In a nutshell
- Budva in Montenegro is the ideal base for exploring the Montenegrin coast — and the city itself has some seriously great highlights to offer.
- We’ll walk you through the top things to do in Budva and show you the best day trips you can take from here — from the Bay of Kotor to Lovćen National Park.
- We recommend staying in the new town for lower prices and easy access to day trips. Our top pick: Hotel Villa Gracia.
Why should you travel to Budva?
Budva is perfectly situated in the center of the coast of Montenegro. The city is an ideal base for exploring the coast and the surrounding area. That’s why we also recommend it as a stop on a road trip through Montenegro.
Most places are no more than one to one and a half hours away. Even Herceg Novi, which sits almost at the Croatian border along the Bay of Kotor, can be reached in about one and a half hours when traffic is light.
Budva itself, of course, also has quite a bit to offer. You can explore the charming old town and relax on the beach.
The most beautiful sights in Budva
Most of the things to do in Budva are found in the small old town by the sea. The rest of Budva is really only relevant when it comes to your hotel search in Montenegro. We’ll say more about that further down.
The alleyways of Budva's old town
What you need to know: Budva’s old town is made up of many small, winding alleyways. There aren’t many people in the side streets, especially once you turn off the main lane. Instead, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! We really loved Budva’s old town.
Our tip: We were there during peak season around midday and the alleyways were surprisingly quiet. Make sure to turn off the main lane and explore the smaller side streets — that’s where the real charm is.
Saint John Church
What you need to know: Saint John Church stands on a small square in the old town — the busiest spot in the whole historic district. The church is beautiful to look at from the outside. We didn’t go inside, though.
Is it worth it? If you’re already exploring the old town, it’s a great spot for a photo stop. We wouldn’t make the trip to Budva just for the church, though.
Budva Citadel
What you need to know: You’ll find the Citadel right next to Saint John Church. The fortress was built by the Austrians as a defense against pirates. Inside, there’s a small museum with archaeological finds.
Is it worth it? The panorama from the Citadel over the sea is seriously stunning — that alone makes it worth the visit. The museum is a great bonus if you’re into history and archaeology.
Ballerina of Budva
What you need to know: The Ballerina of Budva stands just outside the old town. From the statue you get a wonderful view of the historic center. It’s naturally one of the most popular photo subjects in Budva.
Is it worth it? Definitely! The Ballerina is worth a photo stop. If you’re walking from the old town to the Mogren beaches, you’ll pass right by it anyway.
Our tip: From the statue, keep walking to the Mogren beaches. The coastal path is absolutely gorgeous, and those beaches are honestly our favorites in Budva — even if they get really crowded in peak season.
The most beautiful beaches in Budva
Once you’ve ticked off the highlights, you can unwind on the beach and take a dip in the sea.
The beaches around Budva all have fine pebbles.
All our beach tips for Montenegro can be found here:
Mogren Beaches
What you need to know: The Mogren beaches are the most beautiful spots to swim near Budva. They’re divided into Mogren Beach and Mogren 2 Beach, separated by a rock wall with a passage you can easily walk through. During peak season, both beaches are very popular and get quite busy.
Is it worth it? 100%! The Mogren beaches are our top pick near Budva. Just be prepared to lay towel-to-towel with other beachgoers in high season.
Our tip: Make sure to walk the coastal path from Budva’s old town to the beaches. It’s absolutely gorgeous and one of the best things to do in Budva.
Slovenska Plaza
What you need to know: Slovenska Plaza is Budva’s large city beach. Many sections are private, but between the private areas you’ll find spots where you can set up without a hotel booking.
Is it worth it? It’s okay. It’s a typical city beach — busy and not exactly idyllic. But for a casual afternoon by the water, it does the job.
Becici Beach
What you need to know: Becici is technically its own town, but it’s essentially part of Budva — the two have grown together over time. It has a beach similar to Slovenska Plaza but with more public sections.
Is it worth it? Becici beach is a step up from Slovenska Plaza. That said, if we had to choose, we’d always head to the Mogren beaches.
Our tip: Keep the Macarena beach bar in mind — great snacks and drinks.
The best day trips from Budva
Budva is the perfect starting point for day trips along the coast of Montenegro. Here’s what you can explore from here.
Bay of Kotor
What you need to know: The Bay of Kotor is Montenegro’s most famous highlight — often described as the southernmost fjord in Europe. One look at our photo and you’ll see why. Along the bay you’ll find places like Kotor, Porto Montenegro, Perast, and Herceg Novi.
