Sights of Budva – 20 most interesting places
Budva not only positions itself, but really is the pearl of coastal Montenegro – cultural, historical, tourist and simply aesthetic. The visiting card of this place is the natural beauty of landscapes crowned with dense greenery and deep aquamarine, against which the capillaries of ancient heavy or, on the contrary, surprisingly fragile buildings shine through even more brightly. A visit to this city cannot leave you completely indifferent – these city pages, as if painted, are in amazing harmony with the mood of every person.
Citadel
Author of the photo: Elena Troyan
The powerful walls of the fortress, erected in the name of St. Mary, rise like a stone monolith above the steep coastline of Budva – they have been rising for more than a thousand years, built to protect against warlike Turks and completed by inspired Venetian craftsmen who brought a subtle Mediterranean flavor to this place. A visit to this ancient building is included in the program of most walking tours of the city, welcoming guests from nine in the morning until eight in the evening.
A visit to the Citadel may be of interest not only to connoisseurs of history and romantically minded individuals, but also to lovers of picturesque views from the stone walls – these are both city panoramas and beautiful landscapes, the center of which is the sea. Of interest are also the so-called hidden sights, for example, a thin bas-relief carved on the wall opposite the doors leading to the library.
A pair of skillfully depicted fish, closely intertwined with their tails, has its own history. Visiting the Citadel will not be a waste of time – the estimated price of tickets rarely exceeds two euros, but it is worth remembering that you will need to provide identification documents. An additional fee may be required when visiting the museum building – one of the components of the Citadel, but to visit it or not – it depends on the guests of this place themselves.
Library
The Budva Library or the Old Library – as they like to call it – is an impressive architectural ensemble both in terms of interior design elements and in terms of external design, in which Scandinavian motifs are clearly felt. Today the library is located in the Zeta Filma building, and is only part of a large-scale complex, which also includes an art gallery and an archaeological museum.
The library itself is a work of art. Many tourists come here only for the luxurious backdrops for photographs – photography is not prohibited – and this luxury is perfectly felt in the antique decorations. Local residents often use it for its intended purpose, as well as a center for various scientific congresses, seminars and other events. Of particular interest is also the center for the restoration of ancient epistolary monuments.
The old library is closed to the public only on Sundays, on other days you can get into its hospitable rooms starting at eight in the morning. However, it is better to familiarize yourself with the schedule in advance. Entrance to the library is free, as is being in all its premises. On the other hand, the library belongs to the Citadel complex, and if the walk plan includes something other than the library itself, you will have to pay an entrance fee.
Embankment
A favorite place for walks of local residents and tourists, the embankment is particularly picturesque. It runs along the entire coast from the Old Center to the outskirts of the city. Spreading palm trees surround a wide pedestrian street on both sides.
Rows of restaurants, shops and cafes lined up along it. Picturesque mountains, the island of St. Nicholas open in the distance. It is especially busy here in the evening hours, when the heat of the day subsides. You can endlessly admire the sea in the rays of sunset, snow-white yachts and boats off the coast. The coastal part of the embankment is separated from the water by a parapet.
Velvet lawns, fringed with bright colors, delight the eye. You can spend the evening in one of the outdoor cafes against the backdrop of seascapes. Tours are ordered from here and by boat (5 €) they go to the island of St. Nicholas or to the fashionable peninsula of St. Stephanie.
The ship runs hourly back and forth. Fishing enthusiasts can rent a boat and fish in specially designated areas. In the evening, disco music sounds, the inhabitants of the local hotels have fun from the heart. Fans of unhurried walking walk here until midnight.
Monastery Podmaine
Podostrog or – as it is officially called – the Podmaine Monastery is a rather peculiar architectural ensemble located about two kilometers from Budva, away from the tourist-filled streets, but extremely close to the warm sea breezes. The Podmaine Monastery has a long history filled with bloody pages and pages full of pathos, but the appearance of this place says the least about it – the light walls are completely bare, without stucco and gilding, the same light reflections on the tiled roofs and only a few buildings included in this monastery complex.
Perhaps the most interesting for tourists far from history and religious disputes can be a visit to the Small Assumption Church, whose building is fully consistent with its name. The whole church, it would seem, is just one cell rising above the ground, but in fact it rises above a real underground temple, whose murals had to be restored after a strong earthquake.
