Sveti Stefan – Why is it the most popular in Montenegro?

In this article, we describe all the reasons why you should or should not visit this small village. We list the most popular sights, restaurants, cafés, and viewpoints, as well as how to reach them.

Sveti Stefan – Detailed guide

Sveti Stefan (or Saint Stephen) is familiar to the whole world. This iconic island represents Montenegro on all postcards and photos. But it is not only the island which is now called Sveti Stefan Aman Resort, connected to a mainland with a narrow road; it is also a small village on the mainland with about three hundred inhabitants. Most tourists have photos of this place, but only some have been inside, and in this guide, you will find out why. Even sand beaches here are less crowded than in Becici and Budva. You can come here to sunbathe, swim, eat in restaurants, and walk in Milocer Park.

Where is Sveti Stefan?

Sveti Stefani location is on the Adriatic coast of Central Montenegro (Crna Gora) in the Budva region (Budva Riviera). It is situated southeast of Budva, between Przno and Rijeka. The island received its name from the Nemanjic period from the church dedicated to Archduke Stefan. The best view of the village and resort is from the viewpoint located on the E65 road, so many tourists pass Sveti Stefan regularly during their excursions or after arriving at Podgorica airport.

Even though Montenegro is one of the ten smallest countries in Europe, it has a rich culture at the crossroads of Balkan countries, the Byzantine Empire, and Turkey. Fortunately, in Montenegro, you can find many old towns with ruins and well-preserved historical buildings (especially in Kotor and Budva, and, of course, Sveti Stefan), beautiful landscapes in the National Parks, and splendid coastline with sand and pebble beaches. There are not so many industrial manufacturers in the country, and UNESCO protects a large part of the country for its natural beauty, untouched forest and crystal clear water. Everyone can find interesting places in Montenegro, whether it be a ski resort, an eco-village in Durmitor National Park, or a luxury hotel in Aman Resort. Among Balkan countries, Montenegro is especially popular for its very long coastline with convenient beaches, very well-developed tourist service, and more affordable prices than in Croatia.

Sveti Stefan Budva Montenegro was an island essential for many centuries for the Montenegrin people as it was used as a coastal fortress. It was first mentioned in a defense against the Turks in 1442. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times, and Adriatic pirates even used it. In this place, the sea is crystal clear, with sand beaches and pine forests. This previously fortified small fishing village is chosen for families and solo tourists for a calm vacation.

How to get to Sveti Stefan?

You can reach Sveti Stefan only by motor or sea transport. A natural narrow neck of land connects the Sveti Stefan mainland and island parts so that the cars can reach the island as well, but you should be a guest of the hotel. There are no railway stations there, but you may arrive by train in Podgorica and switch to a bus or car. The E65/80 road connects on the north of the village to Budva and on the south to Podgorica. There are no other roads to the place. For hotel guests, boats are available; you can come from the nearest cities or towns or even Porto Montenegro. Cruise ships and boats can’t stop on Sveti Stefan's berth.

The village is located close to the main Montenegro International Airport – Podgorica. The Podgorica airport (or The Heart of Montenegro) is the gate for regular and charter flights (especially in summer) from Belgrade, Istanbul, London, Vienna, Warsaw, Bari, Almaty, and many more. Gladly, you can come here with low coasters – LOT, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. This airport is located 56 km from the village. You need to take the E80 road at the airport, and in Petrovac, it will continue as the E65. Normally, there are no traffic jams during the whole day.

The closest airport to Sveti Stefan is Tivat International Airport. Tivat mainly welcomes flights from Air Montenegro and Air Serbia, as well as some from Turkish Airways. The distance from this airport is only 30 km, but the usual traffic near Tivat and Radanovici is tough. So, from both airports, you need about one hour to get to the village. From both airports, you can take a taxi or a regular bus to the Sveti Stefan; some hotels offer transfers, and rental services from international companies are available as well. We will provide more detailed information about car rent further in this article.

You may come by bus to Stefi Stefan. Every day, city buses from the eighteen towns and cities stop at Sveti Stefan Peninsula, including buses from Tivat and Podgorica airports (from Budva, Tivat, Bar, Herceg Novi, Kotor, etc.). There are two Sveti Stefan bus stations about 500 meters (7-8 minutes from the village center) in Sveti Stefan – one from Petrovac direction on the road E65 (GPS Coordinates 42.25576, 18.898172) and one from Budva direction on the road E80/2 (GPS Coordinates 42.256778, 18.897316). You can use buses from many companies, such as Bozur Podgorica, Krivokapic Tours, Smart Travel, and others. International buses (Flixbus, Globtour) do not have stops in the village, but you may go with stops to Budva, Kotor, or Tivat.

