What the Blue Cave is
The Blue Cave, Plava Špilja in Montenegrin, is a sea cave on the outer (Adriatic-facing) side of the Luštica peninsula, south-west of the Bay of Kotor's mouth. It is a single large chamber open to the sea through two entrances: a larger main mouth that small boats can enter, and a smaller side opening underwater. When the morning sun comes in through the underwater opening, it lights the cave from below, turning the whole interior a strong cobalt blue that reflects onto the limestone roof. That is the effect the name refers to, and it is genuinely striking on the right morning.
The cave is roughly 9 metres high at the entrance, widens inside, and the water is typically around 4-5 metres deep. Small tourist boats enter one at a time, stop inside for photos and often for a swim, and back out. A visit inside is brief, 10-15 minutes, but the transit is the point.
Driving from Herceg Novi to Žanjice
Žanjice is the nearest launching beach for a Blue Cave trip. From Herceg Novi, the drive is roughly 25 km and involves a short ferry. The route: east along the M-2 coastal road from Herceg Novi to Kamenari (about 12 km, 20 minutes); then the Kamenari to Lepetane car ferry across the Verige strait (the ferry runs continuously, crossings are 4-5 minutes, and the price in 2025 was EUR 4.50 for a standard car; in July-August mid-afternoon, queues of 20-30 minutes are normal); from Lepetane, turn right (south-west) onto the Luštica peninsula road; follow signs for Rose or Žanjice for another 13-15 km, 25-30 minutes of driving; the final descent to Žanjice is a steep narrow road, standard rental cars handle it, but go slowly, especially in summer when pedestrians wander on the road.
Total door-to-door, allow 75-90 minutes including the ferry. An alternative is to skip the ferry and drive around the full bay via Kotor, but that adds an hour and is not worth it.
The boats at Žanjice
Žanjice is a pebble beach with a cluster of restaurants, sun loungers, and a small jetty where independent boat operators work. During the summer season (May-October) you will typically find 5-10 small open boats offering variations on the same trip. The standard circuit takes about 90-120 minutes:
- Žanjice harbour out to the Blue Cave (15-20 min).
- Blue Cave interior visit (10-15 min, usually including a swim).
- Continue to Mamula Island for a brief external tour (see our Mamula Island guide for history and access notes).
- Return via the outer coast with a possible second swim stop.
Prices in 2025 were around EUR 20-25 per person for a shared boat, more for private charters. Pay the operator directly, cash is simplest. No booking system; turn up on the beach and pick a boat.
Timing and light
Morning is better than afternoon. The blue-light effect depends on sun angle and is strongest between about 09:00 and 12:00 in summer. Afternoon trips still enter the cave but the water looks greener and less dramatic. Weather matters more here than for most boat trips: the cave opens to the exposed Adriatic side of Luštica, and in south-easterly winds (jugo) the swell at the entrance becomes too strong for small boats. Operators cancel; be prepared to try again the next day.
The swim inside
Most operators stop inside the cave long enough to swim. The water is cool (19-22°C in summer) and clear. Backstroking away from the boat and looking up at the glowing roof is the memorable part. Bring goggles if you have them, the sandy floor and rock walls are visible all the way to the bottom in clear conditions.
Žanjice itself
Beyond the boat trip, Žanjice is a pleasant pebble beach with clean water and a handful of konoba-style restaurants serving grilled fish and salads. It gets busy in August but remains manageable. There is a small fee to use the sun loungers; the beach itself is free. Parking is paid in season at the main lot above the beach.
Practical tips
- Timing: Aim to be on the 09:00-10:00 boat. Earlier is better for light and for avoiding both queues and afternoon wind.
- Bring: Swimsuit, towel, hat, water, waterproof phone pouch. Reef shoes useful for the rocky swim entries on the boat tour.
- Cash: Ferry and boat operators are simplest paid in cash.
- Weather-check: If there is a jugo forecast, do not commit to a specific date. Operators will not run in strong southerlies.
- Combine with: The Mamula Island stop is almost always part of the same circuit.