When we decided to spend our 10th wedding anniversary in Montenegro, we didn’t expect to be blown away. From the time we peeked down on the landscape from our tiny airplane window, we just kept pinching ourselves, not believing that it was all real. The beaches, the most gorgeous landscape, friendly locals, and almost everything here made us fall in love with Montenegro so much so that we crave to travel back someday. In ‘The best of Budva, Montenegro: Travel Blog’ we will be detailing everything you need to know about one of the most popular spots of Montenegro i.e. Budva.
Budva has a lot to offer, both in and around the town. The town is surrounded by beautiful beaches, filled with clubs, bars & restaurants, and is soaked in history and culture. The cherry on top is that Budva is absolutely kid/toddler friendly. You will find plenty to keep you occupied for 3-4 days which makes this town a really good base for your Montenegro road trip.
Here, we have listed all the things you can do in and around Budva, including recommendations for places to eat and drink.
Also read other articles on Montenegro:
The best things to do in Budva, Montenegro
Budva Old Town
Also known as Stari Grad, this charming little town is surrounded by fortified walls, filled with traditional-style buildings, and complete with cobblestone streets. It takes you back to the middle century through its look and charm. Yet, it has a modern touch to it, as you will find numerous restaurants, bars, and shops lined up inside the fortified walls.
The best way to enjoy the old town is to get lost in those streets, relax with a glass of Montenegrin wine and hunt for a cute souvenir to take back home. If you have time, take a tour of the citadel or Walk the Walls of the fortress. You will be blessed by some of the best views Budva (and Montenegro) have to offer. The entry fee for the Citadel is €3.5 per person and to walk the walls of the fortress is €2 per person. Very affordable, in our opinion.
Budva Riviera
Budva Riviera is a 35km stretch along the Adriatic coast and home to some of the most popular beaches in Montenegro. It runs from Ploce beach to Sveti Stefan. It’s not really possible to cover this distance by walking, but you can plan to drive around and spend some time on a few popular beaches. There is a promenade right outside the Old Town which is dotted with loads of restaurants and bars. An evening walk on the promenade followed by dinner is probably the best way to experience the charm of Budva.
Most popular beaches along the Budva Riviera
Some of the most popular beaches along the Budva Riviera are listed below:
- Ploce Beach: This beach is very popular with the locals as opposed to some of the touristy beaches. Our taxi driver recommended this beach to us, as the sand is nicer and very good for small kids to play. We didn’t really get a chance to visit this but should be on your list if you are traveling with small kiddos.
- Jaz Beach: This was another beach recommended to us by a local, and it did not disappoint. The view was lovely, as it was surrounded by Montenegro’s rugged hilly landscape. There are loads of activities for adults and kiddos like paragliding, water bouncy castles, etc. The beach is filled with smaller stones, so it is much easier to walk on and have a good time.
- Mogren Beach: Mogren Beach is very popular among tourists as it’s closer to the old town. It consists of two sandy beaches connected by a small tunnel. Due to the beach being just off the cliffs, there are many spots where you could rest in some shade. However, it’s not a very kiddo-friendly beach due to parties and loud music playing around. Mogren Beach is also famous for the Ballerina, which is one of the main points of attractions in Budva.
Sveti Stefan
Sveti Stefan, located on Budva Riviera, is one of the main attractions in Montenegro. It is a luxurious 5-star hotel and is approximately 20 minutes drive from Budva. Entry to the islet is restricted to only guests staying at the hotel or to visitors of the restaurant. The beach on both sides of Sveti Stefan is open to the public. You can get your own beach towel and umbrella and lounge on the beach. The sun beds however are a bit pricey compared to other beaches in Montenegro.
For the most famous view of Sveti Stefan and Budva Riviera, you would need to drive 10 mins up the hill. Search for St. Sava Church on google maps and park your car just outside the church. The road leading to this viewpoint is pretty decent except for the last 300 meters. However, you won’t be able to find public transportation to this spot and will need your own car / hire a taxi to drive up. We were absolutely blown away by the beauty, and I would imagine it would be stunning during sunset.
Just a few side notes regarding logistics.
- We were able to combine Sveti Stefan with our trip to Ulcinj, as it was an easy stop on the way. However, if you want to lounge on the beach, you might want to dedicate more time here.
- There is paid parking right before the Sveti Stefan beaches, and charges €3 per hour. It’s very handy if you are there for a short while and want to avoid the trek up and down the hill.
Sveti Nikola Island aka Hawaii
The last spot around Budva is the Sveti Nikola Island, which often gets ignored by tourists. We, however, had such an amazing day lounging and enjoying the crystal-clear water, that I can’t recommend this island enough. You can find many boats and taxis from the Promenade who would be happy to drop you off and coordinate a pick-up time via WhatsApp. Prices start from €5 per person one way. You can also get public transportation that is slightly cheaper but runs on schedule.
The island has a restaurant, a bathroom facility, and 3 beaches. The price for sunbeds varies based on the location you choose, starting from €10 for 2 beds and an umbrella. If don’t want to pay for the sunbeds you can definitely bring your own beach towels and lounge around. However, since the rocks are bigger on the island, I assume that wouldn’t be very comfortable.
Also read:
Read about our other adventures from around the world:
- A weekend getaway guide to Budapest
- Postcard from Mykonos
- Postcard from Positano
- Travel to this magical city in Europe
- Exploring Venice in Winter
- The sun-kissed beaches of Algarve
The best place to eat in Budva, Montenegro
We always enjoy trying out local food during our travels. But since we are vegetarian, there weren’t many choices, and in Montenegro, we ended up eating a lot of pasta and pizza. We were surprised to learn that the locals consider pasta their traditional food! Well, some of the restaurants and bars that stood out in Budva are listed below.
- PastaBar: A very cozy little restaurant inside Budva Old Town, which has some good vegetarian pasta choices.
- Casper Bar & Coffee Roastery: If not for the drinks, we highly recommend trying out their coffee. It was extraordinary. It’s also a cute little place if you want to hang out for a glass of wine or beer.
- Rakija & Wine Bar: This hole-in-the-wall wine bar is hard to miss while you are exploring Budva’s old town. Very cute and in a good location to try some local wine. You can ask for a small tasting as well, before buying a glass of wine.
- Royal Garden Juice Bar: Another nice little place in the old town, that doesn’t feel very touristy and serves some good pasta.
The best place to stay in Budva, Montenegro
We found this very cute and cozy hotel – Apartment Trifunovic Old Town – right in the Budva Old Town. It was just perfect for our little family. We stayed here for the first four days of our trip. Ours was a sea-facing apartment and the view from our tiny window was amazing. The property had a very nice garden to relax in and have our takeaway dinners in. The tower bell would chime every 30 minutes and it felt as if we were in a different era altogether.
The property owners also owned the Royal Garden and Juice Bar restaurant and we often got takeaway room service dinners. This was so convenient with a toddler.
The only downside was that we had to park our car overnight in one of the public parking areas as cars are not allowed inside the old town. That was the additional cost we incurred during the night.
Hope you found this ‘The best of Budva, Montenegro: Travel Blog’ useful. There are more articles to come on Montenegro, which we will link below.
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