The location of Sveti Stefan is very convenient for taxi or car rental: Budva is 10 km, Tivat is 34 km, Kotor is 31 km, Podgorica is 55 km, Petrovac is 9 km, and Sutomore is 22 km. We recommend planning your trip as traffic jams frequently happen in Montenegro, as roads are narrow and some places have mountain spirals.

What to see in Sveti Stefan?

Sveti Stefan is a small village in Montenegro, and it is mainly an attraction by itself with its beautiful houses with red tiling. Whether you choose it for a long or short trip, it is still worth it because of the incredible and interesting history of the place.

Island Management History. The island has been for different purposes and was governed by absolutely different people. All this history has stayed in the walls and bricks, giving you an unbelievable experience. In the 1800-s, on the island, 12 families lived, who were removed from the 1930-s, as it had become part of Queen Summer Residence when Milocer Residence was built. When the communists became the Yugoslavia government (Montenegro with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Croatia were created Yugoslavia), the island was transferred to an upscale resort in the 1960s, and one church was even turned into a casino by the government. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, the island stayed in oblivion, and only in 2007, had it turned into a luxurious hotel – Aman Resort. Fifty luxurious rooms, suites, and cottages were opened to visitors in 2009. The Aman Company has a thirty-year lease contract with the Montenegro government. In 2010, the hotel was awarded in Gallivanter's Guide as the Hotel of the Year. This year, the Golden Jubilee was celebrated with the concert of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. All premises are designed in a romantic, authentic style with white doors, stone walls, and oak furniture. For all guests, the luxurious spa with a large swimming pool and beauty treatments with Milocer view is available. Unfortunately, in 2020, the hotel (both Sveti Stefan and Vila Milocer) was closed because of COVID-19 and has remained unopened since then. The Aman management has some disputes in court with the Montenegro government, but they hope to announce reopening soon.
Excursions and tours on Sveti Stefan island. The whole island is occupied by a luxurious 5-star hotel, which is available for a stay only for rich people. All the rest have an opportunity for a short tour. On the island, three churches, restaurants, a bakery, a bank, and a hairdresser are located. Many celebrities from business, sports, art, politics, and science have visited the island for the last centuries: Queen Elizaveta II, Merlyn Monroe, Leonid Brezhnev, etc. You can choose between a small cruise tour or a bus tour. Small ships and boats can reach the island close enough to provide you with a glimpse at the place and take stunning photos. The regular cruises depart from Tivat. On your way, you can see other Montenegro attractions by boat (Kotor Bay, Lady of Rocks island, Blue Grotto, Budva, Mamula Fort, Submarine Grot). Another opportunity is to take summer tours or private sea tours from the nearest towns and finish in Budva or Kotor. You can also come to the village by motor transport; previously official small group tours were available to all desired people. If you do not like organized tours and still want to sneak for the view, you might have made the reservation in the restaurant on the island, but the meals would have been pricey. Unfortunately, so far apart from the distant views, no sneaking on the territory is possible, as the Sveti Stefan Aman Hotel is closed. Do not try to visit the island illegally; the safeguard is to watch all entrances.
Park Milocer and Queen Palace. From the paid Sveti Stefan Beach, you can go to the couch at Milocer Park. In the splendid Milocer Park, the Yugoslavia Kings (Queen Marija Karadjordjevic) had spent their summer vacation. The park has natural beauty with well-preserved botanical gardens and summer residences. The Park occupies more than 16 hectares of land with trees and flowers. For long walks, you may use stone paths all over the park to admire olives, cypresses, and other plants from Africa, Americas and Asia. Rare plants can be seen here –Agava, Tropical mimosa, Magnolia, Lebanese cedar, and much more. The white summer residence – Villa Milocer – perfectly stays inside the park, providing historical elegance to this place. Now, it is a luxury 5-star hotel as well. In front of the Villa, Milocer Beach is located; one part of this beach is called Kings Beach. On King’s Beach, the sunbed set with an umbrella costs 200 euros. The beach is closed to trespasses and closed from tourists by the fence. If you pass King Beach and go through a tunnel under the rocks, you will come to Queen Beach. To avoid the summer heat and crowds, we recommend visiting the Park in the morning or late in the afternoon. Access to the Park is free.
Sveti Stefan Beaches. To be precise, in Sveti Stefan village, there is one sand beach, divided into several parts by the neck. These beaches have unique pink sand, which is another attraction to the tourists, apart from the views on the island. On the right side is the hotel beach; the hotel visitors can visit it for free; for the rest, the Sveti Stefan Beach price is 100 Euro for two sun beds and one umbrella. On the left side is located the public beach, where the sand is not so clean, and some pebbles may occur. You can rent an umbrella and a sun bed here for the price of 15-20 Euros (depending on the location). All beaches are fully equipped with all required facilities – a shower, dressing room, and WC. For sure, the hotel beach is cleaner and less crowded. If you prefer nudist beaches or wild ones, you can explore beaches after cliffs. On some, you can even rent an umbrella and a sunbed. The closest pebble beach after Sveti Stefan Beach is Crvena Stijena Beach.
Sveti Stefan viewpoints. Sveti Stefan island is the most popular object for photos in Montenegro. Because of this popularity and diversity of photographers’ ideas, several viewpoints are available in searching for the best view. The best views of the island are from high points, where the whole island with the bay is seen, but you can also take photos from Sveti Stefan beaches. We can recommend several viewpoints: 1) Near St. Save church above Sveti Stefan village (great photos of sunset); 2) On Scenic Path to Milocer Park (great side view on the island and paid Sveti Stefan beach); 3) On E65/80 road from Budva to Petrovac (the special place for parking a car there) and 4) Vidikovac also on the road E65/80 from Budva to Petrovac (with a parking lot). All viewpoints can be achieved by car or after a short walk through the forest from the neighboring bus stops.

