Budva Old Town

Stari grad Budva

A walled old town on a seaside peninsula with over 2,000 years of history; beyond its walls lies Montenegro's hottest beach and nightlife zone, nicknamed 'Montenegro's Miami'.

Budva lies on the Adriatic coast about 23 km south of Kotor. It is one of the oldest towns in the Balkans, said to have been founded by the Greeks around 2,500 years ago. The old town sits on a small peninsula surrounded by walls built by the Venetians in the 15th century and restored to their original form after the great earthquake of 1979. Inside are stone-paved narrow lanes, small squares and restaurants. Key sights include St. John's Church, the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, the Church of Our Lady, and the Citadela at the tip of the peninsula. The Citadela holds a small museum and library, and climbing the walls offers views over the old town rooftops and the sea (the wall walk is charged). Outside the old town, the seafront promenade is a resort area of hotels, bars and nightclubs. The main beach, Slovenska Beach, is long but crowded. Walk west along the cliff path for about 10 minutes to reach Mogren Beach, which is made up of two small coves and has a better environment. Sveti Nikola Island, reachable by boat in summer, also has beaches. About 9 km south of the old town lies Sveti Stefan, a 15th-century fishing village islet connected to land by a causeway, now a private luxury hotel, where visitors usually can only take photos from the viewpoint on the shore. Getting there: take a bus from Kotor, about 30–40 minutes.

Budva Old Town

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