Features of rest in Budva

Budva is a popular tourist resort, to which thousands of Russians go every year. It is famous for its sunny beaches with crystal waters and rich historical heritage. In this article, you will get acquainted with the main features of rest in Budva.

Budva is a city in Montenegro located in the central part of the Montenegrin Adriatic. The history of the city goes back to BC - the first records of ancient Budva appeared 2.5 thousand years ago.

Today the city is the official site of the Budva Riviera, which is considered the largest tourist center in Montenegro. In terms of area, Budva occupies a little less than the area of ​​the regional centers of Belarus and Ukraine - 122 square kilometers. The city is surrounded on all sides by a mountainous landscape and rocks.

According to the latest census, the population of Budva is about 15 thousand people, with almost a third of this figure being tourists and non-indigenous people. The tourist potential of Budva had a beneficial effect on demographic growth - until the 80s of the twentieth century, only 4.5 thousand people were registered in the entire district.

Budva belongs to the resorts of the Mediterranean climatic type. Mostly hot summers and warm winters are observed here - at least 8-9 degrees in January and February. The sun warms the city almost 300 days a year, making it an ideal resort for holidaymakers from all over the world.

The average summer temperature here is around 23-24 degrees Celsius. The average water temperature is ideal for swimming - about 25 degrees, in autumn and spring it does not drop below 17 degrees. Even despite the proximity to water and high temperatures in the region, there is a low level of humidity - up to 80% in the fall and up to 60% in the summer season.

Budva is filled with a huge number of hotels and inns even for the most discerning tourist. Throughout the city and beyond, you can count several hundred establishments that annually receive tourists.

The price of staying at a hotel most often depends on the distance to the coastline and the nearest beaches, as well as on the infrastructure of the area. Thus, the most elite hotels and five-star hotels are located on the first line no more than 100 meters from the beach.

The best hotels in the city are Moskva, Zeta, Majestic, Kadmo, Hermes Budva. Most of them are equipped with everything you need for a comfortable pastime. Accommodation prices can range from 70 to 90 euros per night.

A more budget option would be housing within the city limits - most of the indigenous inhabitants of Budva are engaged in settling tourists in their apartments. In a sense, the tourist flow is a gold mine for this city.

If you do not have enough money to stay in these hotels or in rented apartments, you can book rooms in 3-star hotels. The most popular three-star hotels in Budva are Giardino Apartments, Apartments Vidikovac, Vila Simona Lux, Hotel Admiral. Prices for apartments here are more budgetary - from 30 to 50 euros per night.

The heritage of ancient Budva has dozens of the most valuable sights. These are monuments, squares, architectural structures, some of which are more than one hundred years old. Some tourists choose a vacation in Budva, relying precisely on the cultural wealth of this city - in Montenegro, its historical heritage is considered the richest. It is worth considering those sights that most often flash on the pages of guidebooks and in the stories of tour guides.

There are more than 3 thousand exhibits covering the historical period from the 5th century BC up to the 20th century. Until the second half of the last century, the city did not have its own museum, the idea of ​​opening it arose only in 1962. Around the same time, the museum received official registration and began to actively replenish with exhibits, but the opening itself took place only in 2003.

Until 1979, the museum's collection numbered no more than 2.5 thousand items, mainly old jewelry, coins and elements of old ceramic and glassware and weapons. Most of these finds came into the museum's collection from the excavations of 1937 and dated back to the 5th-4th centuries BC.

In April 1979, a devastating 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Montenegro. It affected cities and areas such as Kotor, Bar, Ulcinj and some other coastal areas. Budva was also one of the affected cities.

The natural cataclysm had a devastating effect on the integrity of many historical monuments, not to mention the fact that it caused the death of dozens of people, but for the future museum, it did in some way a most valuable favor.

The earthquake stripped the streets, lanes and foundations of old Budva, thereby creating fertile ground for more thorough research and excavations. As a result, archaeologists discovered several hundred more unique finds that helped shed light on the history of the city.

The museum is open from 8.00 to 20.00 every weekday, on weekends - until 17.00. Entrance fee for an adult is 2 euros, for a child - 1. There is a possibility of conducting excursions in groups of 3 people.

Guides know this place as the Budva medieval fortress named after St. Mary. It is considered one of the main attractions of the city, often depicted on souvenirs and advertising posters of travel agencies. The Citadel is the unofficial center of the entire Old City.

