What to see in Budva: attractions of the city and surrounding area. Budva: what to do in the resort capital of Montenegro? What to do in Budva in the evening

The old town in Budva is small, you can walk around it in half an hour.

Behind the fortress walls are hidden 4 churches and houses located on narrow pedestrian streets. All this beauty was destroyed during the earthquake in 1979, and subsequently rebuilt.

There are many cafes and souvenir shops in the old town. Particularly interesting:

Fortress walls

In Budva you can climb the fortress walls and walk around the entire old city at roof level. They charge for entry to the walls. 2€

Citadel

The citadel is located in the old city. There is an observation deck with a panorama of Budva, and a museum. It is especially beautiful at sunset.

Works around the clock. paid entrance 2.5€

Budva embankment

Along the sea along the embankment you can walk from one end of Budva to the other in 30 minutes.

There are cafes, restaurants, ice cream on the embankment. There are benches in several places.

Closer to the old town you can look at boats and yachts and book a boat trip.

The embankment is narrow (2 meters wide), and during the season when there are a lot of people in Budva, walking is not entirely comfortable.

Slavyansky Boulevard

Slovenska obala (Slavyansky Boulevard) is the main pedestrian street in Budva, running parallel to the embankment.

There are many cafes, fast food, mini-markets with clothes and excursion sellers at every turn.

Top Hill Club

A large club on a hill above Budva. Considered one of the best in Montenegro.

Regular discos in Budva close at 12 pm or 1 am, but this club is open all night.

I don’t go to clubs, so it’s better to look on the Internet for other people’s reviews about this club.

Water park in Budva

Operating mode:

High season: July, August
Working hours: 10.00-19.00

Low season: June, September
Working hours: 10.00-18.00

Check current prices on the website aquaparkbudva.com

Children up to 100 cm for free, adults 18€
Wifi for the whole day 1€

Market in Budva

Zelena Pijaca is a market in the city center. They sell vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, mushrooms, prosciutto, olive oil.

Supermarket next to the market Mega Market. Prices in the supermarket are lower, but on Zelena Pjaca every merchant will speak to you in Russian.

They let you taste the fruit (they almost put it in your mouth), and tell stories about how they grew it all in their own gardens.

The place is colorful, you can visit it. And I wrote about where it is more profitable to buy groceries in an article about.

Monastery Podostrog (Podmaine)

Podostrog Monastery in Budva

For free

Another landmark of Budva, stands on the mountain above the city. Adjacent to the Maine nightclub.

Subostrog was the residence of the Montenegrin kings. On the territory there are two churches of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built in the 12th and 18th centuries.

Restaurant Rybnyak

Road to the Rybnyak restaurant

Walking route 6 km along an asphalt road to the mountains above Budva.

We reach the Podostrog monastery, and then follow the road up. Cars rarely drive there, so walking is comfortable. You can go on foot or drive a car.

I went after lunch, when the heat subsided. I didn’t get to Rybnyak, but I looked at Budva from above, walked through the mountains, and reached the cemetery and church. The views there are beautiful, the mountains are cool, there are a lot of flowers and destroyed houses. The air is fresh and fragrant.

In Rybnyak there is a restaurant, a zip line, a swimming pool with sun loungers, a small waterfall (you can swim there in the summer).

Beaches of Budva

What to see near Budva

Walking from Budva to Sveti Stefan Island

There is no need to walk on foot, because along the highway the road takes only 7 km. It takes 10 minutes by car, but it will take a walk along the sea 6 hours There and back again.

My walk with stops took almost the whole day, and the pedometer counted 21 km in two directions.

The most interesting excursions from Budva:

🍀 Boka Kotor Bay– includes a walk around Kotor (the most beautiful city in the country), then a boat trip throughout the Bay of Kotor. Bus+ship. Full day excursion from 09:00-18:00. Adult 25 €

🍀 Canyons– an excursion to the fabulous north of Montenegro, where there are mountains, rivers, lakes, national parks and the Canyons of the Tara, Moraca and Komarnica rivers. 06:30-19:00, Adults 40 € Reb. 20 €

🍀 Grand Canyons– a more detailed version, during which you can watch the national Durmitor Park, the same canyons, plus holy places and Lake Piva. Adult 65 €

The fact is that for the second summer in a row my sister and I chose Montenegro and Budva as a vacation spot. Despite the fact that I have visited many countries, seen an incredible number of cities, nowhere except Montenegro does a Russian person feel as comfortable as in this country of eternal sun, azure sea and mountains that accompany the landscapes along the entire coast and continental part of this small but proud country.
It is here that Russian tourists are welcome and greeted with a smile, joyful exclamations: “Oh, you are from Russia!”, and this is not behind the scenes, and not ingratiation. These are sincere feelings that have stood the test of time. There we met some great guys who run their own tour. agency, next to whom you feel so calm, they will feed the guest, and give them something to drink, and tell jokes, and show them about everything in the world, and teach them everything, and help with whatever they need!

