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GUIDE · BLUE CAVE · LUŠTICA

The Blue Cave near Žanjice.

A sea cave on the open side of the Luštica peninsula where the water glows electric blue. From Žanjice Beach it is about a ten-minute boat ride. Here is what a visit looks like, when the light is at its best and what to bring.

Calm sea off Luštica before setting out for the Blue Cave

WHAT THE BLUE CAVE IS

Water that glows blue.

The Blue Cave is the best-known sea cave in Montenegro, cut into the rocks on the open side of the Luštica peninsula, not far from Cape Arza and the island of Mamula. When sunlight enters through an underwater opening, it refracts through the water and the whole cave glows with the blue colour that gave it its name.

You enter the cave by a smaller boat or dinghy. The vault is high enough to sail in comfortably, and when the sea is calm the captains cut the engine and let guests swim in the blue light. It is the experience people travel to the entrance of Boka Bay for from all over Montenegro.

HOW TO GET THERE

From Žanjice, in about ten minutes.

The shortest way to the Blue Cave is from Žanjice Beach itself: in season boats leave the beach all day long, the ride takes about ten minutes, and tickets are bought on the spot. Full-day excursions also run from Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor and Budva, but the ride from Žanjice is the shortest and the best value, so many people combine it with a day on the beach.

  • — By boat from Žanjice: departures all day long in season, the ride takes about 10 minutes
  • — By excursion from Herceg Novi and Boka: longer tours that also pass Mamula and Rose
  • — For restaurant and apartment guests we arrange private rides to the cave
  • — In strong wind and waves the boats do not enter the cave, check the forecast
View towards Cape Arza and Mamula at dusk, the direction boats take to the Blue Cave
The terrace of the Porto Adriatic restaurant at Žanjice, a break after the ride to the cave

WHEN TO GO AND TIPS

At its best before noon.

The blue is strongest when the sun is high and the sea is calm, roughly from late morning to early afternoon. Mornings are less crowded, and at the peak of the season a queue of boats can form outside the cave, so an earlier start is usually the better choice.

  • — Bring swimwear, a towel and sun protection, there is no shade in the boat
  • — A mask or swimming goggles come in handy for a swim in the cave
  • — The sea has to be calm: in waves the cave entry is skipped
  • — The season of regular departures runs roughly from May to October

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Blue Cave.

  • How long is the boat ride to the Blue Cave from Žanjice? By boat from Žanjice Beach you reach the Blue Cave in about ten minutes, and in season departures follow one another all day long.
  • Can you swim in the Blue Cave? Yes, when the sea is calm the boats stop inside the cave and guests swim in the blue light; bring a mask or swimming goggles.
  • When is the light in the cave at its best? When the sun is high and the sea is calm, roughly from late morning to early afternoon; that is when the blue is most intense.
  • How much does a trip to the Blue Cave cost? Tickets for the short ride from Žanjice are bought on the spot and cost less than full-day tours from Herceg Novi, Kotor or Budva; the price depends on the season and the type of tour.
  • Do the boats run outside the season as well? Regular departures run roughly from May to October and depend on the weather; outside the season rides are arranged individually.
  • What else is there to see near the Blue Cave? In the same stretch are the island fortress of Mamula and the old fishing village of Rose, and the day is most easily rounded off with a swim and lunch at Žanjice.

Žanjice Beach

The starting point for the cave

The pebble cove in an olive grove the boats leave from: how to get there, where to park and what to bring.

Beach guide →

Private tours

By boat at your own pace

For our guests we arrange private boat rides to the Blue Cave and the nearby coves, without crowds or waiting.

See the experiences →

After the cave

Lunch right on the beach

Fresh fish and seafood on the terrace by the sea: book a table and round off the day at Žanjice.

See the restaurant →

FROM THE CAVE STRAIGHT TO OUR TABLE

To a table by the sea after the blue light.

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