Sutomore Bay Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Sutomore, Uvala Sutomore, Sutvara
Sutomore is the practical choice on the southern stretch of the Montenegrin coast — a modest resort town 20km S of Budva and 7nm N of Bar, positioned as a natural transit stop for boats making the passage between the Budva Riviera and Bar (Montenegro's main commercial port and a major port of entry). The town itself is a workaday Montenegrin resort — not glamorous but functional, with good supermarkets (within 500m of the beach), a fuel station accessible by taxi or jerry can, and a waterfront that retains a local feel rather than a tourist-brochure character. The anchorage in sand and mud off the beach is competent: good holding, adequate Bora shelter from the surrounding hills, and the standard SE Jugo exposure of all open coast Montenegrin anchorages. The historical feature is the Haj Nehaj fortress — a ruined Ottoman castle on the steep hill above the town, built in the 15th century during the Ottoman occupation of Montenegro. The fortress is visible from the anchorage and accessible by a 40-minute climb from the town. Montenegro cruising permit, tourist tax, and Euro (€) apply.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
42°08.3'N 19°00.4'E
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand, mud
Holding
Good holdingProtected From
N, NW, NE
Exposed To
S, SE, SW
Best Months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor in the open bay. No municipal anchorage fee.
Vignette Required
Yes — purchase at port of entry
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m covers the main town anchorage in 4–9m. Sutomore is a transit anchorage primarily — most boats stop for provisioning and fuel access rather than for scenic appeal. The practical advantages are real: good supermarkets in town, fuel station accessible by jerry can or taxi, and a positioned stop that breaks the Budva-to-Bar passage into convenient sections. The Jugo exposure is standard for the open coast — check forecasts as always. The Haj Nehaj fortress ruins on the hillside above provide a distinguishing landmark and some historical interest.
Town anchorage — off main beach: 80m recommended — The main anchorage off the Sutomore beach and town waterfront in 4–9m on sand and mud.
N sector — behind low headland: 90m recommended — The N sector behind the low headland at the N end of the Sutomore bay in 5–11m on sand.
S anchorage — near Haj Nehaj fortress ruins: 70m recommended — The S sector of the Sutomore bay below the ruined Haj Nehaj Ottoman fortress on the hillside.
Anchoring Zones
Sutomore Bay has 3 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics.
Zone 1: Town anchorage — off main beach
- Depth: 4–10m
- Bottom: sand, mud
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NW, NE
- Exposed to: S, SE, SW
- Recommended alarm radius: 80m
The main anchorage off the Sutomore beach and town waterfront in 4–9m on sand and mud. Holding is good — the sand-mud mix provides reliable anchor grip in settled conditions. The N and NW hills provide shelter from Bora in the same way as Petrovac. The town anchorage is used primarily by passage boats transiting between Budva and Bar — it lacks the scenic appeal of Petrovac or Budva but offers the practical value of proximity to services. Open to SE Jugo swell — same vulnerability as all Riviera anchorages.
Zone 2: N sector — behind low headland
- Depth: 5–12m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NW, NE, E
- Exposed to: S, SE, SW, W
- Recommended alarm radius: 90m
The N sector behind the low headland at the N end of the Sutomore bay in 5–11m on sand. Good holding. The headland provides partial Bora shelter and some attenuation of E swell components. More swing room than the central town anchorage. Used by boats wanting to be slightly removed from the town waterfront activity. Same Jugo exposure as the rest of the bay.
Zone 3: S anchorage — near Haj Nehaj fortress ruins
- Depth: 3–8m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NW, E
- Exposed to: S, SE, SW
- Recommended alarm radius: 70m
The S sector of the Sutomore bay below the ruined Haj Nehaj Ottoman fortress on the hillside. Sandy bottom, good holding in 3–7m. The fortress ruins (15th century, Ottoman-built during their control of Montenegro) are visible from the anchorage and provide an interesting historical context for the stop. More exposed to SW than the N sector. Day anchorage primarily; suitable for overnight in settled conditions.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Sutomore Bay is primarily sand and mud with reliable holding when properly set.
