In summer, the squares and courtyards of Budva’s Old Town become stages: the “City Theater” festival takes place during the summer months and was founded in 1987. Culture and historic urban spaces come together here in a special way. The Old Town itself is surrounded by medieval walls with a fortress, towers and gates.

Discover history and culture

In the Old Town, the Museum of the City of Budva presents archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions. The citadel offers views of the city; it houses a small museum, a library and a fish relief that symbolizes Budva. Within its walls, different ways of exploring history sit side by side: exhibitions, collections and a city landmark.

Religious and cultural sites beyond the Old Town also tell stories of different eras. An active church dedicated to Saint Petka has been preserved at the Podmaine monastery complex. The Praskvica Monastery near Sveti Stefan is considered one of the oldest and most significant monasteries on the Montenegrin coast; its library, archive and treasury are among the cultural treasures found there.

Sveti Stefan was created more than five centuries ago by adapting stone houses on an island. In Petrovac, two other discoveries offer a glimpse into cultural history: the Roman mosaics are floor decorations from a Roman building that probably dates from the 3rd or 4th century AD. The Spomen Dom Crvena komuna comprises an art gallery, a library and a revolution museum.

The Spomen Dom Reževići is housed in a former school building dating from 1856 and includes a gallery, a library and an ethnographic room. Presentations, exhibitions, discussion events and poetry-and-music evenings are held there. Those interested in the connection between architecture and cultural heritage will also find a range of topics to explore at the citadel, the monasteries and the institutions in Petrovac.

Beaches and coastal landscapes

The beaches differ in their character and accessibility. Mogren consists of two beaches connected by a tunnel. A 350-metre concrete path leads there from Hotel Avala; strong southerly winds and waves can make the route unsafe. Crvena Glavica comprises seven smaller beaches, some of which can only be reached by boat or by swimming. Bečići Beach was awarded the Grand Prix in Paris in 1935 and the Golden Palm in 1965.

Buljarica offers a different measure of size: the beach is 2,250 metres long. Drobni Pijesak lies in a secluded bay and is most easily reached from the sea; it is a destination for both tourists and locals. On the Bečići beach promenade, the Church of Saint Thomas stands on a rise among pine and cypress trees; it can be reached from the beach.

Nature and trails

In the Buljaričko polje wetland, a nature reserve provides a habitat for numerous rare plant and bird species. Miločer Park is a garden with exotic trees and flowers in the Sveti Stefan–Miločer tourist area. An ancient olive tree stands near Ivanovići. It is around 2,000 years old and was registered and protected as a natural monument in 1994. A roughly two-kilometre path leads from the Budva–Bar highway through the settlement and village of Ivanovići; a 30-metre stone path then leads to the tree.

There is also practical guidance for hikers: the Budva Riviera has almost 150 kilometres of hiking trails within the municipality. They lead through the hinterland and connect authentic coastal villages. The historic hiking trail Jegorov Put runs from Miločer to Čelobrdo. The BudvaTrails hiking app can be used free of charge online and offline; check whether it is currently available before making plans.

Local experiences

Dan Širuna features a traditional tasting of freshly prepared širun, a bluefish served with local wine or beer. There are diving clubs in Budva, Pržno, Sveti Stefan and Petrovac. If diving is part of your plans, it is best to check current offerings and rules directly in advance. Budva Marina has 330 commercial berths in the sea.

Budva brings together medieval architecture and cultural institutions with diverse coastal landscapes, natural sites and hiking trails. Plan your discoveries around the subjects that interest you most: city history, religious heritage, beach landscapes or trails through the hinterland.

Discover more destinations: Bečići, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac Na Moru, Miločer, Budva, Pržno, Kaluđerac, Buljarica, Katun Reževići, Kuljače, Rijeka Reževići, Markovići, Lapčići, Boreti, Prijevor, Drobnići.

Go to the main travel overview: Montenegro.