Sveti Nikola Island

First, a little orientation: Sveti Nikola Island is the largest island in Montenegro (1,750m x 350m), situated just a few hundred meters off the coast of Budva. It is also refered to as Skolj by locals(from the Italian scoglio: islet) or Hawaii, an eponym for a former island restaurant with the same name.

Sveti Nikolas is named after the 16th-century Church of St. Nicholas which sits on the northern side of the island facing Budva. Water sports obviously form the largest allocation of the leisure offerings; the reef and the intimate beaches are heaven for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and diving.

There is no doubt that the tucked-away location further lifts the experience – being on an island no matter its size always feels so unbound and at liberty. It does not hurt that the water is usually extremely clean and laced with a stunning azure hue.

The Beaches

The island’s main beaches are centered around the very top of the island with views of Budva and Becici. Due to its remote location, there should always be sufficient space, even in high season. It’s worth visiting at least once because of the serene atmosphere and breathtaking vistas.

source: Wikipedia

Sections of the beaches are rocky – consider bringing your water shoes if you have sensitive feet. The southern flank of Sveti Nikola features some beautiful secret beaches that are only accessible by private boats or kayaks. They are small but incredibly picturesque.

But probably the best beach on the island is Laguna Beach on the eastern flank, only a couple of minutes by foot from the docks. Imagine a lush backdrop of wild nature and an out-of-this-world feel, mix in a small but excellent fine pebble beach, and you are at Laguna Beach. You can rent a pair of loungers with parasols for 20€.

Sveti Nikola Island Cave

If you are coming by private boat and are looking for a nice, secluded spot for swimming, on the south-eastern side of the island is a gorgeous cave worth exploring. Due to its small size, it is not accessible by boat. You can however swim inside and admire the fluorescent colors.

Pod Murvom

Pod Murvom (Montenegrin: Under the Mulberry Tree) features a beach club and a decent seafood restaurant with a lovely outdoor terrace that is concealed by nature. No question, it’s the ideal setting to spend a whole day away from the stessors of life. You can rent a set of loungers for 20€.

While not being exactly cheap, Pod Murvom has an excellent reputation for serving fresh, locally-caught seafood. Their seafood risotto is superb as is the grilled octopus. Pair it with a good local white wine and not much can go wrong.

How to get there

The easiest and most convenient way is to take one of the water taxis who go back and forth from Budva to the island, each half an hour or so. The round trip costs 4 – 5 € per person and each ride takes about 30 minutes.

Info: In order to preserve the natural natural environment, you are not allowed to bring food or beverages onto the island.