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 4–10m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (70m chain at 10m 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.
- Check the evening Jugo forecast before going below. The Budva Riviera is fully exposed to SE swell — if Jugo above F3 is forecast by morning, consider moving to Budva Marina or Porto Montenegro for the night. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta, CQR.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Sutomore Bay are feasible in settled conditions but require vigilance — the anchorage is exposed to S and SE and SW winds.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 80m radius before going below. 80m covers the main town anchorage in 4–9m. Sutomore is a transit anchorage primarily — most boats stop for provisioning and fuel access rather than for scenic appeal. The practical advantages are real: good supermarkets in town, fuel station accessible by jerry can or taxi, and a positioned stop that breaks the Budva-to-Bar passage into convenient sections. The Jugo exposure is standard for the open coast — check forecasts as always. The Haj Nehaj fortress ruins on the hillside above provide a distinguishing landmark and some historical interest.
Usable May–October. Less crowded than Budva and Petrovac throughout the season — the charter fleet mostly bypasses Sutomore in favour of more scenic stops. A useful late-season anchorage when other spots begin to close for winter. Bar (7nm SE) extends the usable season as a refuge.
Navigation Hazards
- SE Jugo swell: standard open coast exposure — same 600nm Adriatic fetch as all Riviera anchorages; F4+ Jugo makes anchorage untenable; Bar (7nm SE) has a commercial harbour that provides refuge in deteriorating conditions
- Local fishing boat activity: Sutomore has a small fishing community and boats transit the anchorage area regularly; anchor clear of the local harbour entrance and fishing boat routes
- Ferry and commercial shipping: the Bar-Bari ferry (the main Montenegro-Italy route) passes offshore — creates significant wash in the anchorage; usually at night (ferry departs Bar around 22:00); not dangerous but uncomfortable
- Bora: the hill shelter reduces Bora severity compared to the open coast; in sustained Bora above 40 knots, depart for Bar (7nm SE) where proper berths are available
- Limited appeal for extended stays: Sutomore lacks the scenic attractions of Petrovac or Budva; it functions well as a 1–2 night transit stop but not as a cruising destination in its own right
Rules & Regulations
- Montenegro cruising permit (vignette): Mandatory for all foreign yachts. From ~€89/month. Purchase at first port of entry.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor in the open bay. No municipal anchorage fee.
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Restrictions: Beach exclusion zone (100m) applies in front of the main beach — anchor beyond this line. Local fishing boat activity in the S sector of the bay near the harbour; keep clear of their moorings and transit routes.
- Tourist tax: ~€1–2 per person per night, paid within 24 hours of arrival.
For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Sutomore town (0.2nm)
- Restaurant: Good range of local restaurants and konobas in Sutomore town at Montenegrin prices (€). Provisioning: supermarket in town (5-minute walk from beach) — well-stocked for passage provisioning. Fuel: nearest marina fuel dock at Bar (7nm SE); jerry can from local fuel station in town is practical for top-up.
- Provisions: Available
Skipper's Tips
- Sutomore's primary value is provisioning: the supermarket is one of the better-stocked on the coast between Budva and Bar, and Montenegrin supermarket prices are significantly lower than Croatian equivalents across the border
- The Haj Nehaj fortress climb (40 minutes from town) rewards with panoramic views of the entire S Montenegrin coast — an excellent shore excursion for a provisioning stop day
- For the Budva-to-Bar passage, Sutomore works well as a lunch stop or overnight break — the passage becomes a comfortable two-day trip with a night here rather than a long day run
- The Bar-Bari ferry wash arrives in the anchorage around 22:30–23:00 (the ferry departs Bar late evening) — set the anchor alarm before this time and ensure the anchor is well set; the wash is distinctive but not dangerous
- Montenegro's Vranac red wine (from the Crmnica region inland from Bar) is available in the local shops at source prices — this is the best place to buy a case before departing for more expensive Croatian waters
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 and current official charts before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Sutomore Bay
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and sounds a loud alarm the moment your boat drifts — essential on the Budva Riviera where Jugo swell can build overnight without warning.
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