Café and restaurants in Sveti Stefan

There are enough Sveti Stefan best restaurants for every budget. You may choose between the ones located on the island (Taverna or Noby, currently closed) or more budget-friendly ones on the seaside with a view, or even in the village or in Milocer Park. We will review only the restaurants in the village, as the date for the island's opening is unclear.

The top three restaurants in Sveti Stefan are:

Drago Restaurant. This restaurant is the most visited in Sveti Stefan as it serves the food for the whole day and is located in the village center. You can eat Balkan, European, and Mediterranean dishes here, but the prices are higher than at the nearby Caffe Caffe. The restaurant is available for reservations inside and outside, with beautiful views of the village and the island. The professional staff is very attentive and serves quickly. Among the recommended dishes are Serbian salad, Greek Salad, Beef Stroganoff, grilled octopus, vegan pizza, and many more. The restaurant is open from 8 am to 11 pm.
Famelja Kentera. This family restaurant provides a wide range of dishes for the whole day, from Italian and Mediterranean cuisines. This middle-priced restaurant is located near the village bus stop. From the open terrace, the panorama view of the island is also excellent, but from some points, the houses may be the obstacle. Many handcrafted artworks are used to decorate the interiors. Most of the guests viewed the high fish soups, grilled seafood, burgers, seafood, and Diablo pizzas. For large companies, sets are available. We enjoyed the homemade bread and tagliatelle with a steak the most.
Olive Restaurant. This restaurant specializes in seafood and grilled food of European and Mediterranean cuisines. It is located in the shadow of hundreds of old olive trees on the way to Milocer Park. You can enjoy the food with the sea view on Sveti Stefan island from the open terrace or inside. The food here is served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; you may also visit for quick drinks at the bar. The attentive personnel will help you to choose the best dishes, whether you choose octopus or grilled meat with potatoes.

