Ulcinj 2026 / 2027

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Velika Plaza (northern end) – The shallowest, calmest section of the big beach, with fine sand and beach clubs that hire out sun loungers and umbrellas. A shuttle bus runs from town in summer.

• Old Town fortress walk – The rampart walls are free to explore. Kids can climb the stone staircases, poke around the tiny museum inside the castle, and spot Albania across the water from the top.

• Boat trip to the sea cave – Local operators run small-boat trips from the Old Town harbour to a nearby underwater cave and a tiny private beach. A genuine adventure for an hour or two.

• Ada Bojana by boat – Take a small boat up the Bojana river to the island. The river-stilt restaurants serve grilled fish straight off the boat, and the beach is sandy and shallow.

💑 Couples

• Sunset from the Old Town walls – The fortress ramparts face west over the Adriatic. Grab a drink at Antigone (the bar with the best view in Ulcinj) and stay until the sky turns violet.

• Dinner at a kalimera on Ada Bojana – The wooden river-stilt restaurants on the Bojana river serve whole grilled fish with salad and local wine. You eat with your feet practically in the water as the sun goes down. About as romantic as it gets.

• Wine at the cliff bars – The road south from the Old Town runs along the clifftop above the rocky coves. Wine bars, restaurant terraces and swimming ladders into the Adriatic. Bring a book.

🎉 Groups

• Beach day at Velika Plaza – Twelve kilometres of sand means everyone can do their own thing: kitesurfing at the southern end, beach clubs in the middle, volleyball and swimming at the northern end. Regroup at sunset.

• Kitesurfing – Schools on Velika Plaza offer group lessons. The steady afternoon winds and shallow water make it one of the best beginner spots on the Adriatic.

• Old Town bar crawl – Small but effective. The fortress lanes have seafood restaurants and cocktail terraces, and the Sunset Beach Bar is a swim-up bar you can literally swim to.

More Destinations

• Montenegro – Medieval walled cities, fjord-like bays, Adriatic beaches, and proper value for money. One of Europe's most underrated countries.

• Budva – Montenegro's tourism capital: a medieval old town surrounded by 11km of beaches, the best nightlife on the coast, and the widest hotel choice.

• Kotor – A UNESCO-listed medieval city at the end of Europe's southernmost fjord. 1,350 steps up to St John's Fortress for one of the most dramatic views on the Mediterranean.

• Becici – Home to the beach that won the Grand Prix for most beautiful in Europe (in 1935, but it hasn't let that go). Award-winning sand, family-friendly all-inclusives, and a relaxed pace.

• Tivat – Porto Montenegro's superyacht marina gives it a flashier edge than most Montenegrin towns. The closest resort to the airport, with good restaurants and a surprisingly cosmopolitan atmosphere.