The history of the Citadel dates back to the 9th century, at that time it was a full-fledged fortification-type fortress, designed to serve as protection against regular raids by Turkish invaders. Due to numerous hostilities, as well as the destructive force of time, only the northern and eastern walls, including one of the northern towers, have survived to this day. The rest of the buildings in the structure of the Citadel were erected already in the 15th century by Venetian architects and were intended to strengthen the defensive position of the city.

Many tourists, climbing the observation platforms and the tower of the Citadel, note a strange feeling - as if time had stopped in this place and the sounds of the relentless battle for these ancient shores can still be heard.

Today, the Citadel is not just a historical site, but also plays an important role in the cultural development of the city itself. Today on the territory and in the buildings of the Citadel there is a working museum of maritime affairs, an extensive library dedicated to the history of the Balkans, a small restaurant with an open terrace.

The name of the city also has a direct bearing on the Citadel itself. On one of its walls (near the entrance to the library itself) there is a bas-relief depicting two fish with intertwined bodies. This sculpture is the main legend of Budva. According to legend, it denotes two lovers who in ancient times threw themselves into the sea due to the refusal of their parents to bless their marriage. The lovers did not die, but transformed into two beautiful silver fish that still swim in the generous waters of the Adriatic.

The story soon turned into a legend, and that case began to be identified with the stable phrase "Ko jedno nek budu dva", which means "Let the two be as one". It was from this phrase, according to legend, that the name of the city was formed.

It is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations. The island is small in length - only 2 km, its area is 47 hectares, it is located only one kilometer from Budva itself, while the entrance fee is not required. The entire "tail" part of the island is equipped with sun loungers and places to rest, the rocky part is closed to the public. It bears the name "Hawaii" in honor of the famous tourist resort.

There are several bars on the island, a paid toilet (free for visitors to the restaurant), 1 full-fledged restaurant and a small inoperative church. Despite the fact that the entrance to the island is free, you will have to get there for a fee by boat, you will also have to pay for a sun lounger and an umbrella (from 10 euros), but no one will bother you to grab your towel and just sunbathe on the rocks. Prices in bars and restaurants on the island are much higher than in the city, so food and water are worth taking your own.

Another famous Budva landmark. A bronze figure, as if hovering above the sea waves, is located on the territory of the popular Mogren beach. She is an unofficial symbol of Budva, symbolizes lightness and loyalty, she can often be found on souvenirs, photographs and advertising posters.

The legend, which they are trying to explain the appearance of the sculpture, tells about the romantic story of a young couple - a young sailor and a dancer. They loved each other dearly, but the sailor's sea voyages separated them.

Every time he returned to the shore, the girl came to the rock and danced until his ship didn’t dock.Once his ship never returned, but the girl never stopped coming ashore. She waited for him in the rain and frost, staying true to her oath, and danced, imitating the sea wind and waves. She never waited for him, but retained her love until her death.

It was this legend that inspired the sculptor Gradimir Aleksic when he created this amazing bronze statue. The outstretched hand of the dancer is directed upward, towards the sun and the sea - the only witnesses of the fate of her beloved. There is a belief that any wish you make near this sculpture will come true someday.

One of the few active Orthodox churches in Budva, located practically in the center of the Old Town, opposite the Archeology Museum on Starogradskaya Square. The church itself was built at the end of the 18th century and is made in the Byzantine style. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Citadel itself, performing both a spiritual and a defensive function. The foundation and walls of the church are made of solid white and red stone.

This Catholic church in the Gothic style was built in the 7th century. It was destroyed and restored several times, but today it is presented in its almost original form. The temple houses the famous icon of the Budva Mother of God. It is believed that it was written by Saint Luke himself and has miraculous and healing powers.

The temple is one of the main attractions of the city - The bell tower of this church can be easily seen over all the houses in Budva along the elongated triangular spire.

The Middle Ages were famous for the worship of the Virgin Mary in Montenegro, and therefore in Budva itself there are several architectural buildings dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

It is believed that the church was built at the beginning of the 9th century almost simultaneously with the construction of the Citadel itself and is an immediate part of it. The prefix "punta" actually denotes the location of the church on a promontory or "at the tip." At the beginning of its existence, the temple belonged to the Benedictines, and in the middle of the 15th century it came under the direct command of the Franciscan order.

It is believed that the site for the construction of the church was exactly the place where in the 9th century the monks presented the icon of the Holy Virgin Mary to the residents of the city. Already at that time, there were a large number of believers on the territory of Montenegro, so interest in this icon grew every day, attracting more and more pilgrims. This was the main reason for the construction of the temple.

Initially, the miraculous icon of the Budva Mother of God, which was already discussed above, was located in this temple, but in the first half of the 19th century, due to the invasion of these lands by French troops, the icon was moved to the Church of St. John.

