Igalo: description, list of services and entertainment

Montenegro is a stunningly beautiful country, in which you can go both in winter and in summer. It is preferred by fans of eco-friendly vacations, loving the sea and mountains. In Montenegro, any tourist will get everything he wants: gorgeous views, delicious dishes, comfortable beaches and, of course, treatment if it is the purpose of the trip.

Igalo is a tiny coastal town in the Bay of Kotor, on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro. It’s not famous as a beach resort, but as a center of health tourism. Glorified its mineral local water, igalka and healing mud. This "oasis of health" is located 7 kilometers from the city of Herceg Novi and, in fact, is one of its areas, but is administratively independent.

In 1950, the largest center of spa treatment in the European Mediterranean was created in Igalo. Everything is treated there: from rheumatism to psoriasis. From this began his world fame, along with Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic or Baden-Baden in Germany.

Located at the foot of the Orien massif, Igalo is rich in vegetation, which has formed a subtropical microclimate with optimal humidity. The air is filled with aromas of eucalyptus, oleander, cypress, mimosa and sea waves. The climate is mild: the average air temperature in summer is + 27 ° C, in winter - + 12 ° C. Since the town is located in the northern part of the country, the number of sunny days per year reaches 260.

The average temperature of the water in the sea in summer is + 24 ° C, it is very transparent, with a visibility of 38-56 meters. The swimming season lasts from mid-May to October, the weather is perfect, the excitement sometimes reaches 0.5 meters. In winter, the air temperature is from + 12 ° С to + 17 ° С, water indicators do not fall below + 6 ° С.

In the summer heat, the mountains do not allow the air to warm up very much, allowing the soft sea breeze to cool. Those who do not like the summer heat, choose this place for relaxation because of the stable weather. Families with children come here, those who want to heal, and beach lovers of different ages.

The history of the town began in the XIV century. King Tvrtko I founded on the shore of the Boka Kotor Bay, at the foot of Dobroshtitsa Mountain, a small settlement of Novi. It marked the beginning of the Herceg Novi community, of which Igalo became one of the administrative regions. At different times, the lands were owned by Turkish, Venetian, Spanish, French and Austrian kings and emperors. The echoes of their reign are preserved in architecture - Walking through the streets, we will see structures of all styles: Eastern, European, Muslim and Christian.

From historical sites, a very small number of monuments have been preserved, especially in this administrative region.

• The main attraction is Forte Mare or the Sea Fortress, erected on a high hill to protect against pirates in 1382. Under the Ottoman Empire, battlements were built on the walls and guns were installed, then the fortress was called the Devil's Tower. According to legend, in her dungeon in XVI there was a Turkish prison. Since the 50s of the last century, the fortress has been used as a summer cinema; music shows, festivals, and fairs are held there.

• Also in Igalo there is a small church of the Holy Transfiguration, which was built at the end of the XVII century and restored in 1857.

• Some are available for visiting. buildings from the times of the Venetian Republic, Ottoman and Austrian empires, an old library and a museum of local lore.

• On the very outskirts of town rare railroad car model 1901 - the time when Herceg Novi, Dubrovnik and Trebinje were connected by a narrow gauge railway, and the Ciro quickly ran along it, a small train, which included this car.

Of the famous buildings stand out more modern buildings. The Šetalište Pet Danica promenade is a boulevard for romantics. It is named after women heroines of the Great Patriotic War with the name Danitsa. The boulevard runs along the entire bay, uniting several settlements on the coast. Making a promenade, tourists enjoy the picturesque beaches with azure water and rocky cliffs. Many are simply breathtaking from the mystical stone tunnels found throughout the boulevard.

Its length is 7 kilometers, but the popular part connecting the resort with the port of Herceg Novi is only 3-4 kilometers.

Nearby is Villa Galeb, owned by the President of Yugoslavia Tito, and built in the 80s of the last century. He loved the magnificent buildings, framed by gardens and groves. The villa occupies 75 thousand square meters and is surrounded by Mediterranean and coniferous trees.

The most important, local pride of the country is Institute of Dr. Simo MilosevicMontenegrins are proud of. This is one of the largest institutes of physiotherapy and prevention in the Adriatic Sea.

There are no more attractions in the town itself but if you walk along the Five Danica Boulevard to the Old Town in Herceg Novi, interesting places and cultural monuments will please with their diversity there too.

