Budva Destination Guide
Budva is located at the base of very picturesque hills that go down to meet the sea on the Adriatic coast. It has the sea on one side, mountains on the other, with beaches and the Old Town in between, all making for an interesting blend of new and old. At 2,500 years, Budva is one of the earliest settlements on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. It is the most popular tourist destination of Montenegro and had over 300,000 visitors during the holiday season of 2007.
Budva is said to be quite unlike any other place in the world, and its culture and natural beauty reflect the essence of the whole country.
This Budva destination guide helps you to plan what you want to see and do during your Montenegro holiday. A perfect way to see the Budva highlights is to take a tour. Also take a look at our Montenegro country guide, which gives helpful country information, and the local attractions of nearby Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
We recommend you check out the Budva travel information from fellow travellers on the RealTravel web site.
Things to See & Do in Budva
Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many tourist attractions in Budva:
Summer fun... something for everyone
Another major attraction is the "Music Festival Budva". It is organised each summer and its significance stems from the fact that it promotes typical Mediterranean music.
Budva becomes a "theatre city" during the summer months. The whole town transforms to a stage where artists from all over the world are invited to perform, exhibit, and speak to the local and visiting audience. Artists and audiences mingle and discuss ideas. Artists very imaginatively use every nook and corner of this Montenegrin town to showcase their talents. You will find them amidst the Old Town stones, in open-air stages, on the beach, on the most elevated parts of the Citadel, in the entrances of small churches, on squares sheltered by ancient dwellings, or inside ancient buildings dedicated to the city's spiritual essence.
Culture, festivals, and people.
In 1937, Roman and Greek necropolises were discovered during excavations. However, the major part of the excavations was carried out in the period from 1952 to 1982. Around 450 graves contained in two separate necropolises, one on top of the other, were discovered. The older one was Greek, from the Hellenistic period between 4th and 1st century BC. Jewellery, weapons and ceramic objects were discovered here. The other necropolis, dating back to the 1st and 2nd century AD, was a Roman one. This was the most glorious period of ancient Budva's history. At that time, the dead were usually cremated and the remains were stored in glass, ceramic or stone urns.
Sitting on a small peninsula, Old Town reflects the incredible cultural legacy of Budva. This historically rich section of Budva is criss-crossed with mysterious alleys, stairs, small squares and narrow streets. All the stairs and gates make Old Town very popular among visitors. Following the stairs can get quite addictive; the desire to see where each one leads to and to know the story behind each one can make for an exciting adventure. The open gates are like an invitation to explore what lies beyond. Old Town has five entrance gates. Don't forget to look up and admire the frieze.
The Old Town walls have within them an invaluable collection of monuments and architectural marvels reflecting the various Mediterranean cultures that have thrived here. Most of the architecture is Venetian, while balconies, doors, hinges, windows and other small details display a Roman influence.
Old Town has three main churches and each was built in different time periods. St. Ivan's is from 7th century AD, St. Mary's of Punta goes back to 840, and The Holy Trinity was built in 1840. Another church that draws a lot of people is the Sv. Trojica, which has within it the tomb of the well known writer Stjepan Mitrov Ljubisa.
There are a lot of legends and myths intertwined with Old Town's history. The summer season turns Old Town into a theatre. Both local groups and performers from abroad put up shows. Open air stages are seen in the squares and fortresses, empty areas within churches are turned into concert halls and galleries, and Poet's Square becomes the meeting point of artists, admirers of art, poets and writers from all parts of the world.
Sun, sand and surf
Mogren is the most well known beach of Budva. Sheltered by large cliffs, the beach can be accessed from Budva's Old Town through a 500 m pathway. The other great beaches within the city area are located at Slovenska (Slav Beach), Pizana, Ričardova glava (Richard's Head), and Guvance. Other beaches in the nearby villages and towns are Bečići, Jaz, Kamenovo, Maestral, Miločer, Pržno, Sveti Stefan, and Trsteno.
Mogren is made up of two beaches, Mogren I and II. A tunnel connects the two beaches, which together cover a length of 350 m. The beach starts at Cape Mogren and finishes at the Avala Hotel. Mogren is an exclusive beach, accessible only through the hotel complex.
The natural beauty of Mogren makes it one of the most attractive beaches. The sand has medium sized grains, both in the water and on the beach. The sun and the southerly wind touch the beach generously. The pine and oak covered Spas hill protects the beach on the inland side.
A protected natural heritage site, Jaz Beach is located 2.5 km away from Budva, towards the town of Tivat. Jaz beach has two parts too, one part is 500 m long and the other is 300 m long. Nudists frequent the smaller beach. The two parts are separated by a seasonal stream. The hills of Straza and Grbalj surround this pebble beach, which has a campground along the coast that can accommodate 2000 campers. The sandy bottom of the sea stretches a bit beyond the shore and this makes the water appear a wonderful turquoise colour.
Beyond beaches, Sveti Stefan is a picture perfect island located not too far from Budva. The local bus fare is about 1 euro. Originally a fishermen's island, it is today an exclusive resort island loved by the rich and famous. It was turned into a luxurious 5-star hotel about 40 years ago. The tariff of the extra royal suite, called Villa 118, is around 1500 euros per night! Celebrities love the hotel and some of the headliners who have stayed here are Claudia Schiffer, Ingemar Stenmark, Kirk Douglas, Sofia Loren, Sylvester Stallone, and Willy Brant, amongst many others.
Non-guests are not permitted to enter the hotel, although for 6 euros you can look around the island.
A trip to the island of Sveti Nikola also offers a great outing. The island's coast drops sharply into the sea. There are many hidden and sheltered coves here that attract thrill seekers, eccentrics as well as romantics. There are three sandy beaches on the island, covering a length of 840 m. Many kinds of Mediterranean plants cover the island, making the beaches look almost like they are situated in the wilderness.
Since it is less than 1 km away from Budva, the island can be visited any time, day or night. During low tide, you can walk to the island or even swim over. However, to reach the great beaches on the south side, you have to take the small boats available.
Meet your local connection in Budva! Slavica, Lana and the team of Montenegro Adventures are happy to be part of the whl.travel network and are eager to assist you in planning your trip to Budva! Feel free to ask us any questions or for any advice while you plan your trip to our beautiful Budva. We can let you in on any local advice about what to see and what to do!