The interior appearance of this church was significantly damaged during the Napoleonic wars; at some time there was even a real stable in the temple.

Today the temple is not used for its intended purpose, however, it often becomes a venue for chamber music concerts and various cultural festivals.

It is also considered one of the oldest Budva Orthodox churches, named after Saint Sava the Sanctified (considered the official founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church). The temple is also part of the city's Citadel, however, it is not so noticeable against the background of other attractions. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Church of St. Mary in Punta, however, unlike other religious buildings, it does not differ in either the presence of a bell tower or crosses on the walls and roof.

It is believed that the temple was built a little later than the Church of St. Mary, and serves as a place for the collection of Catholic and Orthodox masses for only 8 centuries (that is, the construction time is approximately the XII century).

Like the Church of St. Mary in Punta, this temple is not used for its intended purpose and no longer serves as a gathering place for pilgrims, but you can get inside as a tourist. The interior of the temple is rich in many ancient frescoes and paintings.

There are 3 beaches on the territory of Budva, they differ in the distance to the city, the number of sun loungers and free seats, the presence of open bars and restaurants, the temperature of the water and the strength of the surf. If you take into account the beaches outside the city limits, then there are as many as 8 beaches near Budva, but 5 of them cannot be reached on foot, you will have to order a taxi or transfer.

The most popular and most expensive beach in Budva. It is located close to the Old Town - it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk to it. The beach is small-pebbled, the water is very clean, transparent and has pleasant azure and emerald hues.

There are a huge number of sun loungers on the beach, which cost 20 euros for one person, the entrance to the beach itself is free. In addition to clear water and an excellent view of the open sea, there is a small green forest behind the beach - it seems as if you are lying somewhere far away on an uninhabited island among palm trees and untouched nature.

In fact, Mogren is divided into 2 separate beaches, these are Mogren I and Mogren II. Between them there is a convenient passage in the rocks, so you can change your resting place at any time.

The prices for food in a local bar are much higher than on other beaches, however, the infrastructure is much nicer here. Not far from this beach is the famous figure of the dancer, which was described above.

If we talk about the differences between the beaches of Mogren I and Mogren II, then the first one is equipped with a large number of sun loungers, there are more cafes and the water is quieter there, while people with towels rest more on the second beach.

It is the longest (1.6 km) and cheapest beach on the territory of Budva, while the most popular. It is easiest to find it - it is located directly on the very waterfront of the city. The type of soil is fine-grained and sandy.

The water here is very clean, quite warm and calm, the descent to the water is smooth, as is the entrance to the sea. The beach is surrounded by green trees and bushes on all sides.

The entrance here is free, sun loungers are twice cheaper than in Mogren - 10 euros. Also, for convenience, there are toilets, Wi-Fi, showers, changing cabins, you can order a massage.

The beach itself has all the possibilities for active games like volleyball, basketball and football. You can also order a parachute flight, go water skiing, there is equipment for pair diving, not so long ago, bungee jumping was arranged on the beach, or ordinary bungee jumping.

Due to the fact that the beach is located directly within the city, with infrastructure, and especially with food, you will not have any problems... For those wishing to cool off or grab a bite, there are several restaurants and cafes nearby with hot food and refreshments. It is easy to find ice cream, food in restaurants, both traditional and exotic and seafood.

In addition to places for food, along the beach there are a huge number of souvenir shops with various goods, which in most cases are from China, but you can find shops with original crafts and textiles.

The disadvantage of this beach is that there even in the non-tourist season, there are a lot of tourists... By itself, it is very large, therefore there are a lot of sun loungers and places for vacationers with towels. It will not be possible to simply lie under the sun under the peaceful cries of seagulls; in any case, it will be the cries of children and drunken vacationers. There is no need to worry that there will be no seats, even on the sunniest day there are a huge number of free sun loungers on the beach.

Located in close proximity to the historic city center. The type of soil here is pebble, it is about 100 meters long. Most tourists and even locals prefer to include this beach as part of the Slovenian Beach, however, this place has its own unusual name - Richard's Chapter, which literally means "Richard the leader." The name of the beach is given by the name of the American actor Richard Widmark, who in 1963 starred in the movie "Viking Ships" right in this area. It is also believed that the beach was named after Richard Burton.

This beach cannot be called special - it is quite small, not equipped with a large number of restaurants and cafes, however, it is located very close to the city. There are much fewer people there than on other beaches, sun loungers and umbrellas are much more expensive there.

