Crvena stijena (Red Rock)

Bar

Crvena stijena (Red Rock) is a small, secluded beach behind Volujica hill south of Bar, between Bigovica bay and Skočivuk cape. It takes its name from the red rock walls that close it in and give it natural shade for part of the day. The practical way in is by boat, and the people who use it are mostly divers and picnic boats from Bar. It is a beach for a swim stop on a boat day, not for families with a day's luggage.

A small pebble beach at the foot of towering red and orange cliffs, with turquoise water — The red rock walls that give Crvena stijena its namePhoto: Andrija12345678, CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting there

By sea. Volujica is the hill south of the port of Bar and Marina Bar, and the cove lies on its far, open side. Reaching it over land is possible but not recommended: the way down from Volujica is rough, and a boat is the safer choice. Boat trips along this coast call here, and the cove is a stop for divers from Bar. The beach is small and rarely crowded.

A rock with red painted lettering and an arrow on a steep stony slope above the sea — A painted marker on the rough path down from VolujicaPhoto: Andrija12345678, CC BY-SA 4.0

Diving around Volujica

The south side of Volujica is Bar's best-known dive area. Near Bigovica, next to the cove, is the Mikovića cave: the entrance lies at 7-8 m, the cave runs about 150 m, the left branch is the roomier one, and a steel guide cable leads to a siphon of cold fresh water. There is no diving permit in Montenegro; dive with a club.

Rules and season

Crvena stijena is not an organised bathing area, so there are no loungers, lifeguards or showers. The bathing season on the coast runs from May to October. Bring water and shade of your own, and watch the weather: an open-sea cove with sea access only is not the place to be caught by a change of wind.