10 Best Things to Do in Budva

The Budva Riviera is a 35-km coastal strip that surrounds the town of Budva. In the summer, travellers descend upon its beaches for fun activities like diving and snorkelling. Beaches in the north like Mogren and Jaz are highly popular and often see crowds from June to August. Alternatively, the remote beaches in the south mostly remain tranquil and untouched.

After your time in the sun, drop by the waterfront pop-up seafood market for fresh fish, prawns, squid and oysters. You can also spend the evening in Slovenska, Budva Rivera’s main thoroughfare, where shopping and nightlife are concentrated.

Moderna Galerija (Modern Gallery of Budva) showcases the works of celebrated painters from Montenegro and former Yugoslavia. Tucked away in the Old Town, it offers a quiet escape from the crowded beaches. Must-sees include paintings by Petar Lubarda, Milo Milunović and Milan Konjović, just to name a few. There are many sculptures and drawings by international artists displayed within the gallery's 2 exhibition halls. Moderna Galerija is free to enter. Exhibitions by local artists are held from time to time.

Aquapark Budva is the place to be for something a little more thrilling than lying on the beach. Here, unleash your inner daredevil on 7 slides, which have a maximum height of 26 metres and a total length of almost 600 metres. Afterwards, you can relax in the large wave pool or hydromassage pool, or get a drink at the pool bar. There’s even a massage room where you can rejuvenate with a wide range of face and body treatments. 

Aquapark Budva is accessible by bus near Budva Old Town – it’s a 5-minute drive from the town centre.

Sveti Nikola – or Hawaii Island – is set in the Adriatic Sea, just opposite Budva town. Accessible only by water taxi or boat, it's a popular excursion spot, with 3 big sandy beaches and several smaller isolated rocky beaches around the island. On a day trip to this peaceful island, you can swim in crystal-clear waters and take in the gorgeous landscape of blue skies and green coniferous forest.

While a part of Sveti Nikola is privatised, Hawaii Beach on the northern shore is open to the public. Wild deer, rabbits, and birds inhabit this picturesque island. If you’re lucky enough, you might just come across some of them during your visit.

A scenic drive towards Brajiči Hills will take you to Kosmac Fortress, just above Brajiči Village. Erected in the 19th century, the fortress served as a border between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Montenegro. It has witnessed a rebellion as well as WWI and WWII. Though abandoned, it opens up to stunning panoramic views of the Budva coast and a spacious courtyard for photo ops, especially during sunsets.

Besides exploring Kosmac Fortress, you can go paragliding off the nearby hills, where you’ll get an aerial view of the fortress, Bečići Beach and Sveti Stefan. Paragliding is open throughout the year, although unsurprisingly most popular in the summer.

The 5-km-long road to Krapina Village is narrow and winding, but the feeling of finally arriving in this secret paradise in the mountains is highly rewarding. Only a 15 to 20-minute drive from Budva town, Krapina Village is not really a village, but more of a farm in the forest. This little haven consists of a restaurant serving farm-bred fish, homemade bread, cheeses and honey, as well as a small waterfall with a freshwater pool.

Besides driving, you can zipline across the canyon to the farm. We recommend spending half a day in Krapina Village so that you can make the most of your time enjoying homemade food, swimming, and relaxing in the tranquil garden on the property.

The quaint Rustovo Monastery is a nunnery located on Chelobrdo Hill, which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. To get there, you can drive or take a hike through the Yegor Strganov trail, past the village of Chelobrdo and walk through a forest. Once you get there, you’ll be greeted by friendly nuns who can give you a little tour of the convent. Inside the church, you’ll see religious icons dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. 

When you arrive, ring the bell at the door so a sister will be alerted of your presence and be able to show you around. The monastery closes at 7.30pm, so get there a few hours before sunset to truly enjoy the tranquillity of the surroundings. There’s also a little souvenir shop selling natural products like tea, soap and olive oil. 

Established in 1976 and decorated to resemble a biker's bar, Jadran is a popular family-run restaurant located next to the sea in Slovenska. It serves seafood, grilled dishes and Balkan cuisine. Don’t miss out on the fish soup, or seafood platter of grilled fish, calamari, mussels and shrimps. You can also try local specialities like ćevapčićia – this grilled dish of minced meat is shaped like a kebab, and served with pita and fries. 

Car and bike enthusiasts would love the owner’s collection of vehicles displayed outside the restaurant. A live band usually performs in the evenings, adding to the lively atmosphere of Jadran.

Surrounded by defensive stone walls, the entire Old Town of Budva is only open to pedestrians, making it a breeze to for strolling. It's often packed with sightseers during the summer months, and you wouldn’t have known that it suffered extensive damage during the devastating earthquake of 1979. After 8 years of reconstruction, the damage is hardly noticeable.

Lined with cafes, restaurants, and pubs, the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Town Budva come to life at night. For a better glimpse and feel of Budva’s nightlife, you can go on a pub crawl in the Old Town where cocktail bars and British pubs open until late.

TQ Plaza is a modern shopping centre in Budva. Constructed to look like a ship and spanning 3 floors, this small retail complex has plenty of restaurants and cafes, as well as a gym, cinema, and clothing stores.

This air-conditioned mall often serves as a shelter from the scorching summer heat of Budva’s outdoors. TQ Plaza is just a 1-minute walk of Slovenska Beach and a 5-minute walk of Budva’s Old Town.