Tivat: City Park, Solila and Maritime History
Accommodation in Tivat
In Tivat, you can discover protected nature, maritime history, historic buildings and activities on the water. The City Park and Solila offer contrasting experiences: shady paths and old trees define one, while the other is a vast coastal wetland with opportunities for birdwatching. There are also collections and historic sites, as well as beach and water activities. When choosing a holiday apartment in Tivat, you can first consider whether nature, culture, water or the beach should be the focus of your stay.
Tivat, die Bucht von Kotor und Porto Montenegro bei Sonnenuntergang.
Photo: Корнет Кларнет via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
City Park and the Solila Wetland
Tivat City Park has been a nature reserve since 1968 and was declared a natural monument in 2015. You can stroll in the shade of mature, partly exotic trees; some are up to 130 years old and 25 metres tall. Benches along the walking and cycling paths provide places to rest in the park.
Solila lies opposite the city centre in Krtole Bay and covers around 150 hectares of coastal wetland. Since 2013, it has been listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Solila is also designated an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and is a candidate for Emerald Area status under the Bern Convention. This means that the same destination features both a city park and a wetland with several recognised conservation and nature designations.
You can observe Solila’s birdlife from two observation towers and a viewpoint on the road to Krtoli. If you enjoy setting aside time for nature watching during a stay in Tivat, this offers a different focus from the maritime collections and historic buildings. Tivat’s streets are also equipped with cycle paths.
Maritime Collections and Architectural History
The Maritime Heritage Collection in Porto Montenegro is a museum about Tivat’s maritime traditions and the Adriatic’s nautical past. Also in Porto Montenegro, the Submarine Museum features the P-821 Hero submarine, described as a former flagship of the Yugoslav Navy. Porto Montenegro offers sporting and cultural activities, as well as numerous events for owners, crew members, visitors and locals.
Another glimpse into history awaits at the medieval Buća complex. Buća Luković is considered the most monumental and best-preserved historic summer house of its kind in Tivat and dates back to the 14th century. In the complex’s museum and gallery rooms, the “Ethnographic Heritage of Tivat” collection presents exhibitions on art, ethnology, archaeology and documentary subjects. The fortified tower of Buća Luković dates from 1548, is 15 metres tall and is now used as an art gallery.
The Jadran is also closely associated with Tivat: the ship is considered a symbol of the city and its maritime tradition. Together, the collections, submarine and Jadran offer several different ways to explore Tivat’s relationship with seafaring.
Water, Beach and Seasonal Experiences
Kayaking is offered as a leisure activity in the calm waters of Tivat Bay. The Neptun-Mimoza diving club offers diving courses, organised dives and rental of complete diving equipment in Tivat; the club was founded in 1993. You can choose between a trip on the water and a diving programme, rather than focusing your stay solely on culture or nature watching.
Kalardovo is a natural sandy beach in the municipality of Tivat and is considered particularly appealing to families with children. Also nearby is Stradioti, also called St. Mark: a natural island and one of the major attractions of Tivat Bay. It can only be reached by sea; a guided tour is recommended for exploring its hidden sandy beaches.
Seasonal events in Tivat include the PURGATORY festival, held in summer from mid-June to the end of August. Most performances take place on the summer stage at the Buća summer house. Dates and venues may change for future editions, so check the programme for your travel year. The Tivat Bowling Olympics is a traditional summer event, usually held in July or August. The games follow old folk rules, and participants also come from other Montenegrin cities and abroad.
Another cultural tradition is celebrated near Tivat: the Lastovo festivities are traditionally held in August in Gornja Lastva; the main celebration falls on the first Saturday of the month. Opposite Tivat lies the island of Gospa od Milosti, the smallest of the three islands opposite Tivat. In 1524, the Franciscans built the present-day monastery and church there, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. To this day, worshippers make pilgrimages to the island to pay their respects to the Virgin Mary.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Tivat, Radovici, Krašići, Prčanj, Kavač, Lepetane, Donja Lastva, Mrčevac, Bjelila, Gošići.
Go to the main travel overview: Montenegro.