So... Let's go!

1. Budva

Among the attractions in the city that you can visit during the day - first of all, the old city (during the day it’s not as wildly crowded as in the evening, when everyone goes shopping after dinner): you can just wander around there, it looks like an Italian fortress (which is what it is) . This year the Citadel was opened for visiting there, entrance is 1 euro, and there is a cool view from there. There is also a library with old books about different countries of Austria-Hungary. By the way, it is open late in the evening, too, after dinner. There is also a Catholic church in the old town, but we were not inside.

Budva is a famous resort and tourist city. Located in the central part of the Adriatic coast in Montenegro. The city and surrounding area are known as the Budva Riviera. The latter is famous for its beaches with clean sand, various architectural monuments and vibrant nightlife.

This article describes the sights of Budva, what to see in the main resort of Montenegro and its surroundings. All interesting places in Budva can be reached on foot or by public transport.

Stari Grad

In order not to spend a long time looking for what to see in Budva, first of all you should get acquainted with a typical medieval settlement. To do this, you need to go from the modern part of the resort pearl to Stari Grad through the central gate. Or use one of the six remaining passages beyond the ancient fortress walls. By the way, 3 of them are located opposite the yacht piers.

Fortress walls

One of these entrances, the Door to the Sea, is currently not functioning. It has been transformed into a romantic retreat with antique ivy-covered doors and is located some height from the ground. But taking a photo in a picturesque place where not every tourist wanders is a good idea. A reference point for searching for “Doors to the Sea” is the English Pub in Stari Grad.

The ancient settlement is surrounded by a fortress wall in the shape of the letter “P”. To climb it, you need to use any of the 2 existing entrances leading to the fortress wall. You will find one opposite the kitchen belonging to the Mozart confectionery. Find the other one by the sea opposite the Citadel, but if you suddenly can’t get through the gate, go through the fence.

Citadel and Library

The citadel is the main fortification structure, built in 840. Mostly the buildings of the 15th century, which protected this area, have survived to this day. Near the Citadel there were other fortifications, connected by a fortress wall, and a village where local residents and defenders of the fortress lived. The village, in fact, became the Old Town.

In the Citadel you can visit the Budva Museum, see the symbol of the city - two connected fish, representing lovers Marco and Elena. There is also a library here, organized a century and a half ago. It is considered one of the oldest in the country; the library collection contains over 60 thousand books, including very rare and valuable publications.

Archaeological Museum

While in Stari Grad, you don’t have to worry about what to see in Budva. Visit the museums of Archeology and Contemporary Art. The Archaeological Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 am to 9 pm. Saturday - Sunday - from 14:00 to 21:00. Ticket – 1.5-2 euros.

Gallery of Contemporary Art

The Gallery exhibits works of sculptors and artists from Montenegro and Serbia: paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings.

Churches of Old Budva

You will not be able to pass by and will not be able to help but hear the beautiful chime of the bell tower of the Catholic Church of St. John, which rises above Budva. The bell tower was erected back in the 7th century. AD, but it was rebuilt a lot.

Next to the bell tower is a cathedral with a modest exterior in the Gothic style. However, its interior decoration is rich and luxurious. You can admire the icon with the miraculous face of the Virgin Mary, painted by St. Luke himself, and get acquainted with the exhibits of the rich library. One of them is a chronicle that describes the events taking place in these lands in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Also among the attractions of Budva and the surrounding area, where it is not at all difficult to go on foot, is the nearby Holy Trinity Church - an Orthodox church in the Byzantine style of the early 19th century. and the Church of St. Mary "on the promontory" ("in Punta").

The construction date of the monastery and church of St. Mary that once existed here is 840. Now it is not active, but externally it is well preserved, and here you can admire Roman mosaics that date back to the 2nd century. AD And thanks to the excellent acoustics of the temple, you can enjoy music concerts that are held regularly.

Old Castle is not all that can be seen in Budva on your own; other attractions are also available to any tourist.

