10 Things to Do in Budva, Montenegro
Budva came up on my radar as a beach town, and that is fair. But the town does more with its position on the Adriatic than simply park umbrellas in the sand. It has a fortified old town that survived earthquakes and centuries of rulers, a coastline dotted with islands and one very famous hotel, and mountains that rise a short drive inland. I spent a week there and still felt like I left things on the table. Start with these ten.
1. Get Lost in the Old Town
Budva’s old town is a small walled peninsula full of stone lanes, churches, and squares that you could walk across in ten minutes if you tried. I never tried. The joy is in getting turned around between the Venetian walls, stopping at a cafe on a shaded square, and climbing up to the citadel for a view over the red rooftops and the sea. The oldest parts date back more than two thousand years, and the layers of history show in the mix of Roman, Venetian, and Austro-Hungarian styles.
2. Swim at Mogren Beach
Two connected coves called Mogren I and Mogren II sit just west of the old town. You reach them by a path along the cliffs, and the walk itself is part of the appeal. The water is clear and cool, the sand is a soft tan, and the views back toward the old town walls are excellent. I swam at Mogren a few times and found it far more pleasant than the main town beach, which fills up fast in summer. Go early to claim shade under one of the cliffs.
3. Photograph Sveti Stefan
A few kilometers down the coast, the island of Sveti Stefan is one of the most photographed spots in Montenegro. The stone village covers a small headland connected to shore by a narrow isthmus, and from the viewpoint on the mainland it looks almost impossible. You cannot casually walk onto the island now, since it operates as a luxury resort, but the view from the hill above is worth the trip alone. I went at golden hour.
4. Take a Boat to the Islands
Budva’s coast is dotted with tiny islands, and the best way to reach them is by boat. I joined a small group on a trip that stopped at St. Nikola island, where I swam off a nearly empty beach, then circled back past Sveti Stefan. Some boats go further to the old fishing town of Kotor. Even a short private rental for an hour gives you a fresh angle on the cliffs and coves that line the shore.
5. See the Bay of Kotor from Above
Drive north from Budva and the road climbs the Lovcen mountain. On a clear day the Bay of Kotor unfolds below with its deep blue fjord-like water and the old towns strung along the edge. There is also a serpentine road with eighteen switchbacks that leads up to the old royal capital at Cetinje. The whole loop makes a full day trip, and the scenery changes dramatically the higher you get.
6. Watch the Sunset from the Walls
For the best daily show in Budva, walk to the seaward side of the old town walls near the citadel around sunset. The sun drops directly into the Adriatic, and the warm light pours over the tiled rooftops and the water below. Locals gather on the battlements with nowhere to go and no intention of leaving. I sat there two evenings in a row. Bring nothing but a phone for photos and a willingness to stay until the sky goes dark.
7. Eat Seafood at a Restaurant on the Water
Budva is a seafood town, and the waterfront is lined with restaurants serving fresh fish, mussels, and octopus. My best meal was a plate of grilled squid and a glass of local white wine at a table right on the edge of the marina. The old town has pricier spots aimed at tourists, but stroll a little past the main tourist drag and you find places where the tables fill with locals. That is your sign.
8. Drive the Budva Riviera to Petrovac
The coastline between Budva and the small resort of Petrovac is a string of coves, pebble beaches, and quiet villages. I rented a scooter and worked my way along the coastal road, stopping wherever the water looked good. Petrovac itself has a fine beach and a slow atmosphere that makes a nice change from the summer crowd in Budva.
9. Experience the Nightlife on the Beachfront
Budva is known as the party town of Montenegro’s coast, and the beachfront comes alive at night. Bars and clubs open up facing the water, some with stages right on the sand. I am not usually one for big club nights, but a beachfront bar with live music and the sea just a few steps away is a different kind of evening. The scene runs from casual cocktails to full club nights, so you can match it to your mood.
10. Relax at Jaz Beach
Jaz Beach, a couple of kilometers southwest of town, is the longest and most relaxed stretch of sand in the area. It gets used for festivals in summer, but on a normal day it is a wide, easy beach with shallow water and plenty of room. I went in the late afternoon when most people had packed up, and basically had the whole place to myself. The beach bars stay open late, so it doubles as a chill end to a beach day.
Budva wraps old stone and new beach energy into one small package. The old town holds the history, the beaches hold the summer crowds, and the mountains and coast hold the best scenery within an easy drive. I would go back just to finish the things I missed, starting with a proper hike up Lovcen and a slower look at the villages between Budva and Kotor.
