Old town
AtmosphereThe walled town on the cliff.
Ulcinj city guide
Things To Do In Ulcinj
Montenegro's southern tip: an Ottoman old town on a cliff, twelve kilometres of sandy beach, a river island and the Albanian border down the road.
4
Hostels in the city
9.8
Average, from 1,806 reviews
12 km
Velika Plaža
1 hour
To Shkodër in Albania
€8–15
A full meal
Where Montenegro meets Albania
Ulcinj is the southernmost town in Montenegro, and it feels different from the rest of the coast. Most of its people are Albanian, the skyline has minarets, and it spent centuries under Ottoman rule, when its old town was a base for pirates and, according to legend, the place where Cervantes was held captive.
It also has the one thing the rest of the Montenegrin coast lacks: sand. Velika Plaža, the Long Beach, runs for twelve kilometres south of town to the river Bojana and Ada Bojana, a triangular river island.
Ulcinj is less polished and cheaper than Budva and Kotor, and the gateway to northern Albania. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Stay near the old town for the atmosphere, or along Velika Plaža for the beach.
Town centre
First-timersBelow the old town, with the small beach.
Velika Plaža
BeachThe 12-km sand beach south of town.
Ada Bojana
River islandThe island at the river mouth, with fish restaurants.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Ulcinj
Walk up to the old town, on a cliff above the sea, with its stone lanes, the Balšić Tower and views along the coast.
Velika Plaža, south of town, is a twelve-kilometre stretch of fine sand, with beach bars and plenty of space. The afternoon wind makes it one of the best kitesurfing spots in the Adriatic.
Ada Bojana, at the river mouth, is an island between two arms of the Bojana, with a naturist beach and fish restaurants on stilts over the river.
The Ulcinj Salina, the old salt pans, is now a nature park and one of the most important bird sites on the Adriatic, with flamingos in season. Valdanos, a bay north of town, is surrounded by an ancient olive grove.
Free things
Free things to do in Ulcinj
The old town and its views are free. So are Velika Plaža and the smaller town beaches, away from the sunbeds.
Walking in the olive groves at Valdanos is free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Ulcinj
Ulcinj's food is Albanian and Adriatic. Fresh fish from the sea and the river, grilled and simple, is the speciality, and the restaurants on stilts at Ada Bojana serve it straight from the water.
Albanian and Ottoman dishes, grilled meats, burek and baklava, are everywhere.
Prices are lower than on the northern coast: a full meal is €8 to €15.
Nightlife
Going out in Ulcinj
Ulcinj is lively in summer, with bars in town and beach bars along Velika Plaža, and very quiet the rest of the year.
A beer is €2 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around Ulcinj
The town is walkable, but the beach is spread out; taxis and local buses run along Velika Plaža.
Buses run to Kotor in about two hours and Podgorica in about an hour and a half. Bar, with the railway station, is about half an hour away.
Shkodër in Albania is about an hour away by road, through the border crossing at Sukobin.
Costs
What Ulcinj costs
Ulcinj is cheaper than Budva and Kotor. A careful day is €30 to €45.
The costs that add up are kitesurfing lessons and sunbeds.
The euro is the currency. Carry some cash.
Safety
Staying safe in Ulcinj
Ulcinj is safe.
On Velika Plaža, watch for currents and wind, especially in the afternoon. At the river mouth, the current is strong.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Ulcinj
The deep south, and Albania.
Shkodër
Albania's northern city, with a castle and a lake.
Lake Skadar
The largest lake in the Balkans, with boat trips from Virpazar.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Summer is the season.
July and August
Summer season
Town and beaches
Beach bars, concerts and the busiest weeks of the year.
Spring to autumn
Kitesurfing season
Velika Plaža
Steady afternoon winds.
Hostels
Where to stay in Ulcinj
The top-rated places to stay in Ulcinj right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
June and September are best. July and August are busy with regional visitors.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Birds at the Salina
May
Excellent
Jun
Sea warm
Jul
Peak
Aug
Busiest
Sep
Superb
Oct
Quiet
Nov
Wet
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The sea is swimmable from June to October.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Cheaper than the northern coast. Kitesurfing lessons extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Ulcinj travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Ulcinj worth visiting?
Yes, for the only long sandy beach on the Montenegrin coast, an Ottoman old town, and a different culture from the rest of the coast.
How long is Velika Plaža?
About twelve kilometres.
Can I kitesurf in Ulcinj?
Yes. The afternoon winds on Velika Plaža and at Ada Bojana make it one of the best spots on the Adriatic.
How do I get to Albania from Ulcinj?
Shkodër is about an hour away through the border at Sukobin, by bus or taxi.
What language is spoken?
Mostly Albanian, with Montenegrin.
How do I get to Ulcinj?
By bus from Kotor, about two hours, or Podgorica, about an hour and a half.
When is the best time to visit?
June and September.
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Ulcinj hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.