Villas for sale in Montenegro

What we call a villa

A villa here is a detached house with more space than a family home, a private plot and outdoor areas planned around everyday use: terraces, a garden, often a summer kitchen. Many are recent builds. Some are older stone houses restored to a high standard. A pool, a sea view or a jetty belong to individual villas, not to every listing, so read each one carefully.

Villas on the Budva Riviera

The riviera is the most built-up part of the coast, which makes privacy the main question. Villas here usually sit on the slopes above the resorts, between Budva and Sveti Stefan, where the plots are larger and the streets quieter. Town life, beaches and restaurants stay close. Browse villas for sale in Budva.

Around the Bay of Kotor

The bay is a different setting: steep mountains, calm water and stone villages along the shore. A villa here can be an old captain's house on the water road or a new house higher up the slope.

• Kotor. The Old Town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the villages around it, from Dobrota to Prčanj, have some of the oldest houses on the coast. See villas for sale in Kotor.
• Tivat. Flatter and more open, with the Porto Montenegro marina and an international airport. The Luštica peninsula across the bay is green and less built up. Look at villas for sale in Tivat.
• Herceg Novi. At the entrance to the bay, a town of gardens and stairways with life all year. The list is under villas for sale in Herceg Novi.

Villas in the south, around Bar

Bar is a port city with a marina and long pebble beaches nearby. Villas in the municipality often come with larger plots and olive trees, on the hills between the coast and Stari Bar. See villas for sale in Bar.

Questions to ask before you buy a villa in Montenegro

A villa is a bigger commitment than an apartment. These questions save time later:

• Running costs. Garden, pool and outdoor areas need regular care. Ask the owner what upkeep costs over a year.
• When you are away. Who will look after the house, and how is it secured?
• Neighbours and views. Can a building go up on the next plot and block the view? Check the local plan.
• Access. Steep or narrow roads are common on the coast. Make sure a car, and a delivery truck, can reach the gate.
• Papers. Permits, the land registry entry and the plot borders should match what you see on site. Have a lawyer check them.

Pick two or three villas that fit and book a viewing. Seeing the plot, the road and the neighbouring houses tells you more than any photograph.