Comfortable, popular among tourists Budva is one of the oldest cities in Montenegro. There is still no reliable information about the date of the establishment of settlements on this territory. The found chronicles date back to the 5th century BC.
The Budva Riviera Municipality occupies a quarter of the country’s coastline. Apart from Budva, the district includes the resorts of Becici, Rafailovici, Przno and Sveti Stefan. Active development of tourism in the region began in 2006 after the country’s secession from Serbia. The majority of resort residents understand the Russian language.
Budva does not have a large number of attractions. Vacationers come here for the warm, clean sea, nature and magical scenery.
Three days are enough to explore Budva and its surroundings. In the first two days you can walk around the Old Town, see the Embankment, visit St. Nicholas Island, and leave the third day for walking along the Riviera coast: from Budva to St. Stefan. If you plan to relax on the beaches, come for at least 5—6 days.
I’ll tell you about the most interesting places you shouldn’t miss when traveling.
Old Town (Stari Grad)
The Old Town preserves a corner of Venetian and Mediterranean architecture, like an open-air museum. Most of the Old Town buildings were rebuilt after the terrible earthquake of 1972.
The historic part of the city is small and you can get around it in a couple of hours with stops for snacks and photo shoots. Enjoy the authentic atmosphere, visit restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, peek into corners and find magical places for photos. The fortress has six gates: the Main Gate (Glavna vrata), the Iron Gate (Gvozdena vrata), the Eastern Gate (Istočna kapıja), the Monastic Gate (Vrata iza fratara), the Mulberry Gate (Vrata od Murava) and the Pizane Gate (Vrata od Pizane). The current tourist center is located at Njegoševa br. 28.
On Starogradska Square is the Citadel (Citadela) and the Archeological Museum (ArheoloskI muzeI). The museum preserves a huge number of cultural and historical exhibits of the Adriatic. Nearby there are churches: the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity (Crkva Svete Trojice) in Byzantine style, the ancient church of St. Mary «in Punta» (Santa Marija in Punta), built in 840, the Gothic church of St. John (Crkva Svetog Ivana Krstitelja) with a bell tower, not functioning church of St. Sava (Crkva Svetog Sava). There is an observation tower on top of the bell tower of St. John’s Church.
I advise you to visit the Old Town at different times. In the morning the streets are empty and quiet, most vacationers are sleeping. In the evening, cozy restaurants are open and stores are illuminated.
Citadela
The monumental Citadel (fortress) was built to protect the city from attacks from the sea. In the past, the arsenal and foodstuffs were stored there.
The building now houses a library with a valuable collection of books and maps of the Balkans, a maritime museum of medieval ships and a restaurant. The observation deck offers a beautiful view.
Montenegrins tell visitors a legend about the name of the city. In Budva lived lovers: Elena, the daughter of a rich and influential man, and Marko, a beggar stonemason. The couple loved each other very much, but the girl’s father was against the wedding. Then the lovers threw themselves together from the stone cliff and turned into fish, barely touching the water. Eyewitnesses to the tragic event claim that «Ko jedno nek budu dva» (Let two be as one) was heard from the sea. Later, a stone table with the image of two crossed fish was found in the young man’s house, and it was embedded in the wall of the Citadel.
Locals say: find a stone with fishes in the fortress and touch it, then you will find eternal love.
Doors to the Sea, or Eastern Gate (Istočna kapıja)
The ancient east gate is the door that leads to the sea. I advise you to be careful, you could fall out. No one knows why this gate was built. According to one version through them threw corpses into the sea, according to another — garbage. The place is unpopular, but you can take a couple of photos there.
The door is at the end of a narrow street opposite The Prince English Pub restaurant. There is no access to the street in the early morning and late evening.
The walls of the fortress
The main defense of the city is the powerful fortress walls that surround Old Budva. The length of the walls is about 450 meters, the architectural shape resembles a horseshoe. You can climb the wall by stairs through several entrances. One of them is located near the Citadel.
Walking along the path of the fortress wall, you will see watchtowers, gun emplacements, medieval streets and red roof tiles, the sea and mighty cliffs, crowds of strolling tourists and rows of luxury yachts. I advise you to climb the fortress at sunset to see Budva shimmering.
The stairs to the wall are closed during the cold season. Brave travelers climb over a small fence.
