If you need a calm and comfortable vacation at sea, go to Risan, Montenegro – an old, small resort on the Adriatic coast. Here you can spend a few days or the whole vacation. This is a small village, whose inhabitants used to earn money by fishing, and now – by serving tourists.
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Description of the resort
In Montenegro, Risan is located on the coast of the Bay of Kotor, the nearest large resort town is Kotor. It is located a few kilometers away. The name Risan comes from the Serbian language, in Italian it sounds Risano. The village is located near Mount Oren, in a natural hollow. It protects it from wind and precipitation, which often take place in spring and autumn.
Interesting Facts:
- The first mention is in the 4th century. BC. The city of Rhizon was the capital of the Illyrian state.
- After the capture by the Roman troops and further devastation, the city lost its significance. The last mention dates back to 595.
- The heyday of the city fell on the period of the Venetian Republic.
Risan is located on the Karlovy Krivoshie Plateau, which rises above the narrow shores of the bay. More than 5000 mm of precipitation falls annually. Most of the water is collected in the gorges, the volume is added by karst springs. Today the resort is a small port with a population of 3500 people. This is a tourist village that has a small hotel named after the most famous resident of Queen Teuta. Beaches with umbrellas and sun loungers adjoin it.
Hotels, accommodation
Despite its history, Risan in Montenegro remains a small resort village. For accommodation, you can choose a local hotel, villas or private apartments. You need to book rooms in advance, in summer it is done 2-4 weeks before the start of the trip. Offers include breakfast, rooms have Wi-Fi, bedding is changed every 2 nights.
Pajo Apartments
Pajo Apartments is located in the historical center of Risan. It is located 50 meters from the sea and offers air-conditioned apartments with free Wi-Fi. All rooms are equipped with satellite TV. The sandy beach is 80 meters away.
All apartments have a sofa and a private bathroom. Free public parking is available nearby. The hotel has a cafe where you can taste the national cuisine of Montenegro. Supermarket – just 40 meters. Pajo has bike and car rentals. The hotel also provides laundry services. The main bus station is just 50 meters from Pajo Apartments.
Services and infrastructure:
- free Wi-Fi;
- free parking;
- terrace, garden, barbecue;
- pets allowed;
- you can order a transfer to the airport;
Laundry and dry cleaning services are available for an additional fee. Nearby there are souvenir shops, grocery supermarkets.
Rooms Banicevic
Rooms Banićević is located 300 meters from the center of Risan and 400 meters from the beach. Guests have access to a shared furnished patio and a shared kitchen. There is free Wi-Fi and free private parking. Each room has a wardrobe and a shared bathroom with a bathtub. Some rooms have a refrigerator and a kitchen.
Beaches
A beach holiday in Risan, Montenegro, is no different from other resorts on the Adriatic coast. The surface is pebbly, there is a small amount of sand. Therefore, it is recommended to bring beach slippers with you. The central beach is only 10 meters wide and 1 km long. Concrete ramps have been installed in the part related to the Teuta hotel area.
Features of the beaches in Risan:
- The cost of renting sun loungers and umbrellas is from 4 Euros. But there is room for a bedspread or towels.
- The entrance to the sea is gentle, you can relax with children. There are practically no stones at the bottom, they are found 30-40 meters from the shore.
- There are water slides and rides.
- Infrastructure – toilets, showers, shops and cafes. But to save food and drinks you can take with you to the beach.
- There is a rescue service, a first-aid post.
Outside the city there are several other small beaches. The downside is that it’s close to the highway. This is typical for many cities in Montenegro, Risan was no exception. The beach outside the resort is Columbarina. There are always few vacationers here, but the infrastructure is not developed.
Attractions Risan
The resort was badly damaged during World War II. Therefore, few historical sights have been preserved. Most of the buildings are new, the architecture is typical European of the 20th century. Advantages – fairly wide streets, a lot of greenery and trees. You can compensate for the lack of attractions in Risa with sightseeing trips to other memorable places in Montenegro.
What you can see in Risan and its surroundings:
- Roman mosaics. Approximate age of creation – III. Only 5 pieces of art have survived in good condition. They are located in an ancient Roman villa and are open from May to October. Price – 3 Euro.
- Church of Peter and Paul. The Orthodox Church Crkva Svetog Petra i Pavla is considered the main one in the city. It was built in 1796. This is a working church. Admission is free, from 9:00 to 11:00. Here you can see the icon frames made in the Venetian style.
