Visitors guide to Tivat in Montenegro.

Among those locations that stealthily approach you is Tivat. Its allure is that you don't quite hear it touted the way Dubrovnik or Ibiza is. Montenegro's somewhat cooler, more subdued cousin somehow ended up with a luxury marina and a shoreline that makes Instagram filters seem indolent. Tivat could be the perfect tiny dose of humility your travel ego needs if you're planning a trip and think you're "over" the congested tourist traps.

Let's begin with the most evident: Porto Montenegro. This marina is the sort of place where you wonder if your flat is even considered a yacht size since the yachts are so large. As you strive to understand how individuals generate income only by possessing a floating home, walking about here is an exercise in both awe and moderate self-loathing. Still, it's also enjoyable. Some cafés have espresso so robust that you'll momentarily believe you're a millionaire, and some stores will entice you to purchase goods you definitely don't need. For instance, I spent twenty minutes arguing over whether I required a pair of sunglasses that looked very much like every other pair I own.

Far from the harbour, Tivat has a calmer, more “real” side. The beaches are little but lovely, and the sea is the kind of blue that makes you question whether you have been looking at your computer screen too long. Plavi, if you appreciate a beach quiet enough to sleep but energetic enough to people-watch, Horizonti is ideal. You occasionally wonder whether the inhabitants secretly like seeing baffled visitors negotiate sunbeds as though it were some adult board game.

Food in Tivat is an experience disguised as a comfort zone. Not surprisingly, seafood is fantastic, and there are bakeries offering burek that might cause you to rethink every dietary decision you have ever made. One idea I have is that Montenegrin pastries are part of a long-term plan to ensure visitors never depart without lugging an extra 5 kilos back home. Wine is delicious, the locals are kind, and the sporadic live music creates the ideal "I might be on vacation" mood without veering into festival madness.

The Naval Heritage Collection sounds scarier than it actually is if you enjoy history with your coffee. Perfect for those of us whose attention spans barely reach the length of a TikTok video, it's intriguing and tiny enough that you can truly absorb it all without a guide.

If you have a car or love unplanned walking excursions, getting around is simple. The town itself is small; if you're ambitious, you can mix short excursions to Kotor or Budva with Tivat. You could find yourself spending half your time wondering if you came to Tivat or only because it was on the way to a more well-known destination, which is a philosophical conundrum I personally found rather fascinating, as I had coffee by the marina.

Tivat is understated, sophisticated, and a little cocky, in a way that lets you value both simplicity and luxury. It doesn't have to yell to be noticed; it slips in stealthily and leaves you wondering—maybe less is more. Or maybe at least I should say less about my sunglasses budget.