Are you wondering what are the top things to do in Budva Montenegro?
Should you visit Budva in Montenegro which we think is the disappointing jewel in the crown of Montenegró? It is not often, actually, this is the first time, that we have been disappointed with a destination. This was back in 2015. We will return to visit to give Budva another chance in the future.
Although we were disappointed we will share with you places to visit in Budva so that you can make up your own mind. Everyone will have a different opinion on places that they visit.
After being in Kotor Montenegro for a week we decided that we needed to see more of Montenegro, a country that had impressed us so much so far. We had read that Budva situated on the Budva Riviera had the nickname of “Montenegrin Miami” and was the most crowded and popular tourist destination in Montenegro. Alarm bells should have gone off when we were chatting to a Russian couple at our accommodation in Kotor who looked horrified when we said our next destination was Budva.
We went to the source of travellers reviews in Tripadvisor in October 2019 and they were not favourable. You can read the reviews here.
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Do You Need a Visa For Montenegro
Where is Montenegro
Montenegró sits between the 2 coastal Balkan countries of Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina and has inland borders with Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo. The capital is Podgorica.
Budva is home to 17 beaches and boasts a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm to hot summers.
Map of Montenegro
Why was Budva Montenegro the disappointing jewel
Budva – First Impressions – A Concrete Jungle
A stunning rocky coastline with azure blue seas greeted us 20 minutes after leaving Kotor. We could see in the distance parts of the Stari Grad (Old Town) but what were all those cranes doing and those modern concrete hotels and apartment blocks blocking the views to the Stari Grad.
Luckily, we had given our taxi driver from Kotor the contact number for the owner of the ‘Apartment Old Town View’, he had to call a couple of times to find out the directions. There was no way that we would have found it on our own with our distinct lack of the local language.
You can check availability here for the Apartment Old Town View.
The Apartment was newly renovated with amazing views over to the harbour to the left of the Stari Grad, and a balcony that beckoned for cold beers to be enjoyed on. A pathway in front of the building led down to the Stari Grad just a 5-minute walk away, but we could not see the famous Church Tower due to the concrete monsters.
Budva – Second Impressions – Beaches Packed Like Sardines
After settling into a new location we like to wander out and explore. Leaving the Old Town to a later adventure we turned left and followed the pathway past the marina and onto the Budva beach.
What a shock!
Budva beach was packed, sunbeds lined up row after row, no space in between and umbrellas precariously positioned to shade the loungers from the hot afternoon sun. Loud music blared out from speakers every few yards, and cheap bars and takeaway food outlets fought for the tourist’s euros. Normally, by now we would have taken some photos, but there was just not anything worth taking. You could say that we were a little more than shocked!
Did we have a Plan B? No.
We had booked for 5 nights and then we were due in Dubrovnik. On our return, we found the local green market and 3 supermarkets that were all in walking distance from our apartment, at least we had a choice and variety for self-catering.
Did Budva redeem itself? Sunrises, a beach and Stari Grad
Sometimes, it just takes a night or two to settle into a new location. The view from the balcony over the marina was stunning, especially at sunrise as the sun rose to the left of the building. The sun set behind us and more concrete buildings blocked this view, but at this time of the night, the harbour was busy with small charter boats returning and the action more than compensated for the lack of a sunset.
Places to Visit in Budva
Church of St Sava The Anointed Budva
Constructed during the 12th Century the Church sits proudly on the water’s edge of the Stari Grad. When Budva was under the Venetian reign the Church held both Catholic and Orthodox services. Recent renovations have uncovered remnants of ancient frescos on the church’s walls.
The Orthodox population of Budva supported by the Bishop of Montenegro requested the construction of the Church after the demise of the Venetian reign during 1797, it was completed in 1804. The bell loft contains 3 bells and a dome.
Originally constructed in the 7th Century the Church of St John is one of the oldest churches on the Budva Riviera. In 1667 it was damaged by an earthquake that struck the area. In 1828 it became a cathedral. The Church’s Bell Tower dominates the Stari Grad and the Church itself is the tallest building in the Old Town.
Dancing Girl Statue Budva – legend or fact
On the way to one of the nicest beaches in Budva, the pathway passes a statue of a topless girl doing a yoga pose. Some say it is a statue of a girl who drowned here and others say it is just a statue. What do you think? Whatever anyone thinks it is a great location to take a photo of the Walls of the Stari Grad.