Ballerina statue

This stele is a symbol of the city, its calling card and the most photographed place in Budva. In addition, the best panorama of the Old Town opens here: the sea, mountains, fortress walls and terracotta tiled roofs of houses - all in one frame.

The dancer's stela is hidden among the rocks on a boulder on the way to Moren Beach. Finding this monument is easy if you know where to go. You need to walk along the path to the right of the walls of the old city, and after a few turns you will certainly see it.

Walking around Budva

As in any seaside city, you can take a walk in the heart of the Budva Riviera along the embankment. It is quite possible to rent a boat or boat, go fishing or just take a walk around the water area.

On the charming Promenade, everything is at the service of tourists: souvenir shops and cafes, reputable restaurants, fast food and attractions. The prices here are reasonable, and the views are especially peaceful. Closer to night, disco bars open their doors, so the question of where to go in Budva during the day or evening, for young people or adults, practically does not arise.

Central Market

For a change, it wouldn’t hurt to visit the central market of Budva – Zelena Pijaca. It is open from 6 am to 3 pm, on Sundays until 1 pm. Here you can fully enjoy the local culinary exotics: cheeses, prosciutto, homemade olive oil, sea fish, popular wines - white “Vranac Prokorde” "and red "Vranac", grape brandy and "Bitter Leaf" liqueur.

All pickles are given a try in hopes of being purchased. Here you can bargain boldly, convincingly and politely, and as a result, you can take home edible souvenirs, which will be cut and carefully packed in a vacuum casing.

Budva surroundings

If you are still deciding what to see in Budva and where to go on foot, you can turn your attention to the surrounding area. There are also many educational attractions within walking distance.

For an active evening, you can choose a club on the Budva hills, Top Hill. It is one of the most popular in the country. A distinctive feature is that it works all night. The evenings are often hosted by world-famous disc jockeys and MCs.

Just behind the club is a water park that opened in July 2016. Tickets can be purchased for half or a whole day.

Mogren Fortress and Vidikovac panoramas

If you like walking, you can get to this object on your own. You need to make your way through the bush up the rocks from Mogren Beach. Or go to the tunnel that leads to Jaz beach and the city of Tivat, there is a path on the left. A few minutes - and you are already on the hill near the remains of a fortress built in the mid-19th century. You will have stunning views of Nikola Island, part of Budva, the sea and the turquoise Jaz Beach.

While visiting these attractions of Budva and the surrounding area, you can also see the city from the observation deck at the Vidikovac hotel. She is nearby. The hotel is surrounded by white gates, with a path to the right of them. After going down the stairs, go to the white arches and to the observation deck. Fabulous views of Old Budva and souvenir photos will remain in your heart for a long time. By the way, you can also get to these objects by taxi.

Sveti Nikola Island

Also among the places that you can see in Budva on your own, the island of St. Nikola is of interest. There is a nature reserve with pheasants, hares and deer. Entry there, unfortunately, is strictly prohibited. But there is also the Church of St. Nicholas, the pleasant coolness of the green forests, the purest sea water and sand and pebble beaches. But there are much fewer vacationers there than in the city.

You can get to the island by water taxi or boat. Price from 3 to 25 euros.

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Sveti Stefan

The island of Sveti Stefan is considered the symbol of all Montenegro. From Budva to it – 7 km. Once it was a fishing village, and now it is a fashionable resort. Hollywood stars don't miss it.

In fact, this is an entire hotel town that occupied the entire island. But you can also get here if you book a tour. You can get from the city to the island by bus from Budva for €1.5 and 20 minutes. or by taxi.

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As you can see, Budva (Montenegro) is not short on attractions, and what to see is up to you. The local monasteries, seascapes, islands and panoramic views cannot leave anyone indifferent; you want to come to memorable Budva again and again.

From Tivat Airport to Budva can be reached in 25 minutes, it is only 20 km away. To Podgorica - 60 km, to Dubrovnik - 70 km.

The history of this city, which now has a strong reputation as one of the best Montenegrin resorts, began 2500 years ago. According to legend, the city got its name thanks to a tragic love story between the daughter of a merchant and the son of a poor mason. Having not received their parents' consent to the marriage, the young people said: “Let two be as one,” threw themselves from the city wall into the sea and turned into fish. “Two as one” literally translates roughly as “budu dva” - Budva. The symbol of the city is two fish.

