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Rose Montenegro
The Bay of Kotor is scattered with alluring, traditional fishing villages, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one quite so epochal as beautiful Rose. The old sea captain’s homes with their turquoise-colored doors and windows provide a timeless charm while the small promenade is the perfect setting for morning walks and evening dining.
Holiday homes and villas cling to the cliffs, draped in verdant greenery, looking over a pretty harbor accommodating colorful fishing boats and the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic. Rose is an artist’s paradise, located at the westernmost tip of the Lustica Peninsula, guarding the entry to the Bay of Kotor.
Its remote location, accessible within half an hour’s drive from Tivat or 20 minutes by water taxi from Herceg Novi, means that the atmosphere in Rose is serene and peaceful. The village itself is long and narrow with just a handful of eateries and one grocery store set along the waterfront walkway. Stretching out from Rose are kilometers of olive groves, creating that typical Mediterranean countryside feel right by the shore.
Tivat
With a super yacht marina lined with good restaurants and shops, located in the Bay of Kotor, Tivat offers cut-above-the-average resort amenities and lifestyle opportunities.
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a picturesque coastal town straddling the border with Croatia, on Montenegro’s northern Adriatic coast, offering a great vibe in summer.
History and Culture
Originally a settlement dating back to Ancient Roman times, when it was known as Resinium and later Ponto Rosa under the Byzantines, Rose’s more recent history has mainly consisted of its role as a strategic port and defensive stronghold. From the 15th to the 19th century, Rose was an important harbor for the Venetians, safeguarding the passage into the bay.
Its remote location allowed the Venetians to use Rose as a place to forcibly quarantine sailors arriving from faraway lands on merchant ships. The Venetians invented this concept of quarantine, which translates to being isolated for 40 days, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the plague and other contagious diseases.
It wasn’t until the end of the 17th century that merchants and sea captains from Rose got increasingly wealthy through maritime trade between Asia and Europe, taking advantage of the Venetian trade routes, and the first waterfront stone houses appeared on its shoreline. When the Venetian Empire collapsed in 1797, Austria-Hungary established itself as the new ruler over the entire bay area.
During this period, many fortresses in and around Rose were built, including Fort Kabala, Fort Lustica, Fort Arza, Fort Mamula, and of course Fort Rose. Two of them have since been turned into charming boutique hotels, offering intimate lodgings with a distinct character for a memorable stay.
Bay of Kotor
Discover the Bay of Kotor, a 107-kilometer-long coastal inlet that lies close to the border of Croatia and connects some of Montenegro’s most beautiful towns.
Hotels in Rose
The 4-star Forte Rose is the only hotel in the historical center of town. The boutique hotel owners breathed new life into this piece of the village’s architectural heritage, which until not that long ago had existed as an abandoned Austrian fortress. The rooms and suites have contemporary decor; some offer balcony views through lush pine trees, while others are just a few steps from the water in a separate building.
Forte Rose also has a secluded outdoor swimming pool, two private sundecks with sun loungers and parasols right by the sea, two scenic pebble beaches, and a restaurant serving Adriatic fare and hosts live music. The hotel grounds are a wonderful spot to simply relax in or explore from – a forested path leads directly to a beautiful cove beach.
A traditional Montenegrin stone house, with a small private concrete platform for sunbathing and a beautiful backyard with BBQ facilities, Barizon Apartments offer a homely feel, largely conjured by the cordial and friendly husband and wife team who run it. Each apartment has air conditioning, a private bathroom, and Free WiFi.
The countryside surrounding Rose is dotted with quaint villages such as Klinci, where some old estates and cottages have been turned into vacation rentals. The Klinci Village Resort offers its guests a soothing retreat, complete with an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the rolling hills of Lustica.
Lustica Peninsula
The Lustica Peninsula thrives on sun, beautiful cove beaches, sailing, hiking, centuries-old churches, olive groves, and a variety of watersports.
Things to do in Rose
The clean and crystalline water of the rugged Adriatic coast here makes it a popular place to swim, snorkel, and scuba dive. You’ll meet many visitors from Herceg Novi who come to Rose and neighboring coves by taxi boat to escape the crowds and take advantage of the nicer beaches that can be found on the peninsula.
Relax at the Beach
Within a foot walk distance to the harbor, you’ll will find Forte Sunset Beach, a small but amazing pebble beach, with turquoise waters. It carries an air of glamour owing to the mansion with beautifully landscaped gardens it backs up against and the panoramic bay views beachgoers enjoy when coming here. Sun loungers and parasols are available for hire at acceptable rates.
There are other options for quiet, secluded beach visits just a short distance from the village. Instead of continuing towards Rose from the parking lot, take the stairs down to arrive at a beautiful stretch of pebble beach, overlooking Herceg Novi and Igalo. Onsite, there is a small beach bar offering snacks and drinks.
