Budva

Budva is the most popular city, which is called the resort capital of Montenegro. Tourists who are going on vacation to Montenegro, in most cases, choose Budva for their vacation, because the infrastructure is quite well developed here and there are many beautiful places and beaches both within the city and in the vicinity. In this guide, we will tell you as much as possible about Budva, what to visit here, how to move around the city, find accommodation, pick up excursions and, most importantly, DO NOT overpay!

General information about Budva

Budva was called the Pearl of the Montenegrin Adriatic coast for a reason. There are very clean and well-maintained beaches with stunning views of the mountains. In addition, Budva is ideal for both family and youth holidays. You will find here everything your heart desires: from quiet and cozy places to noisy parties that last all night. Atmospheric restaurants, mysterious old streets, a water park in Budva, nightclubs, and amusement parks will definitely not leave anyone indifferent. If you are looking for a holiday city that has the best combination of beach holidays and infrastructure, then this will definitely be Budva.

History

Despite the fact that the city in the form in which it is now was built quite recently and continues to grow, Budva has saved a piece of ancient history that you will find within the walls of the Old City.

The history of Budva dates back to the 5th century BC. According to legend, it was the first city of the Illyrians, the founders of Budva are the son of the Phoenician king Agenor - Cadmus and his wife, the goddess Harmony, who were expelled from their hometown. They arrived here on an ox cart, due to the fact that they were called a city (βόδι in Greek meaning "ox").

During its ownership, Budva constantly changes hands. It was under the auspices of the Greek and Roman civilizations, in the middle century it constantly wandered from Serbian feudal lords to Zeta ones. In the middle of the 15th century, Budva became the southern outpost of Venice on the Adriatic and till the 19th century, the locals of Budua (as the city was then called) speak the Venetian language. At the beginning of the same century, the city became the first part of the Austrian and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1806 to 1813, this city was managed by the Russian-Montenegrin administration and then fell under French occupation, after which it again passed to the Austro-Hungarians. After World War, Budva became part of Yugoslavia, and after the 70s, due to its climate and favorable location, it began to gain popularity as a prestigious resort, whose fame reached and reached its time.

Budva's districts

Like all Montenegrin cities, Budva is quite compact, but nevertheless it has as many as 18 districts, so it can be quite difficult for visitors to choose a place to stay in Budva.

All districts of Budva:

• Old town Budva (Stari Grad)
• Gosposhtina (Gospoština)
• Golubovina (Golubovina)
• Slavic beach (Slovenska Plaža)
• Zavala (Zavala)
• Veli Vinohrady (Velji Vinogradi)
• Vidikovac (Vidikovac)
• Babin Do (Babin Do)
• Centre (Centar)
• Maini (Maini)
• Podkoshlyun (Podkošljun)
• Lazi (Lazi)
• Babylonia (Babilonija)
• Podmayne (Podmaine)
• Rosine (Rozino)
• Dubovica (Dubovica)
• Bieli Do (Bijeli Do)

The choice of the district for recreation in Budva will depend on your preferences. If you need a quiet and peaceful area near the sea - choose Podkoshlyun, Babilonia, Rosine or Lazi.

Quiet area away from the bustle - Golubovina, Dubovica, Bieli Do.

The central part of the city is Slavic Beach, Center, Maini, Stari Grad. These areas are suitable for those who want to live in the party center, closer to the beaches.

In general, Budva, as mentioned above, is quite small, so the road even from the farthest area to the sea takes no more than 30-35 minutes.

Population

The number of residents in Budva is growing every year, but it is noteworthy that the number of Montenegrins gets fewer. Now approximately 50% of the population of Budva are Montenegrins, 35% are Serbs, 8% are Russian speakers, 2% are Croats and 5% are representatives of other countries (Albania, BiH, etc.)

Montenegrin is the most popular language along with Serbian, but many residents are fluent in Russian and English, so, as a rule, there are no difficulties with communication.

As for religion, Orthodoxy is widespread here, but you can also meet visiting Muslims on the streets.

