Montenegro Yacht Charter
About Montenegro
Most travel writing calls the Bay of Kotor the southernmost fjord in Europe. Strictly speaking it is a ria, the geological term for a flooded river canyon, and that is why its water is softer and its depths gentler than a true fjord's. What the Bay of Kotor is, is one of the most photogenic harbours in the Mediterranean: a series of inland bays connected by short straits, walled in by limestone mountains over 1,700 metres high, and listed by UNESCO since 1979.
A Montenegrin charter starts in Tivat at Porto Montenegro, the superyacht marina built on the site of a former Yugoslav naval base after Montenegro's independence in 2006, and the reason the country re-entered the global charter market when it did. From there, you cross to Perast, the small baroque town in the inner bay, and to the two tiny islands just off it: Sveti Đorđe, the natural one, and Our Lady of the Rocks, the artificial one, built up over centuries by sailors dropping a stone after each safe return. Under Kotor's old town, the city walls climb up the mountain to the San Giovanni fortress, with the bay laid out below; the climb is the standard charter sunset. Sveti Stefan, the rocky island village fifteen miles south, is the most photographed half-mile of coast in the country.
The season runs May to October, and the wind is gentle and the water is glass for most of the summer. A Montenegro charter is rarely just a Montenegro charter. Most clients pair it with a few days in southern Croatia, and a week between Dubrovnik and Tivat covers both countries comfortably.
Highlights
Destination Info
Interested in this destination?
Get in touch and we'll help you plan the perfect charter.
Where to sail
The inner bay: Kotor and Perast
The head of the bay holds the set pieces. Kotor sits under its mountain, its old town walls climbing to the San Giovanni fortress; Perast, a few miles short of it, is a compact baroque town with the two island churches, Sveti Đorđe and Our Lady of the Rocks, moored just offshore. The water here is flat and deep, and the anchorages are some of the most dramatic in the Mediterranean.
Tivat and Porto Montenegro
Tivat is the practical base. Porto Montenegro, built on a former naval site, is the country's superyacht marina, with the berths, provisioning and crew support a crewed charter needs, and the airport a short transfer away. Most weeks embark and disembark here.
The open coast: Luštica, Budva and Sveti Stefan
Out past the mouth of the bay, the Luštica Peninsula has quiet coves, the Blue Cave and former submarine tunnels cut into the cliffs. Further south lie Budva's beaches and Sveti Stefan, the fortified island village that is the most photographed stretch of coast in the country.
Into southern Croatia
Montenegro is small enough that most charters cross the border for part of the week. Dubrovnik is a short hop north, and a week between Dubrovnik and Tivat takes in both coasts comfortably.
What it costs
- From
- From about EUR 20,000 / week for a crewed yacht
- Included
- The weekly fee covers the yacht and all its equipment, including the tenders and water toys, the full crew, and the yacht's insurance.
- Extras
- Your running costs are paid separately, through an advance provisioning allowance (APA): a sum of around 25 to 35 percent of the fee that you pay before the charter. The captain uses it to pay for fuel, berthing and harbour dues, provisioning, and the food and drink for your party, then gives you a full account at the end and refunds whatever is left. VAT where it applies and a customary crew gratuity are the two other costs on top of the fee.
Prices rise with the size of the yacht and the time of year.
We explain the money side properly: What is included under MYBA, How the APA works, VAT on a charter, and What to tip the crew.
Before you go
When to go
The season runs May to October. July and August are the warmest and busiest; June and September are quieter and just as settled, with warm water and calm bays, and are the months many charterers prefer. The bay is sheltered, so the weather is gentle for most of the summer.
Getting there
Most Montenegro charters embark at Porto Montenegro in Tivat, a short transfer from Tivat airport and within easy reach of Dubrovnik airport across the border. Because Montenegro pairs so naturally with southern Croatia, many weeks run one way between Dubrovnik and Tivat. For where to start a Croatian leg, see our guide on Split versus Dubrovnik.
Choosing the yacht
Sailing yachts, catamarans and motor yachts all work the bay; a catamaran suits guests who want deck space and a shallow draft for the coves, while a motor yacht makes light of the crossing to Croatia. If you are weighing crewed against bareboat, our guide on bareboat versus crewed sets out the difference. Browse the current fleet on our yachts page.
Explore Montenegro
Interactive map view of Montenegro • Click and drag to explore • Open in full screen
