People start swimming in late May and the season ends in late October. Central Montenegrin beaches, like Budva, Rafailovici, or Petrovac are crowded from late July to late September. During the whole of August, these three beaches are packed. It is nearly impossible to see the water through the crowds. Sunbeds are very scarce and the area of the beach without beds is packed with people.

June and July are the best times for a beach holiday to Montenegro, including having space on the beach. For Budva, Rafailovici, and Petrovac, it is only June. In August, beaches across the whole of Montenegro (or even the whole of the Adriatic sea) are packed. This is the peak season for tourism. For this reason you should consider visiting Montenegro during any other month if possible.

The beginning of the swimming season varies year by year. The temperatures in spring fluctuate. If it is hot, the sea is warm by the end of May or beginning of June. If it is cold, especially at night, the swimming season starts in mid-June. By the end of June, the water is always warm. The sea begins to cool down in late September. The sun is still hot and it still feels summery – about 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. However, the nights are getting colder. For this reason the number of swimmers declines sharply at the end of September. Only the brave swim in the sea in October. However, sometimes the weather can be good and the swimming season can last until mid-October.

As I have said above, there is no beach admission fee in Montenegro. However, you pay for sunbeds and umbrellas. At average, the price is about €1.5-5 per sunbed or umbrella.

Montenegro is all about rocks by the sea. The coastline is jagged and uneven. Natural sandy beaches in Montenegro are only found in the south, beyond Ulcinj at the well-known Great Beach (Velika Plaza). The rest of the beaches are rocky or pebbled. The natural surface of the beaches are not that appealing. For this reason leaseholders bring sand and small pebbles to their beaches by the truckload every year. The sand is poured over the stones. By the end of the season, the sand is washed into the sea or mixed in with the stones. Waves break the large pebbles into smaller nuggets. Today, this ‘sand’ covers most popular beaches. Concrete beaches are also very popular in Montenegro. A part of the shore is covered in concrete near the sea shore. This platform (‘pónta’ in Serbian) has metal or concrete ladders. These beaches are less comfortable for children who cannot yet swim. For adults, though, it is one of the best options. Often, póntas are found in the Bay of Kotor where the shore is very steep and there are almost no regular beaches.