Herceg Novi Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Castelnuovo, Herceg-Novi, Herceg Novi Roadstead
Herceg Novi is the main town on the outer bay — a steeply terraced city of gardens, Venetian and Ottoman fortress walls, baroque churches, and flowering bougainvillea that tumbles down from the upper town to the seafront Šetalište. The town has one of the mildest microclimates in the Adriatic — the legend is 200+ flowering days per year — and is famous as a destination for medical tourism in the Yugoslav era. As an anchorage, Herceg Novi is a fair-weather proposition: the roadstead is open to the W and SW, and the afternoon Maestral creates a reliable lop that makes the anchorage rolly. In Bora conditions, it is exposed and unsuitable for overnight. The real draw is the town itself: the Kanli Kula (Bloody Tower) fortress, the clocktower square, the lower promenade with its cafes and restaurants, and the sheer density of greenery that earned Herceg Novi the nickname 'City of Flowers'. Use it as a lunch stop, go ashore for the afternoon, return in the evening. For overnight, Rose or the inner bay anchorages are more comfortable.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
42°27.2'N 18°32.3'E
Depth
5–12m
Bottom
mud, sand
Holding
Good holdingProtected From
N, NE, E, SE
Exposed To
W, SW, NW
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor in the roadstead. Town quay: harbour dues apply for short stays.
Vignette Required
Yes — purchase at port of entry
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m appropriate for the main town anchorage in settled conditions. In Bora, this anchorage is not suitable — the open roadstead receives the full NE katabatic; move to Bigova or Morinj. In afternoon Maestral, the lop from the W keeps the boat rolling; set the alarm to 80m and accept the motion or move to the E of the headland for a quieter night.
Town anchorage — S of town quay: 85m recommended — The main yacht anchorage in 5–10m on mud and sand S of the town quay.
Town quay — short stay: 40m recommended — The town quay allows short stays (typically 2–4 hours) for provisions, fuel, and sightseeing.
E of headland — slightly more shelter: 95m recommended — E of the Herceg Novi headland and into the inner bay approaches, depths increase and the angle of exposure to W and NW decreases.
Anchoring Zones
Herceg Novi has 3 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics. Choose the zone that matches your boat size and the expected overnight conditions.
Zone 1: Town anchorage — S of town quay
- Depth: 5–12m
- Bottom: mud, sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE
- Exposed to: W, SW, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 85m
The main yacht anchorage in 5–10m on mud and sand S of the town quay. Holding is good on mud. The anchorage is open to W and NW — the afternoon Maestral sends a regular lop across the bay making this a rolly overnight anchorage in summer. In Bora, the open position of Herceg Novi roadstead means it receives the full force of the NE katabatic — not a Bora shelter. Suitable for day visits and lunch stops in settled conditions. If staying overnight, confirm forecast carefully.
Zone 2: Town quay — short stay
- Depth: 2–4m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E
- Exposed to: W, SW, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 40m
The town quay allows short stays (typically 2–4 hours) for provisions, fuel, and sightseeing. Depth alongside approximately 2–3m — check with harbourmaster for current depth as silting occurs. Swell from the W rolls in even in moderate Maestral. Suitable for reprovisioning stops, not overnight.
Zone 3: E of headland — slightly more shelter
- Depth: 6–14m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S
- Exposed to: W, SW
- Recommended alarm radius: 95m
E of the Herceg Novi headland and into the inner bay approaches, depths increase and the angle of exposure to W and NW decreases. Mud holding is excellent. More suitable for overnight than the main town roadstead, but still exposed to Maestral lop. Farther from the town waterfront — use the dinghy. This position is on the way toward Rose — overlaps with that anchorage in practical terms.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Herceg Novi is primarily mud and sand with reliable holding when properly set.
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 5–12m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m depth).
- Drop into the wind and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back.
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
- Set the anchor alarm immediately after setting — in the Bay of Kotor, Bora can arrive with as little as 30 minutes' warning. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain length.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta. See our guide to anchor types by bottom.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Herceg Novi are feasible but require vigilance — the anchorage is exposed to W and SW and NW winds.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius before going below. 85m appropriate for the main town anchorage in settled conditions. In Bora, this anchorage is not suitable — the open roadstead receives the full NE katabatic; move to Bigova or Morinj. In afternoon Maestral, the lop from the W keeps the boat rolling; set the alarm to 80m and accept the motion or move to the E of the headland for a quieter night.
Best as a day stop May–October. July–August is peak tourist season and the town is lively — overnight rolling from Maestral is manageable for one night. September and October offer excellent weather with fewer tourists and a much more relaxed atmosphere. Avoid overnight in Bora season (October–March) — the open roadstead is dangerous in a full Bora event.
Navigation Hazards
- Open to W and NW: afternoon Maestral sends a regular rolling swell across the roadstead; boats lie beam-on and the anchorage is uncomfortable overnight in summer
- BORA: the open position of Herceg Novi is fully exposed to katabatic NE Bora — gusts of 40–70 knots in severe events; this anchorage is NOT a Bora shelter; move to Bigova or Morinj immediately on Bora warning
- Ferry traffic: the Herceg Novi–Zelenika car ferry crosses the roadstead continuously — anchor clear of the fairway and maintain watch
- Water taxi and tourist boat traffic in summer creates constant wash near the town quay
- Silting at the town quay: confirm depth before approaching alongside; 2m reported in some years, less in others after storm sediment
Rules & Regulations
- Montenegro cruising permit (vignette): Mandatory for all foreign yachts — purchase at first port of entry. From ~€89/month.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor in the roadstead. Town quay: harbour dues apply for short stays.
- Maximum stay: 2 days
- Restrictions: Open anchorage — not suitable in Bora or sustained SW conditions. Keep clear of the ferry channel (Herceg Novi–Zelenika ferry runs all day). Town quay short stay only (2–4 hours, confirm with harbourmaster).
- Risan Bay: Anchoring permanently prohibited in the entire Bay of Risan (underwater archaeological site).
For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Available
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Herceg Novi (town market and shops) (0.2nm)
- Restaurant: Excellent restaurants, cafes, and bars along the seafront Šetalište and in the old town above. Montenegro cuisine is outstanding here — try black risotto, lamb under the peka, and local beer. Fuel: jerry can from petrol station, or Tivat fuel dock.
- Provisions: Available
- Wi-Fi: Available
Skipper's Tips
- Arrive early morning (before Maestral fills in around 11:00) and anchor for the day — take the dinghy ashore and explore the old town on foot before the afternoon heat
- The Kanli Kula fortress (upper town) is worth the climb — panoramic views over the entire outer bay and down toward the Verige Strait
- If Bora cap clouds appear on the Orjen massif at any point, pull the anchor immediately and head for Bigova (outside bay) — do not wait to see if it materialises
- The town market (pijaca) near the main square sells excellent local produce — tomatoes, figs, honey, cheese — early morning is the best time before the tourist crowds arrive
- Evening meals ashore at Herceg Novi are outstanding — the seafood restaurants on the lower promenade serve the freshest fish in the bay; dinghy back to the boat after dinner
A note on this guide: Data has been researched from multiple sailing sources and is provided in good faith. Conditions — depth, holding, regulations — can change. Always check forecasts, NAVTEX, and current official charts before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Herceg Novi
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and sounds a loud alarm the moment your boat drifts — essential in the Bay of Kotor where Bora can arrive within 30 minutes of the first cap clouds forming on the peaks.
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