The opening of Mamula Island by Banyan Tree extends the group’s flagship brand into Europe through a restored fortress resort focused on heritage, wellbeing and place-led experiences.
Banyan Group, also identified in the release as Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, has officially unveiled Mamula Island by Banyan Tree during its first full season under the Banyan Tree brand. Set on a secluded islet at the entrance to Montenegro’s UNESCO-listed Bay of Kotor, the 32-room resort marks Banyan Tree’s first resort in Europe. Its setting inside a restored 19th-century fortress positions the opening as a hospitality project built around architectural heritage as much as accommodation.
The property occupies Fort Mamula, originally built in the 1850s as a coastal defence fortification. According to Banyan Group, the restoration lasted seven years and was led by developer Samih Sawiris with MCM Architecture & Design, Projektor and local heritage authorities. Interiors overseen by Piotr Wisniewski and weStudio Berlin combine mid-century influences, local craftsmanship and bespoke furniture, using materials including natural stone, aged brass, solid oak and organic textiles.
Mamula Island’s offer spans accommodation, dining, spa and outdoor activities. All rooms and suites provide sea views, while Heritage Suites retain elements of the original fortress and newer rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces. The resort includes Banyan Tree Spa, with treatment rooms, saunas, a steam room, halotherapy room, flotation chamber and gym, alongside restaurants and bars centred on seafood, locally harvested ingredients and coastal cooking traditions. Guests can also use kayaks, paddleboards, water bikes and e-bikes to explore the island, coastline and Luštica Peninsula.
The announcement also places cultural programming at the centre of the resort’s positioning. Banyan Group said a new Artists-in-Residence programme will bring local and regional creatives to the island for workshops, exhibitions and maker sessions, alongside opera evenings, live music and the Operosa Music Festival. Mamula Island is additionally available for full-island buyouts for weddings, private events and retreats, with venues across the fortress, terraces, gardens, spa facilities and beach.
For Banyan Group, the resort provides a European expression of the Banyan Tree brand without separating the guest experience from the location’s history and landscape. The release describes the property as an island sanctuary shaped by the Adriatic, Montenegrin heritage and nature-based discovery, while the operating model combines a small room count with several experience-led facilities. The opening therefore extends the group’s portfolio into a new region through a project whose identity is closely tied to the preservation and reuse of an existing landmark.
