Old town
First-timersThe walled town on the peninsula.
Budva city guide
Things To Do In Budva
Montenegro's party coast: a walled old town on a peninsula, a string of beaches and clubs that run all summer, with Sveti Stefan down the road.
7
Hostels in the city
8.9
Average, from 3,772 reviews
2,500
Years of history, roughly
1979
The earthquake and the rebuild
8 km
To Sveti Stefan
The Budva Riviera
Budva is one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic, founded more than two thousand years ago, and its walled old town sits on a small peninsula over the sea. Most of what you see was carefully rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1979.
Around it is the Budva Riviera, a coast of beaches running south to Sveti Stefan, the fortified island village turned luxury resort that is the most photographed view in Montenegro.
In July and August, Budva is a full Adriatic party town, with beach clubs, bars and crowds from across the region, and the most expensive place in the country. In May, June and September it is much calmer. Two or three days is right, and Kotor is half an hour away.
Where to stay
Stay near the old town for walking everywhere, or along the beaches for a quieter stay.
Slovenska Plaža
BeachesThe long town beach and promenade.
Bečići
A calmer stayThe beach resort just east of Budva.
Sveti Stefan
ViewsThe island village and its beaches, south of town.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Budva
Walk the old town, a maze of marble lanes inside the walls, and climb the Citadel at its seaward end for the view along the coast.
Walk along the coast path past the Dancing Girl statue to Mogren beach, two small coves reached through a gap in the rocks.
Sveti Stefan, about eight kilometres south, is a fortified fishing village on an islet joined to the shore, now a luxury resort. You can see it from the public beach beside it and the road above, which is where the famous view is.
Further south, Petrovac has a relaxed beach and a small fortress. Jaz beach, north of town, is long and open.
Free things
Free things to do in Budva
The old town and its walls from the outside are free, and so is the coast path to Mogren.
The beaches are free if you find a spot without sunbeds; in summer, much of the sand is taken by paid beach clubs.
The view of Sveti Stefan from the road and the public beach is free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Budva
Budva has every kind of restaurant, many aimed at summer visitors. Seafood, grilled fish and pasta are the staples, with pršut and cheese from the mountains.
The bakeries do burek and pastries for breakfast. Prices on the old town squares and the seafront are high in summer; the streets behind them are cheaper.
A full meal is €12 to €20 in summer.
Nightlife
Going out in Budva
Budva is the nightlife capital of Montenegro in July and August. Beach clubs run through the afternoon and evening, the bars in and around the old town fill after dark, and the big open-air clubs above town go on until morning.
Outside the summer months, it is quiet.
Drinks are the most expensive in the country in August: €4 to €6 for a beer in the busiest places.
Getting around
Getting around Budva
Budva is walkable along the seafront.
Buses run to Kotor in about half an hour and to Podgorica in about an hour and a half. Local buses and taxis run along the Riviera to Sveti Stefan and Petrovac. Tivat airport is about twenty kilometres away.
The coast road is congested in summer.
Costs
What Budva costs
Budva is the most expensive town in Montenegro in July and August, when dorms can pass €30 and sunbeds cost extra. In May, June and September, prices fall sharply.
A careful day is €40 to €60 in summer. The costs that add up are beach clubs, sunbeds and nights out.
The euro is the currency.
Safety
Staying safe in Budva
Budva is safe, but summer brings the usual party-town problems: drunkenness, pickpockets and occasional drink spiking in crowded clubs. Watch your drink and your friends.
The roads along the coast are busy and fast, and drivers overtake aggressively.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Budva
The whole coast is within reach.
Sveti Stefan
The island village, from the beach and the road above.
Kotor
The walled town at the end of the bay.
Petrovac
A small beach town with a fortress.
Lake Skadar
The largest lake in the Balkans, with boat trips from Virpazar.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Summer in Budva is one long festival.
7 October
56th Dan Širuna
The 56th Dan Širuna is a long-standing city event in Budva celebrating local culture with children's and sports programs, musical performances, and free tastings…
11 October
58th Dan Siruna
The 58th Dan Siruna is a lively celebration of fish, wine, and beer held in the square in front of the Old Town. The…
26–30 October
Budva Folk Fest
Folk groups, choral ensembles, orchestras, and majorette teams from around the world gather in Budva for this international celebration of cultural traditions through dance…
23 November
Boris Nikolaenov
Bulgarian singer Boris Nikolaienov performs live at Mediteranski Sportski Centar in Budva, Montenegro, on November 23, 2026. The concert is his first performance in…
5 October
57th Dan Siruna
The 57th Dan Siruna is a traditional Budva festival celebrating fish, wine, and beer with a diverse program including children's activities, sports, gastronomy, and…
8–11 October
Prosto Fest
Four days of dancing, beach parties, and late-night gatherings bring together a global crowd on Montenegro's coast. Prosto Fest fills Hotel Aleksandar in Budva…
8–11 October
Prosto Fest
A festival of movement, dance, and presence unfolds by the Adriatic in Budva, Montenegro. This year's gathering centers on "Your Queendom" — an invitation…
14–28 October
U19 World Boxing Championships
Montenegro hosts its first World Boxing Competition Calendar event when the U19 World Boxing Championships arrive in Budva this October. Young boxers from around…
Hostels
Where to stay in Budva
The top-rated places to stay in Budva right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
June and September are the best balance. July and August are packed.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Green
May
Excellent
Jun
Sea warm, calmer
Jul
Peak party season
Aug
Busiest and priciest
Sep
Superb
Oct
Quiet and cheap
Nov
Closed down
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The sea is swimmable from June to October.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
August prices run roughly double these.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Budva travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Budva worth visiting?
For beaches and nightlife in summer, yes. For a quieter coast, Kotor or Ulcinj suit better.
Can you visit Sveti Stefan?
The island is a private resort. The view from the public beach beside it and the road above is free.
How do I get from Budva to Kotor?
By bus, about half an hour.
Is Budva expensive?
In July and August, it is the most expensive place in Montenegro. May, June and September are much cheaper.
Where is the best beach?
Mogren is the most attractive near town. Jaz is long and open, and Petrovac is relaxed.
Is Budva safe?
Yes, with ordinary party-town care in summer.
When is the best time to visit?
June and September.
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