Sveti Stefan, also known as Santo Stefano di Pastrovicchio, is a small peninsula in Montenegro, about 6 kilometers southeast of Budva. Once a hideout for pirates, it has now transformed into an exclusive hotel resort. Historically, Sveti Stefan was a small island that hosted 12 prominent local families. In the 20th century, it fell into decline but was later rehabilitated into a resort by Tito’s regime.
During the 1960s to the 1980s, when the world wasn’t as interconnected and the Iron Curtain divided nations, Sveti Stefan became a favorite retreat for the international elite. Among the notable guests were Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, Ingemar Stenmark, and Kirk Douglas. Unknown to many, this place was a popular hideaway for celebrities.
After the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, the hotel was restored and is now a 5-star property managed by the international Aman Resorts group for at least the next 30 years. Formerly an island, Sveti Stefan is currently connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, making it easy for visitors to walk over without needing a boat.
The entire village on the island operates as a luxury hotel, offering various accommodations that can cater to different preferences and budgets. The resort also includes a large villa on the mainland, Miločer Villa, which was once owned by the Karađorđević family, the former ruling dynasty of Serbia.