Sveti Stefan Reopens After Five-Year Stand-Off

Montenegro’s Sveti Stefan will reopen to guests this summer after a five-year closure linked to a long-running access dispute. The small island, a few miles from Budva, is home to Aman Sveti Stefan, a luxury resort reached by a narrow strip of land. Its stone cottages and Adriatic setting made it one of the country’s best-known coastal addresses.

The resort shut in 2021 after tension over access to nearby public beaches, including Miločer Beach, also known as King’s Beach, and Queen’s Beach. Locals objected after areas that had long been open became difficult to use without paying high prices for sunbeds and umbrellas. The row led to protests and left the island closed for years.

Aman has confirmed Villa Miločer and the Aman Spa on the mainland will welcome guests again on 22 May 2026, while Sveti Stefan island will reopen for the summer season on 1 July. The resort still follows its restored village-style design, with stone cottages, suites, terraces and some private pools. Deluxe Cottage stays start at €2,973 per night.

The reopening makes this stretch of the Budva Riviera easier to include in Montenegro trips again, especially for visitors heading along the coast between Budva, Miločer and Tivat. Beach access around Sveti Stefan is also expected to return for non-hotel visitors, though facilities such as showers, changing cabins and toilets may be limited. Tivat Airport remains the closest major arrival point.

Sveti Stefan’s return matters because it brings a famous Adriatic landmark back into travel plans, but the access question will still be watched closely. The island is not becoming a budget break, obviously, those nightly rates are doing Olympic-level gymnastics, yet even non-guests may benefit if the coastline feels less blocked off than before.