Budva

Budva today: the Budva Riviera

Budva is Montenegro's tourism capital, a municipality of 33 settlements on The Coast, within the Budva Riviera. The 2023 census recorded 27,445 inhabitants, comprising 13,122 men and 14,323 women. At its centre, Stari grad Budva is a medieval fortified urban core on a rocky peninsula, with a history longer than three thousand years. The municipality extends from sea level into a mountain hinterland, where Čainski vrh reaches 1326 m and Goli vrh 1087 m.

What to see and do in Budva and Sveti Stefan

The city walls of Budva were presumably built between the VI and IX centuries, their present form shaped by Venetian interventions from the XV to XVIII centuries. Their three towers are Repeno to the north-east, Gradenigo to the north-west and Murava on the southern side. The walls are open from April to November. Within Stari grad Budva, Citadela, also known as Kastel Svete Marije, contains the remains of the Church of St Mary, while the town's cultural institutions include the Museum of the City of Budva, the Modern Gallery and the memorial house "Stefan Mitrov Ljubiša".

The coast includes Mogren, two beaches linked by a tunnel through rock, and Slovenska plaža, Budva's principal town beach. Kraljičina plaža in Miločer is 200 m long and named after Queen Marija Karađorđević, while Ostrvo Sveti Nikola, less than a kilometre from Budva, has three sandy beaches totalling 840 m. Boat excursions from Budva reach the island from May to October, where a hunting reserve is home to deer, mouflons, hares and several bird species. The promenade runs from Slovenska plaža to Stari grad Budva and onwards to Mogren, while the riviera promenade follows Bečići and Rafailovići towards Miločer and Sveti Stefan.

Where to stay and eat in Budva

Marina Budva, in the town centre, has 281 berths for sailing yachts. Aman Spa forms part of Aman Sveti Stefan, where the island of Sveti Stefan operates seasonally and Vila Miločer operates throughout the year. Restaurants are found in Stari grad Budva and along the riviera, generally operating from April or May to October, with a smaller number open throughout the year in Budva. The Budvanska zelena pijaca is the town's green market.

Getting to Budva

Budva stands at the intersection of the Adriatic Highway E65, running from Herceg Novi to Ulcinj, and the M2/3 main road towards Cetinje and Podgorica. Tivat Airport is 20 km from Budva, Podgorica Airport is 60 km away, and Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia is 66 km away. The nearest railway stations are Sutomore at 35 km, Bar at 40 km and Podgorica at 65 km. These connections place the town between the Adriatic coast and the routes leading inland.

When to visit Budva

May to June and September to October offer a quieter atmosphere with a still warm sea. July and August bring the full summer energy, as well as the greatest crowds and the highest accommodation prices; they are also the peak months for sailing. From November to March, most seasonal hotels, restaurants and attractions are closed or operate on a reduced basis. The International Carnival in Budva takes place each spring, and Grad teatar has been held since 1987.