- Ivelichi Palace. It is in poor condition, but the authorities are going to do the restoration. Built by order of a Russian noble family. Marko Ivelich lived here, who proved himself during the Russian-Turkish war.
- Gabel street. It runs from the square in the center of Risan, is one of the oldest in Montenegro. Gabela was built in the Middle Ages and is pedestrianized to protect the pavement from destruction.
For relaxation, it is recommended to head to Risan Park, Montenegro, located on the outskirts. There are several monuments here, there are comfortable benches, alleys.
How to get there
For arrival and a quick trip to Risan, Montenegro, you need to select flights arriving at Tivat airport. The distance from it to the resort is 17 km. from Podgorica, where the country’s second airport is located, the journey is much longer, 103 km.
How to get to the resort:
- Bus. Flight routes follow from the bus stations of Podgorica and Tivat. From the station of the latter, buses depart every 20-30 minutes, the fare is 2 Euro. There are fewer flights from Podgorica, travel time is up to 3 hours.
- Taxi. It is recommended to order by phone or on the website the official taxi services of Montenegro . Private traders will charge 40-50% more for travel.
- By car. Two routes lead from Podgorica to Risan – M2.3 and E80. You can rent a car at the airport, it is better to do it online. When planning your itinerary, it is recommended to exclude the ferry crossing.
The lack of the country’s transport system is that the railway communication is not developed. Partially trains run on the continental part, but there are none on the coast.
Where can you go
The advantage of the Risan resort is its location. From it you can quickly get to other cities of Montenegro, plan sightseeing. This can only be done by road, there is no rail connection. The roads are serpentine, it will be difficult for beginners to get used to the terrain. Therefore, inexperienced drivers are not recommended to rent a car.
Where can you go from Risan:
- Budva is a Montenegrin tourist metropolis on the Adriatic coast, located about 20 km south of Boka Kotorska.
- Cetinje is the historical capital of Montenegro, located right under the Lovcen mountain, which towers over Boka Kotorska.
- Dubrovnik – the center of Croatian tourism can be reached from Herceg Novi in less than 40 minutes north of Boka Kotorska.
- Lovcen National Park. Mount Lovcen rises at the borders of the Adriatic Basin, closing off the long and winding bays of Boka Kotorska and turning the hinterland into the coastal city of Kotor. The mountain has two peaks: Shtirovnik (1749 meters) and Jezerski vrh (1657 meters). The mountain slopes are rocky, with numerous cracks, pits and deep depressions, giving the landscapes a special look. Standing on the border between two completely different natural objects, the sea and the mainland, Lovcen is influenced by both climates.
- Perast is a well-preserved village, completely built in the Baroque style, a UNESCO World Natural and Historical Heritage Site. From Perast, you can take a boat to the artificial island of Gospa od Shkrpela. Returning home safely, the sailors threw stones and old boats filled with stones at this place, and gradually created an island as a foundation for the church.
- Herceg Novi – Walk along the 6 km long Danica Esplanade to get to know the rich and varied history of the city.
- Mausoleum of Njegos – The mausoleum of Peter Petrovich Njegos, built of limestone and granite, is located on the top of Mount Lovcen. It was the last wish of Njegos, the greatest ruler of the Montenegrins, who was both a bishop and a poet, to be buried there.
- Prcanj is a small family place with a great view of Boka Kotorska.
- Kotor is an ancient walled city located in the depths of the Bay of Kotor and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Tivat is a small city, quickly turning into a major tourist, business and transport center. Located in close proximity to Tivat International Airport, in the summer of 2014 it became the home of a yacht marina called Porto Montenegro.
- Mamula – This prison island, built by the Austro-Hungarian general Lazar Mamula in the mid-19th century, guards the entrance to the bay. During World War II, the fort was used by the Italians as a prison.
- Island Gospa od Skrpjela. Gospa od Skrpjela is one of two magnificent islands in the Bay of Kotor, which are located in the bay opposite Perast (in the municipality of Kotor). Another island that is also worth a visit is the island of St. George (Saint George). Since the island had to be maintained, the sailor continued to bring stones, so the tradition lives on even today. It is called Facinada from Perast (July 22).
- Plava Spilia – The blue grotto in the bay. It is 5.7 nautical miles from Herceg Novi. During the summer season you can take a private boat trip from Herceg Novi to Plava Spilia.
- Mount Orjen – Mount Orjen at 1894 meters is the highest mountain on the Adriatic coast and dominates the entrance to Boka Kotorska and its surroundings.
It is recommended to leave in the morning. Travel time to some resorts and attractions can be 4-6 hours.