Beaches and features of rest on the island of St. Nicholas

Budva is one of the most popular resorts in Montenegro. From here you can go on almost any excursion walk. Prices in Budva are relatively high, but this is more than offset by a wide selection of all kinds of cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. The island of St. Nicholas is clearly visible from anywhere in Budva. It is located just 1 km from the Slavic beach. This island is also called the Hawaii of Montenegro, as there is a restaurant with the same name on the beach. It is worth visiting this fabulous place at least for the sake of the clean sea and cozy little coves.

St. Nicholas Island is the largest island in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea. Its size reaches almost 2 km, and its area is 47 hectares. It should be noted that the island is connected with Budva by the Tunya shoal. The island of St. Nicholas is a fairly well-known tourist site in the vicinity of Budva. There are three large sandy beaches with a total length of 840 m, as well as many small beaches around the island, which can only be reached by boat.

When viewed from a height, between the island and the Slavyansky beach, a strip of shallow water becomes noticeable, the depth of which at low tide reaches no more than 0.5 meters. One belief is connected with this natural feature, which tells how Saint Sava, on the way from Budva to Athos, due to a storm that was playing out, could not get on the ship, and then he threw several stones into the water, thereby forming an embankment, with the help of which he managed to get on board.

The island looks very unusual from the mainland: when you enter Budva, it seems that a huge crocodile is lying on the water. Naturally, it is best to visit it during the peak tourist season. At a time when all the beaches of Budva are packed with tourists, it will be possible to find a quiet place on the island of St. Nicholas.

Sailing to the island of St. Nicholas is possible exclusively along the Adriatic Sea.

Consider how you can get to the island.

• On the boat. The price of such a walk is 3 euros. Boats and boats leave for the island every 15 minutes.

• Boat trip... This is a short sightseeing trip carried out by boat or speedboat. Cost - 5 euros.

• Rent a boat. Such a service costs 20 euros for 1 hour of vehicle rental. In this case, it will be possible to independently develop a route to the Budva Bay.

A tourist who decides to visit this wonderful place should keep in mind that although a visit to the island does not formally require payment, you can visit it only by renting some kind of water vehicle. The price for this service will not be less than 3 euros.

Besides, it is forbidden to bring food or drinks to the island, therefore, once there, you will also have to spend money on a cafe. It follows from all this that All the advertised free of charge of the island of St. Nicholas is only a bait for tourists, and visiting it will still cost money, but this is not at all a reason to refuse to rest in this beautiful place.

The cost of sun loungers and umbrellas ranges from 5 to 15 euros. Some tourists do not sit on sun loungers, but on their makeshift bedding. However, in this case, you should take care of an umbrella and sunscreen. It should also be noted that pebbles are everywhere on the beaches, therefore, being on one towel, as it could be done on sandy beaches, will be very uncomfortable.

In a picturesque pine grove, there is a popular Havai restaurant where you can eat fresh fish and taste cool tart wine. Of course, this pleasure is not cheap. Usually tourists plan to relax on the beach all day.

There are large, smooth and slightly slippery stones in the water, so keep in mind that entering the water will not be the most comfortable. In addition, the water here is incredibly clear, so many sea urchins come here. They are especially dangerous in a storm, when they merge with stones. It follows from this that the island of St. Nicholas is far from the best place to relax with small children. There are no entertainment activities for children. But for a romantic or friendly trip, the island is perfect.

Natural attractions on the island of St. Nicholas are presented in wide abundance. Here you can walk through the hilly forest, enjoy the picturesque view of the coastal cliffs, and also meet wild animals and birds: squirrels, hares, and even peacocks. Exotic animals were brought here in the 19th century for the entertainment of aristocrats. At the same time, a Tuscan-style castle was built, which has survived to this day. There is also an old tower and a small lighthouse on the island.

It is impossible not to note the gastronomic prospects of tourists who decided to visit the island of St. Nicholas. Local restaurants offer incredibly delicious fish dishes. The fish is always fresh here - it is delivered daily by Budva fishermen. Here you can also try simple and tasty dishes, traditional for Montenegrin cuisine. These are high-calorie meat dishes that are unlikely to suit those who are especially sensitive to their figure.

Another feature of Montenegrin cuisine is the widespread use of cheese.All types of Montenegrin cheeses, as well as local cheese, are present on all tables.

A separate conversation is vegetables. They are put on the table here at any time of the day - both as independent dishes and as a snack. However, in most cases, even vegetable dishes include meat, so vegetarians will have nowhere to roam here. There are also many bars and small ice cream shops on the island.

As you know, the island is uninhabited, but some artifacts of ancient culture have been preserved there, for example, the Church of St. Nicholas, thanks to which the island got its name. The first mentions of it date back to the 16th century. On the territory near the church there are many old graves, in which, as legend has it, the participants of the crusade were buried, slain by the plague, while their army was stationed in Budva.

There are categories of tourists who will absolutely not be pleased with the time spent on the island of St. Nicholas. Of course, all people are different and, perhaps, despite the warnings, you still decide to visit this wonderful place. But having a limited supply of funds and free time at our disposal, each of us should plan our vacation much more carefully, based on our own preferences, so as not to be disappointed later. So, in the category of persons who, most likely, will not like the rest on the island of St. Nicholas, include the following tourists.

• Lovers of active beach activities. Only because in this place they are simply not there! No bananas, no cheesecakes, no catamarans, no inflatable slides, no other familiar beach infrastructure.

• Small children. This has already been mentioned above - it will be uncomfortable for them to swim here, since the descent into the sea is uncomfortable and slippery.

• People on a very tight budget... If you want to spend the whole day on the beach, but you will have to spend a lot of money on the cafe. And the prices here are far from standard.

• Lovers of intellectual relaxation. The main attractions of the island are sea, sun and water. If you want to visit as many museums and other cultural places as possible during your vacation, then choose a different route for your trip, since the island of St. Nicholas will not amaze you with an abundance of architectural monuments.

For rest in Montenegro, see below.