Events and Places You Shouldn’t Miss in Herceg Novi
Some destinations invite you to slow down.
To breathe deeper.
To truly connect with the place you’re visiting.
Herceg Novi is one of them.
Set at the entrance of the breathtaking Bay of Kotor (Boka Bay), Herceg Novi blends Mediterranean ease, rich history, and a lively cultural calendar, all wrapped in more than 200 sunny days a year. It is a destination that feels welcoming in every season, whether you arrive for spring festivals, summer evenings, or quieter moments by the sea.
At Caeli Travel, we believe the best journeys are unhurried. Herceg Novi is not a place to rush, it is a place to experience. Below is our carefully curated guide to the events and locations that truly define the spirit of this coastal town.
Experience the charm of Herceg Novi, Montenegro, with breathtaking coastal views and a peacful Adriatic atmosphere.
Seasonal Events That Shape the Spirit of Herceg Novi (2026)
Mimosa Festival – Welcoming Spring by the Sea
13. February – 28. February 2026
As winter slowly fades, Herceg Novi welcomes spring with the iconic Mimosa Festival — one of the longest-running festivals in Montenegro. Mimosa Festival in Herceg Novi includes a 57 year tradition across the region of celebrating this beautiful yellow flower.
Bright yellow mimosa flowers bloom along the coast, symbolizing renewal, warmth, and optimism. During the festival. the town transforms into a vibrant open-air celebration filled with music, concerts, exhibitions, and local traditions such as wine and food tastings and burning of the carnival mask.
Why visit during the Mimosa Festival?
• Authentic local atmosphere outside peak season
• Open-air concerts, masquerade balls, and flower exhibitions
• Coastal villages like Baošići hosting food tastings and street performances
It is one of the best times to experience Herceg Novi as locals do: relaxed, joyful, and connected to the rhythm of the sea.
Do not miss: Opening & Closing party: The festival begins with a celebration and concludes with a traditional burning of the carneval mask.
Organizer of this festival is Municipality of Herceg Novi and Tourism Organization of Herceg Novi and Public Institution of culture Herceg Novi. Click here for official details about the festival as well as specific dates of the events.
The Awakening of Summer – Sunrise at Forte Mare
June 21
Summer in Herceg Novi begins quietly: with the sunrise.
Each year on June 21, locals and visitors gather at Forte Mare Fortress for “Budjenje ljeta” (The Awakening of Summer). As the sun rises over the Adriatic, gentle music and dancing welcome the longest day of the year.
This is not a loud celebration. It is intimate, calm, and deeply atmospheric.
Entrance is free, and the experience perfectly reflects the natural elegance of Herceg Novi.
Herceg Novi Film Festival – Cinema Under the Stars
August - specific dates will be announced closer to the event (usually end of August)
Late summer evenings in Herceg Novi belong to film, culture, and stone fortresses glowing under the night sky.
Held at the historic Kanli Kula Fortress, the Herceg Novi Film Festival presents regional and international films in one of the most atmospheric open-air cinemas on the Adriatic.
The Herceg Novi Film Festival has an integral role in promoting Montenegro’s cinematic arts and cultural tourism, bringing international attention to regional filmmakers under the stars in historic venues.
What makes this festival special:
Open-air screenings inside a historic fortress
Subtitled international and regional films
Focus on regional cinematography
Warm summer nights with panoramic views
It is a refined cultural experience best enjoyed slowly — perhaps with a glass of local wine after the screening.
The iconic Clock Tower in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, standing in the historic town square, showing its beautiful architecture and offering a view of the city’s rich culture.
Fortresses and Landmarks in Herceg Novi That Tell the Town’s Story
Clock Tower (Sat Kula) – Entrance to the Old Town
Standing at the main entrance to the Old Town, the Clock Tower (Sat Kula) marks the moment Herceg Novi begins to fold inward. Built in 1667 during Ottoman rule, it has long served as both a meeting point and a quiet marker of daily rhythm.
Passing beneath its arch, the town immediately changes character. The streets narrow, the steps grow steeper, and the air feels cooler. Stone staircases branch upward in different directions, leading past worn doorways, small balconies, and hidden courtyards. Between historic façades, the sea appears only in fragments — brief flashes of blue that disappear again as quickly as they arrive. Sat Kula is less a monument than a threshold, crossed almost without noticing, yet always felt.
Kanli Kula Fortress – History Turned Cultural Stage
Rising high above the Old Town, Kanli Kula Fortress dominates the skyline with a weight that reflects its past. Built in the 16th century by the Ottomans, it originally served as a defensive stronghold and prison, a role that shaped both its structure and reputation.