It is better to start visiting the Podmaine Monastery as early as possible in the morning, while the sun is still not so hot. You can get here on foot – you just need to follow the signs that are placed throughout the city, however, it is also worth considering that these signs will confidently suggest climbing higher and higher up the slope, so such a walk can become tiring. A taxi ride can cost six or more euros.
Church of the Holy Trinity
In the Budva Old Town there are enough architectural ensembles with a centuries-old history and names that have been inscribed in the centuries, however, only the square in front of the Church of the Holy Trinity is invariably filled with people, despite the fact that most of these people are not true believers, and the church itself should be called rather young, especially against the background of other buildings in this area of the city. But be that as it may, it is this church that continues to attract attention.
This place is a kind of crossroads. Baroque motifs and elements that are more typical of the Byzantine style with its gravitation towards high vaults and large-scale domes are found here. But here there are echoes of past centuries – surprisingly clear echoes, for example, a fairly accurate reconstruction of the famous icon of the same name by Andrei Rublev. The temple itself is almost an exact copy of another architectural structure – the Assumption Cathedral of Podgorica.
It is precisely by its dissimilarity to classical Orthodox churches that the Church of the Holy Trinity attracts, at least this is how most tourists explain their interest, who also could not pass by the walls laid out of white and red stone and ancient fragments of wall paintings.
Budva ballerina
The graceful bronze figure of a naked girl, enthusiastically looking at the sea, frozen in a dance movement, has long become one of the most popular “idols” of the city. In its mood, “Ballerina from Budva” resembles Green's stories about scarlet sails, being just as detached and divorced from reality – nothing is known about this bronze beauty – neither for how long she has been peering into the iridescent reflections on the sea surface, nor who created her or why .
Everyone who wants to share their version of the story comes out a little differently, but almost always in a somewhat sad tone. Meeting the mysterious Dancer is not as impossible as the prospect of learning the real story of the bronze beauty. In this regard, the guests of the Avala Hotel become the real lucky ones, since it is behind it that the boulder on which the statue is installed is located.
The rest of the guests of the city will have to make their way from the embankment in the direction of the old part of the city, courageously ignoring the beach of Richard's chapter, which seems to have descended from advertising brochures. It is worth carefully peering into the surrounding buildings – the required is a new building, diving under a concrete visor that you can go to a narrow ribbon of the path, closely clinging to the sheer cliffs. At the end of this trail will be the beaches of Mogren, where the desired monument is located.
Fortress Mogren
The fortress walls of Mogren were once the most formidable building on the entire coast of Budva. Monolithic stone structures became part of a sharp stone cape, sharply leaning forward, and high watchtowers in the corners of an impromptu rectangle completed the picture. Today, only fragments remain of the fortress walls, but they are slowly disappearing under the green carpet. But this also has its own charm – privacy and the opportunity to take a series of beautiful pictures.
Today, to visit the fortress, you do not need to contact a travel agency or buy tickets – there are no official tours here, so it all depends on the personal enthusiasm of each person. The ruins of Mogren are located about a kilometer from Budva between two picturesque beach areas – Jaz and Mogren – on a rather high hill. Previously, there were several hiking trails, following which you could get to the fortress, but today the path that runs from the Mogren-2 beach has become difficult, and therefore it is better to go along the Jadran highway.
The road along a quite convenient sidewalk will take about fifteen minutes, then the tunnel begins, at which the sign “Tvrdava Mogren” is installed. It is here that you should turn left – onto a country road, which is usually very washed out after rains, and therefore you need to carefully choose the day and time of such a walk. The road constantly rises up and winds through the lush greenery, until, finally, it comes out to the Mogren fortress itself.
Mogren beach
Near the Old Town, between the layered giants of rocks, there is a romantic piece of the coast. The rocks, like giants, parted, freeing up space near the shore for approaching the water. Once upon a time, the Spanish navigator Magrini was found here and two small swimming areas were named after him. They are separated from each other by a narrow passage carved into the rock by the locals.
The length of Mogren 1st is 140 m, Mogren 2nd stretches for 200m. Both areas are owned by the Avala Hotel, so there is an entry fee during the season. Local beauties, good sea, sea views more than pay off all costs. It is rare for anyone to leave here unsatisfied. In the summer season, it is not overcrowded here – it is full of vacationers. They are attracted by the proximity of the location to the center, the picturesque place, small pebbles, with an admixture of sand, coating.
It is easier to get here from the Old Town. On the other hand, the path passes along the windings of a narrow path among huge boulders – romance. Both beach segments are well-maintained, there are changing rooms, showers, sun loungers and umbrellas. A graceful figurine of a gymnast, which has become a symbol of the resort, is installed at the entrance to the zone. There are legends about the monument that interpret its origin in different ways.
