Waikiki Beach Resort, Tivat: The 135-Metre Man-Made Beach Club 10 Minutes from Porto Montenegro

Montenegro | Tivat | Seljanovo

Waikiki Beach Resort opened in June 2015. This enchanting man-made beach, spanning approximately 135 to 140 metres, is nestled in Seljanovo bay in Tivat, offering views of the surrounding azure waters and mountain backdrop. The “man-made” characterisation is relevant: the beach was constructed and developed deliberately as a beach club destination rather than developed around an existing natural shore, which is why the beach surface is a curated combination of two distinct sections — one section boasts concrete slabs with well-equipped steps, while the other is adorned with a blend of sand and pebbles.

The resort sits in Seljanovo, 1.6 kilometres from Tivat city centre and approximately 10 minutes on foot from the Porto Montenegro superyacht marina — the British Virgin Islands-registered special economic zone that has transformed Tivat from a small bay town into one of the Adriatic’s most significant luxury yachting destinations. The juxtaposition is visible from the Waikiki beach: the mountain backdrop of the Vrmac ridge on the opposite shore, the luxury yachts moving through the bay from the marina, and the small beach club operation that serves the Porto Montenegro visitor base and the Tivat resident population simultaneously.

Getting There: 10 Minutes on Foot from Porto Montenegro, 5 Minutes by Bicycle from Tivat Centre

From Porto Montenegro, the walk to Waikiki Beach Resort follows the coastal promenade northward through the Seljanovo district — flat, sea-level, and approximately 10 minutes. The promenade is the standard walking infrastructure of the Tivat waterfront, and the approach passes the Seljanovo residential zone before reaching the resort.

From Tivat city centre, the walk takes approximately 15 minutes in the same direction, or 5 minutes by bicycle. The flat terrain of the Tivat waterfront makes cycling the most efficient arrival mode for visitors without a car.

Free parking is available at the resort for guests. The resort’s official advice is to make reservations by phone before arriving, as sunbed availability is limited and the resort holds reservations only until 11:00am. A reservation made by phone guarantees a position; arriving without one in peak season risks finding the organised section full.

The Beach: 135 Metres, Two Sections, Sand and Pebble, €25 VIP or €15 Plastic Sunbeds

Waikiki Beach is divided into two areas: one with concrete slabs and steps, the other with a mix of sand and pebbles. The sea is a stunning transparent turquoise. During peak season the water temperature reaches approximately 25°C.

Visitors can choose between VIP-class wooden sunbeds complete with a soft mattress, pillow, side table, towel, water, and a complimentary gift — €25 per set of two — or budget plastic sunbeds at €15. Visitors can also use the beach with their own equipment free of charge, though the organisation of the beach is such that the sunbed zones occupy most of the usable space.

The seabed gradient is gentle — the beach-listing sources confirm that aqua shoes are not required — and the water entry is comfortable without footwear in the sand-and-pebble section. The concrete section’s steps provide a structured, comfortable entry for those who prefer it. Water temperature at 25°C in peak season makes the Bay of Kotor water at Waikiki among the warmest swimming conditions in Montenegro — the enclosed bay character of Tivat Bay warming the water faster and retaining the heat longer than the open Adriatic beaches of the Budva Riviera.

The Service Reality: TripAdvisor Ratings and the Variable Experience

The honest account of Waikiki Beach Resort requires acknowledging that the TripAdvisor reviews are split in a way that warrants mention. Positive accounts praise the comfort of the wooden sunbeds, the high quality of the food, the cleanliness of the beach, and the views. Critical accounts describe rude staff, broken or dirty sunbed equipment, and poor value at the higher price points. The €45 per pair figure that appears in some recent visitor accounts suggests current pricing may be higher than the official €25 VIP rate — prices at beach clubs in the Bay of Kotor area have generally increased through 2023 and 2024, and visitors should confirm current rates before committing.

The venue strikes the right balance between epicureanism and offering an unhurried place to unwind. The level of cuisine is surprisingly high — the owner is an eminent restaurateur in Tivat and serves no less than high-quality food. The restaurant quality — specifically the food menu which extends to grilled meats and fresh seafood beyond the typical beach club offering — is the specific element that differentiates Waikiki from comparable beach clubs in the area and that drives the positive reviews.

Confirming the current sunbed price before sitting down, and having a realistic expectation of variable service quality, is the practical visitor preparation for Waikiki.

Porto Montenegro: The Context That Defines Waikiki

Porto Montenegro is the defining context for the Waikiki beach visit. The British Virgin Islands-registered free trade zone, developed on the former Yugoslav Navy submarine base that has been converted into the Adriatic’s largest superyacht marina, has fundamentally changed the character of Tivat — the combination of the superyacht berthing infrastructure, the luxury hotel (Regent Porto Montenegro), the retail and restaurant complex within the marina, and the residential developments on the surrounding hillsides has brought a level of international luxury consumption to the Bay of Kotor that was not present before 2009.

The visitor who walks from Porto Montenegro to Waikiki Beach for the day is making the short transition from the most international setting on the Montenegrin coast to the local beach club that serves both the marina’s international crowd and the Tivat residents for whom it is the neighbourhood beach option. Both audiences are present at Waikiki simultaneously.

The Waikiki Beach Context: Tivat’s Beach Options

Tivat and its immediate surroundings have multiple beach options beyond Waikiki: the Plavi Horizonti (Blue Horizons) beach at Morinj Bay — the only genuinely sandy beach within the inner Bay of Kotor system, 15 kilometres north of Tivat — and the smaller pebble beaches scattered along the Seljanovo and Donja Lastva coast to the north of Waikiki itself.

For the Luštica Peninsula connection, Žanjice Beach Luštica Peninsula — the main departure point for the Blue Cave excursions, on the outer Adriatic coast of the peninsula — is approximately 20 minutes by road from Tivat. The contrast between the managed beach club of Waikiki and the wild-pebble cape of Žanjice is the most direct single comparison of what the Tivat area offers at opposite ends of its beach character range.

Massages, Weddings, and the 365-Day Season

Waikiki is positioned as a hedonist beach concept operating 365 days a year, with sea massages available on the beach and the resort serving as a wedding venue for events that want the Boka Bay backdrop. The 365-day operation is accurate in intent if not always in practice — the bay’s mild winters and the resort’s covered terrace and restaurant mean that the venue operates well beyond the standard beach season of June to September, serving as a waterfront dining destination in the shoulder months when the beach itself is too cool for sunbathing.

Waikiki Beach Resort in Tivat is the 135-metre man-made beach club 10 minutes from Porto Montenegro — €25 VIP wooden sunbeds, €15 plastic, confirmed-in-advance reservations required, food quality above typical beach club standard, service quality variable, man-made sand and pebble mix, and one of the warmest swimming positions in the Bay of Kotor at 25°C in peak season.

Walk north from Porto Montenegro along the promenade. Call ahead to reserve a sunbed.

Confirm the price before sitting down.