Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

Sveti Stefan highlights

Known for beach, coastal town, island, promenade, resort, viewpoint

Sveti Stefan (Saint Stephen) is a small tied islands on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, approximately 6 kilometers southeast of Budva. The island has a 2-kilometer coast line in the central part of Montenegro Adriatic coast line. The island and nearby coast line are known for pink sandy beaches. Now the full area of island and nearby Queen's Beach now is a 5-star hotel resort with hotel guests only access.

You understand, it is impossible to see Montenegro just in a couple of days. Come with us to explore Montenegro in a 1-2 week road trip. We will pass Sveti Stefan, along with other Montenegro' attractions, to discover the soul of the country, its way of life, culture and traditions, food and drinks. Browse our tours passing Sveti Stefan, or contact us directly for a custom tour in Montenegro. By the way, we charge nothing for a custom itinerary. Contact us directly, let's plan all the details of your trip and get it done!

Other places in Montenegro that we are familiar with

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Besac - Known for fortress, viewpoint

Budva - Known for coastal town, marina, medieval old town, monument, museum, promenade, venetian empire

Dajbabe - Known for cave, orthodox monastery

Kotor - Known for coastal town, fortified town, fortress, marina, museum, promenade, venetian empire, viewpoint, orthodox church, catholic cathedral, franciscan church; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Lovćen (Lovcen) - Known for nature, park, viewpoint

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Ostrog - Known for viewpoint, orthodox monastery

Perast - Known for coastal town, island, venetian empire, catholic church, benedictin monastery; coastal town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Risan - Known for beach, coastal town, mosaic, museum, promenade, roman empire; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Tivat - Known for beach, coastal town, marina, promenade, orthodox cathedral

Last reviewed: 24 March 2024

Sveti Stefan description

Tied islands, or land-tied islands as they are often known, are landforms consisting of an island that is connected to mainland or another island only by a tombolo: a spit of beach materials connected to land at both ends. A tombolo is a sandy isthmus. A tombolo, from the Italian tombolo, meaning "pillow" or "cushion", is a deposition land-form by which an island becomes attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar.

Sveti Stefan was fisherman island inhabited by families of the Pastrovici tribe from the 15th century, converted into a "secret-island". The population of the island declined in the first half of the twentieth century, as residents left to join the armed forces or to move overseas.

Firstly, in 1442 on Sveti Stefan was built a fort. At that time the fort was primarily used to shelter local families from attacks by the Turkish invaders and pirates. The island was eventually inhabited by 12 families named the "Pastrovic Clan" who lived there for many years. Local families lived on Sveti Stefan up until the early 1900s.

From 400 inhabitants in the 19th century, there were just 20 remaining by 1954. The Communist Yugoslav authorities converted it into a luxury hotel and moved the remaining inhabitants to the mainland, and the island village became an exclusive resort frequented by high-profile elites of the world.

Now Sveti Stefan island boasts three separate churches which are surrounded by the famous stone buildings with red roofs. It is quite the spectacle to see, as people continuously try to stroll into the resort only to be turned away by security.

Currently the full area of island and nearby Queen's Beach now is a 5-star hotel resort, a franchise of the international group of Aman Resorts, renovated in 2009 and operating under a 30-year lease. The seasonal, high-end, village-style resort with a separate mainland villa is known commercially as Aman Sveti Stefan and includes part of the mainland, where the Villa Milocer is located. The resort in total contains 50 rooms, cottages, and suites on the island, and 8 grand suites at the Villa Milocer.

The hotel was closed due to the pandemic since early 2020, and remains closed in 2022 with no announced reopening date. In communication to guests and media, Aman has indicated security concerns and conflicts with government entities as reasons for continued closure.

Sveti Stefan related tours

We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Sveti Stefan during multi-day small group car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Sveti Stefan.

We have developed several small group tours that visiting beautiful Sveti Stefan. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. We charge nothing for develop a custom itinerary. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.

Day trip from Sveti Stefan to Vjetrenica cave with wine tasting in Tvrdos monastery. See also Zavala monastery and Trebinje. all seasons tour 1 days Price from € 198 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Sveti Stefan, Montenegro tour finishes in: Sveti Stefan, Montenegro tour duration: 1 days (0 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Trebinje, Tvrdoš, Vjetrenica, Zavala Come with us to take a scenic road to see few attractions of Bosnia-Herzegovina on the day trip from Sveti Stefan. Our aim is to see Vjetrenica cave (UNESCO Tentative List site) with unique animal called human fish and Zavala Orthodox monastery partially located in cave. Before arriving to Vjetrenica cave, we will visit famous Tvrdos monastery and taste great white, red, and rose wines of its cellar. On the way back to Sveti Stefan, we will visit Trebinje, to see the town and whole valley from the hill with a beautiful church, and enjoy Herzegovina food and delicious wines in local restaurant. You can choose between a winery with high-end dishes, a classic restaurant with Herzegovina region dishes, or a rustic restaurant-taverna.

