Beaches in UlcinjVelika Plaža, Mala Plaža, Ada Bojana and hidden coves

Velika Plaža stretches for about 13 km from Port Milena to the mouth of the Bojana, the border with Albania. The sand is fine and the bottom stays shallow far from the shore, making this a beach for families with small children. The afternoon wind attracts kitesurfers. Along the beach are beach bars with loungers and umbrellas, and entry is free. Parking is available in several places, usually next to the bars and restaurants; in July and August arrive early.

Ada Bojana is a triangular river island at the mouth of the Bojana, with a sandy beach about 3 km long. Along the river are fish restaurants, and on the island there is a naturist campsite that has existed since 1973. Beach entry is free, and parking is at the resort entrance. There is good wind for kitesurfing here too.

Mala Plaža is the town beach, about 360 m long, right below the Old Town walls. The sand is fine, and the bottom remains shallow far from the shore. In summer it is a lively town beach, with bars and restaurants on the promenade. Parking in the centre is paid and hard to find in summer.

From Mala Plaža eastwards, a promenade of about 2 km leads through the pine forest, with smaller bathing spots and platforms by the sea. In one cove is Ženska Plaža, which only women may enter. Sulphur-mineral water springs in the shallows, which has given the beach a medicinal reputation for decades. Entry is free, and parking is near the nearby hotels and is limited.

Liman II is a small pebbly cove west of the Old Town, with clear water and organised beach facilities. It is convenient if you want swimming and a visit to the Old Town on the same day. Parking is limited, so it is reached on foot from the centre.

Valdanos Bay is about 5 km northwest of Ulcinj, shaped like a horseshoe. The beach is pebbly, about 376 m long, and behind it is an olive grove of about 18,000 trees; the bay is protected as a natural monument. Entry is free, and a large free car park is next to the beach, partly in the shade of pines.

Kruče is a quiet beach of pebbles and stone, about 600 m long, about 8 km from Ulcinj towards Utjeha. The water is clear and sheltered from waves, and from the beach you can see the island of Stari Ulcinj, which can be reached by kayak. Water shoes are useful. The small free car park by the beach fills up early in summer.

Between Kruče and Utjeha are three smaller coves for those seeking peace. Kristalna Plaža is a rocky cove of about 100 m opposite the island of Stari Ulcinj, with no facilities at all; you reach it by a steep path or by boat. Hladna Uvala is a small fishing cove surrounded by olive groves, where you swim from the rocks. Paljuškovo is a pebbly beach of about 100 m with concrete platforms and loungers in the shade of trees. Parking is by the road and limited.

• Small children: Mala Plaža and Velika Plaža, because of the sand and shallow sea.
• Kitesurfing and windsurfing: Velika Plaža and Ada Bojana.
• Shade and peace: Valdanos and the promenade through Borova Šuma.
• Snorkelling: Kruče, Kristalna Plaža and Hladna Uvala.
• Without a car: Mala Plaža, Borova Šuma and Liman, which you can reach on foot from the centre.