Planning Around Small Passengers
Tivat is one of the best bases in Montenegro for families with young children. The airport is tiny, the car park is steps from the terminal, and every destination on this list is under thirty minutes of driving. That matters when you have a car seat and a toddler who naps at unpredictable intervals. We have tested each of these trips with our own kids and calibrated them for the attention span of a five-year-old: short drives, guaranteed swimming, at least one ice cream opportunity, and enough novelty to keep the journey interesting without anyone melting down in the back seat.
Trip One: Plavi Horizonti Beach
Plavi Horizonti (Blue Horizons) — Lustica Road
This is the family beach near Tivat. A shallow, sandy cove on the Lustica road, fifteen minutes south of the airport. The water stays knee-deep for twenty metres from shore, making it safe for toddlers and non-swimmers. A beach bar serves food and drinks, loungers are available for rent, and parking is in a shaded lot behind the beach. There are proper toilet facilities — a rarity on Montenegrin beaches.
Arrive before 10 am in summer to claim a spot under the pine trees at the south end of the beach. The natural shade here means you can stay all day without baking. The water is warmer than the open Adriatic because the cove is sheltered from currents. Bring snorkelling masks — the rocky edges of the bay have small fish that kids love spotting.
Trip Two: Kotor Old Town and the Cat Museum
Kotor — Through the Vrmac Tunnel
Drive twelve minutes through the Vrmac tunnel and park at the Tabacina car park near Kotor's north wall. The Old Town is entirely pedestrianised, so pushchairs work on the smooth stone streets. Head for the main square first — the ice cream shop on the corner sells excellent stracciatella — then find the Cats of Kotor museum near the north gate. It is a small, quirky exhibition about the town's famous stray cats, with cat-themed souvenirs that children go wild for.
If your kids have energy to burn, the fortress hike starts from the north-east corner of the Old Town. The first section — about two hundred steps — reaches a church with bay views and makes a good turnaround point for young legs. The full 1,350-step climb to the top is better suited to children over eight. Bring water bottles — there are no shops once you start ascending.
Trip Three: Perast Boat Ride
Perast — Island Boat Trip
Perast sits twenty minutes north of Tivat on the bay road. The village's single waterfront street is traffic-free and lined with cafes where you can sit and watch the bay while kids run on the quay. The main attraction for families is the five-minute taxi boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks island — a tiny man-made island with a church, a small museum, and enough novelty to fascinate children for thirty minutes. Boats leave every fifteen minutes and cost roughly five euros return. For the scenic drive there, see our Tivat to Kotor scenic route guide.
After the island visit, walk north along Perast's waterfront to the ice cream kiosk near the bell tower. The pistachio flavour is the local favourite. If your kids are still engaged, the Perast Museum in the Bujovic Palace has model ships and naval instruments — manageable for a twenty-minute visit without triggering museum fatigue.
Trip Four: Budva Old Town and Mogren Beach
Budva — Walled Old Town and Cliff Beach
Budva is twenty-five minutes south of Tivat through the Vrmac tunnel. Park in the underground car park near the Old Town walls. The walled peninsula is compact enough for small children to walk comfortably, and the cobblestone streets open onto tiny squares with fountains and sleeping cats. The Citadela at the south tip has low walls that kids can peer over to see the sea crashing below.
From the Citadela, follow the path cut into the cliff face north to Mogren beach — two sandy coves connected by a short tunnel carved through the rock. The tunnel is the highlight for most children. The beach has lounger rental, a simple food kiosk, and lifeguards in summer. Water depth increases gradually, making it suitable for confident paddlers. Walk back to the car park via the Old Town for a gelato at one of the piazza shops.
Trip Five: Lustica Bay Pool and Beach Club
Lustica Bay Resort — Pool Day
The Lustica Bay resort complex, ten minutes south of Tivat on the peninsula road, has a pool club and managed beach open to non-residents for a day fee. The pool has a separate children's section with shallow water, and the beach below has kayak rental and paddleboard hire. Staff speak English, the changing rooms are clean, and food is served to your lounger.
This is the most relaxing option on the list — parents can read a book while kids exhaust themselves in the pool. The resort also runs a small adventure playground near the hotel entrance. Day passes sell out on peak summer weekends, so book online the evening before. Drive time from TIV is about twelve minutes, and the resort car park is free for day visitors.
What to Pack for Every Trip
- Sun protection: SPF 50, hats, UV swim shirts. Mediterranean sun is fierce from 11 am to 3 pm.
- Water: One litre per person minimum. Refill at cafe taps — Montenegrin tap water is safe.
- Shoes: Water shoes for pebbly beaches, trainers for Kotor fortress steps.
- Snacks: Voli supermarket near Porto Montenegro has everything. Buy before you leave Tivat.