In the town, which lives in tourism, there are many hotels from 2 to 5 stars.The situation in two-star hotels is very modest, but the rooms are clean. There are small appliances and free Wi-Fi. They are designed for unpretentious guests.

Families with children choose 3-5 star hotels. They offer their own SPA-procedures, hydromassage, hammam, Finnish and infrared saunas. Luxurious rooms, a swimming pool and a fitness center, full board or self-catering - it all depends on the desire of the tourist and his financial capabilities.

Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa 4 * is a modern hotel located near the boulevard. Perhaps this is the only hotel with its shallow but comfortable pebble beach, where beach towels are issued. A concrete platform with a swimming pool is located directly on the beach, which offers excellent views of the sea and mountains. The price range is 61-310 €, depending on the room, food and view from it.

Modern Apart Hotel Grifone, 4 *, priced from 47 €, is located just 50 meters from Obala Beach, a combination of a concrete platform and pebble terrain. There is no restaurant in the hotel itself, but 50 meters away is the Terina partner restaurant, where hotel guests have discounts on meals. Nearby is the Igalo physiotherapy department and SPA salon.

There is a small building across the road from the sanatorium Montesun Residence 4 *, for the price of 40 €. The hotel is located 20 meters from the city promenade, on the third beach line. It has only seven rooms, but the kitchenette has all the necessary kitchenware.

When traveling on a motorcycle, bicycle, car or if you intend to rent it, then a good accommodation option would be Motel Ellena 3 * from 38 €, with free parking and internet. Breakfast and buffet are included in the price. Dinner is available for a fee.

Apartments Obala Katic 3 *, located on the first coastline, will cost a tourist about 41 €. This is a 3 * hotel offering double and triple rooms, studios and apartments. Service and facilities are on top. There is an outdoor pool with a hot tub and sun loungers, and there is a sun terrace. Meals are not included, but there is food delivery. Handrails and other devices for people with disabilities are provided. Nearby there is an inexpensive restaurant Konoba Zora, with good food. For two, dinner at local cafes costs 20-25 €.

Well-developed rental service of apartments and their reduced copies - studios. They include a bathtub with hairdryer, a kitchenette and a dining area with cable TV and free Wi-Fi. They are located near the coastline, a 2-8 minute walk at leisurely pace. A bonus is a terrace or balcony with sea views. Car rental available.

With a very attractive price from 36 € non-smoking apartments are offered Mianiko Montenegro. It offers pet-friendly accommodation and an airport shuttle. Nearby, shops, bakery, pharmacy. Beaches within walking distance and for any choice.

Apartment complex Belani Noteworthy not only for the price of 30 €, but also for Russian-speaking staff and free private parking. Pets are allowed. On order, you can order delivery of products.

To undergo treatment, as a rule, they settle in the territory of the hospital at the Igalo Institute. It offers superior rooms, most of which are facing the sea. Prices for accommodation in the Igalo Spa start from 61 €. There is a large indoor pool with thermal water.

This health resort, the full name of which is the Center for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of Dr. Simo Milosevic, is famous for its healing radon waters and muds. The sanatorium treats diseases of the musculoskeletal system, dermatological diseases and rheumatism, stress conditions, respiratory diseases.

Treatment in a sanatorium involves the purchase of a package of services for daily procedures. You can live both in the hospital itself and beyond.A standard session of wellness treatments lasts about 3 weeks, but there are also mini-programs lasting a week.

The Institute has more than 400 specialists who work not only according to ready-made treatment regimens, but also develop unique rehabilitation schemes themselves. Recovery is a very important stage, ignoring which, they will easily return to a painful state. The clinic offers a wide range of services:

• treatment of rheumatological diseases with the help of balneotherapy and medications, sound therapy, electrotherapy, several types of massage;
• recovery after a heart attack, heart surgery and angina pectoris;
• lung recovery after illness and surgery - specially developed physiotherapy exercises and drainage techniques help here;
• Relief after damage to the head and brain, strokes, nerve fibers of the spinal cord and other autoimmune diseases;
• treatment of injuries of the musculoskeletal systems, including sports, adaptation to prostheses.

In addition to this treatment, a range of therapeutic services is offered:

• hydrotherapy - hydrotherapy with the help of balneological procedures, pearl and mineral baths;
• thalassotherapy - sea ​​mud treatment, together with sea and mineral water;
• hydrokinesitherapy - a combination of different physical exercises in thermal water;
• manual massage;
• kinesitherapy - gymnastics in the pool, along with Chinese exercises Tai Chi;
• electrotherapy;
• sonotherapy - using ultrasound;
• magnetotherapy and laser therapy.

