An idyllic, once-exclusive island in Montenegro is set to reopen following a five-year dispute over beach access.
Sveti Stefan, located on the banks of the Adriatic coast, is known for being home to the ultra-luxurious Aman Sveti Stefan resort, long-considered the ‘Adriatic Playground’ for the global elite.
Since the 1950s, film stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and royalty like Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth II regularly graced its private, pink-sand shores.
However, it was closed in 2021 due to a legal dispute, as locals demanded free use of the three beaches opposite the hotel – King’s Beach, Sveti Stefan Beach and Queen’s Beach.
Sveti Stefan is now scheduled to reopen on 1 July 2026 following a breakthrough settlement between the Montenegrin government and operator.
While King’s Beach and Sveti Stefan Beach will be open to the public for free, Queen’s Beach is set to remain private for the exclusive use of Aman hotel guests.
Starting May 22, the hotel is also opening its Villa Miločer residence for stays throughout the year.
Writing about the dispute on X, Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić, stated that the move is a significant step for tourism in the country, while also noting that the state will also receive a 10 per cent share of profits.
Sveti Stefan, situated 10km from Montenegro’s mainland, is an island that will now reopen after a five-year dispute over beach access for locals
From the 1950s until the 1970s, film stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor (pictured) , regularly holidayed at the private, fortified island
Located just south of Budva on the Montenegrin coast, the Sveti Stefan is joined to the mainland by a 10km strip of sand.
Originally established as a 15th-century fishing village, the fortified island was converted into a luxury resort by the Yugoslav government in the 1950s.
Managed by Aman Resorts, the Aman Sveti Stefan combined unparalleled privacy with opulent suites and high-end dining – attracting A-list celebrities and prominent figures for decades.
Between the 1950s and the 1970s, the island experienced its golden age, drawing high-profile guests like Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Claudia Schiffer, and the Beckhams.
Aman Sveti Stefan features 33 cottages and suites across Sveti Stefan island, plus additional residences at mainland sister property Villa Miločer.
While the island resort remains seasonal, Villa Miločer – the former summer residence of Queen Marija Karađorđević – will open year-round from 22 May.
The island’s accommodation is set within restored 15th-century stone cottages with sea and garden views.
The largest, the Sveti Stefan Suite, includes a private pool, dining and living areas, pantry and steam room.
Pictured: Aman Sveti Stefan’s Aman Spa, which celebrates ‘the restorative effect of water from its sea-view setting’
Aman Sveti Stefan features 33 cottages and suites across Sveti Stefan island, all set within restored 15th-century stone cottages
Rates at the Aman start from around £1,143 per night
Villa Miločer, meanwhile, offers six residences in the main villa and two more in a separate building.
Facilities include the Aman Spa on Queen’s Beach, with four double treatment rooms, a 24-metre indoor pool, hydrotherapy areas, sauna and steam room, plus a 140-square-metre fitness centre with yoga and pilates studios.
Outdoors, there are two pools on the island, including one adults-only. Nearby beaches include the pink-pebble Sveti Stefan Beach, King’s Beach and Queen’s Beach, which is set within lagoons.
Dining options include seasonal island restaurants Arva, serving Italian cuisine and cocktails, and Piazza, offering Mediterranean breakfasts and lunches, alongside the Cliff Pool Bar.
Rates for Aman Sveti Stefan – though not cheap, starting at around £1,143 per night – include breakfast, in-room refreshments and access to paddle boards and snorkelling equipment.
From the UK, travellers can fly with easyJet, Ryanair or Wizz Air to Tivat Airport or Podgorica Airport, with Tivat around 30 minutes from the resort and Podgorica roughly an hour away.
From the airport, take a taxi, rent a car, or take a bus from nearby Budva.
Four-hour easyJet flights from London Gatwick to Tivat throughout August and September start from £46.99, while flights with Wizz Air in October from London Gatwick to Podorica start at £45, according to Skyscanner.
The region typically experiences dry, sunny weather during the summer months, with daily highs of 30C and evening temperatures sitting at 18C.
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