Ulcinj is a coastal town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828, and it is the center of the Ulcinj municipality. This southernmost municipality of Montenegro has a population of 20,290. Ulcinj is the southern most major town along the Montenegrin coast before reaching the border with Albania.
Well over a majority of the population of Ulcinj is ethnic Albanian. Together with the town of Tuzi it is one of the two major population centers of Albanians in Montenegro. Due to the town’s nice location on the coast it is a major tourist destination of much of the Albanian population of Kosovo.
History of Ulcinj
The wider area of Ulcinj has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Illyrian tombs (tumuli), found in the village of Zogaj, in the vicinity of Ulcinj, date back to the Bronze Age. The town is believed to be founded in the 5th century BC colonists from Colchis. The Colchian colonization is mentioned in the 3rd century BC, in a poem by Apollonius of Rhodos. Illyrians lived in the region at the time, and under Greek influence built immense so-called Cyclopean Walls. In 163 BC, the Romans capture Colchinium from the Illyrian tribe of Olciniatas and renamed the town Olcinium (aka Ulcinium) after the tribe. Under Roman rule, the town receives the status of Opida Civium Romanoruma (Town with Special Privileges), only to be granted Municipium (Independent Town) status.
When the Roman Empire was split in two, Olcinium became a part of the Eastern Roman Empire (later known as the Byzantine Empire). Before the medieval period, Ulcinj was known as one of the pirate capitals of the Adriatic Sea. This is also seen during the later period of Illyrian Kingdom. Inhabitants of Ulcinj were known at the time of Christ, especially from 20 BC to around 300 AD, to be very confrontational to those who were foreigners to their land; they were especially meticulous about border disputes as well. In 1183, Rascian Grand Duke Stefan Nemanja conquered Olcinium and the town prospered as one of the most significant coastal towns. Ulcinj remained in Nemanjic hands till the death of Emperor Dusan’s death in late-1355. In 1356, Lord Balsa I, the founder of the Zetan Balsic dynasty, was granted parts of former Dioclean territory, including Ulcinj, by Emperor Dusan’s son and successor, Emperor Uros VI, and broke away from the Serbian Empire, only to establish an independent lordship called Zeta. Under Balsic control, Ulcinj served as a popular resort, as well as a mint. The Republic of Venice captured Ulcinj from Balsa III of the Zetan Balsic dynasty in 1423.
“Never in my life have I stayed in a place lit by so many stars as Ulcinj”
Venice controlled Dulcigno (as it was called in the Venetian language) until 1571 and incorporated the city in the Albania Veneta. Under Venetian control, many Christian Albanians took refuge in Ulcinj from Muslim Turks. In medieval time, a shipwreck of a Saracen ship on the shores of Ulcinj with stranded African slaves; locals saved the surviving Africans and made them an integral part of the population of the town. The Republic of Venice captured
Ulcinj from Balsa III of the Zetan Balsic dynasty in 1423. Venice controlled Dulcigno (as it was called in the Venetian language) until 1571 and incorporated the city in the Albania Veneta. Under Venetian control, many Christian Albanians took refuge in Ulcinj from Muslim Turks. In 1571, the Ottoman Turks conquered Dulcigno from the Venetians. In 1867, Ulcinj became a kaza of the Iskodra sanjak of Rumeli eyalet. Ulcinj finally gained its independence from the Turks on 11 January 1878 by the decision of the Berlin Congress (see Treaty of Berlin (1878), only to be fully integrated into Montenegro nearly three years later, on 30 November 1880.
Old town of Ulcinj
The Old Town of Ulcinj, locally known as Stari Grad, is one of the most fascinating historical sites along Montenegro’s Adriatic coastline. Situated on a hill that rises dramatically above the sea, this ancient town combines layers of history, architecture, and culture, making it a must-see destination for anyone visiting the area.
Historical Significance
Ulcinj’s history dates back over two millennia, with evidence of its settlement stretching as far back as the 5th century BCE. It was initially founded by the Illyrians and later became a strategic center under Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule. This rich, multicultural past is reflected in the town’s architecture, urban layout, and cultural heritage.
During the Roman period, Ulcinj was a thriving coastal city, and its strategic location made it an important naval hub. The town later became part of the Byzantine Empire and, in the 15th century, fell under the control of the Ottoman Empire, a period that left a lasting impact on the city’s development.
Ottoman Influence
The most noticeable influence in Ulcinj today is Ottoman, as the town was an important part of the empire for over 300 years. The cobbled streets, traditional stone buildings, and Islamic architecture reflect this era. The central feature of Stari Grad is its imposing medieval castle, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the Adriatic Sea. The castle’s walls, watchtowers, and gates tell the story of Ulcinj’s defensive importance throughout history.