Top three café and bars in Sveti Stefan are:

Caffe Caffe. Most of the tourists agree with us that this café serves the best dinner in the village. It is located in the village center, not far from Drago and Famelja Kentera restaurants. As in many other restaurants in the region, it offers Mediterranean, European, and Central European food with a lot of fresh seafood. You can even find vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options here, as well as gluten-free options. We suggest you here to have pasta or pizza with seafood and raspberry raki. You can have meals during the whole day or grab a dessert with a coffee.
Pod Murvom. If you want to eat and drink at Sveti Stefan Beach (which is located on the municipal beach), it is the perfect place. There is a parking lot just near the café with a charging station for electric cars. It has an outstanding view of the island and is especially great in the shade of one hundred olive trees. The café is good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; people also come here for quick bites and cocktails. The staff is attentive, and the food values the money. The place is temporarily closed in June 2024 for renovation.
St. Stefan Beach Bar. Another place for quick meals and refreshing drinks is Sveti Stefan municipal beach. The bar is decorated with palm branches on the roof to give it a tiki bar feel. It offers fair prices on cocktails, beer, ice cream, and tasty pizza. You can enjoy the view of the Adriatic Sea and the island with relaxing music. The staff is valued for its hospitality, especially the kids. You can even find a place for your kayaks here. You can also rent a sunbed at the bar and enjoy the food and drinks there.

We can’t ignore other places in Sveti Stefan that are worth visiting: Pastrovica Dvori, Amadeus, The Piazza, Zoff, Crvena Glavica Beach Restaurant, Azimut Restaurant, Muse Restaurant & Bar, and Bar Pampur.

Sveti Stefan Weather

Sveti Stefan is not located in a specific place, and it is not protected by large mountains from cold winds, so the weather here is the same as everywhere on Budva Riviera. That means hot summers and rainy winters. The swimming season is not long, from mid-June to mid-Oktober. The most visited time is July and August, when the number of sunny days is the largest, the air temperature is the maximum, and there are almost no rains.

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The warm season starts in May when the average daily temperature is 21 C and the night temperature is 15 C. The same temperature is in October, but the quantity of sun hours is only 190 hours per month, while in May, it is 240 hours. The daily percentage of sunshine per day is the maximum; meanwhile, in July and August, it is achieved at 75-77%. In summer, you can hardly expect any rain, and humidity is 45-55%; in July there is only 50 mm of possible rain (6 days with rains), and in June, about 70 mm (10 days with rains). The water temperature in the hot season varies from 23 to 28 C. The Sveti Stefan weather in September is still warm for swimming.

The cold winter starts when the night temperature decreases to 5 C in December and stays up until March. The sun shines for 90 hours per cold month; the other times, rains, snow, and hail are likely. The monthly precipitation level is the highest in November with 310 mm, and the lowest in this period in March – 180 mm. It means about 13 days every month. The average humidity is correspondingly the highest – 75-79%. Even though the season is cold, the temperature is comfortable on sunny days for long walks on the seaside in Milocer Park. Moreover, there are not so many tourists.

Sveti Stefan Accommodation

For swimming and enjoying the view, one or two hours will be enough. But you may stay for a couple of days or weeks as there are several Sveti Stefan hotels and restaurants here that are more budget-friendly than the ones located in the historic buildings. The most desirable hotel is Sman Sveti Stefan, with two historical locations – Villa Milocer and the island- but both are closed with unclear reopening dates. We will suggest the best alternatives to you. The city tax of 1.50 Euro (the tax may vary depending on the accommodation type) should be added for all persons per night to your accommodation price.

In our review, we list accommodation only the most visited and with the best reviews; if you cannot find a suitable place, you may choose the nearest towns and cities. The recommended hotels are:

Sveti Stefan Hotel California by Aycon (5-star hotel). This elegant modern hotel is a good alternative to the closed Aman Resort. It has standard singles and doubles, as well as large rooms for up to six guests with three bedrooms (Executive suite). The wonderful breakfast (a-la-carte and buffet) is included in the price of each room. You may choose a room with a splendid sea view with the island. In the hotel there are no swimming pools, but for guests a private beach area is provided with sunbeds and umbrellas. There is a spa center with many massages, body treatments and beauty services.
Vivid Blue Serenity Resort (4-star hotel). This hotel is located in the neighborhood of Sveti Stefan village, close to Crvena Glavica Beach. For all guests, the infinity outdoor pool with spa and fitness center is available. For an additional charge, you may use the private beach area. On-site, you can have a meal at the Olivine restaurant, which serves international and Mediterranean cuisine. There are two types of rooms available – double with king or queen beds and deluxe rooms with additional sofa beds. For large companies, some rooms can be connected to a balcony or terrace. Excellent and Sveti Stefan free parking are included in the room price.
Hotel Azimut (4-star hotel). This hotel is situated close to Hotel California and Stefi Stefan municipal beach. It is chosen for its classic interiors, excellent views, and high-quality service of the international hotel. The luxurious fitness center and spa with steam bath, massages (for an additional charge), and sauna, which are available in the hotel, are recommended for all guests. For small guests, evening entertainment, a playground, and a game room are provided. You can book a double room, deluxe suite, duplex suite, or presidential suite. For all kids under four years, the crib is provided upon request for free; for kids 5-14 years, the additional bed costs 45 euros.
Sveti Stefan Hotel Adrovic (4-star hotel). This hotel in Baroque style is located near the E65/80 road in the village center, so you can combine living in a very lovely location with traveling around Montenegro. You can book studios or standard rooms here with one or two bedrooms. Only free cribs are provided for children under three years old, and no other beds are available on the premises. All rooms have a balcony with a sea view or landmark view. Free good breakfast in a local restaurant is included, whereas, at other times of the day, you can have lunch and dinner for additional payment.
Maestral Resort & Casino (5-star hotel). This hotel was fully renovated in 2017 to become a luxurious resort in Rocky Bay, which is not far from Milocer Park. The Sveti Stefan island Montenegro is located five miles away. The modern decorated rooms with a balcony on a garden or sea are equipped with extra-long beds. For large companies or families, you may book interconnecting rooms. For all ages, two swimming pools are available – a heated outdoor pool from October to April and a seasonal indoor pool. Three restaurants, a fitness center, a diving center, tennis courts, and a spa welcome guests (some services are provided for additional payment).

If you prefer self-catering and large living rooms, then we would like to suggest for you Sveti Stefan apartments:

Harmonia Bungalows & Pool (3 stars). The property offers several types of apartments with private kitchens for two or four family members (no extra beds are provided). For all guests, the swimming pool is available, and the suite guests have their own private pool. The apartments are located several minutes from the village center and beach, in the green garden with barbeque facilities. Large apartments occupy the whole house; some have sea views and balconies or terraces for pleasant time spent. Additional services include free parking without reservation, babysitting for additional payment, a playground, and some business facilities.
Blanche Cliff Apartments (4 stars). This apartment complex has a marvelous location on the cliff at the end of Milocer Park with a beachfront view in Sveti Stefan. It offers two types of apartments: deluxe apartments with one bedroom and suites with two bedrooms. The living room has a sofa bed and a private kitchenette with a microwave and oven. The maximum number of adults in the biggest apartment is five people; no extra beds are provided, and there are only free cribs for kids under two years old. From all apartments, you have access to a private pool. At the price of each, a good free breakfast is included; after breakfast, the restaurant is open for all guests and serves lunch and dinner.
Hotel & Apartments HEC Residence (4 stars). This residence is located above the E65/80 road near the Sveti Stefan View Point. From all the rooms, you will have exceptional views of the Adriatic Sea. This budget hotel is recommended for long and short visits, especially with a car. But the parking requires a reservation and costs 10 Euro per day. The premises offer two types of rooms – economy double for two guests and standard double for three guests. You may also order an extra bed for 20 Euros per child or adult per night (cribs and beds for kids under 12 years are provided for free). There is no swimming pool here, but in the restaurant, you can have meals during the day (breakfast is 13 euros).
Apartments Kentera LUX (3 stars). This is another budget solution that is within the nearest distance of the iconic Sveti Stefan beach. It is located 400 meters from the Sveti Stefan Peninsula. It offers studios with a private kitchen. For your comfort, you will have a living area, a dining area, and one king bed. No extra beds are available on the premises, but you can request 10 Euro (for the whole stay), an extra crib for kids under five years old for all guests, free parking, and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool is available. Pets and parties are not allowed (quiet hours from 10 pm to 7 am).
Golden Crown Apartments by property (3 stars). This place is recommended for all tourists who want to enjoy the Sveti Stefan island view at a fair price. You can save some money by preparing food in a private kitchen in each of the apartments. For booking, a studio with a sea view and a one-bedroom apartment is available. The maximum number of guests in one apartment is for adults on one sofa bed and one queen bed; no additional beds are provided, and only cribs are for kids under three years old. Parties, pets, and smoking are not allowed on the premises. Free private parking is available for all guests.