How to get Budva

In order to get Budva faster, we advise you to fly to Tivat airport, as it is located on the coast. The road to Budva from Tivat will take you about 30-40 minutes without traffic jams if you are driving. The distance from the airport to the center of Budva is 23 km.

If you arrive at Podgorica airport, then the travel time will increase by about 2-3 times, depending on the chosen route (68 km and 81 km).

The most comfortable way to get there is by transfer, since public transport in Montenegro is not very developed, especially when it comes to how to get from the airport to Budva.

However, if you arrive in Tivat, then you can walk to the bus station (about 1.5 km) and there you can already take one of the scheduled buses. They go to Budva about 1 time in half an hour or an hour. Read more about the bus from Tivat here.

Budva bus station is located near the city center. From there, you can easily get to any place. The distance to the beach is about 1 km.

From Podgorica, you also have two options to choose from:

• Transfer from Podgorica airport to Budva
• Taxi to the Podgorica bus station. And the rest by bus to Budva.

Первый вариант вам обойдется примерно в 80 евро. Второй — 8-12 евро такси до автобусной станции и далее около 6-8 евро за билет.

Another, perhaps the most comfortable option is to rent a car. You can rent a car at Tivat or Podgorica airport quickly and without problems. The main thing is to book a car in advance because in the summer there can be no available cars.

Sights of Budva

There is something to see in Budva, but all the sights can be explored in 1-2 days, so we recommend that you pay attention to various excursions around the Bay of Kotor, as well as other offers, such as quad biking in the canyons or boat trips on the sea.

What to see in Budva?

Stari Grad (Old Town)

This district is the most famous and presentable, because the spirit of old Budva has been preserved here. Cobbled streets, narrow passages and magnificent views will completely immerse you in the atmosphere of the southern Balkans. Everyone should definitely visit here, and, frankly, you are unlikely to be able to somehow get around this area, especially if you want to look at the symbol of Budva — the statue of the Ballerina. There are also guided tours in the Old Town. They last approximately 1.5-2 hours and cost 5-10 euros per person.

Statue of a Ballerina

On the outskirts of Budva, on the way to Mogren beach, you will see a beautiful statue and a symbol of the city — the Statue of the Ballerina, or as it is also called — the statue of a gymnast. A very beautiful legend is associated with it, which we will tell you about in a separate post. But if you find yourself nearby, be sure to make a wish and rub the statue. The most favorite places for this will be immediately noticeable :)

Citadel

It offers the most beautiful panoramic view of Budva. The entrance to the Citadel costs € 3.5. It is located on the outskirts of the old city, so be sure to look here. In the summer, weddings, various concerts and festivals are often held here, maybe you are lucky to visit one of them. Also inside the Citadel there is a chic library and a beautiful courtyard with a museum and the ruins of an ancient church. By the way! Find a small sign with fish in the Citadel, lend a hand, and ask for eternal love.

Fortress Mogren

Or rather, its ruins are located just above the most beautiful Budva beach. This fortress was built here during the Austro-Hungarian rule (approx. 1860s) as a defensive structure. With her help, the Austro-Hungarians took control of all the roads that led to the city, including even approaches from the sea. Now the entrance to it is free, but its appearance is far from ideal, and nevertheless, you can touch the history and enjoy the breathtaking view of the western coast of the Budva Riviera.

Lookout point in front of the tunnel in Becici

You can get from Budva to Becici on foot by going through a pedestrian tunnel decorated with dozens of different graffiti. But before that, be sure to look at the lookout point. Climb the stairs to the Duklya beach car park and head towards this 📍place.

Monastery Podmaine

This monastery was built in the 15th century and is best known for its frescoes. 📍 It is located on a hill, but nevertheless the road to it is paved and quite good. Also not far from the monastery there is a beautiful Maine bridge, be sure to look here, a very picturesque place.

Aquapark in Budva

In 2016, a large aquapark was opened in Budva, where both children and adults will find entertainment. It opens from June to September and costs €15 (children) and €18 (adults).

Beaches

How can we stay without beaches when it comes to the most visited tourist city in Montenegro. The beaches of Budva are mostly small pebbles, but sand is also brought here during the season. Therefore, you can choose a place to your taste.