Is it worth it? Without a doubt. A trip to the Bay of Kotor is simply a must on any Montenegro itinerary.
How much time to budget: one to two day trips
Here you'll find our tips for the Bay of Kotor:
Lovćen National Park
What you need to know: Lovćen National Park is super easy to reach from Budva. The park sits along Montenegro’s coast and offers mountain scenery along with some seriously cool activities in Montenegro, like a summer toboggan run and quad biking.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Lovćen National Park is one of our favorite day trips from Budva and one of the most beautiful national parks in Montenegro.
How much time to budget: one full day
Read all about Lovćen National Park here:
Sveti Stefan
What you need to know: Sveti Stefan is a charming little peninsula. It used to be a small fishing village before being converted into a hotel complex — it’s currently closed to the public, unfortunately. That said, the best photos of the peninsula are taken from the hills in front of it anyway.
Is it worth it? Yes. Sveti Stefan makes for a great photo stop if you’re heading south along the coast from Budva.
Personal tip: We actually have two local favorites for you at Sveti Stefan. Next to the peninsula you’ll find Crvena Stijena beach, and on a hill behind it stands the Church of St. Sava, which offers a wonderful vista over Sveti Stefan.
How much time to budget: A few minutes for a photo stop. If you also want to visit the church and the beach, plan for at least a half-day outing.
Lake Skadar
What you need to know: Lake Skadar is the second national park you can easily reach from Budva. It sits on the border with Albania and is a calm, idyllic lake. You can go boating and bird-watching on the water.
Is it worth it? If you enjoy boat tours or have more planned at Lake Skadar, then yes. If you just want a quick photo stop, the hour-long drive probably isn’t worth it.
Personal tip: At Lake Skadar there’s a river meander with a viewpoint that’s still a genuine under-the-radar find in Montenegro. You drive along a scenic road with views of the lake and end up at a sweet local couple who’ll show you their viewpoint.
How much time to budget: Half-day to full-day trip
Stari Bar
What you need to know: Stari Bar is a truly unique historic district in Montenegro. Only ruins remain of the old town. You can explore it on a small loop trail and even see an ancient aqueduct behind the site. Admission costs 5 euros.
Is it worth it? Yes. Stari Bar is something completely different from the other old towns in Montenegro.
How much time to budget: Half-day trip
Our article on Stari Bar:
Our hotel recommendations for Budva, Montenegro
In Budva there are three neighborhoods that are great for an overnight stay: the old town, the area right by the beach, and Budva’s new town.
We recommend the new town. Prices are lower there and you can set off on day trips to the surrounding area most quickly. In the new town, your best bet is the Hotel Villa Gracia.
The old town is perfect if you want Budva’s highlights right at your doorstep. Keep in mind, though, that you won’t be able to park your car right outside — no cars are allowed in the historic center. Our pick for the old town is La Villa Boutique Hotel.
Right on the beach is the best option if your main focus is a beach vacation along Montenegro’s shores. Here we recommend the Boutique Hotel Shell.
Here you'll find all our hotel recommendations:
Our restaurant recommendations for Budva
Budva has at least five restaurants on every corner, so you definitely won’t go hungry. Here are our top picks:
- Old Fisherman’s Pub: Delicious Balkan cuisine, pizzas, and burgers — plus live music most evenings. You sit right by the water.
- Padrino – Pizza Delivery: The best spot if you want to grab a pizza and have a picnic on the beach. The pizzas are really good.
- Royal Garden Restaurant: We stopped here for lunch in the old town. The sandwiches were great, and so were the freshly squeezed juices.
The best time to visit Budva
The best time to visit Budva is May, June, and September. You’ll get pleasant temperatures, great conditions for day trips into the surrounding area, and the beaches won’t be too crowded.
We visited during peak season between July and August. It’s doable, but it’s very busy — especially on the beaches.
Read more here:
Frequently asked questions about Budva
How long should you stay in Budva?
We recommend at least four to five days in Budva — five to six is even better. That gives you enough time to explore the city, spend time on the beach, and squeeze in a few day trips along Montenegro’s coastline.
Is Budva expensive?
Which is more beautiful, Kotor or Budva?
Kotor has the more dramatic setting right on the Bay of Kotor. Budva, on the other hand, is better positioned for day trips along the coast.
Both cities have a beautiful old quarter — but we actually like Budva just a little bit more, because it’s less crowded than Kotor.