One of the most significant structures in the Old Town is the Mosque of the Sultan, which dates back to the 16th century. This mosque, along with the many other mosques scattered throughout Ulcinj, showcases the town’s cultural and religious diversity during Ottoman rule.
Notable Landmarks
- Ulcinj Old Town Fortress: The fortress is the focal point of Stari Grad and offers sweeping views over the town and the sea. It was originally a Roman fort but was heavily rebuilt during the Ottoman period.
- Balsica Tower: An old Venetian tower named after the Balsica family, who once ruled the region. Today, it houses a museum that displays the town’s rich history and artifacts.
- St. Nicholas Church: A small Orthodox church within the Old Town, adding another layer to Ulcinj’s religious diversity.
- The City Walls and Gates: Remnants of the city’s medieval defenses, including several well-preserved gates and walls, can still be explored today.
Modern-day Ulcinj
Today, Stari Grad is a vibrant, yet quaint, neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets, charming cafes, and small shops that sell local crafts and products. Despite its historical significance, it’s not overrun with tourists, making it an authentic place to explore. Walking through the old streets, visitors will encounter a mix of Mediterranean, Ottoman, and Venetian architectural styles, creating an atmospheric backdrop for wandering.
Ulcinj’s Old Town is also known for its close connection to the sea. The town has a rich maritime history and was once known for its pirate activity. The Old Town overlooks the stunning beaches, which are among the best in Montenegro, adding a beautiful contrast between history and nature.
Cultural Importance
Ulcinj is a melting pot of cultures, and Stari Grad exemplifies this with its blend of local, Venetian, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences. It has long been a center for commerce, culture, and artistic expression. The town is also home to a number of local festivals, art exhibitions, and cultural events that continue to celebrate this diverse heritage.
Ulcinj’s Old Town is not just a historical site but a living testament to the complex interactions between different peoples and cultures in this region of the Adriatic.
Tourism of Ulcinj
In the summer months, Ulcinj is a popular seaside resort. Although still relatively unknown to the general public, the number of visitors continues to rise. This trend includes both first-time tourists and returning visitors who have been to the city before. Ulcinj is known for its beaches, which are considered the most beautiful in Montenegro. The most famous beach on the Ulcinj Riviera is Velika Plaza, which, with a length of 12 kilometers, is the largest sandy beach in Montenegro.
In addition to Velika Plaza, the beach of Mala Plaza is also popular, although, as the name suggests, it is much smaller in size compared to Velika Plaza. There are also many smaller beaches, which are perfect for those seeking a more peaceful retreat. Ulcinj’s Old Town has been largely well-preserved and is almost entirely made up of a castle. The Old Town is situated on top of a hill, offering views over the sea and coastline, and is a popular tourist attraction.
Close to Ulcinj lies Ada Bojana, an island formed by the sandbanks of the Bojana River and the Adriatic Sea. It is popular with tourists due to its tranquility and unique atmosphere. Nearby, the Sasso Lake and Ulcinj Salt Lake are also great spots for birdwatching, as they are resting places for around 200 bird species, which temporarily stay here before migrating further.
Ulcinj has several cafés, bars, and clubs, which are quite busy during the summer months. The majority of tourists are primarily Albanians, Germans, Italians, and Eastern Europeans.
Accommodation
Ulcinj as the southernmost town on the Montenegrin coast, known for its long sandy beaches, where the views over the Adriatic Sea reach the farthest. There are several hotels near the old town of Ulcinj, mostly small hotels. The amount of private accommodation is much higher, private rooms and apartments are on the hill above the beach of the city. If you would like to stay in the old town, you can choose between the palaces of the former Montenegrin rulers. One of the leading reasons to visit Ulcinj for many is the largest sandy beach in Montenegro the Velika Plaza. It is located 5 kilometers south of Ulcinj, and is 13 kilometers long. Velika Plaža is actually divided into several individual beaches that are rented by locals, each with exotic names such as Copacabana, Tropicana, Neptun and Safari, equipped with sun beds and umbrellas. As a result, many new holiday homes and apartments have been added along the entire coastal strip. What could be a good alternative for accommodation in Ulcinj, because like in all other cities in Montenegro the summer period can be busy.
Talk
70 % of the population in the Ulcinj municipality is from Albanian decent, so logical the majority speak Albanian and Serbo-Croatian. Albanians are being known for emigrants from who many of them have returned from countries such as Germany, France, Greece (especially those in the south of Albania) and Italy so you’ll find a lot of people who speak the respective languages.
Get in
By bus
Ulcinj is the transport hub to Southeast Europe. It connects southern Montenegro with Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and all major cities of Montenegro. There are daily routes from Ulcinj center to Dubrovnik, Pristina, Tirana, Shkodër , Podgorica, Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Bar, Petrovac, Rozaje and Sveti Stefan.