Most popular beaches:

• Mogren (Mogren) — the most famous sandy beach of Budva. Located 500 meters from the Old Town.
• Pizana (Pizana) — small beach in the Old Town (sand + small pebbles).
• Slavik beach (Slovenska plaža) — the longest small pebble beach in Budva. Here, as well as on Mogren beach, there are always a lot of people.
• Yaz (Jaz) — also a sandy beach, which is located 4 km from Budva. It is divided into two parts, one of which is nudist.
• Trsteno (Trsteno) — small cozy beach for families with children.
• Ploche (Ploče) — pebble beach far from the center, but with good infrastructure.
• Hawaii (Hawaii) — this beach is on St. Nicholas island and has just amazing view of the city.

You can get to the island by boat for € 3 in both directions. It has everything you need for a comfortable stay

Prices

During the beach season, prices in Budva increase by 2 times, but even then it’s cheaper to relax here than in any other European city. If you take a budget tour to Budva, then it will cost you less than a self-organized trip. But if you want nice apartments or a good hotel, then in some cases a self-organized weekend will be more profitable. On average, expect that in Budva you will need 50-80 euros / day per person (this is food + sunbeds + excursions).

Food in cafes or restaurants will cost you 10-20 € per person. Please note that the portions here are quite large.
Ice cream scoop – +-1 €
Sunbed on the beach – 5-10 €
Accommodation – from 35 euros / day.

Weather

It is quite hot on the coast in Montenegro in summer, and rains are a rarity. Therefore, if you are going on a beach holiday, then you are guaranteed sunny days. It is also worth considering that here the weather can be very changeable, but if there is rain in summer, it is usually no more than 5 minutes, you won’t even have time to hide when everything passes.

Beach season

The swimming season in Budva starts from the end of May and lasts until mid-September. At this time, there are most people here. But if you do not like the crowd, then you can safely come in the second half of September-early October. The water is still warm here at this time, but there are much fewer tourists. In April, the weather is also warm, but it's still too early to swim, unless you like cool water.

In the winter season, ideal weather sets in on the coast to explore the mountains and fortresses (and there are a lot of them in Montenegro). In addition, at this time you can travel around all the sights without tourists and at a reduced price.

Taxi

Neither Uber nor Bolt is here. Therefore, a taxi in Budva should be ordered only through local services. You can also take a car from the street, but make sure it's an official taxi service, as locals can charge much higher prices. There were cases when tourists were asked for 200 euros for a 15-minute trip from Budva to Sveti Stefan. Always ask taxi drivers for an approximate cost in advance and do not get fooled by the "taximeter" so as not to get into unpleasant situations. The average fare for Budva in the season is € 1 per km and € 1 for the start of the trip.

Accommodation rental

In recent years, Budva has been actively growing, so renting a house in this city is becoming easier, and in some moments even cheaper. You can book an apartment or a hotel room through online services, but also in Montenegro you can do it the old-fashioned way, looking for signs and announcements on houses. A fairly large part of the population here does not have a digital education, so sometimes even good housing options can be found only by studying ads, asking and clarifying by phone.

Hotels

There are many hotels in Budva for every taste and budget. Prices start from 60 € per night, depending on the conditions of residence. It is worth noting that the All-inclusive system is not popular here, so do not pay much attention to this filter when choosing accommodation.

Apartments

If your vacation in Montenegro lasts more than a week, we recommend you give the preference to apartments with their own kitchen and washing machine. The cost of renting apartments in a beach season in Budva, as a rule, starts from € 50, you can find cheaper options, but living conditions there will be very poor.

Rent a Car

Here is the largest selection of cars for rent, so renting a car in Budva is not a problem at all. It’s also nice that the deposit for a car here is very small, and in some cases, it doesn’t exist at all, which makes car rental in Montenegro very affordable. It's much better to book well in advance. Here you can use both global rental services (Hertz, MyrentCar, etc.) and contact local rental companies, where conditions can be more favorable. You can also rent a car “from hand”, but you need to contact only verified contacts.

