Tivat: Nature, Culture and Maritime Heritage

Tivat offers a range of ways to enjoy your trip: protected nature, maritime heritage, historic buildings and activities on the water. The city park and the Solila Wetland showcase the natural environment, while museums, the Buća complex and the ship “Jadran” offer insights into Tivat’s maritime and local history. If you are looking for a hotel in Tivat, these highlights can help you plan your stay.

City Park and Solila Wetland

Tivat City Park has been a nature reserve since 1968 and was declared a natural monument in 2015. Visitors can stroll in the shade of mature, partly exotic trees. Some of the trees are up to 130 years old and 25 metres tall. The park can be enjoyed both as a protected natural area and as a place for a walk.

The coastal wetland of Solila, covering about 150 hectares, lies opposite Tivat city centre in Krtole Bay. Since 2013, it has been listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention; it is also designated an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and is a candidate for Emerald Site status under the Bern Convention. Benches are placed along the walking and cycling trails. Birdlife can be observed from two watchtowers and a viewpoint on the road to Krtoli. Unlike the shady city park, Solila’s coastal wetland and birdwatching are the main features of a nature visit.

Maritime History and Historic Buildings

The Maritime Heritage Collection in Porto Montenegro is a museum about Tivat’s maritime traditions and the Adriatic’s nautical past. Porto Montenegro is also home to the Submarine Museum, featuring the submarine P-821 Hero, considered a former flagship of the Yugoslav Navy. Together, these offer two distinct perspectives on maritime history in Tivat: the broader history of seafaring and a specific submarine.

The “Ethnographic Heritage of Tivat” collection presents exhibitions on art, ethnology, archaeology and documentary subjects in the museum and gallery spaces of the medieval Buća complex. Buća Luković dates from the 14th century and is considered the most monumental and best-preserved historic summer house of its kind in Tivat. The complex includes the fortified tower of Buća Luković: it is 15 metres tall, dates from 1548 and is now used as an art gallery. The ship “Jadran” is considered a symbol of Tivat and its maritime tradition; Tivat and the ship are closely connected.

Activities on the Water and Outdoors

Kayaking is offered as a leisure activity in the calm waters of Tivat Bay. The “Neptun-Mimoza” diving club offers diving courses, organised dives and rental of full diving equipment in Tivat. The club was founded in 1993. Cycle paths are also part of the cityscape: the streets of Tivat are equipped with cycle paths.

Kalardovo is a natural sandy beach in the municipality of Tivat and is considered particularly appealing to families with children. Porto Montenegro offers sports and cultural activities as well as numerous events for owners, crew members, visitors and local residents. These offerings have different focuses: kayaking and diving take centre stage on the water, while Porto Montenegro offers a broader programme of sports and culture.

Summer Events and Nearby Destinations

The PURGATORY festival takes place in Tivat in summer, from mid-June to the end of August. Most performances are held on the summer stage at Buća Summer House. Dates and venues may change in future editions, so check the details for your travel dates. The Tivat Bowling Olympics is a traditional summer sporting event, usually held in July or August. The game is played according to old folk rules; participants from other Montenegrin cities and from abroad also take part. The “Lastovo festivities” are traditionally held in August in Gornja Lastva near Tivat. The main celebration takes place on the first Saturday in August.

Stradioti, also known as St. Mark, is a natural island in Tivat Bay and one of the bay’s biggest attractions; it is close to the destination. It can only be reached by sea; a guided tour is recommended for exploring its hidden sandy beaches. Gospa od Milosti lies opposite the city of Tivat and is the smallest of the three islands opposite Tivat. In 1524, the Franciscans built the present-day monastery and church there, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. To this day, believers make pilgrimages to the island to pay their respects to the Virgin Mary.

Discover more destinations: Tivat, Radovici, Krašići, Prčanj, Kavač, Lepetane, Donja Lastva, Mrčevac, Bjelila, Gošići.

Go to the main travel overview: Montenegro.