Tourists are attracted by clean pebble beaches, plenty of entertainment and the picturesque streets of the Old Town with its citadel, narrow cobbled streets and red-tiled roofs. Young people come here to dance at night discos; couples with children to swim in the clear waters of the Adriatic; romantics of all stripes who love to wander through the ancient streets... Budva is a universal resort, a holiday here will certainly leave pleasant memories.

Climate and weather

The best time to holiday in Budva is July and August. At this time, the sea warms up to 25°C, and the air temperature does not drop below 23°C.

Beaches and sea

The total length of Budva's beaches is more than 11 km. The most popular and famous beaches are Slavyansky, Mogren, Richard's Head. In the vicinity of Budva there are also popular beaches Jaz, Ploce and Trsteno, which can be reached both by bus and by car.

Slavic beach stretches for 1.5 km and is covered with small pebbles. The infrastructure is well developed: there are sunbeds and umbrellas, showers. Locker rooms, cafes and restaurants. Entrance to the beach is free, rental of beach equipment is paid. There are conditions for snorkeling, you can go water skiing, ride a boat or jet ski. The “highlight” of the beach is that there is bungee jumping here - you can jump from as much as 40 meters, and then get a disc with a recording of your jump. The beach is very crowded; in the evenings there are discos.

Mogren Beach is surrounded by rocks and covered with small pebbles and sand. It is divided by Cape Mogren into two parts, connected by a tunnel. The water here is very clean - the beach has been awarded the Blue Flag. The pebble beach of Richardova Head is hidden between Mogren and Slavic beaches. It is small - only 200 m long - so there are not many people here. The beach near the Old Town of Budva is the smallest beach in the city. It is pebble, well equipped, but prices here are higher than in Slavyansky.

Jaz beach is located 3 km from Budva. Almost one and a half kilometers of sand and pebbles are filled with tourists who come here by bus or taxi. The beach is divided by the Drenovstitsa river, which flows into the sea, into large and small sections. The beach by the river is completely sandy. 7 km from Budva there is the stone beach of Ploce. It is well equipped and you can go down to the sea via steps or a pebble slope. The entrance to the water here is steep, but on the shore there are several pools with clean sea water.

The sandy beach of Trsteno is chosen by families with children - it is sandy, the entrance to the sea is very smooth. You can get to the beach through Jaz Beach, from which it is 2.5 km away. Tourists also visit the sandy beaches on the island of St. Nicholas, which can be reached by boat.

Things to do

Most of the attractions are located in the Old Town. It is definitely worth taking a walk along the winding cobbled streets and exploring the ancient sights. This is the city citadel with churches. The Church of St. John is a beautiful church with a bell tower in the Gothic style, built in the 7th century. The miraculous icon of the Budva Mother of God is kept here. St. Mary's Church is the remains of a monastery that stood on this site more than a thousand years ago. The third church famous in Budva is the Church of the Holy Trinity. It is also worth visiting the archaeological museum, where there are more than 3,000 exhibits.

The island of St. Nicholas is located in close proximity to the Old Town and is uninhabited. It has a 16th-century church and three sandy beaches. The second famous island in the vicinity of Budva (5 km from it) is Sveti Stefan, the legendary island hotel where Rockefeller, Vysotsky, Plisetskaya, Stallone, Gagarin and other celebrities once lived.

You can rest and relax after walking on the main resort street, which is located parallel to the embankment. There are many restaurants here where you can try national Montenegrin dishes - they are very filling. There are several clubs and many bars where music is played at night and discos are held.

It is worth going on an excursion along the Bay of Kotor. You will see the Church of the Virgin Mary on the Rock, located on a man-made island, the monastery on the island of St. George, the town of millionaires Perast, as well as Kotor with its fortress walls. Those who like long excursions can visit the Moraca Monastery and drive along the Tara River canyon to the Durmitor Natural Park.

Budva is a surprisingly convenient tourist city. Without exaggeration, there is everything here: sports grounds, bars, ancient attractions and beaches, located both within the city and nearby. Due to these opportunities, Budva is an option for a bright and eventful summer holiday. What can you do in the resort capital of Montenegro?

Immerse yourself in history in the Old Town

Tourists arriving in Budva immediately notice the division of the city into new and old. And the old part is truly rich in valuable sights, the inspection of which is worth dedicating long hours of walking.

The old town occupies a peninsula. Evidence of Budva dates back 3,500 years, making it the oldest settlement on the Montenegrin coast.

For those interested in history, there is an Archaeological Museum here. It covers the history of Budva from ancient times to recent decades. The museum displays many Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine artifacts, a bronze Illyrian helmet, and stone slabs. An entire floor here is dedicated to ethnographic exhibits: household items, national jewelry, clothing and equipment of sailors.

