Aman Sveti Stefan, the luxury island resort on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast that has been closed since 2021, will reopen for the summer season from July 1, Euronews reported on May 6, following a resolution of a long-running dispute over public beach access.
The closure came after local residents demanded free use of the beaches surrounding the property. Under the terms of the settlement, two of the three beaches near the resort will now be open to the public at no charge. Sveti Stefan Beach and King’s Beach will be accessible to local residents, while Queen’s Beach will remain exclusive to Aman guests.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić confirmed the arrangement, adding that the Montenegrin state will receive a 10% share of profits from the resort’s operations. He also stated that no further construction will take place in Miločer Park beyond existing permits.
The island of Sveti Stefan, connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand around 10km from Budva, was converted into a hotel by the Yugoslav government in the 1950s. Following extensive renovations, it reopened as Aman Sveti Stefan in 2009 before closing again after the beach access dispute escalated.
The resort comprises 33 cottages and suites within restored 15th-century stone buildings on the island itself, alongside Villa Miločer on the mainland, the former summer residence of Queen Marija Karađorđević. Villa Miločer will open year-round from May 22, while the island portion remains seasonal.
The property includes the Aman Spa at Queen’s Beach, a 140-square-metre fitness centre, three seasonal restaurants on the island, and a year-round restaurant at Villa Miločer overlooking King’s Beach. Two swimming pools are available on the island, one of which is adults-only.
Queen’s Beach, set within a sheltered lagoon and known for its pink sand and emerald water, remains the resort’s most prized asset, and the one that had sat at the centre of the dispute since operations were suspended.