Things to do in Ada Bojana: an island that requires at least three days
Things to do in Ada Bojana depend first and foremost on how much you love the water, as the island is surrounded by branches of the Bojana River on two sides and the open sea on the third. This triangle of just under five square kilometres has room for a three-kilometre-long sandy beach, kitesurfing, horse riding, river paddling and restaurants that source fish from their own nets. Absolutely everything is within easy reach, which is why the car usually stays in the car park.
However, there is one thing you should know in advance. Ada is a naturist resort with a tradition spanning half a century, which means that the beach operates according to its own rules, while the restaurants, sports courts and campsite function just like those at any other resort.
Below, we go through everything the island offers, both on the water and on land, where to eat, where to go on a day trip when you want a change of scenery and how to plan your stay. In addition, we believe you will also discover why most guests return at least once more.
What is Ada Bojana like and what makes the island different?
Ada Bojana is a triangular river island in the far south of Montenegro, located where the Bojana River splits into two branches and flows into the Adriatic Sea. It covers an area of approximately 4.8 square kilometres, and the entire island is occupied by a single naturist resort whose beach rules differ from those along the rest of the coast. This very combination of river and sea water explains why the list of things to do in Ada Bojana is rarely limited to a single activity.
How was the island formed in the first place?
Ada has not always been there, which makes it unique in the Adriatic. According to local tradition, the ship Merito ran aground at the mouth of the Bojana River in the 19th century, and river sediment accumulated around the wreck for years until land was eventually formed.
The river completed the rest of the work on its own, as it continues to carry sand that shapes the coastline to this day. The result is a beach approximately three kilometres long, with a rock-free seabed and water that remains shallow for a long distance.
How does the naturist policy work?
The nudist policy applies on the beach and along the coastal strip, while guests dress normally in the restaurants, on the sports courts and at the campsite. The resort has operated according to this principle since 1973, so everything has long been well established and nothing is left to improvisation.
What new guests are most interested in is whether nudism is mandatory, and the answer is that the resort’s rule must be followed on the beach, which means that clothing is not permitted. Photographing other people is prohibited, and this is precisely why activities in Ada Bojana take place in a calmer atmosphere than at many city beaches.
What are the best things to do in Ada Bojana when it comes to water activities?
The water is the reason why most guests come here in the first place, and the island offers two completely different settings. The river on the inner side is calm, shallow and sheltered, while the sea on the outer side offers open space, gentle waves and an afternoon breeze.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing
The mistral blows here from May to September, generally at speeds of 14 to 20 knots, and begins in the early afternoon. The calm river side is suitable for beginners, while the sea side offers waves to those who have outgrown flat water, and the sandy, rock-free seabed makes falling less dangerous than at most other locations.
We have already explained the conditions, season and equipment in detail in a separate guide to kitesurfing in Ada Bojana, so only the most important point remains here: carry your equipment on foot and head out onto the water as soon as the wind begins to blow. Of all the things to do in Ada Bojana, kitesurfing is the only one that dictates the daily schedule, because everything else is adjusted to it, not the other way around.
SUP and kayaking along the Bojana River channels
The channels of the Bojana River are ideal for paddling because there are no waves and the current is gentle, as long as you stay away from the river mouth itself. SUP boards and kayaks can be rented within the resort, so you do not need to organise anything in advance.
The best time is early in the morning, before the mistral begins to ripple the surface. Herons can then be seen along the riverbank, as well as the occasional fishermen pulling up their nets from wooden houses on stilts.
Swimming and the three-kilometre-long beach
The beach is sandy, the slope into the water is gentle, and the sea remains shallow for dozens of metres from the shore. Sand is the rule here rather than the exception because, as stated in the overview of the Ulcinj coastline, Ulcinj is the only part of the Montenegrin coast without pebbles or rocks.
There is enough space for everyone, as the three kilometres of coastline are rarely crowded even in August. If you are wondering about things to do in Ada Bojana that require no equipment or planning, walk towards the end of the beach near the river mouth, where the crowds disappear completely and the river and sea merge, creating a truly unique experience.