The Old Town is a collection of the largest number of city attractions. Just look at the powerful fortress walls and narrow streets where houses with history stand. Many of them appeared in Budva in the Middle Ages, when the region was ruled by the Venetians. The ancient churches of St. Mary and St. John and the Cathedral of St. Sava are also located here.

By the way, the first floors of many houses in Budva have been turned into art galleries, shops, boutiques, cafes, and summer festivals are held in the citadel. Therefore, the Old Town, in addition to architecture, is filled with entertainment opportunities.

Take a photo near the dancer sculpture

In Budva there is no end to people wanting to take pictures near the sculpture of a dancer, which has become the most photogenic man-made attraction of the seaside city. Perhaps it’s because of the legend, according to which in ancient times a sailor’s girl danced on the shore, waiting for her loved one to return.

She spent days and months by the sea, but the sailor never returned. That is why the statue of the dancer became the embodiment of fidelity, devotion and eternal love. In addition to taking traditional photographs, tourists will certainly make wishes here.

Visit Sveti Stefan

On the Budva Riviera there is an island connected to the mainland by an isthmus. This is Sveti Stefan - a resort with comfortable hotels and restaurants, transformed into an elite holiday destination.

However, it is quite rightly called an island hotel: old houses here have been converted into luxury apartments with luxurious bedrooms, designer interiors and a jacuzzi. Even if such a vacation is not part of your plans or simply cannot be afforded, it is worth buying an excursion to Sveti Stefan for the many entertainments that this island offers.

Here you can go diving, enjoy lunch in cozy restaurants, explore ancient buildings and relax on the beaches away from the noise. True, only part of the beach is open to tourists, and the other is accessible only to hotel guests.

Spend time on St. Nicholas Island

Small in scale, Sveti Nikola is a wild and seemingly inaccessible island. But in reality it turns out that there is a narrow beach here, where lovers of silence prefer to relax. The beach has everything you need for a completely comfortable stay: showers and sun loungers for rent.

Among other interesting features of the island, it is worth noting the reefs, and also the spacious grotto into which tourist boats sail. Also on Sveti Nikola there remains a church from the 16th century. It was in her honor that the island got its name.

What else attracts tourists to the island is the riot of greenery: most of Sveti Nikola is occupied by forest, in which animals can be found every now and then.

Enjoy local cuisine

You can instantly fall in love with Montenegrin cuisine - you just have to go to any restaurant in Budva. Large portions are usually placed in front of tourists, surprising them with hospitality and generosity. It is difficult to choose the most delicious from the variety of dishes.

What is better to order in Budva? Firstly, local lamb, which Montenegrins simmer for a long time in a cauldron under a hood and then serve with a side dish. Also in Budva, all kinds of seafood are deliciously prepared - stuffed squid, sea bream, trout.

True, fish here is not cheap. To save money, it is better to look for restaurants away from the tourist area or buy fish from sailors and cook it yourself. For light dishes in Budva, you should choose various salads with feta cheese and vegetables, and for sweets - palachinke (spring rolls with fillings) and tulumba.

Relax on the best beaches

In the Budva Riviera, even a beach holiday can be classified as active entertainment. After all, on the coast near the city there are so many beaches, called “the property of the coast of Montenegro,” that you can explore them for days on end.

The beaches of the village of Becici with excellent infrastructure and stunning miraculous landscapes are considered to be quite a popular place. Yaz is another beautiful beach, divided into pebble and sandy parts. There is a campsite very close by.

Many consider Kamenovo to be the best beach near Budva. It has a gentle and safe entrance, warm water, and the absence of crowds even in August. Kamenovo has several restaurants, a children's playground and other necessary infrastructure.

If you are with children, you should choose Trsteno - it is a sandy beach with a gentle slope and very warm water. But Trsteno has a drawback: its length is no more than 200 meters.

And within the borders of Budva you can have a good rest on Mogren beach with sand and small pebbles. It has won awards for its cleanliness and is located near the Old Town.

Have fun at Poets Square

One of the amazing attractions of Budva is the Square of Poets, which is held on the main square of Old Budva during significant cultural events.

Here, in a historical setting, various festivals, jazz performances, an annual carnival, literary readings, clown performances, and concerts are held.

And in the summer, the so-called Mediterranean festivals are held on Poets Square. At this time, hundreds of spectators gather here who want to enjoy the music and at the same time enjoy the atmosphere.