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 Budvanian Riviera which includes also Bečići, Rafailovići, Sveti Stefan and Petrovac. Due to the large number of long beaches here, you can find a great place for swimming and comfortable spending time on the beach even in the high season, July and August. Budva is one of the most popular tourist locations of 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 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 work as a church, art exhibitions and classical music concerts are often held in it instead.
Later, during the Medieval ages, several churches were built here – 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.
In the Old Town, you can enter the Citadel, initially it was a castle which was rebuilt several times. Now it suggests great views of all the Old Town and around from its top. Inside of 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, ceramics, which 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. 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 rest and relaxation, while Mogren-2’s advantage is having fewer people, 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, the pathway is great itself there. During winter, this path is often closed due to possible storm danger.
On top of two Mogren beaches, you’ll see Mogren Fortress, remains of the Austro-Hungarian fortification built in 1860 to protect the western border of Budva. It is not easy to climb there from the beach, much more convenient just to walk 20-25 minutes from Jadranski Put (Adriatic Highway) in Budva or just to 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 to 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 2024 is 6 euros.
Sveti Stefan is a small town about 6 km from Budva. It consists of an island, the entrance of which is open only to expensive hotel guests, and a mainland part. Even though it is closed to most people, it attracts many tourists. Nearby is Miločer botanical Garden. Boat trips from Budva to Sveti Stefan and Sveti Nikola island are available.
Just 15-20 minutes of walk from Budva center and Old Town, you will reach Podmaine Monastery, an Orthodox monastery initially built in the 15th century and later reconstructed and rebuilt several times. It is famous by 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.