Waterfront and Slovenska boulevard (Slovenska obala)
The resort’s promenade stretches along the shore from the Old Town to the cliff. It is a popular place among visitors. You can buy souvenirs, have dinner in a cozy cafe, watch white-white cruise liners and luxury yachts. In the evening, local fishermen sell freshly caught fish, shrimps, oysters on the Quay.
Another tourist street, Slovenski Boulevard, is located parallel to the Embankment. Vacationers like to stroll there in the evening, because music is playing from all sides. Most cafes and discos are open until 1 am.
Sculpture «Dancer» (Devojka)
The statue of the dancer is a symbol of the resort. It is featured on postcards, magnets and in guidebooks. The bronze sculpture is located on the coast, near the Mogren beach. It was created by Belgrade sculptor Gradimir Aleksic.
According to local legend, there was a girl who lived in the town and was in love with a young matron. Every time she met him from a voyage. The last time they said goodbye by the sea, and he went on a long expedition. Years passed, many ships and sailors came to the city, but the long-awaited ship did not return to Budva. The girl longed and went to the seashore every day. She died, but she remained faithful. Her statue is a reminder of devotion, true love and sacrifice.
St. Nicholas Island (Ostrvo Sveti Nikola)
The island of St. Nicholas is located one kilometer from the city. It is perfectly visible from the shore. Locals say that in the past, plague patients were brought to the island. Now there organized a beach «Hawaii» (Hawaii) with crystal clear azure water and rocky cliffs. In a pine grove on the island there is a restaurant of the same name «Hawaii», where you can taste fresh fish. In summer and spring, street food stalls are open.
At low tides, the island can be reached on foot along the pebbly isthmus that connects it to the mainland. The depth then is up to half a meter. It is better not to wait, but to use boats.
On the waterfront, many companies organize trips to the island. Boats run from 08.30 until late in the evening. Check the schedule so you don’t miss the last return trip. The island is tiny, there is nowhere to spend the night. Be sure to bring water and a snack, because there are no stores on the island.
The ticket price from the pier is 3 € round trip.
I suggest looking for private companies that offer a walk for 4 € along the Riviera coast.
Mogren Fortress (Tvrdava Mogren)
A great lookout point and secluded spot is located on the site of the abandoned Austrian fortress of Mogren. The name comes from the cape and beach of the same name. In the past, the structure was called Fort Jaz. The northern wall of the fortress is the best preserved.
You can reach the ruins on foot, walking up the side of the Jadranski put (Jadranski highway). If you go by car, park near Restoran Vista Vidikovac on the way to avoid a dangerous sharp turn. I suggest stopping there for a coffee and to enjoy the stunning panorama of the city. Then walk to the top of the cape.
Aquapark Budva (Aquapark Budva)
The largest water park in the Adriatic is located on Topliškı Put in Budva. From the center to it in the season there is a bus from 10:00 to 18:00 every hour, back — from 10:30 to 18:40. The fare is 1 €.
The water park has a complex of slides for adults, an outdoor pool with a depth of 1.4 meters, a wave pool, a large area with lounge chairs and umbrellas for relaxation, a pond in the form of a river with a slow flow, where you can relax on inflatable mattresses and laps. Children’s attractions are located on the lower level, there are copies of adult slides, but less extreme, a pool with a depth of 0.8 meters, a water town with tourniquets, ladders, geysers.
- It runs from June through September.
- Ticket price for the whole day: adults — 18 €, children from 100 cm to 130 cm — 13 €, children below 100 cm are free of charge.
- The price for renting a locker is 1 €.
Aquaparkbudva's official website.
Viewpoint over Budva
On the Budva-Cetinje highway there are large spontaneous exits for cars with viewpoints along the coast. If you decide to rent a car, head out to admire the panorama.
Walking tour of the Riviera neighborhoods
Along the coast there is a pedestrian path through the Budva Riviera, from the Old Town of Budva to St. Stefan. Most of the path runs along the sea, through parks and popular resorts. A small section runs along the highway. The one way walk takes about 3 hours with stops, a distance of about 9 km. It is not advisable to walk in hot weather and it is worth taking a hat and sunscreen.
I will tell you briefly about the most beautiful and important points on the way. At most points you can linger on the beach — I have told about them in detail here.
Bečići (Bečići)
At the end of Slovenska beach (Slovenska plaza) there is an entrance to a long tunnel that connects Budva with the village of Becici. The walls of the tunnel are painted with original images. There are interesting drawings, it is not boring to walk. Exit from the tunnel leads to hotels, then you need to go down to the promenade. Becici looks like a hotel village with a wide promenade, where the first line of buildings is a dense hotel development.