There are frequent buses from Podgorica to Ulcinj, which costs 6 € and takes 2 hours. From Bar you can take a normal bus or a combi minibus that goes up and down this part of the Montenegro coast. The drive from Bar takes about half an hour. From Kosovo there are three buses a day (06.00, 19.00, 21.00). The first two go past Podgorica, but the last past Shkodër, Albania.
The bus from Shkodër takes about 6-7 hours. There are also daily departures from Shkodër in Albania to Ulcinj (6 pm, 12:30 pm). These are theoretically well connected to Albanian bushes ‘furgons’ from Tirana and Durres. During the tourist season, however, there are many extra buses leaving the big cities.
By car
To reach Ulcinj by car, you need to keep following the Adriatic highway (E65 / E80). Within Montenegro, this two-way route runs from Herceg Novi to Tivat, Budva, Petrovac, Sutomore and Bar to Ulcinj. The traditional highway runs through the bay of Kotor, but this part is usually skipped by the ferry link at the Strait of Verige between Herceg Novi and Tivat. The motorway ends just before Ulcinj at the town of Sutomore where it passes into the European road E851.
By train
The final destination of the Montenegrin railway is the city of Bar, which is only 35 km from Ulcinj. When you are in Bar, you can travel to Ulcinj by public transport or car rental.
By boat
There are no direct boat connections with Ulcinj, but just like the train, the nearby city of Bar has the only ferry connection in Montenegro. This is the ferry from Bari (Italy) – Bar.
By airplane
The nearest airports to Ulcinj are those of Tivat 75km and the airport of Podgorica at 85km from Ulcinj. Other airports near Ulcinj are those of Dubrovnik (Croatia) 185km, and Tirana (Albania) 140km.
Get around
Ulcinj is a small city, you will have no problem getting around by foot, but keep in mind that some parts are very hilly. The hilly roads can become quite slippery when wet and many of the smaller streets have no sidewalks. If you’re walking on such a street, keep to the dry areas and step aside when you hear an approaching vehicle to let them pass. Many people drive fast even with pedestrians on the road.
There are many stairs that lead down the hills that can be used to avoid long winding roads, but you’ll have to look for the entrances, or use Google Maps Satellite imaging to guess where the stairs are; they’re not marked and they often look like they lead into someone’s home.
The bus station is a good 40 minute walk from the old town of Ulcinj by the coast.
See
- The old town – Ulcinj’s old town is one of the oldest urban architectural complexes on the Adriatic Sea. The castle, some of which believe that it resembles a stranded ship, has been the main point for the surrounding regions for 2500 years. Throughout the centuries, various cultures and civilizations have fused here. The ancient city is a cultural and historical monument of valuable significance thanks to the illyric walls, the citadel, the network of streets, markets and squares. It was built 2500 years ago.
- Mosques – Through the history and the Albanian community, Ulcinj is the city with the most present mosques in Montenegro. As a result, here are also the most ancient mosques, which can be a change to the many orthodox churches.
Do
Ulcinj is a splendid central location for exploring Montenegro’s South Coast region (from Bar to Skader Lake to Ada Bojana) and parts of Albania. The Ulcinj South Coast region boasts some of the most interesting adventure, historic and eco tours, and vacation beach stays in all of the Adriatic.
There are good beach spots in the area, including some rocky ones in the southern part of town. The longest sandy beach in Montenegro, Velika Plaza, is located near by. At the Southern end of this 14km-long beach there is Ada Bojana, a triangular island with very nice beaches, formed where the Bojana river meets the Adriatic Sea. The long beach and the island are favorite spots for kite surfers and windsurfers and it has a large a nudist beach for those so inclined. There are minibuses that take you from the market on Skenderbeu Ave in Ulcinj to Velika Plaza and even to Ada Bojana (if there are at least 3 people going there).
- Go for a walk after sunset when the main street fills with people promenading and taking some fresh air. It is said that some of the most beautiful girls in the Balkans can be found promenading.
- For the more adventuresome you can take the ‘combi’ towards the Albanian border (but not crossing it) getting off on the first road heading towards Lake Skadar near the town of Brajse. There is a small bus from Brajse that runs along this small road towards the mountains which if it’s running you can take for 0.50 EUR, otherwise you’ll have to walk or hitch hike. Once you get to the peak of the mountain range you’ll be standing almost exactly on the Albanian and Montenegrin border. You’ll be able to look out over one of the most magnificent lakes in Europe as well as get a good view of the Adriatic coast, Albania and Montenegro. Continue hitchhiking up the lake, you’ll get to see some of the most rural untouched villages in the Balkans. The southern half of the lake shore is populated by ethnic Albanians while the northern half all the way up to the town of Virpazar is populated by Montenegrin’s. There is very little travel between the two communities so there are almost no buses that run the course of the highway meaning you’ll either have to walk or hitchhike. The people driving the road though few and far between seemed more than willing to take hitchhikers. If you camp (which is a good idea) there are some camp sites about half way between Virpazar and Arbnez.
