Budva Old Town and City Tour
A walled Venetian town on a rocky peninsula, with a citadel, small churches and stone lanes. A guided city tour shows you what the lanes hide.
Montenegro
Budva
Budva is the heart of the Montenegrin Riviera, a walled Venetian old town on a rocky peninsula with some of the Adriatic's oldest stones, a citadel above the sea and a string of beaches stretching in both directions.
Inside the walls, limestone lanes, small squares and churches hide cafes and galleries, while Mogren, Slovenska, Jaz and Becici beaches offer everything from dramatic coves to long family strands. Offshore, the island of Sveti Nikola waits for kayakers, and south along the coast the fortified island village of Sveti Stefan makes the most photographed view in Montenegro. Beyond the coast, Skadar Lake, the mountain capital of Cetinje, the cliff monastery of Ostrog and the high peaks of Durmitor are all within a day. This guide shows you how to enjoy the Old Town without the midday crowds, which boat and kayak trips are worth it, how to choose between Budva, Becici, Sveti Stefan and Petrovac as a base, and which day trips suit your time.
Don't miss
Budva Old Town and City Tour
A walled Venetian town on a rocky peninsula, with a citadel, small churches and stone lanes. A guided city tour shows you what the lanes hide.
Sveti Stefan Island Kayak Tour
Montenegro’s postcard island village, linked to the mainland by a causeway. A kayak tour from Becici shows it from the water.
Sveti Nikola Island Hiking and Kayaking
Montenegro’s largest island sits just offshore from Budva, with quiet coves, a small church and walking trails. A kayak and hike trip reaches it.
Budva Tandem Paragliding
A tandem flight with an instructor from the hills above the coast, over the Budva Riviera and down to the beach.
Things to do in Budva
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Budva Citadel
The fortress at the seaward end of the Old Town, with ramparts, a small museum and the best views over the roofs and the bay.
Mogren Beach
Two pebbly coves just below the Old Town walls, joined by a path cut into the cliff, with clear water and a dramatic backdrop.
Jaz Beach
A long pebble beach west of Budva in a wide bay, known for open space and big summer concerts.
Becici Beach
A long, gently curving beach just south of Budva, with resort hotels, promenade cafes and shallow water.
Sveti Stefan Island Kayak Tour
Montenegro’s postcard island village, linked to the mainland by a causeway. A kayak tour from Becici shows it from the water.
Sveti Nikola Island Hiking and Kayaking
Montenegro’s largest island sits just offshore from Budva, with quiet coves, a small church and walking trails. A kayak and hike trip reaches it.
Budva Islands, Caves and Hidden Beaches Boat Tour
A boat trip along the Budva Riviera past islets, sea caves and beaches you cannot reach by road, with swim stops.
Budva Riviera Speedboat Tour
A fast two-hour group speedboat ride along the Budva Riviera, with views of the Old Town, islands and Sveti Stefan.
Budva Riviera Private Luxury Speedboat Tour
A private speedboat for your party, with a skipper, your choice of stops and time to swim in quiet coves.
Budva Night Lights Kayak Tour
A two-hour evening paddle beneath the lit walls of the Old Town, with the town glowing across the water.
Budva Tandem Paragliding
A tandem flight with an instructor from the hills above the coast, over the Budva Riviera and down to the beach.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Aman Sveti Stefan
Sveti Stefan
A resort set in the fortified island village of Sveti Stefan, with stone cottages, pink-tinged beaches and Montenegro’s most photographed view.
Check rates →Dukley Hotel and Resort
Budva Waterfront
A large modern resort in Budva with a spa, pools and sea views, close to the marina and a short walk from the Old Town.
Check rates →Iberostar Waves Slavija Budva
Budva Centre
A mid-sized resort hotel in central Budva, close to the beach promenade and the Old Town, with a pool and a family-friendly layout.
Check rates →Luxury Hotel Riva Budva
Budva Waterfront
A smaller waterfront hotel near the Old Town, with a boutique feel, sea views and a promenade on the doorstep.
Check rates →Boutique Hotel Vela
Budva
A small boutique hotel in Budva, offering a personal stay and easy reach of the Old Town and the beaches.
Check rates →Hotel Moskva Budva
Budva Centre
A long-established hotel in central Budva, handy for the beach promenade, the bus station and the Old Town at a moderate price.
Check rates →Eurostars Queen of Montenegro
Becici
A large beachfront resort in Bečići with a spa, pools and a direct route to one of the Riviera’s best-known beaches.
Check rates →Hotel Mediteran Conference and Spa Resort
Becici
A resort-style hotel in Bečići with a spa and pools, a good-value choice for a family beach week near Budva.
Check rates →Monte Casa Spa and Wellness
Petrovac
A spa and wellness hotel in Petrovac, a calmer seaside town south of Budva, for travellers who want rest and sea air.
Check rates →Hotel Petrovac
Petrovac
A straightforward seaside hotel in Petrovac, close to the beach and the promenade, at a moderate price.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Budva Old Town and City TourStay
Dukley Hotel and ResortBudva Waterfront
Do
Sveti Stefan Island Kayak TourStay
Aman Sveti StefanSveti Stefan
Do
Sveti Nikola Island Hiking and KayakingStay
Iberostar Waves Slavija BudvaBudva Centre
Budva guides
First Time in Budva: Beaches, Old Town and How Many Days to Stay
A practical primer for a first visit to Budva: the Old Town, the beaches, getting in from the airports, and how to mix the coast with day trips.
Where to Stay in Budva: Old Town, Centre, Becici, Sveti Stefan and Petrovac
A neighbourhood guide to Budva and the Riviera, with hotel picks for each base from the Old Town to Petrovac.
Three Days in Budva: An Itinerary for Sea, Stone and Mountains
A three-day plan for Budva that mixes the Old Town, beaches, a boat trip and one big day out.
Eating and Drinking in Budva: Seafood, Cheese, Wine and Rakija
What to eat and drink in Budva and the Riviera, from grilled fish and black risotto to Vranac wine, plus where to look for the best tables.
Best Time to Visit Budva: Seasons, Crowds, Sea Temperature and Events
A season-by-season guide to Budva, with what is open, how busy it gets and when to swim, hike or avoid the crowds.
Day Trips from Budva: Skadar Lake, Cetinje, Ostrog, Durmitor and the Bay of Kotor
The best day trips from Budva, with travel times, what to expect and how to pick between them.
