Herceg-Novi between the Old Town and Orjen

Hiking trails between the city and Orjen

Orjen Nature Park is located on Mount Orjen in the hinterland of Herceg-Novi. Its dense network of marked trails ranges from easy walking paths to routes for experienced mountaineers. From the centre of Herceg-Novi, the nature park can be reached on foot in less than two hours via a marked trail; the road connection also runs along the Herceg Novi–Trebinje route. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether you want to use these routes to Orjen or devote more of your holiday to the city’s cultural attractions.

One approach to Orjen leads from Herceg Novi via Kameno and Borići to the “Za Vratlom” mountain hut. It connects the city with the mountains and also serves as an access point to the Orjen–Lovćen–Rumija national long-distance hiking trail. Another route, Tatar bašta–Sušćepan–Ratiševina–Mokrine, connects villages in the hinterland and churches with viewpoints. It is suitable for walking and easy mountain hiking. The trail to Veliki Kabao, the 1,894-metre-high peak, is considered one of Orjen’s most attractive and less difficult routes, as well as Montenegro’s oldest purpose-built hiking trail.

The protected area’s natural environment also shapes the character of the mountain landscape: Orjen Nature Park was granted protected status primarily because of its many endemic plant species, including the munika. If you are looking for a single activity rather than a longer hike, you will find an adventure park in the beech forest near Vrbanj, at an altitude of 1,100 metres. It covers 7,000 square metres. Its 44 elements are spread across four courses, with a 200-metre zip-line course making up the fifth. The activities range from courses for children aged six and over to those for experienced users. Eight certified instructors are available to visitors.

Fortresses, collections and city history

In the Old Town, Kanli Kula tells the story of Ottoman architecture: the monumental fortress was built by the Ottomans in 1539 and is now a venue for the Herceg Novi Film Festival, the Guitar Art Fest and the Operosa Festival. It also hosts pop and classical music concerts and folklore performances. The Clock Tower, built in 1667 on the orders of Sultan Mahmud, marks the entrance to the Old Town. Forte Mare stands right on the coast and guarded the city’s entrance from the sea. From the fortress, the view stretches to the entrance of the Bay of Kotor, the city harbour, Igalo and the Old Town.

The Mirko Komnenović City Museum opened in 1953. Its collections include historical, archaeological and ethnological holdings, as well as icons. The museum is surrounded by a botanical garden with rare plants and offers views of the sea. The permanent exhibition “Andrić’s New Paths, Faces, Landscapes” is on display in Ivo Andrić’s house. The house was built between 1962 and 1963; the Nobel laureate lived there with his wife, Milica Babić, from 1963 to 1968. The courtyard was prepared for cultural events.

Two kilometres east of Herceg Novi lies the Savina Monastery complex, set amid Mediterranean vegetation. It comprises two churches, a monastery building with a treasury and the Church of St Sava, located on a nearby hill. The treasury contains, among other things, a crystal cross of St Sava from the 13th century and a Gospel book from the 17th century. From the viewpoint at the Church of St Sava, the view stretches as far as Lovćen.

Festivals and culinary traditions

The traditional Mimosa Festival was founded in 1969 and features masked balls, carnival events, concerts, and numerous children’s, arts and sports programmes in February and March. The Fish and Wine Festival is also part of the programme. Another musical highlight is the “Roots Revival” reggae festival: first held in 2022, it takes place at Forte Mare in late July. If you are interested in events, you can take these different formats into account when planning the dates of your stay.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it is worth deciding first what you want to focus on: Orjen’s trails offer options ranging from a walk to a mountain hike, while the fortresses, museum and monastery complex offer cultural discoveries. This lets you choose the right base for your own travel rhythm, without reducing the region’s varied landscapes and experiences to a single type of holiday.

Discover more towns and villages

For more guidance within the region, visit the pages for Herceg Novi, Igalo, Gornji Morinj, Bijela, Baošići, Kumbor, Đenovići, Zelenika, Kamenari, Lipci, Klinci, Žvinje, Sušćepan, Sutorina, Sasovići, Žanjica and Kameno.

For the broader travel overview: Montenegro.