There is also a beach that holds the name Mala Plaža (Albanian: Plazha Vogel, English: Small Beach) which is much smaller in size, but is located in the center of town and very popular with visitors. “The Korzo”, as it is called by locals, is a promenade which separates a street lined with coffee shops from Mala Plaža.
At night during the summer months, the Korzo is pedestrianized and families and young people gather.
It is said that some of the most beautiful girls in South Eastern Europe, visiting Ulcinj as tourists, can be found walking about the Korzo on a nightly basis. There are many more less known smaller beaches that serve as a get-away to many people looking to catch their breath. Ulcinj’s old town is a very well preserved castle-looking community that is left over from medieval times. The old town sits atop a mountain overlooking the shore and is a tourist attraction on its own. Ada Bojana (Albanian: Buna) is popular among foreign tourists from Western Europe for its peace and unique atmosphere. A large naturist campsite is also located in Ada Bojana. Šaško lake and Ulcinj’s salt pond are popular among birdwatchers, because Ulcinj and its surroundings are major resting points for over 200 bird species on their migration paths. There are numerous cafes, discos, and bars that dot the city that are usually filled to capacity throughout the summer. The majority of tourists in Ulcinj are Albanians, Germans, Italians, and Eastern Europeans. A large number of Americans who are either of Albanian descent or were born in or near the city of Ulcinj often make the city a prime summer time destination.
Eat
Near the beach stalls sell kebab and hamburgers. There is lots of bakeries where to get some cheap food: bureks, pizzas. Cheap supermarkets around the city.
Note that the fish restaurants calculate the price per 1 kg of raw fish. Example: One raw fish is about 500-600 grams, but when cleaned and cooked, it’s around 200 grams. You get charged for 500-600 grams.
There are lots of new restaurants in Stari grad (old town) that serve a wide range of food. Many of the restaurants have fantastic views of the ocean right from your table with very reasonable prices (5-20 Euro).
If you see “scallop” on the menu anywhere, keep in mind that it’s most likely NOT not seafood but meat (veal).
Stray cats are plentiful in Ulcinj and they love to hang around tables waiting for scraps, especially at places popular with tourists. Restaurant Queen is one of the new restaurants leading in food quality. Fish is 12 euro for 500 grams, any type of fish is fresh from the sea being the cleanest restaurant in Ulcinj.
Get out
- Budva — the Montenegrin touristic metropolis on the Adriatic Sea is located some 20km south of the Boka Kotorska.
- Kotor — an ancient fortified town located deep down the Boka Kotorska bay, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Cetinje — the historical capital of Montenegro is located just under Mt Lovćen, the mountain overlooking the Boka Kotorska.
- Lovćen national park — Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor. The mountain has two imposing peaks, Štirovnik (1,749 meter) and Jezerski vrh (1,657 meter).The mountain slopes are rocky, with numerous fissures, pits and deep depressions giving its scenery a specific look. Standing on the border between two completely different natural wholes, the sea and the mainland, Lovćen is under the influence of both climates.
- Njegos mausoleum — The mausoleum of Petar Petrovic Njegos built of limestone and granite can be found on top of Mount Lovćen. It was Njegos’s last wish, the greatest ruler of the Montenegrins who was a bishop and a poet at the same time to be buried there.
- Rumija — As a Dinaric natural barrier, Rumija separate Adriatic Sea from the Skadarsko Jezero lake. With the height of 1594 m, it drops steep towards the Adriatic coastline and somewhat less steeply towards the southern part of the lake.
- Boka Kotorska — Often referred as “Europe’s most southern fjord” the beauty of Bay was confirmed by signing the bay on the list of World’s natural and cultural heritage of Unesco, and accepting the Bay in the Club of the most beautiful world bays.
- Tivat — a small town, quickly emerging into a major touristic, business and transport center. Located in the vicinity of the Tivat International Airport, in summer 2014 it became home of a luxury yacht marina called Porto Montenegro.
- Skadarsko Jezero — Skadarsko Jezero is the largest freshwater lake in the Balkans, two thirds of which is in Montenegro and the remainder in Albania. It is surrounded by dramatic karst mountains and hosts a thrilling array of wildlife with more than 260 species of birds, traditional fishing villages, islet monasteries and pristine beaches.It has been a protected National Park since 1983 and was added, in 1996, to the World’s List of Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention.
- Shkodër — city and municipality in northwestern Albania and the seat of the county with the same name. It is one of the oldest and most historic places in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre.
- Ada Bojana — Many people consider Ada Bojana to be a natural reservation of national park type. This is a river isle, at the very end of Velika Plaza, at the spot where the river Bojana gets separated from the beach. The isle is a triangle, with the Bojana River from two sides and the Adriatic Sea from the third one.
Location