If you want to stay longer in Becici, I advise you to visit Stara maslina in the village of Ivanovic, the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle (Crkva Svetog Tome) near the beach.
The distance is 2.5 kilometers. Travel time — 40 minutes.
Rafailovići (Rafailovići)
Then we follow a straight road along the sea. The tiny village of Rafailovici has a cozy atmosphere, many beach cafes. There is a picturesque rock and emerald-colored stones. Here you can relax on the shore, have lunch in cafes.
Distance — 1.0—1.5 km. On the way — 20 minutes.
Kamenovo (Kamenovo)
At the end of the Rafailović embankment there is a tunnel that imitates a cave. Once you pass through it, you will find yourself on a hill. We descend to the coast and walk along the sea. There is no housing in Kamenovo village and accordingly there are no crowds of vacationers. This place is famous for its cleanliness and solitude.
The distance is about 1 km. On the way — 15 minutes.
Pržno
The road from Kamieniewo to Przno is the only uncomfortable stretch of about 700 m that runs on a highway without a sidewalk, so you need to be careful on this section.
After the beach Kamenovo begins grove, here you need to find a path in front of the river, go up to the dilapidated former sanatorium. Then climb up the concrete stairs to the highway. After passing the dangerous part of the highway, you will see the village of Przno. After the sign go down to the sea again.
The resort of Przno resembles a cute fishing village with amazing views. The village is located on a hill, has one main street, narrow alleys and a tiny promenade. However, during the peak season it is crowded and noisy.
Distance — 1.3 km. Travel time — 25 minutes
Royal beaches (Kraljeva plaza)
There are several ways from Przno towards Milocer, the main thing is to choose the right road. After leaving the promenade, follow the small street closer to the sea through the park. On the right will be a swanky hotel with a closed beach called the Royal Hotel. It is impossible to get to the beach without checking into the hotel. It is surrounded on both sides by cliffs, you can only see it from the sea.
Then we follow the path to the beach in the village of Milocer. The beach is paid, but it is considered one of the best beaches on the Riviera. Small pebbles of red shade with turquoise sea, clean and well-maintained. Around the beach there is a park, which in the past was the residence of the king. I advise you to stay here, relax in the shade of olive trees, enjoy the natural beauty of the region.
At the end of the beach you need to go around the cliff by steps and after 300 meters you can see the island of Sveti Stefan on the horizon.
I advise you to stay in Sveti Stefan longer and return to Budva by bus. At the bus stop there is a schedule of flights. The fare is about 2 €. You can also take a cab, with a minimum cost of 10 €.
The distance is about 1.5 kilometers. On the way — 20 minutes.
Sveti Stefan Island (Sveti Stefan)
Sveti Stefan is located six kilometers from Budva. In the past an ordinary fishing village, which the country’s authorities turned into a luxury island-hotel. After restoration, the external appearance of the buildings remained the same, while the interior was remodeled to high standards. The island is now part of the Aman Sveti Stefan hotel complex. There are only 80 buildings on the island, including 50 villas with apartments. Each cottage is decorated in an individual style. In addition, there are restaurants, three churches, tennis court, swimming pools, art gallery. In a secluded bay surrounded by a pine forest is located Aman Spa.
Staying on the island is seasonal from April 29 to October 14. The spa is open all year round. Celebrities, politicians and successful businessmen regularly relax there.
The island is connected to the mainland by a natural narrow path. Entrance is strictly for hotel guests and is guarded 24 hours a day.
The hotel complex is closed in 2021 due to the pandemic. It is difficult to visit the island without booking a room or villa, but there are some exceptional opportunities to see a unique attraction:
- Book a tour by appointment. There are three or four guided tours daily. You can buy a ticket from the guard The cost in English in 2020 is 40 €.
- Visit to Aman restaurant. A table must be reserved in advance by phone or email, which are listed on the Aman website. The average price tag is from 100 €.
- Viewing the island from a height — paragliding. The cost is 95 €.
- Sea excursion from Budva seafront around the island. The cost is 5 €. But in this case you will see only the outer walls of the island.
If you can’t make it to the island, don’t despair. See its panorama from the shore, take a walk in the park, find an observation deck in Milocer Park. You can stay overnight in a hotel by the beach right overlooking the island. For example, an apartment for 4 people in 4* Plava Villa with a view of the island and the sea costs from 100 € depending on the season, and a room for two people in 5* Hotel California by Aycon with breakfast included — from 135 €.