Land-based activities and sports courts
The water is the main attraction, but the island also offers enough reasons to keep you on dry land. The resort has sports courts, trails and horses, so the list of things to do in Ada Bojana easily expands to cover days when the sea is not your first choice. Everything is only a few minutes away on foot, which means that you do not need to plan anything in advance.
Horse riding on the sand
Horse riding is the most recognisable of the land-based activities in Ada Bojana and is available within the resort itself. The ride follows the beach alongside the water, at a pace suitable even for those who have never ridden a horse before and accompanied by a guide. Early morning and sunset sessions are the most pleasant, and we recommend making a reservation one day in advance to secure your preferred time.
Tennis, five-a-side football and beach volleyball
The resort also has tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch and a volleyball court located directly on the beach, as well as table tennis tables. Equipment is provided on site, so you do not need to bring anything from home, except perhaps a volleyball. Choose the time of your game in the same way as you would for horse riding. The afternoon hours are often too hot, while the temperature is ideal towards the evening, when the courts are at their liveliest.
Walking and cycling to the river mouth
The island is small enough to explore entirely on foot in just over an hour. The trail runs between the river, bamboo and beach, while a bicycle cuts the journey down to around twenty minutes if you want to reach the other end more quickly. The mouth of the Bojana River is the most rewarding destination, as this is where the river and sea meet in the open. When someone asks about things to do in Ada Bojana in the late afternoon, these activities provide an answer that rarely leaves anyone indifferent.
Where to eat and what are evenings like in Ada Bojana?
Fish is the main story here, not as a marketing phrase but as the way restaurants along the Bojana River genuinely operate. Most of them stand on wooden stilts above the river and take their catch from their own nets, so the menu comes down to whatever was pulled from the water that day. A meal with a drink usually costs between 20 and 40 euros per person, and all ingredients are 100% fresh.
You do not need to go anywhere outside the resort itself, as there are also two à la carte restaurants alongside the main restaurant with its terrace, plus a beach bar open during the day. This is the more convenient option after a full day on the beach, when no one is likely to feel like organising dinner outside the island.
The evening usually ends at the river mouth, where the sun sets directly between the river and the sea. If you are still looking for things to do in Ada Bojana after dinner, a walk along the beach and watching the sunset are enough, as it is probably the most striking sunset in Montenegro.
Where to go when you want a change of scenery?
The island is a complete destination in itself, but the surrounding area offers too much to be overlooked. Ulcinj is approximately a fifteen-minute drive away, while within the same radius you will find a saltworks under international protection, the remains of a medieval town and a lake that experts call Little Lake Skadar. On days when you have already exhausted the list of things to do in Ada Bojana, these are the three most worthwhile excursions.
Ulcinj Old Town and beaches
Kalaja, or the Old Town, stands on a rocky peninsula above the sea and can be explored in one to two hours. Its narrow cobbled streets, Archaeological Museum and views from the ramparts provide the best introduction to the history of a town that served as a pirate base for centuries.
This period is also the origin of the story that Miguel de Cervantes was held captive here at the end of the 16th century, and Ulcinj, as stated by Monitor, officially embraces this tradition through its title of the City of Cervantes. His statue now stands in the Old Town, a few steps from Mala Plaža, the city beach that becomes quite lively in summer.
Ulcinj Salina and birdwatching
The former salt factory now operates as a nature park and is one of the most important wetland habitats in the Mediterranean. Its pools cover approximately 1,500 hectares, while salt production stopped in 2013, which paradoxically became a problem for the birds that fed on marine organisms brought in with the water.
The flamingo is the species for which the saltworks are best known, and according to the Decision on the Declaration of the Nature Park, 17 globally endangered and 69 rare bird species have been recorded here. A cycling trail almost four kilometres long runs through the pools, so the area can also be explored without a car, with binoculars and a hat being essential because there is no shade. Set out early in the morning, while the birds are active and before the mistral begins to blow, because in the afternoon, the best things to do in Ada Bojana become obvious as soon as the wind picks up.
