A paradise in the Balkans: Budva
Montenegro's small but colorful and lively holiday resort Budva has not received the Miami of the Balkans nickname for no reason. With a total number of 35 beaches including 8 blue flag ones, one of the best-preserved old towns of the Balkans and the nightlife until dawn are some of the outstanding features of this beautiful place.
Budva Transportation:
To reach Budva, you should first fly to Podgorica, the capital. Then you can take the bus to Budva which takes about 45 minutes. TURKISH AIRLINES has regular flights to Podgorica every day. From Tivat Airport near Kotor, Budva is closer, but there is no direct flight from Turkey.
If you would like to add Budva at the end of your Balkans trip like we did, you can find regular busses from Mostar and Duvbrovnik. At this point I need to give an important information. If you would like come to Budva from Mostar, there are two routes. The regular route crosses through Croatia, so you must have a valid Schengen visa. If you don't, you better use the other line which enters directly into Montenegro border, but takes a little bit longer. Only one bus a day in the morning, uses this line through Podgorica and Budva. We could not find this information on the Internet prior to our trip to the Balkans. You should exactly specify this at the bus terminal in Mostar. The same situation also applies to the opposite direction from Budva to Mostar. You can find more detailed information about bus timetables and tariffs in the Balkans from the site www.balkanviator.com.
Budva Currency:
Montenegro uses Euro. Montenegrins have opted for Euro for convenience in EU accession process. But Montenegro is a very cheap country and you can find delicious food and comfy accommodation at affordable prices.
Accommodation in Budva:
You can fin accommodation for all budgets in Budva. But we recommend you to make your stay in the old town to get the most out of the city. The history, texture and atmosphere of this ancient medieval old town will fascinate you. The old town has some of the finest restaurants in Montenegro. Being so close to the sea and beaches is a big advantage during daytime.You can easily walk to Mogren 1 and 2, Pizana, Greco and the Slovenska beaches. Especially Mogren beaches are our most loved ones with their sparkling ice-cold waters. For great accommodation I can recommend you one favorite place named Sailor House. The resort's owners Nenad and Branka will be your best friends. The only drawback of Sailor House is the Greco Bar just next door. This is one of the most famous night spots in Budva and plays spectacular music, but if you go to bed early or have a baby, it might be a problem. At 1:00 a.m. all the music stops within the old town.
Food in Budva:
Budva has numerous delicious options! First of all for a beautiful and romantic dinner you can choose one of the stylish restaurants around the old town. At this point we preferred Kafana Rivijera and loved every bit of it :) If you would like more affordable options, you should step outside the old city and just on your left you will find a pizzeria which bakes in the old style of wood fire. If you would like to have fish and seafood dishes or we may suggest Fish Express as an affordable option. With its fast service and friendly staff, the Fish Express will show itself on your left after a short walk on the seafront promenade.
Attractions in Budva
1. Old Town (Eski Kent)
This is the heart of Budva. Being an island in the old times and connected to the Mainland with the filling of the sea, it is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast with its approximately 2500 years of history. Budva's history stretches through ancient Greek and Roman periods, but in the old town there is literally a medieval air because in the great earthquake of 1667, the city was completely destroyed and rebuilt.You can make an entry to the old town which is surrounded by walls from a total number of 5 gates. Within the UNESCO-protected old town, you will find the Museum of the city of Budva, Budva Castle, Saint John, Saint Sava and Holy Trinity churches. There are also many dining, shopping and nightlife options within the walls.
2. Sveti Stefan
One of the most fascinating places in Budva is this little island which is connected to the mainland with a narrow path. Being a fisherman's village from 15th century, Sveti Stefan, had held its status until 1960s. Era's Yugoslavian leader Tito, moved the approximate number of 400 population of the village to the mainland and made it into a celebrity's beaten track holiday resort. Any ideas which celebrities accomodated in the island? Sofia Loren, Kirk Douglas, Liz Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, the Queen are just a few. Adriana Lima was there while we were in Budva. In the 90s, during the war years, the tourism life of Budva and the island island nearly came to a halt. In 2009, the island was rented to Aman Resorts for 30 years and found its heyday once again. You can not enter the island if you don't stay there unfortunately. But there is an alternative way. If you reserve a table from one of the restaurants within the island then you may have a chance to see it. Swimming and sunbathing on the beaches of the island is a real pleasure.The water is just crystal clear. But only the beach on the left is open to public. The right side is allocated to hotel customers and you have to pay 100 Euros if you would like to taste it :) Sveti Stefan is mere 5 kms from Budva and there are regular buses from the city center.
3. St. Nikola Island (Island of Hawaii)
Taking its infamous nickname from its geographical structure, this tiny island can be seen anywhere from the city. If you would like to taste some untouched nature and water sports in a much calmer environment, there is water taxi from Budva marina to the island every hour during daytime. There is one thing to take into consideration. The beaches of the island are rocky and especially families with children should be cautious.
4. Beaches
When you think of Budva, of course beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters come to mind. Chosen by Lonely Planet as the Europe's number 1 beach and having hosted the legendary rock bands like the Rolling Stones, Jazz Beach; Mogren 1 and 2 Beaches just next to the old town; always colorful and lively Slovenska Beach which extends 1.6 km along the coastline of the city and of course Sveti Stefan and St. Nikola Islands are the most popular ones. And surely you can find your own secret bay if you rent a car. In short, it is impossible to get bored here!