The town is so tiny that there are no special entertainments. You can count only on healthy outdoor activities. Here is a real expanse for cyclists, supporters of horseback riding and hiking, keen on diving, jet skiing, fans of tennis courts and beach vacations. For children there is a small amusement park. The Silver Acacia or Mimosa festival with costume balls, processions and a feast of wine is held in February.

Nature lovers can hire a local guide through the many travel agencies located here. For a modest fee, they will show places where groups will not go. If there is no desire to communicate with the guide, tourist boats from the embankment will deliver to any nearby vacation spot: Zanjice beach, the ancient village of Punto Rosa, on the island of Lastovitsa, in the Blue Cave.

Boats drive deep into the bay, on the island of Gospa od Odkrpjela or the Island of the Virgin, which the locals completed from the rock fragments by the usual throwing of stones into the water. For 300 years, there has been a tradition: every year local residents swim in boats to the island and throw stones. There is also the legendary church, covered with blue domes. You can also take a ride in the surroundings and walk along the narrow stairs and ancient streets. Perast or Kotor.

Igalo is stretched along the coastline for about 2 km, on which there are fourteen equipped beaches. All are equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas, changing rooms and a shower. Tourists choose a suitable beach on their own.

The largest and only sandy beach is the Stara Banja plaza, the Old Bathhouse or a children's wellness center. Near the coast, you can collect dirt from the bottom, which is treated in a sanatorium. For 300-400 meters, the beach is shallow, and the water warms up well, so it is ideal for children of any age. The small pebble beach of Nautilus is also well equipped.. Concrete platforms are convenient for placing sun loungers and umbrellas; descent into the sea along ladders is noticeably easier.

On the north side of Mamula stretches three hundred meters Zhanits beach, it is under the Blue Flag, which indicates its cleanliness and accomplishment.Indeed, it is the most beautiful and clean beach - with azure water, snow-white pebbles, framed by olive groves and agave thickets. It has deck chairs, umbrellas, changing rooms, cafes. Get to it by water taxi in 20 minutes at a price of 5 € per person. There you can admire the remains of an Austrian fortress.

At a distance of 30 kilometers from Igalo are two airports. From the airport in Tivat to Igalo get by bus or taxi. In the summer, transport runs an order of magnitude more often, but buses do not drive directly to the airport terminal. Adriatic tract (Jadran Road), located 100 meters from the airport. There they are waiting for the bus with a route sign mounted on the front window.

When landing, you need to clarify whether the transport will reach the town you need, so as not to leave for another part of the country. The road is divided into several stages. At the first you get to the ferry to Lepetani, and the ferry takes you to the other side to the village of Kamenari. At the second stage, continue along the main Adriatic highway, it will be 23 kilometers. The bus fare is 2-6 €.

You can take a longer route - go around the Bay of Kotor through the cities of Kotor, Perast and other villages, bypassing the crossing. In this case, the path will be 45 kilometers. Without waiting for the bus on the highway, you can go towards the bus station, which is one kilometer from the air harbor. Turning our backs to the terminal building, we go left along the highway. We get to the station on foot or take a taxi. We take a taxi to the bus station, and then to Igalo by bus. It will cost about 15 €.

Getting from Tivat airport to your destination by taxi costs about 40-60 €. Transfer order - from 40 € per person, and rent a car at the airport - from 28 €. Car rental in Igalo - 11-45 € / day, it depends on the class of car.

When arriving in Podgorica, it is best to take a bus to Herceg Novi, and from there to Igalo. The fare is 7-9 € per person. You can order a direct taxi, or you can rent cars directly at the airport.

Their main advantages are all noted for clean air with aromas of greenery, the ability to improve health and proximity to the noisy fun of Herceg Novi. Many talk about quite affordable prices for medical procedures, meals, and rental apartments.

Of the minuses of a beach holiday, tourists call narrow beaches and many vacationers on them. The sea is rather shallow - if you move 50 meters from the coast, there is still little water. A negative attitude is formed both from poor cleaning of beaches and places of polluted sea. Tourists are dissatisfied with the old rooms of some hotels and the meager selection of dishes on the buffet. Families with children do not really like paid sunbeds and beaches not equipped for children. Young people miss in the evenings if they stay at the hotel, rather than going to the club.

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