The luxury resort of Aman Sveti Stefan on Montenegro's Adriatic coast is set to reopen on 1 July, ending a five-year closure that began after local residents demanded free access to the beaches opposite the hotel. The island town, connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand about 10 kilometres from Budva, was originally transformed into a hotel by the Yugoslav government in the 1950s and later reopened as Aman Sveti Stefan in 2009 after extensive renovations.
The closure in 2021 followed a legal dispute over beach access. Under the new agreement, local residents will have free access to Sveti Stefan Beach and King's Beach, while Queen's Beach will remain exclusive to Aman guests. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced on X that the state will also receive a 10% share of profits, and that no additional construction will take place in Miločer Park beyond existing permits.
What to Expect at Aman Sveti Stefan
The resort comprises 33 cottages and suites on Sveti Stefan island itself, as well as several suites within Villa Miločer on the mainland. While the island resort remains seasonal, Villa Miločer—once the summer residence of Queen Marija Karađorđević—will open year-round from 22 May. The accommodation on the island is housed in carefully restored 15th-century stone cottages, offering either sea or garden views. The largest, the Sveti Stefan Suite, features a private pool, separate living room, dining area, pantry, and a steam room.
Villa Miločer includes six residences in the main building and two more in a separate structure. The Aman Spa is located in the private bay of Queen's Beach, with four double treatment rooms, a 24-metre indoor swimming pool, and three hydrotherapy areas including a steam room, sauna, and either a cold-plunge pool or a bathtub. The fitness centre spans 140 square metres and also houses a pilates and yoga studio for private or small group sessions.
For guests, there are two swimming pools on the island, one of which is adults-only. Sveti Stefan Beach is a 170-metre pink-pebble beach, while King's Beach stretches 280 metres. Queen's Beach, set within a lagoon, is known for its emerald-green water and pink sand.
Three seasonal restaurants operate on Sveti Stefan Island: Arva, serving Italian cuisine for dinner with sea views and a Rakija Bar on the upper terrace; Piazza, a bar-slash-taverna-slash-enoteca offering rustic Mediterranean dishes for breakfast and lunch; and the Cliff Pool Bar next to the adults-only pool. Villa Miločer Restaurant, overlooking King's Beach, is open year-round for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu blending classic and contemporary dishes from across the Adriatic region.
The reopening of Aman Sveti Stefan comes amid a broader surge in luxury property across Europe, with Prague leading the continent's luxury property surge as Alpine and Mediterranean resorts dominate the market. For travellers seeking alternatives, four European national parks accessible by train offer a different kind of escape, from Alpine peaks to coastal creeks.