Zanjice Beach and Miriste Beach lay next to each other and are popular with day trippers from Kotor and Herceg Novi. Located approximately 9 kilometers from Rose, these beaches can also be reached by car via a narrow road. Arza Beach is a local favorite because not too many tourists have heard about it, lending the beach an unspoiled, private atmosphere.
Zanjice Beach
The water at Zanjice Beach is sparklingly clean and appears marvelously light blue, making it the perfect spot for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Dobrec Beach
Dobrec Beach is squeezed into a tiny cove. It makes up for an amazing swimming and snorkeling spot and is only accessible by boat.
Miriste Beach
A picturesque cove surrounded by lush olive groves and the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea, Miriste Beach is particularly popular with locals and die-hard fans.
Arza Beach
Overlooking two beautiful islands and an attractive spot for sailboats and motor yachts to anchor for the day, Arza Beach has a lot going for it.
Explore a Submarine Bunker
A visit to Yugoslavia’s secret naval tunnels is a must for anyone interested in urban exploration and Cold War history. One submarine tunnel is located north of Rose, and excursions travel regularly from Tivat, Kotor, and other nearby coastal towns. There is another submarine bunker close to the parking lot in Rose which can also be explored on foot.
The entrances to the tunnels are well camouflaged by a construction of metal sheets covered with grass and artificial stones, resembling their natural surroundings. Once submarines and other vessels were parked inside these 100-meter-deep tunnels, sheltered from air attacks, now they lie abandoned, left to the ravages of time. They are freely accessible.
Kotor
Kotor takes full advantage of its pristine location within the beautiful Bay of Kotor. Its city walls are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Well worth a visit!
Unveil the Secrets of Fort Kabala
Walking and hiking are popular in Rose and on the Lustica Peninsula in general, not just because of the stunning coastal scenery, but also due to the mysteriously beautiful ruins of decaying Austro-Hungarian fortresses that lie scattered all over Lustica, including Fort Kabala which was built by the Austrians at the end of the 19th century and was one of the most advanced defensive structures of its time.
Fort Kabala offers a glimpse into the region’s rich history and culture and is an exciting attraction for small and big adventurers as well as urban explorers. It features an open roof platform where heavy mortars and howitzers guarded the entry to the bay from potential invaders. The first two floors served as accommodation for officers and soldiers who were positioned there.
Join a Dive Trip
For those seeking an adventure, diving in and around Rose will undoubtedly translate to an unforgettable experience. You can join dive trips to some of Montenegro’s most interesting underwater sites. Discover massive anchor blocks, giant linked chains, cannonballs, and fragments of ancient amphorae that lie scattered around the harbor area.
The dive centers in Herceg Novi and Tivat are well-equipped and offer diving lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced divers. These include dives to the Blue Cave – Montenegro’s largest sea cave – sunken airplane wrecks, and shipwrecks such as the Patrol Boat PBR 512, the Austro-Hungarian cargo steamship Tihany, and the Yugoslav torpedo boat Higgins.
Blue Cave Montenegro
A trip by boat to the Blue Cave is a great way of making the most of your visit to this region. Swimming inside Montenegro’s most famous sea cave is a delight.
Surrounding Areas
The closest town to Rose is Herceg Novi, which is just 15 minutes away by water taxi, or 90 minutes by car. Portonovi sits adjacent to Herceg Novi and is the perfect Mediterranean refuge to soak up the luxurious laissez-faire atmosphere it portrays while enjoying the serenity of its refined restaurants and shops.
The family-friendly coastal resort of Tivat is a 40-minute drive away, and there is a chic super yacht marina right in the heart of town. Porto Montenegro attracts high-end visitors who are looking for a fashionable spot for designer shopping, or just a refreshing drink or dinner in one of its pristine waterfront eateries.
At the southern end of the Lustica Peninsula, you’ll find a series of sandy beaches with trendy beach clubs (Almara Beach, Ramla Beach, Plavi Horizonti Beach) and yet another beautiful marina and resort village with more than a touch of luxury – Lustica Bay. The 18-hole Lustica Bay Golf Course was designed by Gary Player and is currently the only one in Montenegro.
Porto Montenegro
The exclusive super yacht marina of Porto Montenegro in the center of Tivat is a sought-after destination for home ownership or a visit when touring Montenegro.
Portonovi
Discover Portonovi, the new luxury marina of Herceg Novi, its good restaurants, hedonistic beach clubs, and exclusive hospitality. Highly recommended visit!
Almara Beach
The adult-only Almara Beach Club offers everything for a relaxing day by the sea. Enjoy crystal-clear waters, excellent cuisine, and striking views across the bay.
Plavi Horizonti Beach
Plavi Horizonti Beach is a family-friendly sand beach with an onsite restaurant, lifeguards on duty, changing cabins, parking & wheelchair accessibility.