Herceg Novi

Orjen Nature Park lies in the hinterland of Herceg Novi. It is connected by the Herceg Novi–Trebinje road; from the town centre, you can reach the park on foot via a marked trail in less than two hours. There are also different destinations within the town: Forte Mare fortress stands right on the coast and guarded access to the town from the sea.

When looking for accommodation, you can consider the individual areas separately: Herceg Novi, Igalo, Gornji Morinj, Bijela, Baošići, Kumbor, Đenovići, Zelenika, Kamenari, Lipci, Klinci, Žvinje, Sušćepan, Sutorina, Sasovići, Žanjica and Kameno.

The nature park has a dense network of marked trails, ranging from easy walking paths to routes for experienced mountaineers. This lets you plan your excursions according to the kind of hike you want. The Tatar bašta–Sušćepan–Ratiševina–Mokrine trail connects villages in the hinterland and churches with viewpoints. It is suitable for walks and easy mountain hikes.

Another route leads from Herceg Novi via Kameno and Borići to the Za Vratlom mountain lodge. This trail connects the town with Orjen and serves as an access route to the state long-distance Orjen–Lovćen–Rumija trail. If you are looking for a named summit trail, Veliki Kabao has a route to the 1,894-metre-high mountain. It is considered one of Orjen’s most attractive and less difficult routes, as well as Montenegro’s oldest purpose-built hiking trail.

Vrbanj Adventure Park is located in a beech forest in the hinterland of Herceg Novi, at an altitude of 1,100 metres. It covers an area of 7,000 square metres. Its 44 elements are spread across four courses, with a 200-metre zip line as a fifth course. Activities range from courses for children aged six and over to those for experienced users. The park provides visitors with eight certified instructors.

The trails in the nature park also offer different possibilities: an easy walk and a more challenging mountain hike are not the same undertaking. If you are travelling with children or want to match the hike to your group’s experience, distinguishing between the types of marked trails can help you choose. Nature enthusiasts may also be interested in why the park is protected: it was granted protected status primarily because of its many endemic plant species, including the munika pine.

In the Old Town stands Kanli Kula, a monumental fortress built by the Ottomans in 1539. It hosts the Herceg Novi Film Festival, the Guitar Art Fest, the Operosa Festival, as well as pop and classical concerts and folklore performances. The Herceg Novi Clock Tower was built in 1667 by order of Sultan Mahmud and marks the entrance to the Old Town.

The traditional Mimosa Festival was founded in 1969. In February and March, it features masked balls, carnival events, concerts, and numerous children’s, arts and sports programmes. The Fish and Wine Festival is also part of the festivities. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider these events as a focus in their own right, alongside hikes and cultural sites.

The Mirko Komnenović City Museum preserves historical, archaeological, ethnological and icon collections and opened in 1953. It is surrounded by a botanical garden with rare plants and offers a view of the sea. Savina Monastery, two kilometres east of Herceg Novi, offers another perspective on regional history. The complex includes two churches, a monastery building with a treasury, and the Church of Saint Sava on a nearby hill. The treasury contains, among other things, a crystal cross of Saint Sava from the 13th century and a Gospel from the 17th century; from the viewpoint at the church, the view extends as far as Lovćen.

Other cultural sites include the house of Ivo Andrić. It was built between 1962 and 1963; Andrić lived there with his wife Milica Babić from 1963 to 1968. The house contains the permanent exhibition Andrić’s New Paths, Faces, Landscapes. The courtyard was adapted for cultural events. If you want to include historic buildings and exhibitions in your trip, you can add these sites to your list alongside the fortresses and the museum.

How do you get to Orjen Nature Park?

The nature park is connected by the Herceg Novi–Trebinje road. From the centre of Herceg Novi, a marked trail leads into the park in less than two hours on foot.

What hikes are there in the hinterland?

Marked trails range from easy walking paths to routes for experienced mountaineers. The trail via Tatar bašta, Sušćepan, Ratiševina and Mokrine is suitable for walks and easy mountain hikes.

When does the Mimosa Festival take place?

In February and March, the traditional festival features masked balls, carnival events, concerts, and children’s, arts and sports programmes. The Fish and Wine Festival is also part of the festival.

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