Among the many beautiful spots along the Adriatic coast, perhaps none is more picturesque than Sveti Stefan, with its stone villas jutted onto the clear blue sea.
The islet originally was a fortified village, before being taken over by the former Yugoslav government and converted into luxury resort, where it was visited by numerous celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor and Bobby Fischer.
These days, the islet is owned by Aman hotels, and in the past the only way to get onto the islet was to either stay at the hotel (rates start at around $1000 a night) or book a reservation at the restaurant ($100+ per person).
However, there actually is a third option. After emailing the hotel, it turns out the Aman offers a “secret” (unpublished) guided tour for a very reasonable price of 20 Euros per adult.
My Dad and I decided to jump at the chance at seeing the inside of this exclusive resort and we arrived at the entrance of the hotel at 2:00 PM.
The tour began promptly, with one of the Aman staffers as our tour guide and “chaperone”.
No wandering around
A beautiful walkway surrounded by two beaches connects the resort itself with the mainland.
We headed through a rather inconspicuous entrance. As expected security is paramount, and I noticed quite a few security cameras placed at the exterior entrance, to warn security of any uninvited guests.
Each walkway is a street with its own signs. Keeping true to the original layout of the islet, the walkways are narrow, with the stone lining completely redone.
There are numerous olive trees throughout the property, given many places on the islet a stunning Mediterranean look.
Unfortunately, we were unable to tour inside villa, but from what I can see on the outside, space and privacy would be a non-issue.
I really liked how they kept the exteriors intact, including the beautiful terra cotta roofing.
Overall, I was really impressed with the design of the resort, which kept the essence of the original Sveti Stefan. You really did feel like you were inside a medieval village.
As the country is predominantly Orthodox, the islet has not one but two chapels. We first visited a smaller chapel located in the middle of the islet.
A second more ornate chapel on top of the islet was a visual spectacle, and happened to be the place where tennis star Novak Djokovic took his vows.
The highlight of our tour was the outdoor lounging area, which is the only part of the islet that was newly constructed.
The views up top are drop dead gorgeous, and I could see myself lounging all day with the Adriatic breeze on my back.
Alas, our one hour tour was soon over, and we headed back to the check in area to pay for our tour.
Overall, I found the tour to be informative and also a great way to take a quick peak of the islet’s interior.
It does seem a bit odd that the hotel offers a public tour given the typical high end guest that stays here, but my guess is the government must have nudged them to offer some sort of public access to one of Montenegro’s cultural treasures.
How to Book:
Tours are conducted every day at 11:30 & 14:00 during the summer. It is highly suggested to contact the hotel to confirm tour availability.
