The waters of the small Adriatic Sea wash the shores of several states at once: Slovenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, but only on the territory of the latter is the largest and one of the most beautiful islands in the world - St. Nicholas, or Sveti Nikoli, or Hawaii. Montenegrins love it, avid tourists strive to get here, photographers are delighted with the views that open up. Perfectly clear, turquoise sea, dense forests and beautiful beaches - all this explains the universal love for Sveti Nikoli.
A little about the life of the island
It has a natural origin, that is, it was formed naturally. St. Nicholas Island is located in the Budva Bay. Opposite it is the city of Budva. The island is connected with it by a path - a shallow embankment. At low tide, the depth here is only 0.5 m. There is such a legend about the formation of this “path”: when St.a strong storm, due to which he could not get to his ship and sail away. Then he took some stones and threw them into the sea. A path appeared along which Saint Sava could approach the ship. And it happened in 1234.
Located in the Republic of Montenegro, the island of St. Nicholas has an unusual shape. On one side, its coastline is elongated at an angle of 45 degrees and protrudes into the sea. The area of the island is 36 hectares, the length is about 2 km.
No people live here at the moment. The government will probably never allow this. The island is conditionally divided into 2 parts: one is open to tourists, and the second is a protected area, and the entrance there is closed. Maybe this is good, because nature is preserved there in its original form. The island is home to many different animals and birds. Hares, deer, pheasants and (do not believe it!) Mouflons live here - representatives of the genus of sheep.
Montenegro, island of St. Nicholas: attractions
Even on such a small part of the island, which was "gifted" to vacationers, you can find architectural monuments worth visiting. The main architectural attraction of the island is the Church of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The first mention of it dates back to the 16th century. It was this building that gave the name to the entire island.
However, the legend says that the temple was built at the end of the XI century by the crusaders led by Raymond of Toulouse, when they went to Constantinople. In the Middle Ages, as you know, the plague wiped out a good half of Europe. The pandemic could not be avoidedcrusaders - many of them died on the island of St. Nicholas, and the survivors created a cemetery and buried the knights. And a church was built nearby, which was destroyed during the 1979 earthquake. In its place, a new church of St. Nicholas was erected. There are also a few other buildings on the island, but they are of neither historical nor architectural value - they are relatively new buildings.
Beaches of Saint Nicholas Island
The pearl of such a republic as Montenegro, the island of St. Nicholas, has a coastline about 800 m long. It is divided into 3 parts. The first, as already mentioned, is a protected area, the second is strewn with pebbles, and the third is sand.
Many people are interested in Hawaii beach (Montenegro). Where did such an unusual name come from? But here everything is simple: this small part of the coastline is so nicknamed because the restaurant of the same name is located there.
The island's beaches are not crowded, but still some of them are frequented, while others are ideal for those who crave solitude. Often, residents of Budva come here to take a break from the crowds of tourists and cook their favorite rostil. Rocks, clear turquoise water, dark green fragrant vegetation and silence - what else do you need for happiness?
It is worth noting that the pebble beach here is "hard". At first, the stones are small, then they become larger and sharper. You need to be as careful as possible so as not to get hurt and not twist your leg. Also be sure to buy comfortable shoes. This can be done onSlavic beach of Budva, before buying a ticket for a boat that will take you to your destination.
Infrastructure of the island
One of the well-developed republics in terms of tourism is Montenegro. The island of St. Nicholas, of course, is also equipped, so vacationers here will find everything they need. Spending time outdoors, tourists enjoy their vacation. At the same time, a good appetite wakes up, you can satisfy your hunger in a restaurant. It is located close to the beach.
You can also rent an umbrella and sunbed. The rental office is located on the beach. Such a set will cost about 5 euros. But many people, in order to save money, take a rug or a simple towel with them and sunbathe on it. Yes, and it is also advised to buy food with water somewhere in Budva, because the prices in the restaurant “bite”.
St. Nicholas Island (Montenegro): how to get there?
There won't be any problems with that. Boats regularly depart from Slavyansky beach, which deliver vacationers to the island. They work from 8 am to 6 pm. The ticket price is approximately 3 euros. You may have to call a water taxi, which costs 5-7 times more. Therefore, it is advisable to take more money with you.
You can get to the island throughout the year.
Reviews of tourists about the island of Sveti Nikoli
Tourists who came to the island say that here you can get a lot of pleasant experiences. And even a pebbly beach with sharpstones will not spoil the mood, on the contrary, these “boulders” complement the unrealistic beauty of the landscape, adding wildness and naturalness to it in the truest sense of the word. Others believe that it is not necessary to sail to the island. And why, if, thanks to a short distance, it is perfectly visible from Budva? But it is one thing to see from afar, and another thing to visit, so to speak, in the thick of things. If you are already going on vacation, it’s better not to save money so that you don’t regret it later.
The city of Budva is also beautiful, but it is always crowded, tourists rest here all year round. And sometimes pandemonium bothers you, you want to be alone with nature and admire the most beautiful landscape. It is with such a mood that you need to go to the island of St. Nicholas!