Today, the fortress carries a very different energy. As an open-air amphitheatre, it hosts concerts, theatre performances, and film screenings. Stone steps once associated with confinement now fill with people, sound, and light. As evening settles and the bay darkens below, the fortress feels neither abandoned nor restored — but repurposed. Kanli Kula shows how Herceg Novi allows history to remain visible while giving it a new voice.
Forte Mare – The Sea Fortress Experience
Built directly above the waterline, Forte Mare feels inseparable from the Adriatic. First constructed in the 17th century and expanded during Venetian rule, the fortress was designed to protect the town from threats arriving by sea.
Its character is quieter than that of Kanli Kula. Narrow passages open suddenly onto terraces facing the horizon, and the sound of waves follows every step. Salt lingers in the air, and the stone retains warmth long after sunset. In summer, open-air film screenings transform the fortress into a cinematic space where dialogue mixes with the rhythm of the water below. Even without an event, Forte Mare invites pause — a rare stillness in a town built on movement.
Španjola Fortress — Above the Town
Španjola Fortress stands high above Herceg Novi, distant from the town’s daily flow. Built in the 16th century during Spanish rule and later reinforced by the Ottomans, it once played a key role in controlling access to the bay.
Largely unrestored, Španjola remains exposed to wind and weather. The climb is long, and the silence at the top is striking. From here, the entire town spreads out below, framed by the bay and open sea. Without signs or explanations, the fortress makes its point clearly: Herceg Novi’s position was never accidental. Its layered defenses were a response to geography as much as history.
Savina Monastery — A Place of Continuity
Just outside the town center, Savina Monastery offers a different rhythm. The complex developed gradually between the 11th and 18th centuries, shaped by spiritual life rather than military need.
Surrounded by cypress trees and overlooking the sea, Savina feels settled rather than preserved. Light filters softly through the greenery, and the air carries a mix of pine and salt. From its terraces, the bay lies calm and uninterrupted. In contrast to the fortresses above the town, Savina speaks quietly — of continuity, patience, and a slower measure of time.
Kanli Kula Fortress- Herceg Novi, Montenegro- a historic fortress offering stunning panoramic views of the Boka Bay of Kotor and Adriatic coastline
For a Touch of Luxury – Porto Novi luxury marina
For travelers drawn to refined comfort and contemporary elegance, Porto Novi offers a different perspective on the destination.
Just minutes from Herceg Novi, Porto Novi combines luxury resorts, fine dining, private beaches, and a world-class marina with One&Only resort with world class restaurants such as Ribarsko Selo. It is an ideal complement for those who wish to pair authentic coastal life with premium amenities.
Read here about three luxury marinas of Montenegro.
Walking in Herceg Novi – Slow Travel by the Sea
Pet Danica Promenade & Škver Harbor
Herceg Novi is best experienced on foot.
The Pet Danica promenade, the longest seaside walkway in the area, invites slow strolls along the coast, from peaceful morning walks to golden-hour evenings. The path follows the shoreline, connecting beaches, cafés, and gathering spots.
Nearby Škver Harbor adds a maritime rhythm to the town. From here, visitors can explore boat tours, island escapes, and hidden beaches throughout the bay.
Local Moments: Experiencing Herceg Novi the Authentic Way
We value places where life unfolds naturally.
If you want to experience Herceg Novi beyond classic tourist paths, follow the locals. Sit by the sea. Order something simple. Allow time to slow down.
PRC Café – Pensioners’ Recreation Center, Baošići
Right on the waterfront in Baošići, PRC Café is a local institution.
Shaded by trees and facing the open sea, it is a place for conversation, board games, and long coffees. A glass of gemišt — wine mixed with sparkling water — feels perfectly at home here.
There is no rush. No dress code. Just everyday life by the sea.
Wellness and Wellbeing by the Adriatic
Dr. Simo Milošević Institute – Igalo
Known internationally for its medical and wellness programs, the Dr. Simo Milošević Institute in Igalo represents another side of Herceg Novi — one focused on balance, recovery, and health.
From spa and wellness treatments to modern rehabilitation programs, this institution attracts visitors seeking physical renewal and mental relaxation, enhanced by the mild coastal climate.
Exploring the narrow streets of Herceg Novi with stone strais leading through charming corners of the city.
Herceg Novi is not a destination to simply see — it is a place to feel.
Its fortresses, festivals, cafés, and coastal paths invite presence, curiosity, and ease. Whether you are drawn by culture, nature, wellness, or understated luxury, Herceg Novi offers space to reconnect — with the destination and with yourself.
Book your private tour with us here.