Church of Santa Maria in Punta
Today, on the site of the ancient sanctuary dedicated to Hercules, there is a rather simple, even rather austere building made of gray stone, topped with a red tiled roof.
Seeing it for the first time, it is difficult to say whether it is a separate building or just a part of the fortress wall of the Citadel, and to say that this building once served religious purposes is even more difficult. But this is true – the Church of the Virgin Mary is one of the most ancient temples of the Adriatic, although today it is not used for religious ceremonies.
Initially, the church was built by missionary monks from the Benedictine order, under their patronage, it was for almost five centuries, until it passed into the hands of the Franciscans in the fifteenth century. Such an overlay made it possible to create a place that is unique in its beauty – but this beauty does not lie in the style features of the design (it is rather modest here – poor).
Restored after the French conquests, the church of Santa Maria in Punta has excellent acoustics, giving any sound an authentic sound, so today the old church vaults often become a venue for classical music events.
And here the well-known quite festival “Grad-Theater” is held, gathering theater troupes, skillful puppeteers, readers and musicians under the ancient beams, filling the church halls with new colors.
Saint Nicholas Island
Sheer cliffs and dense lush greenery of the island of St. Nicholas are well known to all residents of the city and those who often cruise the waters of the Adriatic. This island was for a long time practically devoid of the pernicious enthusiasm of man and is one of the most secluded and picturesque corners of real nature.
The island got its name, repeating the name of the local church, whose ruins lie among the graves of the crusaders, kissed by the “black death”, which raged in ancient Budva a dozen centuries ago. It is noteworthy that the island can only be reached by water, despite the fact that it is still connected to the land by a narrow ribbon of rocks leading to the Slavic beach.
However, it is not recommended to use this “track” – it can be life-threatening and almost impossible in certain periods. It is better to take one of the ferries or water taxis that ply along this stretch of coast. The cost of such a walk usually varies within five euros depending on the season.
On the island of St. Nicholas, you can not only take a series of impressive pictures – seascapes almost traditionally become one of the best, enjoy the beauty of local plants and loud cries of birds, plunge into the world of slightly frightening legends of bygone centuries, but also just relax on one of the three beaches, ideal suitable for those people who experience the inconvenience of finding themselves in a dense ring of strangers – the coastline of the island is very heterogeneous – many small coves and grottoes, one of which is guaranteed not to catch the eye of anyone.
Old city
The Old Town is an island of medieval authenticity in the midst of the more modern or even fashionable buildings of Budva. If you look at it from above, then the bright tiled roofs and narrow streets will not cause anything but almost childish delight – the fairy-tale town looks like a toy, but you just have to enter the world of ancient architecture in the Venetian style, walk along the streets supported by snow-white walls, breathe in the aroma red geraniums and freshly laundered linen, which is languidly fluttered by the wind – and the attitude changes. The walls no longer seem like toys and in fact in places reach two meters in thickness.
The hallmark of the Old City is the fortress walls of the Citadel, some sections of which have been standing on the coast blown by salty winds for a dozen centuries. It is noteworthy that on the territory of the Citadel there are not only fortifications, but also beautiful churches, museums and an entertainment center.
Five gates lead to the old part of the city, but only two of them are considered to be original historical buildings. You can get here on foot from any corner of Budva – you just need to trust the signs that are found literally at every intersection, or take a taxi.
Usually, for a trip along this route, they can ask about five euros, which is quite a lot, given the fact that most excursions conducted in the Old Town cost two euros maximum, so it's better to take a little walk, enjoying the contrasting views and spend the money saved on new discoveries .
Church of Saint Sava
The unique landmark of the Old Town is dedicated to St. Sava of Serbia. According to legend, he is the founder of Orthodoxy in Serbia. A church in his honor was erected in 1141 in the place where Savva, as a pilgrim, went to Jerusalem. Later, the Franciscans took over the church. In the Venetian era, Catholic and Orthodox rites were held in it. Since the 17th century, the temple has become completely Orthodox.
A small (3×5 m) modest-looking building is built into the fortress wall. It is made of gray and red stone. There is no cross above it, the bell tower does not rise, but their absence does not detract from the dignity of the temple. For local residents, this church is a sacred object. At one time, it housed a military arsenal, after its liquidation, they put things in order here.