You can also book private villas and apartments, for example, booking conditions of some options:

Villa Edelweiss (4-star apartment hotel). This budget apartment hotel is located near Sveti Stefan and Crvena Glavica Beaches. You can book an apartment for up to six people with one, two, or three bedrooms. In all apartments, a private kitchen will be available as a sitting area. The parking at the premises is paid for 10 Euros per day with a preliminary reservation. If you want to have the best view, you need to choose the upper floors, but they are available only with stairs. There is no restaurant (which means no breakfast included or paid) and swimming pool in the villa.
Villa Geba Boutique Hotel (5-star apartment hotel). This private apartment hotel is located a few steps from Sveti Stefan beach in a 5-story villa with a private swimming pool. You can book standard modern hotel rooms or a suite with a private kitchen with kitchenware. For large companies and families, a separate villa is located in the largest apartment with four bedrooms, a kitchen, dining, and a living area. You may also request free cribs or extra beds (150 Euro per night per person). Pets are allowed on the premises with preliminary notification. For the price of all rooms and apartments, an exceptional breakfast is included.
Vermont Villa (4-star apartment hotel). Most visitors recommend this recently renovated private villa, and some come again. The villa is located on the hill, and from all apartments, you will have at least a side view of the Sveti Stefan island. The villa offers several types of apartments with a private kitchen and bathroom, a living area, a coffee machine, a dishwasher, and a patio/terrace with outdoor furniture. You can rent an apartment with one or two bedrooms, with queen, king, or twin beds. For cars, free private parking is available with an electric charging station. You can come to the villa at any time as it has a 24-hour front desk. There is no restaurant or café at the premises.
Villa Milan (4-star apartment hotel). This villa also has very good reviews on cozy apartments in Mediterranean style. Villa is located 50 meters from the beach, and upon request, you may order a shuttle from the airport or any other place. All apartments have air-conditioning systems, fully equipped kitchens, sea-view balconies, extra-long beds, and drying racks. There are special rooms for disabled and allergic people. Rooms with one or two bedrooms are available, and free cribs are provided upon request, but there are no extra beds on the property. Please check the payment conditions; in June 2024, the villa accepts only cash.
Barbara Sveti Stefan (private apartment). This private, spacious apartment in the building perfectly suits six adults. It has three bedrooms with two queen beds and one sofa bed. Moreover, it has a kitchenette with an electric kettle, an oven, a dishwasher, and a refrigerator. You can enjoy the meals at the dining table or on the terrace, which has a view of Sveti Stefan Island. The apartment is located a few minutes walk from Sveti Stefan Beach. The check-in time is limited from 3 pm to 9 pm, while check-out is possible from 10 am to 11 am. Upon request, free cribs and beds will be provided.

Standard accommodation reservation options are available in Montenegro, as in other countries: aggregators, official websites, touristic agencies, or direct booking at the premises on arrival. Booking.com, AirBnB, Kayak, Hotel.com, Agoda.com, and Expedia.com work pretty fine in Sveti Stefan. We recommend choosing accommodation in advance, as there are not many good proposals in Sveti Stefan.

Some aggregators like Booking have special proposals for registered users – free breakfast, free parking, free upgrade to a larger room, free cancellation, additional discounts, or others. After you have chosen the hotel, we recommend checking the booking options and reviews on several sites to find the best proposal, prepayment, and cancellation conditions. Watch out for proposals with surprisingly low prices and a small amount of reviews, as they might be scams.

Parking lots and car rental service in Sveti Stefan

Even though there is only one agency for renting a car in Sveti Stefan – “Sveti Stefan – Rent A Car,” you can rent a car at the hotel's reception. Moreover, in all international airports (Tivat and Podgorica), quite a range of rental companies are available – SIXT, Hertz, MTL, Avis, Europcar, and some locals such as Delta Car, Abeona Rent A Car Montenegro, and others. In popular tourist cities like Kotor, Tivat, or Budva, you may visit rental service centers to choose a car visually. Car rent aggregators like Rental Cars, Discover Cars, or Kayak make overviews of the best proposals and are also widely used by tourists. Some companies have the option to choose different pick-up and leave places, or you may ask to have the car delivered to your accommodation or the airport.