The beaches to the right of the Stari Grad are so much nicer than those we mentioned before to the left of the marina. A 5-minute walk along the pathway past the Dancing Girl Statue you will arrive at Mogren Beach 1 which can be quite busy during the height of the summer. If you continue further along you will reach Mogren Beach 2 – a much quieter and more sedate area to relax and swim. At least we have come across one of the nicest beaches in Budva Montenegro here.
Visit the Budva Archaeological Museum
18th and 19th centuries artefacts that were used by the Montenegran people as well as Greek and Roman objects found during excavations.
So did Budva redeem itself?
The few sites mentioned above did allow Budva to redeem itself at first but as we wandered deeper inside the walls of the Stari Grad we grew more disappointed. The owner of our Apartment had informed us that Budva’s Old Town was so much better than Kotor’s. We disagree with him definitely on this point. Kotor is also a walled town, atmospheric and buzzing and impressively and has a stunning backdrop of large limestone mountains and a fort that is reached by climbing 1350 steps. The view is worth the uphill hike!
Once inside the walls, there were a plethora of souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, it lacked the atmosphere of Kotor and felt tacky.
One final disappointment to top it all off – Sveti Stefan Montenegro
When you Google Budva one of the scenic shots is that of Sveti Stefan. An island with a small causeway leading to 5th-century red-roofed stone houses. It was quite easy to get to Budva town by bus for a few euros but when we Googled the bus timetable we uncovered something sinister. Not only sinister in history but sinister in this day and age. Originally the island sheltered the locals from the attacks from pirates and the forces of the Turks. Eventually, in 1954 the Communist Party removed the remaining 20 local inhabitants and 3 years later it was turned into an exclusive resort which was frequented by many famous people. During the Yugoslav Federation’s breakdown in the 1990s, it fell into decline.
In 2007 Aman Resorts from Singapore was successful in winning the lease and closed the island to all but its own exclusive guests. If you are not a guest the only way of getting onto the island is if you have booked a table at one of the Resort’s very expensive restaurants or you can hire a sunbed on one of the beaches at the entrance to the causeway for 50 euros per person per day. That is not a typo – 50 euros per day per sunbed. In 2022 the sun beds have gone up to Euros 80 per day!
Budva Accommodation
When researching your accommodation you may want to consider whether you want to stay in the Old Town or outside, whether you want a hotel or an apartment. There are a couple of supermarkets which cater well for those who want to stay in apartments just on the edge of the Old Town, look for the Mega Market signage on Mainski.
Hotels Combined show the best deals by searching over 100 hotel reservation sites for Montenegro hotels and their availability.
For the latest deals and availability:
Apartment Old Town– Budva
Hotel Budva – Slovenska Obala 23, Budva
Hotel Budva is set in the centre of Budva, right on the seaside promenade and just steps away from the sandy Slovenska Beach and Marina. It features an on-site restaurant, bar and wellness centre. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.
Guest review: Everything was super, especially the location!!!
For more deals on hotels and a range of apartments in Budva:
Things to do in Budva
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Day Trip from Budva to Durmitor, Tara and the Ostrog Monastery
Taken from Get Your Guide website:
“Meet the beautiful coastline of Kotor Bay, before ascending to the high elevations of Durmitor Mountain. Admire the deepest canyon in Europe, the Tara River, and hike around Black Lake before visiting the greatest pilgrimage place in the Balkans.”
Budva: Kotor Bay and Fortresses Off-Road Tour
- Jeeping safari adventure on the hills above the Kotor Bay.
- Tour of Austro-Hungarian fortresses, panoramic spots with a view of the bay.
- Off road adventure through untouched nature.
- Picnic at panoramic points above the bay
Where to eat in Budva:
There are a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars in Budva to suit all budgets and tastes.
Tripadvisor has listed Konaba Bocun as the top restaurant in Budva from travellers reviews and ratings. The restaurant is located at Ul. Mimoza 177, Budva.
Montenegro Currency:
Montenegro uses the Euro.
Getting In and Out of Budva
For a list of airports in Montenegro click here.
Tivat is the closest airport to Budva but there are not many flights, most people fly into Dubrovnik or into the capital Podgorica.