Since then, the attraction has the status of a significant monument. Today it does not hold services, but it is open to the public. Fragments of frescoes of the 12th century, a valuable rarity, have been preserved on the inner walls. Close to the temple of St. Sava adjoins the church of St. Mary, which is also worth a look.
Yaz beach
Among the beaches of Budva, Yaz stands out noticeably, which actually consists of two almost independent beach areas. It is highly popular among resort guests, not only because it has become a venue for concerts of stars such as the Rolling Stones, but also due to the presence of sandy beaches – which is a rarity for Budva – and the clear azure hue of coastal waters.
Jaz I Beach is a typical rocky beach with many boulders, gradually the stone turns into small pebbles and completely into golden sand. The beaches are equipped with all necessary amenities, in addition, it is possible to rent a beach umbrella and two sun loungers (about ten euros). It is best to go here before noon, when the beaches are relatively free. Entrance to the beach is free.
Since Yaz is located some distance from the city, walking can be difficult – a narrow country road is easily washed out after rain, but on hot days walking on dusty ground will also not bring pleasure – especially since it will take quite a long time to walk. It is better to use a banal regular bus, which departs from a stop in the vicinity of the Old Town. As a “beacon” you can use the cafe Perla.
Archaeological Museum
Budva, being one of the oldest “idols” on the entire Adriatic coast, has long turned into a kind of living embodiment of historical isolation – the strong walls of the Old Town, its red tiles and purple geranium flowers – all this resembles a beautiful children‘s coloring book for tourists and a complex scientific treatise for fanatics of art and history.
Perhaps it is precisely because of this, almost familiar to everyone, the historical nature of this place that until the dawn of the twentieth century there was even no talk of opening a museum, but today the Archaeological Museum of Budva has become a too familiar part of the landscape – without it the city will lose some of its authentic charm.
The exposition of the museum – as expected – is replete with more than remarkable exhibits that belong to various cultural layers, demonstrating the culture of Greece, Rome and Venice that has changed in favor of the local color, whose “children” at different times appeared in Budva to stay here for a couple centuries.
It is not surprising that the museum building is located in the historical part of the city, and the museum itself does not begin with high walls, but also from the street, along which the “remains” of ancient buildings are scattered in a seemingly chaotic manner.
Cathedral of Saint John
One of the main attractions of the historical center of Budva is located near the fortress wall. The high bell tower of St. John's Cathedral is visible from afar as a landmark. The Gothic temple was erected in the 13th century on the site of a Christian church of the 7th century, which was destroyed by an earthquake. But this building also survived a devastating cataclysm, and in the 17th century it was completely reconstructed.
In 1867, the religious object was supplemented with a bell tower. The severity of the external design makes the appearance of the temple primordial. The restorers retained the Gothic features: the rose window, lancet windows, and the unplastered façade. The interior decoration is also distinguished by restraint of design. The remains of ancient frescoes are preserved on the walls below, the upper part of the walls is simply whitewashed.
The southern part of the cathedral is occupied by the altar of the Mother of God of Health, whose image (icon painting of the 12th century) is in the center. Nearby – the altar of the Holy Cross with the image of the Baptism of the Lord by Florian (1835). The northern altar, decorated with marble, is marked by the main relic of the cathedral – the icon of the Mother of God of Pontus of the 12th century. An 18th century Murano glass mosaic fragment (40 sqm) depicts John the Baptist at the time of his sermon.
Aquapark Budva
The city's most popular modern facility opened in 2016 and immediately became popular with tourists and local residents. The open water park, built by the Russian company Aquaterra, is located on the square. 40 thousand kV. m. It was equipped on the mountain next to the Top Hill disco. The territory is able to accommodate 6 thousand people per day. The irresistible views of the sea coast from here complete an interesting stay here.
The owners have made the space as comfortable as possible. Plenty of sun loungers allow all visitors to use them. 3-level terraces accommodate a large number of attractions. The lower terrace is designed for families with children. It is equipped with children's attractions, the installation of which respected the principle of safety. While the children frolic, parents can watch them sitting on the sun loungers.
Visitors climb the extreme slides to the 1st upper terrace. There are amazing labyrinths in the form of pipes, gutters, snakes and spacious pools. One of them has a bar counter – you can order a drink right in the water. The 3rd terrace is occupied by the entrances to the slides and a large wave pool. For extreme adults, 7 slides are offered: Tornado, Rafting, Hydrotube, etc. Among them, a high-speed slide is a large Kamikaze.