2-day trip from Sveti Stefan to Medjugorje and Kravica waterfalls. Bosnia unexpected. With Tvrdos monastery, Vjetrenica cave, Radimlja, Mogorjelo, Pocitelj, Stolac. Enjoy food & wine in Trebinje. all seasons tour 2 days Price from € 321 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Sveti Stefan, Montenegro tour finishes in: Sveti Stefan, Montenegro tour duration: 2 days (1 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Kravica, Međugorje, Mogorjelo, Počitelj, Radimlja, Stolac, Trebinje, Tvrdoš, Vjetrenica Come with us to see great attractions of Bosnia-Herzegovina on the day trip from Sveti Stefan. The main attractions of this 2 days tour are Medjugorje and Kravica waterfalls. We going to take a scenic road to see famous Tvrdos monastery and taste great white, red, and rose wines of its cellars. Next our attraction is Vjetrenica cave (UNESCO Tentative List site) with unique animal called human fish. After that we will take a road to see a real Roman villa Rustica, established as agricultural estate in 4th century AD. After we going to see famous Kravica waterfalls, one of the most fascinating natural beauty of this region. The sparkling Kravica waterfalls, cascading from the tufa walls from a height of 30 m, formed a natural amphitheater 150 m wide with the lake in the base. At the end of the day will will come to Medjugorje, a popular pilgrim's destination, Since 1981, it has become a popular site of Catholic pilgrimage due to the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to six local children. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world have visited it and have left spiritually strengthened and renewed. Here in Medjugorje we going to have one night accommodation. Next day will bring us to the medieval town Pocitelj (UNESCO Tentative List site), served as open-air museum, to climb its narrow streets to the top and enjoy great view from old Ottoman fort. Next our attraction will be archaeological site Radimlja (UNESCO World Heritage site) with ancient carved tombstones, specific for this Balkans region. Next we going to visit an Ottoman fortress Stolac and admire amazing view to the valley and river. Before road back to Sveti Stefan, we will come to Trebinje to enjoy authentic Herzegovina food from local restaurant and taste local wines. You can choose between a winery with high-end dishes, a classic restaurant with Herzegovina region dishes, or a rustic restaurant-taverna.

2-day trip from Sveti Stefan to Mostar and Blagaj. Bosnia unexpected. With Tvrdos monastery, Vjetrenica cave, Radimlja, Mogorjelo, Pocitelj, Stolac. Enjoy food & wine in Trebinje. all seasons tour 2 days Price from € 323 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Sveti Stefan, Montenegro tour finishes in: Sveti Stefan, Montenegro tour duration: 2 days (1 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Blagaj, Mogorjelo, Mostar, Počitelj, Radimlja, Stolac, Trebinje, Tvrdoš, Vjetrenica Come with us to see great attractions of Bosnia-Herzegovina on the day trip from Sveti Stefan. The main attractions of this 2 days tour are Mostar (UNESCO World Heritage site) and Blagaj. We going to take a scenic road to see famous Tvrdos monastery and taste great white, red, and rose wines of its cellars. Next our attraction is Vjetrenica cave (UNESCO Tentative List site) with unique animal called human fish. After that we will take a road to see a real Roman villa Rustica, established as agricultural estate in 4th century AD. Next, we will visit the medieval town Pocitelj (UNESCO Tentative List site), served as open-air museum, to climb its narrow streets to the top and enjoy great view from old Ottoman fort. The first day we will finish with visit to famous Mostar, where we will walk cobblestoned streets of historical center and stay in Old Bridge. Next day will bring us to historical town Blagaj with Dervish monastery (tekija) built around 1520 (UNESCO Tentative List site), and see the source of amazing clear river Buna nearby. Next our attraction will be archaeological site Radimlja (UNESCO World Heritage site) with ancient carved tombstones, specific for this Balkans region. Next we going to visit an Ottoman fortress Stolac and admire amazing view to the valley and river. Before road back to Sveti Stefan, we will come to Trebinje to enjoy authentic Herzegovina food from local restaurant and taste local wines. You can choose between a winery with high-end dishes, a classic restaurant with Herzegovina region dishes, or a rustic restaurant-taverna.