Cheap Flight Deals to Budva
For the best deals on flights click here
How to get from Dubrovnik to Budva
You can book a private car transfer from Dubrovnik to Budva for more information click here
Bus Croatia has a regular bus service from Dubrovnik for more information click here.
Travel Insurance
We recommend taking out travel insurance as soon as you book your flights and pay deposits on any cruises, tours or hotels.
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For Further Information on Montenegro, we recommend the Lonely Planet Montenegro.
I recently spent 23 days in Budva during a 3 month trip through five countries. I have some bones to pick with your harshly-titled piece.
Your review shows your lack of imagination, wonder, appreciation, and cultural sensitivity as a traveler. I feel sorry for you that if a place doesn’t cater exclusively to your needs, you write it off.
Factually, you are completely mistaken about a few things you wrote. I don’t know if you aren’t remembering correctly or if you are intentionally embellishing facts to fit your narrative. On the one beach you are able to swim at on the island of Sveti Stefan, it is not anywhere near 50 euros for a chair. I went there often and rented the chairs for a reasonable 15 Euros for the day. If you choose to swim in the exclusive waters of the beach reserved for hotel guests, you will be fined 100 Euros. So just don’t do it and you’re fine.
Also, there is no such beach called “Budva Beach”. I also don’t understand why you were so upset about the many chairs and umbrellas, or cheap bars. Shade and a cold beer sound quite lovely to me. Public beaches are busy, but even in Budva there are several completely empty beaches you can easily get to by water taxi or walking. Maybe you just aren’t as good at exploring as you think you are.
The beaches in Budva are some of the cleanest and most well-kept beaches I’ve ever been to. No trash scattered about, and many proper receptacles for recycling. The sand is a wonderful pebble texture that doesn’t get all over you and your stuff. There is cliff-diving, sea-cave exploring, hiking in pine forests, gorgeous snorkeling opportunities literally feet from the sand, even paddle-board and boat rental. These are just the activities you can do at the actual beach, I haven’t even spoken about the town or city yet.
“Normally, by now we would have taken some photos, but there was just not anything worth taking. You could say that we were a little more than shocked!”
– All I can say is that I feel sorry for you. That you weren’t able to see the absolute beauty of the area is a travesty. Budva is a rare place where the total number of bird species recorded exceeds 300. The many different climates and terrains add to the natural splendor literally everywhere you look. Mountains high enough to be snow-capped in July loom in the distance of almost every direction you turn, beautiful waters full of life surround you, huge cliffs near the beaches are host to Aloe Vera and other succulent plants bigger than humans, wild herbs like sage and curry, thyme, rosemary and lavender all grow abundantly alongside the blooming cacti. Fig, lemon, olive, pomegranate, and other food-bearing trees are just bursting everywhere. There are world-renowned mountain wineries in short driving distance, and small local farms precariously perched selling their homemade olive oil, brandy, honey, chicken eggs and goat’s milk products.
That you were unable or unwilling to see the beauty that was literally EVERYWHERE around you, speaks more to who you are as a human and a tourist than to whether or not Budva is disappointing.
Maybe you should re-evaluate what kind of traveler you are. Because from this post you sound like a typical tourist who believes an entire country or city should be suited to you personally. God forbid there is construction work going on, I mean seriously, come on.
I truly hope you are able to travel and see the beauty as it already exists naturally. That you can go with the ebbs and flows of a place and appreciate even just normal everyday life in a place where– surprise! humans who aren’t tourists actually exist, live and work, and raise their families.
Hi Luci
Thank you for your comments in regards to Budva. As you may know, we travel the world consistently and approach each destination with an open mind and we still stand by our comments. We appreciate the time and detailed effort that you have put into your response to our article and we understand that everyone has their own opinions of a destination that they visit. We feel that your comments are very valued from your perspective from which we acknowledge and appreciate. Thank you for taking the time to be very prescriptive and your feeling, knowledge and personal experience. We believe your type of comments are very valid to be shared and discussed and we thank you.
I’m sorry you found it so disappointing… I thought it was charming in its own sort of way. I still think it’s worth seeing at least once if you’re visiting Montenegro. I mean hey, at worst you’ll end up with a story about how lousy and boring it was, right? 😛
Hi Andreas
Thanks for your comments. We may return one day and hope to leave with a new opinion.
Cheers Jane and Duncan