Coastal towns on the Adriatic can be pricey, but many of Budva’s attractions come with a small (or zero) price to pay. Entrance to museums and the city walls cost a few euros, while churches are free to enter. And if you explore the nooks and crannies of the Old Town, you might just wander into a magical sanctuary filled with unique local art.
But that’s not all – off the beaten path, you’ll find vantage points from which to watch the sunset. Head east from Budva’s most popular beaches and you’ll find shores where can bring your own food and drinks for a picnic. Check out the best things to do in Budva on a budget, below.
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Old Town Budva
The prime attraction of Budva
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- History
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Old Town Budva is a medieval walled city that’s been permanently settled since the Roman era. Fortified by defensive stone walls, the Old Town has numerous piazzas connected by the narrow cobblestone streets. Coming from the west, you’ll arrive at Porta di Terra Ferma, the main city gate that opens up to Njegoševa Street, the city’s main boulevard.
Budget travellers can walk around the pedestrian-only Old Town to admire its historical monuments, museums, and cultural attractions. Head north to a large public square containing free-to-enter churches.
Location: Stari Grad, Budva 85310, Montenegro
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Budva City Walls
Explore the walls from north to south and east to west
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- History
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Like most walled cities on the Adriatic coast, the Budva City Walls are complete with towers, city gates and a citadel erected during the Venetian rule. To the south of the wall, you’ll come across the citadel, which was originally the Castle of St. Mary. The eastern and western towers of the citadel are connected to the rest of the city walls.
Through the Middle Ages, the citadel was continually expanded and rebuilt through the Austro-Hungarian rule. For a small entrance fee of about €2, you can walk around the fortress walls, take in a scenic view of the Budva Riviera, explore the nooks and crannies within, and buy some inexpensive souvenirs from nearby shops.
Location: Stari Grad, Budva 85310, Montenegro
Open: Daily from 9am to 10pm
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Statua Ballerina
The graceful physical symbol of Budva
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- History
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Statua Ballerina is an iconic bronze statue of a ballerina by Serbian sculptor Gradimir Aleksic. Located on a walkway to Mogren Beach and with the Old Town as its backdrop, the sculpture is perched atop sea rocks, looking out into the ocean. Her graceful pose beckons vacationers to take a closer look – parts of her body have been polished to a shine by those who think it brings them good luck.
Be cautious of the slippery rocks when you get up there to take photos with Statua Ballerina. The entrance is closed during stormy weather for good reason, so visit just when the sun is about to set to catch her in the best light.
Location: 37 Primorskog Bataljona, Budva 85310, Montenegro
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Holy Trinity Church
Feast your eyes on its elaborate architectural details and interior
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- History
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The orthodox Holy Trinity Church is located in the Old Town of Budva, right in front of the Citadel. Built in 1804, the cathedral's exterior has pink and honey coloured stones with alternating horizontal stripes. The tomb of Stefan Mitrov Ljubisa, a well-known Budva writer and politician, lies in front of the church.
Above the entrance, there’s an elaborate mosaic tilework and 3-domed bell towers. The interior of the church is decorated with colourful frescoes and icons depicting Jesus and his 12 disciples. Entrance to the Holy Trinity Church is free.
Location: Budva Old Town, Budva 85310, Montenegro
Phone: +382 68 711 076
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Podmaine Monastery
A tranquil monastery with a view
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- History
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Built in the 15th century by the Crnojević noble family, Podmaine Monastery sits on a vantage point overlooking the rest of Budva. It was the gathering place of a small tribe called Maine, who lived in the territory below Lovćen, between Stanjevići Monastery and Budva.
Podmaine Monastery is worth a visit if you don’t mind exploring outside the main city of Budva. After Sunday church services, you can see locals mingling and enjoying a beverage. The friendly monks will show you around and tell you about the history of the monastery. There’s even a peaceful garden surrounded by trees and wildflowers.
Location: Crna Gora, Budva, Budva 85310, Montenegro
Open: Daily from 7am to 8pm
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Zelena Pijaca Market
Where bargaining is part of the experience
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- Shoppers
Head to the colourful Zelena Pijaca Market for fresh seasonal local produce or non-perishable food to bring home. It has a large selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, prosciutto, olives, and cheeses. You can kill some time exploring the entire market, while tasting free samples of fruit and wine from different stalls.
Prices for the products aren’t displayed, so bargaining for your purchase is a must-do. If you buy a fresh fish from the seafood stall, they can grill it on the spot at your request for an extra charge of around €3.
Location: 22 Novembra Mediteranska, Budva 85310, Montenegro
Open: Monday–Saturday from 6am to 3pm (closed on Sundays)
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Kužina Restaurant
Enjoy traditional Balkan cuisine in generous portions
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- Food
Kužina is a traditional restaurant in Budva that serves grilled dishes and authentic Montenegrin cuisine. The food often comes in portions large enough to feed 2 hungry people. Make a reservation before dinner or you’ll often have to join the long queue at the door.
Order the ćevapi, a grilled dish of minced meat that’s shaped like a kebab served with fries, and balance it out with a refreshing shopska (salad made of cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, feta cheese, and parsley). Both dishes are mainstays of Balkan cuisine and commonly found in Southeastern Europe.
Location: 20 Novembra Mediteranska, Budva 85310, Montenegro
Phone: +382 68 666 693
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Kamenovo Beach
The best spot for a beach picnic
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- Families
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Kamenovo Beach is located east of the bay of Budva, with a view of Sveti Stefan and the mountains. Don’t want to pay for sunbeds? There’s a free section of the beach with enough space to lay your towels on and sunbathe. The beach is made up of small pebbles, so you might want to wear shoes to get into the crystalline sea. You can even bring your own food and drinks and have a picnic on the beach.
Showers, changing rooms and a beach volleyball court are available on site. We recommend coming here in May as it starts getting crowded from June to early September. Kamenovo Beach is within a 14-minute drive from the Old Town.
Location: Kamenovo Plaža, Budva 85310, Montenegro
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Magic Yard Gallery
An intriguing find in the heart of Old Town
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Touting itself as an art and social club, Magic Yard Gallery showcases Balkan-inspired works of local artists who live in the vicinity of Budva’s Old Town. It also doubles as a little shop selling unique handmade jewellery, ceramics and textiles at reasonable prices.
The gallery has a cosy cafe and courtyard serving coffee, tea, and liquor. Arts and crafts workshops, as well as intimate events with performances by live musicians, occasionally take place in the gallery.
Location: Iva Mikovica 2, Budva 85310, Montenegro
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 11am to 9pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +382 69 875 110
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Muzej
Learn about the history of Budva in the city museum
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- Families
- History
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With Budva’s location on the coast, it’s no surprise that the city’s main museum is about ships. For about €3.50, you can enter Muzej, also known as Museum of the Town of Budva. Using models of ships, the museum tells the history of the city and the changes it’s gone through over the centuries.
The museum displays a collection of ethnographic and archaeological finds, including glass vessels excavated after the catastrophic 1979 earthquake. It’s on permanent display in the archaeological section of the museum. Head to the observation deck on the 3rd floor of Muzej to enjoy a nice view of the city and the bay.
Location: 11 Petra I Petrovića, Budva, Montenegro
Open: Tuesday–Friday from 8am to 8pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10am to 5pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +382 33 453 308
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