Budva Municipality

The municipality of Budva is the tourist heart of Montenegro: roughly 35 kilometers of coastline with sand and pebble beaches, a walled old town, and the famous island village of Sveti Stefan. A trip to Budva combines a beach vacation with Venetian history and excursions into the mountainous hinterland.

Budva and the Riviera

The old town of Budva, Stari Grad, sits on a peninsula and is surrounded by Venetian walls. Its history stretches back more than 2,500 years; Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians all left their mark. After the 1979 earthquake, the old town was carefully rebuilt. The churches of Sveti Ivan and Sveta Trojica stand among its narrow lanes, and the citadel offers views over the bay. A modern resort town with hotels, clubs, and a lively promenade has grown up around the old town. At Mogren Beach, reached by a rocky path, you swim beneath cliffs.

Bečići, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac

To the southeast you'll find Bečići and Rafailovići, with a long sandy beach and seafood restaurants right on the water. Sveti Stefan, a small island with 15th-century stone houses, is connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway; the former fishing village was converted into a luxury hotel, which is at times closed, and it is one of the most photographed sights on the Adriatic. The beaches in front of it and the Miločer bay with the former summer palace of the royal family are partly open to the public. Petrovac is a quieter town with a small Venetian fortress and pine forests. In the evening, people gather at Slovenska Plaža.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

The konobas (traditional taverns) serve grilled fish, squid, mussels, and black risotto, along with Njeguški pršut, air-dried ham from the mountains, and cheese in oil. Vranac, from the area around Podgorica, is the country's best-known red wine. Tivat Airport is about 20 kilometers away, and Podgorica is roughly an hour's drive. Buses connect Budva with all the coastal towns. The best time to visit is May through October; July and August are hot and crowded, while in June and September the sea is warm and the beaches are quieter.