Lake Šas and the Bojana River delta
Lake Šas is the second-largest lake in Montenegro, with a surface area that varies between 3.6 and 5.3 square kilometres depending on the water level. In summer, the water warms to almost 30 degrees, while the lake and saltworks together form the main stopping points for migratory birds on their way to Africa.
The walls of Svač, a medieval town that was once larger than Kotor, stand above the lake. The entire delta area, together with the island, is protected, so activities in Ada Bojana and excursions into the hinterland are actually part of the same ecosystem.
Where to stay in Ada Bojana?
The choice is actually simple because the entire island functions as a single resort. FKK Ada Bojana provides everything from air-conditioned accommodation and a campsite to restaurants, sports courts and horses, so the distance between your bed and the water is never more than a few minutes on foot.
When should you book and how do you reach the island?
July and August fill up first, so dates during this period are booked months in advance. June and September are quieter, with the same sea and noticeably fewer people, which many guests consider a better combination.
The island is reached by the regional road from Ulcinj, a journey of just under fifteen kilometres that includes crossing a bridge leading directly into the resort. It is approximately a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Podgorica Airport, while parking within the resort is free, so you can forget about your car while considering things to do in Ada Bojana, as you will not need it anyway.
Three days are the minimum, the rest is up to you
To conclude, one thing that almost every guest repeats should be emphasised. Ada is not a place to explore in a hurry, but somewhere worth settling into, because the water, horses, sports courts, riverside restaurants and saltworks full of flamingos all require time and cannot be experienced on a one-day trip. Most people who come for two days extend their stay, while those who come for seven eagerly await the following season.
If that sounds like a “nice problem to have”, we recommend that you book your place in good time, as availability fills up much earlier than you might expect. FKK Ada Bojana places you directly between the river and the sea, with the beach, sports courts and restaurants only a few steps away, so you can decide on things to do in Ada Bojana on your very first morning, and you will certainly have no shortage of activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nudism mandatory in Ada Bojana?
On the beach and along the coastal strip, yes, as the resort has operated according to this rule since 1973. Guests dress normally in the restaurants, on the sports courts and at the campsite. Photographing other guests is prohibited, so the atmosphere is calmer than on city beaches. If this policy does not suit you, Ulcinj and its beaches are approximately a fifteen-minute drive away.
What are some things to do in Ada Bojana when strong winds blow?
The mistral begins in the early afternoon from May to September, usually blowing at between 14 and 20 knots. This is the ideal time for kitesurfing and windsurfing, while the calm river side is suitable for beginners and the sea side offers waves. If you have neither equipment nor experience, the river channels remain sheltered throughout the afternoon, so SUP and kayaking are still possible.
What is the beach like and is it suitable for children?
The beach is sandy, without rocks or pebbles, with a gentle slope and water that remains shallow for dozens of metres from the shore. This is the best possible configuration for children, but bear in mind that the naturist policy applies to the entire beach, so whether to visit with your family is a matter of personal choice.
When is the best time to visit and how do you reach the island?
July and August fill up months in advance. June and September offer the same sea and noticeably fewer people, which many visitors consider a better combination. Ada is reached by the regional road from Ulcinj, a journey of just under fifteen kilometres, across a bridge that leads directly into the resort. It is approximately a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Podgorica Airport, while parking within the resort is free.
What are some things to do in Ada Bojana on your first day if you have no plan?
In the morning, head out onto the river channels while the water is smooth, as this is the calmest part of the day and the best time to see herons along the riverbank and fishermen beside the houses on stilts. In the afternoon, stay on the beach when the wind begins to blow, and towards the evening, walk to the river mouth, where the crowds disappear and the sun sets directly between the river and the sea. The rest of the things to do in Ada Bojana usually fall into place on their own, as everything is only a few minutes away on foot and there is no need to plan anything in advance.
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