On this beach, there are practically no free places for people with ordinary towels; most of it is occupied by tables and comfortable sun loungers, on which celebrities and rich people from all over the world often like to relax. Still, Richard's Chapter is on the list of the most elite beaches in the world.

Getting to this beach is also very easy, it is right behind the Old Town, which means that you have to go to the central embankment and just walk to the right until you hit a pebbly shore.

If on the Slovenian and Mogren beaches the prices are more stable, then on the Richard Chapter everything very much depends on the season. On hot days, prices here will be half the price of other beaches. At the same time, there are almost no restaurants and bars on the beach itself. Sometimes you have to go to the Old Town for food and drink, and there everything is much more expensive than in the official city center.

If you do not find a place for yourself on this beach, then the Mogren beach is very close, there is always enough space for vacationers. Moreover, the road to Mogren will be very beautiful - among many rocks, green vegetation and old buildings.

An excellently organized beach within the city limits with a cafe, a restaurant and a fairly large number of sun loungers. But the water here is of the usual bluish color, there is no cherished blue and azure. The beach is very small - about 150 meters, most of which is occupied by the nearby cafes and the walls of the Citadel, moreover, there are practically no places for towels. In the summer season, guests of the nearest hotels come to this beach, and therefore there are often no places for other vacationers there.

It is considered one of the most famous beaches in the whole of Montenegro. The length is 1.2 kilometers. It is customary to divide it into two parts - the first 700 meters long for ordinary tourists and vacationers, the second 400 meters long - for nudists. The beach area is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable pastime, there are even several seasonal hotels, restaurants and shops.

The beach is located 6 kilometers from the center of Budva - about 10 minutes by car to the side of Mrchevoy Pole.

Guvance is another small sandy-pebble beach located on the way to Budva from Becici.

Budva is considered the unofficial cultural capital of the entire Eastern Adriatic. In this, at first glance, a tiny town, from the end of the twentieth century, club parties and discos began to be actively held. Some of these clubs are seasonal, while others are open all year round.

The city has a well-developed food network; throughout the city there are a huge number of restaurants with cuisines from all over the world - from Chinese to European, there are several fast food establishments.

There are also several food markets, but the prices there are much higher than in ordinary stores, since they are designed specifically for tourists. If you are thinking of shopping, then it is better to go to local supermarkets, there are always plenty of fresh and tasty goods at reasonable prices.

If you are bored with beaches and restaurants, you can go with your children to the city water park (not so long ago it was built outside the city). It is considered the largest in the entire Adriatic (the total area is almost 42 thousand square meters). The water park has a lot of various water activities for adults and for the little ones - there are 53 constantly open attractions and slides on the territory. In addition, there is a restaurant and several children's cafes inside the park.

In addition to the above entertainments, the city constantly organizes tourist gatherings for excursions to significant places in Budva and Montenegro.

Most of all leisure facilities are located in close proximity to the coast and beaches, but after dark you can stroll around the Old Town and feel the whole atmosphere of ancient Montenegro. There you will find many street musicians, sweets and handicrafts vendors.

The closest airport to Budva is in the city of Tivat (20 kilometers). To get from Tivat to Budva, you can take a taxi. Taxi drivers usually wait for passengers at the bus station. The average price of a trip from Tivat to Budva will be between 12 and 20 euros. If you are traveling in a company, then this option will be more convenient.

If you come alone or together, then it is worth making an order for a transfer in advance. If you have any problems or you did not order anything, you just have to wait for the nearest bus to Budva. On summer days, they go there constantly and very often. The journey will cost approximately 3-5 euros and will take about 20 minutes. There is no stop near the airport, you just have to stand on the highway near the road to the airport and vote for passing buses with the sign "Budva". Before traveling, be sure to check again whether the bus is going where you need to go.

As a rule, the bus can make a circle to other settlements to pick up other customers, so it is much faster to get a taxi.

Every year hundreds of tourists visit the resorts of Budva, mainly vacationers from the CIS countries and Eastern Europe. Most of them note the crystal clearness of the Adriatic Sea, the beautiful nature with rocky terrain and lush vegetation, as well as the wonderful infrastructure of the beaches and the city itself.

Special attention should be paid to the reviews of tourists regarding the historical heritage of Budva. Many people say that this ancient city with its stone streets and low houses is shrouded in ancient secrets and mysteries, and the rest itself is remembered as some kind of adventure.

The financial side of the issue is also clearly tracked in the reviews of visitors to the resort - many notice that for a resort located in the south of Europe, there are extremely low prices and a good level of service.

For an overview of the city and features of the rest, see below.