Sveti Stefan is a world-famous island in the Adriatic Sea and a visit is a real highlight of a vacation in Montenegro. Moreover, the adjacent dream beach with a view of the small island is one of the most stunning beaches in Montenegro.
Formerly a small fishing village, it was completely renovated in 2007 as a hotel and today, with its impressive appearance, gives the entire Montenegrin coast an exceptionally beautiful, but also proud charm. A picture-perfect setting awaits you during a vacation on Sveti Stefan beach! No longer an insider tip, every year countless visitors from all over the world come to admire this spectacular attraction.
Sveti Stefan is a tiny little island of only 1.64 hectares, actually it is a peninsula connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is located about 10 kilometers from Budva and, thanks to its imposing setting, has become a landmark for Montenegro. Holidaymakers also love the resort of the same name, which attracts with unique ambience! Just opposite the island are really great beaches and also a vacation settlement with beautiful apartments and hotels was built here on the slopes of the resort. However, the complete island of Sveti Stefan is a hotel and accessible only to hotel guests. Even with admission, you cannot get in here.
The history of Sveti Stefan goes back to the 15th century. In the past, it was a small, fortified fishing village, which partly served as a shelter in times of war. About 400 inhabitants are said to have lived in this historic old town of the small island at that time. It has its name from the church of St. Stefan, which, like several other small churches, is still here today.
The Hotel Sveti Stefan
It was not until the middle of the 20th century, 1950-1960, that the small old town was completely renovated as part of a hotel project, preserving its original character with pretty stone cottages, romantic alleys and typical red roofs and shutters. Celebrities and politicians from all over the world, like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor have been guests here. Since 2007, the entire island of Sveti Stefan, together with Villa Milocer on the mainland, has become a complex of the Aman Sveti Stefan Luxury Resort, a high end top-class 5-star hotel. Unfortunately, a tour of the hotel is not possible as a non-hotel guest.
The Beaches of Sveti Stefan
Real highlights, accessible to all vacationers, are the wonderful beaches of Sveti Stefan. Often described as pink sandy beaches, they are, however, rather very fine pebble beaches that really glow a delicate pink when the sun shines. The entrance to the left side cove is also open to non-hotel guests and is even free of charge. The bay on the right side is only accessible to hotel guests, or you can rent two sunbeds with an umbrella for about 120 euros per day.
Beautiful and a must-do is a walk along the picturesque waterfront. From the walkway you can enjoy a fantastic viewpoint of Sveti Stefan, which with its stone houses and red roofs forms a particularly spectacular contrast to the turquoise sea. Also worth seeing is Milocer Beach, the so-called Queens Beach, a private beach in a spectacular setting, just a 5-minute walk from the village.
