Budva is a tourist centre on the Adriatic Sea, famous for its rich and long 2,500-year history and fantastic beaches (Mogren, Kamenovo, Jaz, Slovenska). It is also the centre of the Budva Riviera, which also includes Bečići, Rafailovići, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac. Due to the large number of long beaches here, you can find a great place for swimming and spending time comfortably on the beach even in the high season, July and August. Budva is one of the most popular tourist locations in the entire Adriatic region.
The heart of Budva is its Old Town, visible from almost all locations. It dates back to an Illyrian settlement before the Greek colonization of the Adriatic Sea. The Old Town was protected by wide stone walls.
Santa Maria in Punta church is the oldest church in Budva and one of the oldest churches along the coast. It is supposed that it was built by Benedictine monks about 840 AD. Nowadays, it doesn’t function as a church. Art exhibitions and classical music concerts are often held in it instead.
For example, you can come here during summer for a concert or exhibition held by Budva Grad Teatar. It is a regular theatre festival in Budva.
Later, during the medieval period, several churches were built here. For example, St. Ivan Church (also known as St. John the Baptist, its bell tower is one of the iconic symbols of the Old Town) and St. Sava Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox Holy Trinity Orthodox Church was built in the 19th century.
You can enter the Citadel, which was initially a castle that was rebuilt several times. Now it offers great views of the Old Town and the surrounding area from its top. Inside the Citadel, there is a public library, which is also worth visiting. It has a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.
There is the Museum of Budva, or Archaeological Museum in the Old Town. Its four-floor collections include Greek and Roman artefacts like ancient mosaics, coins, and ceramics. They were found during excavations in Budva and around it. Also, here you can find Montenegrin everyday things related to the 18th-19th centuries.
Between the Old Town and Mogren beach, discover the unofficial symbol of Budva – the Budva Ballerina statue. The monument has been here since 1965. The beautiful sculpture of a girl waiting for someone on the sea coast is very popular, and almost everyone tries to take a photo near it.
Mogren beach is one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in Budva, really picturesque and located just to the right of the Old Town. It consists of two connected sandy beaches called Mogren-1 and Mogren-2.
Mogren-1 has more possibilities for comfortable relaxation, while Mogren-2’s advantage is having fewer people. Usually, it is not so overcrowded. Both beaches are just great, especially in the morning.
If you are not a beach fan, you can just go from the Old Town to Mogren-1. This pathway is great itself. During winter, this path is often closed due to possible storm danger.
On top of two Mogren beaches, you’ll see Mogren Fortress, the remains of the Austro-Hungarian fortification built in 1860 to protect the western border of Budva. You can climb there from Mogren beach. An alternative comfortable way is to walk 20-25 minutes from Jadranski Put (Adriatic Highway) in Budva, or just get there by car (keeping direction to Kotor or Tivat). During the summer season, it is better to visit it in the morning or evening.
If multiple Budva beaches are not enough for you, you can go to Sveti Nikola island, which is located just opposite Budva. Sveti Nikola island is the largest island in Montenegro. It has several sandy beaches that are called Hawaii. It takes only about 5 minutes to reach Sveti Nikola by boat from Budva. The cost of this boat trip for two directions in 2026 is 7 euros.
Other boat directions from Budva include (prices for 2026):
Budva – Sveti Stefan – Sveti Nikola (with a stop) – Budva (10 euros)
Budva – Blue Lagoons – Sveti Nikola (with a stop) – Budva (10 euros)
Budva – Ploče Beach – Budva (8 euros)
If you go along Budva embankment to the side opposite the Old Town, you will get through a tunnel to Bečići, and then to Rafailovići. Bečići is known for its long beach. Here, large hotels like Splendid, Iberostar, and Mediteran are located. After Bečići, you will see a small bay called Rafailovići. This place is known for good fish restaurants. Definitely, it’s worth visiting one after swimming or walking.
Sveti Stefan is a small settlement about 6 km from Budva. It consists of an island, the entrance of which used to be open only to expensive hotel guests, and a mainland part.
In 2024-2025, the hotel is closed, and you can’t get to the island itself. So we could enjoy Sveti Stefan beach, Miločer beach, and Queen’s beach. Currently, in 2026, the Aman hotel is open again, and most of the beaches here are only for hotel guests. The only part open to everyone is the left side of Sveti Stefan island.
Nevertheless, the surrounding area is great, including Miločer Botanical Garden.
Just 15-20 minutes of walking from Budva center and Old Town to the side of the mountains, you will reach Podmaine Monastery, an Orthodox monastery initially built in the 15th century and later reconstructed and rebuilt several times.
It is famous for the fact that Prince-Bishop (Vladika) and poet Petar II Petrović-Njegoš wrote some parts of his masterpiece “The Mountain Wreath” (probably the most well-known poem in Montenegrin literature) in Podmaine Monastery.
In Budva, it is nice just to walk along the streets. Budva is surrounded by mountains, so you will enjoy great views almost everywhere. There are many flowers and plants here at any time of the year.