Gallery of modern art
The need for an exhibition pavilion to accommodate art objects in Budva was the result of the annual meetings of artists here. Each of them left one of his works as a token of gratitude to the city. To accommodate them, in November 1972 the Gallery of Modern Art was opened. The solemn exhibition in honor of this event brought together masters of contemporary fine arts from different countries of Europe and Japan.
Tabuti, Dindström, Bradley, Jusselin, Gillet and others donated 1 of their works to the Gallery, creating the Modern Expressionists collection. Throughout the history of development, the Budva Gallery has set itself the goal of presenting the works of the best painters of our time. Today, its exhibition halls display paintings by artists from different countries. Here are paintings by the Mexican Andreas Salgo, the Egyptian Salah Taher, the Spaniard Oscar Estruga, the Serbian Nikola Graovac, etc.
An unusually wide genre and style range of works: oil, watercolor, graphics, canvas, sculpture, photography (about 400 items in total). Of these, the main part is the work of masters of the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. The gallery was named after a compatriot from Budva – the artist Jovo Ivanovich, who led the institution for 30 years.
Fortress Kosmach
Not the most popular tourist attraction is located near the village of Braichi. If you go from Budva to Cetinje, then the Kosmach fortress can be seen from their bus windows. The historical monument of military architecture of the 19th century is located on the hill of the same name (800 m above sea level). The fortress, built according to the latest technologies of that time (1841-50), became a kind of border between Austria and Montenegro.
An excellent overview of the surrounding territory opened from the hill, which made Fort Kosmach an important strategic point. At various times it was owned by the Austrians and Italians. A visit to the fortress turns into a romantic journey among amazingly beautiful views on both sides of the road. You can admire the lush bounties of flora, the blue tops of the mountains.
A narrow road leads to the fort, which is not safe to drive on. There is a hiking trail with signs – many prefer to climb on foot. The fortress is a 2-storey complex of round bastions, with a basement. There are traces of military attacks. The right wing and the central bastion were especially badly damaged.
The destruction was added by the earthquake of 1979. The window openings of the building and the shooting tower were best preserved. According to the remains of the walls, the construction technology is determined, which provides the protective power of the fortress. A visit to this place evokes the idea of the cruelty of war, before which stones are powerless.
St. Stefan
There is a piece of paradise on the Budva Riviera, where the world elite flocks to rest. Celebrities of cinema, show business, politicians, artists were noted here. A few decades ago, a modest fishing village on the Sveti Stefan peninsula could not even dream of turning into an elite place.
Today, its entire territory, located 500 meters from the Adriatic coast, is one huge hotel. Medieval fishermen's houses have been turned into luxury hotels, outwardly retaining their authenticity. The designers did their best to preserve their medieval flavor, which gives the resort a special charm.
Not everyone can afford to stay in the luxurious interiors of local rooms. But everyone can come here to see the wonders of civilization. Here everything is in harmony, thanks to the skillful layout. Wonderful pebble beaches (there are 2 of them), clean, transparent sea, amazing nature are quite consistent with the perfection of domestic comfort.
One of the beaches is public, the other is private, owned by the hotel. Tourists are brought here by boat, the stay is 2 hours. During this time, you can swim, explore the delights of the resort, take a walk in the pine forest, breathe in the coniferous air. Drinks and food are sold in tents along the coast.
Mount Chelobrdo
Tourists visiting the Praskavitsa Monastery certainly climb Mount Chelobrdo. This is a natural observation deck from which the Budva Riviera is visible. The panorama from above is amazing. The turquoise surface of the water, bordered by a beach necklace, St. Stephen's Island, the green caps of the forests – a divine picture.
A stone road leads from the monastery to Chelobrdo, along which they walk. It, according to legend, was built by the monk Yegor Strogov, having spent 10 years on it. Even higher is the Rustovo convent, where there is a church of the Holy Martyrs of the Romanovs. Traveling here by car will be unforgettable. First you need to drive along the highway Przno – Sveti Stefan, then before the fork, leave the highway and move 2 km towards the village of Chelobrdo.
There is a monument to the heroes-warriors, tourists do not bypass it. Traditionally, they stop at a source with sweet-tasting spring water. All the way to the mountain is decorated with enchanting landscapes. But the most amazing views are from Mount Chelobrdo. You can see the botanical garden Milocer, the cities of Przhno, Becici. In the evening, you can watch a magnificent picture of the sunset from here.