Passport to our Happy Place

Adriatic Sea: Budva Riviera

We finally booked our vacation for this summer and I couldn’t be more excited – two more months until we leave!!! OK – time to pack, prepare and before we know it will be time to head to the airport – but first, let me share our favorite place! This has been our go to place for vacation for years, partially because it’s home but mainly because it is breathtaking, you will see what I am talking about below. We are going to Budva – Montenegro!  This map points directly to Budva – Montenegro, Eastern Europe.

Montenegro

The pearl of the Mediterranean, unique in many ways, is situated in the south of the Adriatic. Nowhere else can you find, so much natural wealth, beauty, mild beaches, clear lakes, fast rivers, and gorgeous mountains in such a compact area as in Montenegro.

 Old Town Budva

My favorite part of Budva, besides it’s beaches is the old town. It’s a must visit. The Old Town of Budva is situated on a rocky peninsula, on the southern end of Budva field.  This is my favorite place to have coffee and relax. The history behind its buildings is beautiful.

The coastal area around Budva, called the Budva riviera, is the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches and diverse nightlife. Budva is 2,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast.

Budva has some of the most attractive beaches of south Adriatic, and the most pleasant climate in entire Montenegro. Of all the years we have been, the water has never been cold and you can stay in all day, it’s perfect temperature. The sun is not as strong, but sunscreen is always a must when out in the sun so much.

Mogren beach is arguably the best known and most attractive of the Budva city beaches, which is where we spend most of our time. It is nested beneath the cliffs of the Spas hill, between cape Mogren and the Avala hotel. The beach is separated from the city by the slopes of Spas hill that plunge to the sea, and is only accessible by a 250m long narrow path along the cliffs. This being one of the longest beaches, 1.6 km (1.0 mi) long Slovenska plaza (Slav beach), that makes up the most of the city’s coast is where we spend most of our time as well.

Sveti Stefan

One day you wake up and you want to go to Mogren beach, the next day you decide to go to Sveti Stefan, which is my favorite. However, for years it has not been open to public, well the beach is but not the island of Sveti Stefan – entrance forbidden. The area of Sveti Stefan and Pržno, including Miločer resort with its park and secluded beaches, is considered the most exclusive area of the Montenegrin coast.

The best is to come here as early as 9:00 am and reserve yourself a seat, as it fills up quickly. It’s fairly expensive for the beach chairs with the umbrella, but there is a small spot to put your own towels and lay in the sun. We usually take the bus which is five minutes from where we stay, but walking would be too much – especially with two kids. You can however go by a peddle boat, but I wouldn’t do it with kids.

 Sveti Nikola Island

Sveti Nikola Island is located opposite of Old Town, 1 km (0.6 miles) across the Budva bay. It is a mostly undeveloped island with some beautiful beaches. Well connected to the mainland with water bus, it is a popular excursion site for tourists visiting Budva. We actually go here with a peddle boat that we rent. The water between this island and the Slav beach (slovenska plaza) is the best.  It’s beautiful to view the coast from this side to, water is cleaner and tons of people snorkeling.

Hotel Bracera

This year we booked this hotel and I just cannot wait to get here. The balcony with a sea view, the fresh air and the beach being literarily less than three minutes walking is pure perfection. When traveling with kids you don’t want to be walking more than five minutes to the beach. There are other housing options in the area, some of the most beautiful family apartments but they are slightly further from where the hotels are. There are tons of people renting an upper or lower level of their home, which is what we did last time when we travelled with Vasilije. We had an upper level of the beach house, two rooms, kitchen, bathroom and a balcony. It wasn’t sea view, but it was fairly close. Then, there is people renting just the room in the house and you share a bathroom and kitchen with other guests too. There are tons of options for all sorts of budgets, but this time around we decided to get a little fancy.

Nightlife

Budva is well known regionally as the capital of nightlife in the eastern Adriatic. There is nothing like it, I promise. This Adriatic coast has the most beautiful beaches, but the nightlife is the best in Budva. The over the top open air clubs along the Budva sea, the day restaurants turn into dinner on the beach – they move the beach chairs out of the way and set tables for dinners. You are literarily having your dinner on the beach, toes in the sand and the smell of the sea. It’s pure perfection.

Food

The food is the best (and I know I am biased) but you would agree if you tried. The stuffed burger patties with sides of fries or vegetables, the sausages, roasted pork or lamb, the freshly caught seafood, the most delicious pizza (and I think Chicago deep-dish is ahhhhhmazing) well this is something else.

Coast Region

Besides Budva, there are other beaches and places to visit along the coast. We went along the entire coast one day. We took the bus from our location in Budva, and stopped at every beach/place we wanted to, such as Porto Montenegro, Kotor, Perast, and Herceg Novi.

Herceg Novi Mimosa, camellia, lots of flowers and greenery, the old city, and countless stairs. This is the “City of the Sun” with many attractions for tourists.

Perast This small and unique picturesque place in the Bay of Kotor, with preserved ancient architecture, is located near the famous island – Our Lady of the Rocks.

Kotor The most visited Old City of Kotor is one of the Top 5 tourist attractions of Montenegro. Complete miraculous atmosphere, will surely leave you breathless.

Porto Montenegro The Sunday Times wrote: “Good buy Monaco. Hello Montenegro” referring primarily to Porto Montenegro. The unique complex in Tivat with marina for ultra luxury yachts.

Then, the next day we went to the opposite side of the coast also by the bus. The bus stops at several bus stations, and you can get off and spend as much time as you want and where you want. There are always buses running so you won’t be stranded for the night, just check the bus schedule. Granted, those that rent a car can do all this with their car – but in all theory you don’t need the car while you are at the beach. Picture being at a resort in Cancun, Mexico – you don’t really need that rental car for most part. That’s why we usually don’t rent one while at the beach. However, when we go to our birthplace, we need a rental car.

My husband actually called this place a Home for several years. This place has undergone a lot of development over the years since he lived there and when we visited. It has grown into a tourist place, with new buildings and tons of watersports. The beach is beautiful, tons of surfing due to the bigger waves.

Xoxo,

Vesna

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