In most rental services, the requirements for drivers are minimal. You should have a valid driver's license (international is not required) for a year or two, be 21 years old, have a valid passport for at least six months after the end of the reservation period, and have enough money for the reservation. For rent, cars are available with mechanical (cheaper) or automatic gear, but you need to rely on your qualifications in this choice. During booking, you will be asked to choose insurance – full coverage or partial coverage. We always suggest taking the full coverage, including tires, broken glass, and other minor damages that often occur in the mountains. Baby seats and seat belts are always required. You are not allowed to talk on a mobile phone and drive after two glasses of beer (BAC is 0.03).

Montenegro is a small country with weak public transport. So, renting a car is a good opportunity to visit all the sights, but be prepared that some roads are narrow with twists and turns in the mountains. For an inexperienced driver, such a trip could be a challenge. We recommend taking a car with at least five years of driving experience. For others, there are plenty of organized tours for large and small groups.

We also want to highlight that parking in popular tourist locations is limited and costly. Some hotels have free parking, but paid parking in the hotel may cost more than nearby official parking. Free parking is available along roadsides where there is no obstruction to the traffic, normally away from the historic downtown area, and there is a parking sign. The paid parking with a paid parking sign (sometimes with the rates and time) could be of two types: car parks with boom barriers and parking lots on the side of the street. The parking rates in different cities vary from 0.5 to 2.40 Euro per hour. You may pay using a parking meter or SMS. Please do not take the ticket and put it in front. Otherwise, you may have to pay a fine of 10-30 euros. In Sveti Stefan, the parking lots near the Sveti Stefan beach are paid. Official rates are indicated at the entrance.

Sveti Stefan Real Estate

Due to the village's size, the choice of property for sale in Sveti Stefan is limited. You may find the proposals on popular websites such as Real-Estate-in-Montenegro.com, Tranio, Realting, and Montenegroprospects. There are no real estate agencies in the city, but you may find ones in Budva or Petrovac. Most properties for sale in Montenegro are assigned to agents; you can’t purchase property in Montenegro without their help.

Because the place is unique, the prices on the property are high. For example, a three-bedroom apartment in Sveti Stefan (85 m2) with sea view costs 350.000 Euro, while a two-bedroom apartment (122 m2) with a sea view costs 354.000 Euro (non-furnished) and a two-bedroom apartment (67 m2) fully furnished costs 247.000 Euro. Luxurious villas in Sveti Stefan with a swimming pool that you may rebuild into a hotel apartment cost 900.000 Euro (354 m2 and four bedrooms). The townhouse part from the development project (9 townhouses) with four bedrooms (144 m2) costs 530.000 Euro. To learn more about the property, you need to contact the agent.

There are no restrictions on buying property in Montenegro for foreigners; you may even take a mortgage in local banks. The only limitation is the size of the land – 5000 m2, and it should not be agricultural land. To conclude the contract on the property, in addition to its price, you need to pay tax and fees (agent, notary, transfer). You need to check all documentation on the property, including urban plans. Property is a good investment in Montenegro, as the country is a candidate for the Schengen Union and has shown stable growth in property prices for the last few years.

Conclusion

Sveti Stefan is an iconic place in Montenegro, and we definitely recommend visiting this village to feel the historical atmosphere of Serbian Kings, take stunning photos, and walk in Milocer Park. You may stay here for a couple of days or weeks, and with a wide choice of accommodations and restaurants, your vacation will be pleasant. Most visitors come here only for photos, so the atmosphere in the village is enjoyable and calm, that is why many decide to purchase a property here. No matter how long you stay in Sveti Stefan, you will take with you the most popular postcard with Aman Resort ex. Fishing village on it.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What activities for kids are available in Sveti Stefan?
There are no special places for fun apart from playgrounds and swimming pools. However, many restaurants and cafés offer kids' menus. You can always walk with your family in Milocer Park, as the walking paths are accessible for all ages.
How far is Sveti Stefan from Kotor? Can I come to this place during a stop on my cruise ship?
The distance is 31 km, and without traffic jams, you can reach the place in 40 minutes.
Do you have nightclubs in Sveti Stefan?
No. The nightlife is better in Budva, Tivat, or Podgorica. There is no Sveti Stefan nightlife.
Is it comfortable to move around Sveti Stefan with the baby carriage?
You may have obstacles in some places, as Sveti Stefan is located on a hill and has many stairs.
Are there any supermarkets in Sveti Stefan?
There are only two small markets in the village; for supermarkets, you need to go to Budva (VOLI) or Petrovac (VOLI and Aroma).