Budva and the Budva Riviera: What to See and Where to Take Day Trips

When I first became interested in Montenegro, it was the mountains, Budva and Kotor that were mentioned most often. Budva lies on the Adriatic Sea, and the 2,500-year-old town sits right next to a marina for small boats and a beach surrounded by restaurants, bars and cafés bustling with tourists. It’s also a great base for exploring Montenegro.

Where to stay in Budva

Budva is small, so you can walk almost everywhere. It’s best to stay as close as possible to the Old Town, from where it’s just a few steps to the beach and the restaurants. If you’re looking for peace and quiet and a lovely swim, head towards Mogren Beach, which is a short distance from the centre but far from the main tourist hustle and bustle. The area around Slovenska Beach, on the other hand, is handy if you want everything within easy reach and don’t mind a bit more of a crowd.

Budva gets really busy in the summer, so I’d recommend booking as soon as possible. Prices are quite reasonable for Montenegro; even a decent hotel by the beach is surprisingly good value.

Trips and experiences in Budva

Budva is a great base for exploring the whole of Montenegro. Most of the top attractions sell out well in advance during the high season, particularly boat trips and day hikes in the mountains.

• Budva and Kotor – A combined guided tour of both old towns, including transfers.
• Boat trip from Budva to Petrovac – A full-day cruise along the coast with stops for swimming.

What to see in Budva

Budva is a modern town brimming with tourist amenities, but on a small headland jutting out into the sea lies the original Old Town, full of cobbled streets and stone houses. As well as plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars, there are also a few sights to see.

Citadel

A historic fortress which now houses a museum, including a large library; but above all, the fortifications offer a beautiful view of the town. Admission was 3.50 euros. From here, you can see across the Old Town to the harbour and the beach, as well as Sveti Nikola Island and the open sea.

The Old Town Walls

The city walls are open to visitors for 2 euros and run almost all the way round the city. From the walls, you can see both into the narrow streets and out of the city.

The Budva Ballerina

Just outside the Old Town walls, by Mogren Beach, stands the famous statue of the Ballerina, which is regarded as a symbol of Budva, but it’s not really something you absolutely have to see. It stands right on the shore, a sort of lesser-known cousin to Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid.

Beaches in Budva and the surrounding area

• Slovenska Plaža – right next to the harbour, just outside the gates of the old town, lies the large Slovenska Plaža, where all the action is centred; there’s one restaurant after another, and in high season it’s packed with tourists, but it’s a lovely beach.
• Bečica – there’s a slightly quieter beach further south along the bay; in Bečica itself, there are larger hotel complexes and not as many restaurants, so it’s a bit quieter. The bus runs every 15 minutes; it’s a 2-kilometre walk.
• Hawaii – a beautiful and popular beach on the island of Sveti Nikola, which you can see directly from Budva. Taxi boats run here; you just need to ask practically anyone at the harbour; the fare is around 5 euros.
• Ploče – a slightly more remote beach north of Budva; you can also get there by boat. There are considerably fewer people and restaurants here, but not enough to make it worth the trip – it didn’t really appeal to me, unless you want to spend the whole afternoon there.
• Pizana – if you head into the old town, there’s a small beach by the ramparts (on the side facing Sveti Nikola Island) just before you enter. There are no facilities, restaurants or sun loungers here, but it’s a beach where you can look straight out from the water at the ramparts and the old town – for me, that’s definitely its greatest charm.

Things to do in Budva

You definitely shouldn’t miss out on a boat trip – there are plenty of options; I chose a trip around Sveti Stefan with a stop for a dip and a swim in the cave at Sveti Nikola. But the local boatmen will happily take you anywhere they can reach.

Just over 2 kilometres from Budva is the Budva Aqua Park.

And there’s plenty of water-based fun on offer here, such as jet-skiing and parasailing. I tried the latter over the bay at Bečica, and I was absolutely captivated by the experience – I can’t wait to soar high above the sea again.

The Hotel Tre Canne is the tallest building in Budva and has a restaurant on the 15th floor with views over the whole town and the beach. The coffee here isn’t great, but it’s worth having a drink here just for the view.

Where to go on a day trip from Budva

Budva is ideally situated for day trips; a bus runs several times a day along the coast all the way south to Ulcinj (2 hours)

Saint Nicholas

An island directly opposite Budva, a few hundred metres across the sea. Right in the harbour, most of the small boats offer sightseeing trips or taxi boat services to Sveti Nikola. People go there to visit Hawaii Beach; the fare is usually under 5 euros. On the more remote side of the island, there’s also a lovely cave you can swim into, but there’s no beach there – you can only swim from a boat.

Sveti Stefan

9 kilometres from Budva, about 15 minutes by bus (or car), lies the islet of Sveti Stefan. It is perhaps Montenegro’s most famous landmark. The original fishing village has been sensitively restored, preserving the external appearance of the houses, and converted into a luxury hotel. The entire island is therefore the Aman Sveti Stefan hotel complex. It is the most expensive hotel in Montenegro, renowned for its high standard of service, wellness facilities and cuisine.

The beaches around Sveti Stefan are generally accessible, though sun loungers and other services are a bit more expensive here (but it’s no big deal). The best time to go is in the afternoon, when most people are leaving, as they don’t usually stay here.

Cetinje

The former capital of Montenegro is about 45 minutes (32 km) from Budva, and there are buses running here. As well as the historic centre, you can visit the Bilijard Royal Palace or the Cetinje Monastery.

Kotor and the Bay of Kotor

If you’re not splitting your stay in Montenegro between Budva and Kotor, you should definitely visit Kotor from Budva. It’s only 23 km away. The whole Bay of Kotor is well worth a visit; a boat trip around it is definitely worthwhile. The old town centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s a beautiful view of the whole bay from St John’s Fortress.

Virpazar and Lake Škadar

A lovely trip is to Lake Škadar, which lies on the border between Montenegro and Albania. Boat trips on the lake, which is home to 2,700 species of birds including the pelican (which, unfortunately, I only saw in the local museum), are organised from Virpazar, about 43 km from Budva.

Where is Budva?

Budva is in Montenegro, on the Adriatic coast. It lies in the south-west of the country, on a narrow strip of land between the sea and the mountains. It is about an hour and a half’s drive from the capital, Podgorica – roughly 65 km. The main airport in Tivat is just a short distance away, a little over 20 km to the north. The town lies directly on the coast, roughly in the middle of the Adriatic part of Montenegro, between the Bay of Kotor to the north and the town of Bar to the south.

How to get to Budva

The easiest way is to fly. Montenegro has two airports. The closer one is Tivat, just 21 kilometres from Budva. The capital, Podgorica, is further out at around 66 kilometres. There are buses from both airports. You’ll find the timetable at busticket4.me/en, where you can also buy a ticket online. Just note you need a printed copy. Otherwise, tickets are always available at the bus stop. If you want to combine the trip with a look around the city you land in, I’d go for Tivat.

If you’re driving, Budva is about 55 kilometres from the Croatian border at Debeli Brijeg.