Boat Rental Bar — 2027 Guide: Stari Ulcinj, Velika Plaža and Offshore Fishing

Bar is Montenegro's main port and the last large marina before the Albanian border. While trips from Budva and Tivat revolve around Sveti Stefan and the Bay of Kotor, Bar is the closest base for heading south: to the islet of Stari Ulcinj, the cliffs of Ulcinj and Velika Plaža, which at about 12 km is one of the longest sandy beaches on the Adriatic. To the north lie the beaches of Sutomore and Čanj and the town of Petrovac. Bar is also the fishing hub of the Montenegrin coast, so many boats here are rigged for fishing, from inshore reefs to the open sea. This guide explains where you can sail from Bar, how long it takes and what it costs.

Marina Bar as your starting point

• Marina Bar sits next to the town promenade and the passenger terminal, where ferries leave for Bari in Italy. All our boats in Bar are moored there, and there is parking right next to the marina.
• Shelter. Cape Volujica protects the harbour from the south, so leaving port is calm even when it is blowing outside.
• Getting there. Podgorica Airport is about 50 km away, and the road through the Sozina tunnel takes you to Bar in under an hour. Budva is about 40 km along the coastal road.

Heading south: Stari Ulcinj, Ulcinj and Velika Plaža

• Stari Ulcinj (about 7–8 NM, half an hour by fast boat): an uninhabited islet between Bar and Ulcinj, with no harbour or facilities, surrounded by very clear water. On the way you pass the coves of Utjeha and Kruče. It is a good goal for a half-day trip with a swim at anchor.
• Ulcinj and Valdanos (about 13 NM, around an hour by boat at 13–15 knots): Valdanos Bay surrounded by olive groves, then the old town of Ulcinj on the cliff above Mala Plaža and the rocky coast towards Ženska Plaža. From the sea you see best how the walls of the old town grow out of the rock.
• Velika Plaža and Ada Bojana (about 20 NM to the mouth of the Bojana): a sandy beach with shallow water that suits children and an afternoon wind that draws kitesurfers. At the end lies the mouth of the Bojana river and the island of Ada Bojana with fish restaurants along the river. Entering the river depends on the depth at the mouth. This is a full-day trip, best on a larger yacht or a fast RIB.

Heading north: Sutomore, Čanj, Petrovac and Sveti Stefan

• Ratac and Sutomore (about 4–5 NM): Cape Ratac with the remains of an old monastery, and behind it the long beach of Sutomore and smaller coves towards Crvena Plaža (Red Beach). A short trip of an hour or two.
• Čanj and Buljarica (about 8–10 NM): the wide beach of Čanj, the coves next to it that are easier to reach by sea than by land, and the long, undeveloped beach of Buljarica.
• Petrovac (about 11 NM): the islets of Katič and Sveta Nedjelja in front of the town and Lučice cove for a swim. This route is offered by our panoramic trip to Petrovac and hidden coves.
• Sveti Stefan (about 15 NM): for a full day at sea. We describe the Budva Riviera, Sveti Nikola and Sveti Stefan in detail in our guide to boat rental in Budva.

Lake Skadar as a combination

Through the Sozina tunnel it is about half an hour's drive to Virpazar on Lake Skadar. The lake is a national park with water lilies, fishing villages and birds, including the Dalmatian pelican. A boat trip on the lake is arranged in Virpazar, and there is an entrance fee for the park. A good combination is one day on the lake and another at sea, or a morning on the lake and the sunset from a boat out of Bar.

Fishing from Bar

• Inshore fishing takes place along reefs and underwater rocks close to the coast, and the most common catches are pandora, dentex and bonito.
• Offshore and big game. Tuna III offers a six-hour trip to deeper water up to 20 miles offshore for €450 and six hours of big game fishing (tuna, swordfish) for €800, with the fishing licence included. The Nuova Tuccoli T280 runs the 12-hour full-day Big Game fishing adventure for experienced anglers, for €1,200 (up to four people).

Prices in our listings

Prices are for the whole boat, with a captain unless stated otherwise:

• Merry Fisher 705 (7 m): a four-hour panoramic trip along the coast costs €280, five hours €340 and six hours €450, with captain and fuel. View the listing.
• Motor yacht Alexandra the Great (11.99 m, up to 10 people): €400 for two hours, €600 for half a day and €1,000 for a full day, with captain and fuel, plus a SUP board on board. View the listing.
• RIB Malvasia II (ZAR 57, 150 HP, up to 6 people): €150 an hour, €300 for two hours, €500 for half a day and €800 for a full day, with fuel for the chosen package. Rental without a skipper is also possible. View the listing.
• Inshore fishing trip: €320 for four hours or €270 for three hours, for up to four people, with gear, bait and drinks. View the trip.

Rules and tips

• Licence. You need a licence to drive a boat in Montenegro. With a captain you need nothing.
• Booking. You send us an inquiry, we check the date with the owner, and you pay us the booking fee, which is our commission. You pay the rest to the owner on the day of the rental. Montenegro uses the euro.

Season and winds

• May and October. The sea is cooler, but the coves are almost empty and the sailing is calm.
• June and September. The most pleasant months: warm sea, fewer crowds and better boat availability.
• July and August. The warmest sea and the most people on the beaches of Sutomore and Ulcinj, so a boat is worth the most then. Book ahead.
• Wind. In summer the maestral blows in the afternoon, and along Velika Plaža there is also a stronger thermal wind. The jugo brings waves from the open sea and the bura can be strong, so the captain changes the route or the date if needed.

Boat rental in Bar with Crystalium Booker

See all boats and trips on the Bar page or send us your dates and number of guests through the contact page, and we will suggest a boat. Do you rent out a boat in Bar, Ulcinj or elsewhere on the Montenegrin coast? List it with us.