Budva is currently the most fashionable and popular holiday resort on the Montenegrin coast. Vibrant day and night, especially in summer, when real crowds of tourists visit this city.
However, Budva is not only hotel facilities and nightlife, it is also a piece of history that lies within the walls of local monuments.
The biggest magnet here is definitely the Old Town attractively situated on a rocky promontory and numerous beaches. Budva is also a good starting point when it comes to visiting Montenegro in general. The city is located exactly in the middle of the Budva Riviera.
And what tourist attractions and interesting places await you in Budva itself?
Let’s start exploring Budva with our tourist guide.
Tourist attractions in Budva
As we have already mentioned, the biggest attraction of Budva is the Old Town, often compared to that of Dubrovnik. Like it, it is situated on a promontory and surrounded by defensive walls.
See on the map where the Old Town of Budva is located:
The entrance to the oldest part of the city leads through two gates: Sea and Land. The defensive walls in Budva were built by the Venetians in the 15th century, you can now walk on them (for a fee). In addition, it is worth seeing the citadel here, which history did not spare and because of this it was rebuilt many times. It currently houses an exhibition of sailing ship models and a gallery with photos of former Budva.
Many people rave about the view from the citadel.
St. Co-Cathedral John the Baptist
The largest church in Budva, i.e. the co-cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The history of this Catholic temple dates back to the eighth century, however it has been rebuilt many times over the years. Currently, it is a three-nave building with an added bell tower in 1867. Inside, you can admire the works of Venetian artists from the 15th to the 17th century, and above all considered a miraculous image of Our Lady of Budva.
Statue of a ballerina
People visiting Budva very often photograph themselves against the background of the statue of the Ballet dancer, which in a way has become the symbol of this city. The author of this bronze sculpture is Gradimir Aleksić, who was inspired by a local legend about a girl and a sailor engaged to her, who sailed into the sea to earn their future life together and never returned. The faithful fiancee came to the sea every day and looked for him, that’s why the statue of this female figure was put in this place. The sculpture can be found on the way from the Old Town to the ruins of the Mogren fortress.
Beaches in Budva
The local beaches are definitely a magnet for tourists in Budva.
In the city center there is a sandy and pebble Slovenska beach, surrounded by hotels and a promenade at which bars and cafes are located. This relatively long (1.5km) beach can be terribly crowded in the season.
An equally popular place is Mogren Beach, located at the foot of the cliff. Separated into two parts by a rock in water.
Unfortunately, the infrastructure here leaves a lot to be desired.
A little further out of town there is a less crowded, large Jaz beach. You can get here by city bus, own car or taxi. It used to be a naturist spot and even today you can find nudists here in an undeveloped part of the beach.
There are several pubs and a bread store on site.
Aquapark in Budva
An aquapark in Budva will definitely be an attraction for children. There are numerous water slides and a water playground. The park is well integrated into the hills and uses the natural terrain. The Budva aquapark also has catering facilities in the form of restaurants and fast-food bars.
These are not all attractions and interesting places in Budva.
Parties and discos in Budva
Something that the city attracts mainly a crowd of young people are parties and night life. Budva is often compared to Miami in this respect. Discos, loud music and crowds of not very sober people, for some they will be a great advantage of this place, others will avoid it from afar. It is also worth mentioning the cultural side of Budva – young people will definitely be interested in the Sea Dance Festival (electronic and pop music), and others maybe more serious International Theater Festival, organized every year in the summer months.
Budva sightseeing
In Budva, it is worth paying attention to the small church of Santa Marija in Punta. It is the oldest building in the city, built in 840 by Benedictines. It was here that the miraculous image of Our Lady of Budva (Madonna de Punta) was initially located, which was then transferred to the cathedral.
Other interesting sacred objects in Budva are the Holy Trinity and St. Sava Orthodox churches. The first one is distinguished by a frame built of white and red bricks on the plan of a single-nave temple with a semicircular apse. Its extremely colorful interior is covered with paintings by a Greek artist from Corfu. In turn, the smaller of them – the church of Saint Sava from the 12th century is an example of Romanesque architecture. Interestingly, at one time it served not only the Orthodox believers, but also Catholics.
When it comes to museums, it’s definitely worth visiting the Archaeological Museum in Budva, located in a former monastery church. You can see ceramics, glass vessels as well as Roman and Greek jewelry from hundreds of years ago. The exhibition covers the four floors of this building, showing the complicated history of this city.
What to see in Budva
In Budva it is definitely worth going to the nearby island of St. Nicholas. Its name comes from the historic church that is on it. This small temple surrounded by a cemetery dates from the 16th century. However, the inhabitants of Budva themselves call this largest Montenegrin island Hawaii.
This nickname came from its only restaurant, called Havaj. The whole island is covered with dense coniferous forest, and the ships passing there take tourists mainly to the small beach. It is quite rocky and not very large, but its bargaining chip is the views of the city and the entire Budva Riviera.
Morgen Fortress
The viewpoint on Budva is also the remains of the fortress Mogren, located about two kilometers from the city center. These fortifications were built to defend the western borders of Budva during the reign of Austria-Hungary. During World War II, there was a munitions and weapons store. Only fragments of high walls, towers and bunkers, overgrown with wild vegetation, have survived to this day, from which there is an impressive panorama of the whole city. The fortress is located between the beaches of Mogren and Jaz.
One of the most interesting places, but a little distant from Budva is the island of Sveti Stefan. The distance that separates the city and one of the most recognizable places in Montenegro is only 9 kilometers. For this reason it is very often organized trip by tourists staying in Budva. Island of saint Stefan is a former fishing settlement that has been transformed into a fashionable hotel complex with a luxurious status. Celebrities and celebrities from around the world visiting it have added fame. By definition, the island is closed to tourist traffic, after all it is a hotel. However, in the summer, apparently, the service guides tourists around, of course for a fee. In worst case you can always take a selfie with the island of Sveti Stefan in the background.
Opinions about Budva
We are waiting with great interest for your opinions about the city of Budva itself and the holidays you spent there. Your opinions are important to us!