Ulcinj is quite different from any other town in Montenegro. Due to its southern position it was always influenced by the Orient. As you hear the Imam calling from the Namazdjah mosque you will feel like you are a character from the Thousand and one night. If you are looking for an exotic vacation Ulcinj is definitively the right choice for you!
Moreover for centuries Ulcinj was a famous pirate nest and a place where many sea battles were fought. This is why you may still hear the legends about the pirates from Ulcinj. Get friendly with the local people and let them tell you the stories that will make you shiver.
Accommodation in UlcinjTaken into consideration that none of the hotels in Ulcinj has more than 3 stars, we would like to recommend you to stay in private accommodation. It is very cheap and you can rent a private room with a sea-view for no more than 7 euros a day. Nevertheless if you decide to stay in a hotel these are the best hotels in Ulcinj: Dvori Balsica, Palata Venecija, hotel Galeb and hotel Mediteran. The hotel room prices range from 25 euros to 55 euros per person per night in the high season. For those who wish to try something else we recommend the Ada tourist resort. Go to island of Ada Bojana and stay in a cosy bungalow in the Ada FKK resort.
SightsSimilar to other towns in Montenegro Ulcinj also has an Old town which is surrounded by the stone walls and the fortresses. When you visit the Old town of Ulcinj make sure to see the burial chamber situated at the entrance. There is a legend about the tragic lovers connected to this chamber and nowadays people throw in coins for luck. Ulcinj's many churches and mosques testify about the rich past of the city and the influences from many cultures starting from the Greeks to the Otoman Empire.
There are also a few places you must visit situated near Ulcinj. 15 km South from Ulcinj on the river Bojana there is the river island Ada Bojana. You can get there easily as there is a regular bus between Ada Bojana and Ulcinj. Ada Bojana is a naturist island where you can feel like a hippie surrounded by the unspoilt nature.
Close to the river Bojana several km north from Ulcinj on the Sasko Lake, there is a ghost town Svac, where you can see the remains of the old town ruined by the Mongolians where nobody lives anymore.
Porta Milena is a marina situated at the beginning of the Big beach and is specific for its calimeras, wooden cottages that lie on the water. The scenery looks like a scene from Emir Kusturica's movies.
For centuries the cove Valdanos was the main harbour of the Ulcinj pirates and the place of many sea battles. It is approachable from the sea, so you can get there by a tourist taxi boat or a barge.
You will have to pay 1 euro to get there but it is worth it because it is a great place for diving. Visit this beautiful cove and who knows you might discover the pirate ship together with its hidden treasure. Did you know that Miguel de Cervantes was imprisoned in Ulcinj by the pirates before he wrote his famous novel Don Quixote?
Ulcinj is also a great place to start an excursion from. From Ulcinj you can take a tour around the Montenegrin monasteries, visit the Skadar Lake or see a famous village Njegusi, a birthplace of Petar II Petrovic Njegos the most famous person from Montenegro (ruler and a poet). You can also try rafting on the River Tara, the river that has the longest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. Because of the proximity to Albania many local agencies would take you by bus on a one day trip there.
Beaches in UlcinjUlcinj can also boast with one of the longest beaches on the Adriatic coast, its Velika Plaza (Big beach) is 13 km long. You can get there on foot but it is easier to get a taxi from the centre of Ulcinj. It costs about 2 euros each way. The sand on the Ulcinj beaches is so small that it resembles flour. Come and make sure yourself!
Among many other hotel beaches in Ulcinj especially interesting because of its healing powers is the so called Female beach, situated between the “Albatros” and “Galeb” hotels. It is said that the sulphite water heals women’s sterility. Those who search for a more quiet beach then the crowded city Mala Plaza (Small beach), can go outside the city to the steep slopes of the Suka peninsula (Cap Ratislava), south of Ulcinj.
Restaurants in UlcinjIn Ulcinj you can still try the meals prepared in the way the old Montenegrin women used to prepare them. The favourite dish is called burek. It is made of pastry stuffed with cheese or meat. It is cheap and you can get it in any pastry shop. If you wish to try something you definitely won't find at home Ulcinj's specialty is sarma in green cabbage leafs and bamia (meat and vegetable stew).
For dining in a fancy restaurant, try the Ulcinj specialties at the Dvori Balsica hotel. For a more casual dinner, try one of the old town taverns.
Ulcinj's best restaurants are the fish restaurants where you can have various meals prepared with sea food. We recommend Restaurant Durante and Ristorante Ponte. Finally here are some restaurants that besides delicious food also offer a beautiful view: Restaurant Teuta, Antigona and Kalaja. You can count that you can eat in Ulcinj's old taverns for less then 14 Euros per person.
Sweets are typically oriental, therefore in Ulcinj you can find baklavas, tulumbas or halvas. But we must warn you all of them are very sweet and not to everyone's taste!
Entertainment in UlcinjIn Ulcinj, like in other cities in Montenegro you can find many nice restaurants and cafes in the old city. Also do not miss the trendiest bar in Ulcinj, the Cafe Montenegro and do not be surprised to hear the Albanian folk music on the streets as Albania is just a few kilometres away.
If you are looking for something different, entertainment you won't find at home, then go and see the ram fights. Ram fights are an ancient custom in Ulcinj and take place in the little arena in the Old town. The fights are organized during the bigger religious holidays.