Excursions

Montenegro is a very beautiful country, so if you want to feel its flavor, we advise you to go on at least 1-2 excursions outside of Budva. Depending on the size of your company, as well as on your personal wishes, you can choose both group and individual excursions with a personal guide. In addition, dozens of excursions to nearby countries (Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and even North Macedonia) also depart from Budva, so you can visit several countries at once during your vacation.

It often makes no sense to book excursions online, because upon arrival you will find many travel companies that can give you an additional discount. So feel free to ask.

Group excursions

They are usually cheaper, but the emotions from such excursions are smaller because you need to adapt to others. In addition, there are always a lot of people, which means that the chance to take beautiful photos tends to zero. But in this case, all the routes are already thought out and you should not worry about anything or look for additional information.

Most popular excursions

• Excursion around the Bay of Kotor
• Canyons of Tara and Moraca
• Quad biking in the Montenegrin canyons
• Skadar Lake
• Durmitor National Park and Black Lake
• Rafting on the Tara River
• Excursion to the Ostrog Monastery, which is located in the rock
• Excursions to the island of Sveti Stefan
• Lovcen National Park

Individual excursions

The beauty of private tours is that here you belong to yourself. You do not need to adapt to anyone, and you can even decide the time of departure yourself. During individual excursions, you can stop in beautiful places, take photos and even turn on your own music :) Montenegrins, as a rule, try to bring their own flavor, so they include the local repertoire, but it is not for everyone.

In addition to the fact that you can take individual excursions in Budva by car, sea trips without crowds of tourists are also available to you. Excursions on a private yacht or speedboat to the most remote corners will definitely not leave you indifferent. In addition, the Bay of Kotor is fraught with many beautiful places where you cannot get to without a boat.

Communication and Internet

In Montenegro, you rarely find Wi-Fi in public places, mostly it is only at airports, but you should not expect it at bus stops, buses or railway stations. It happens that you can find free Wi-Fi in Montenegro on the bus, but this is more an exception than a rule. Nevertheless, in all cafes, restaurants, hotels and guest houses you will not be left without the Internet, so you should not worry too much about this.

If you need constant access to the mobile Internet, then you will need to buy a local SIM card or order roaming.

Mobile operators in Montenegro

Telenor

If you are looking for an inexpensive solution, then this operator is perfect for you. The cost of a SIM card starts from 6.9 EUR for 5 GB of Internet.

Telecom

This operator has a representative office in many countries, so it is more widely distributed in Montenegro. You can buy a Telecom SIM card in their branded stores. There is quite a wide choice, but 5 GB of Internet will cost 7.90 EUR, a little more than Telenor. But this is provided if you buy a package for a month. For 7 days, such a tariff will cost you 3.95 EUR.

Mtel

The most popular operator among tourists. You can find signs with these SIM cards in almost any stall. The cost of 500 GB for 15 days costs only 10 EUR. Therefore, if you plan to use the Internet a lot and often, this is a great option.

Food

There are a lot of different places in Budva where you can have a delicious meal. As a rule, no matter what restaurant or cafe you go to, you will be warmly welcomed and fed everywhere.

In this city you can find Italian, American, Montenegrin and even Japanese cuisines.

The only thing is that there are still not so many vegetarian or vegan cafes, as well as coffee houses where you will be prepared a drink with alternative milk. Therefore, if you want something so unusual, it is better to first purchase your favorite lactose-free milk in the supermarket.

If you are looking for something delicious to eat from Montenegrin cuisine, then all information about the main dishes is written in the “Local Cuisine” section. There you will find a variety of local dishes that you should definitely try.

Shopping

Budva has shopping centers where various small-sized shops are located. You will not find huge shopping malls here, but nevertheless there is a choice. In summer, there are also many small shops along the embankments that sell inexpensive clothes and accessories, so if you forgot your towel, glasses, bag, cap or hat, you can easily buy them here at quite reasonable prices.

But you should not go to Budva for shopping. For these purposes, it is better to choose Bar, because there is a port where many goods from Italy are delivered. Therefore, there are quite a lot of Italian clothing and footwear stores.

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