Day Trips from Budva
While you’re in Budva, I recommend not leaving without seeing Montenegro’s other beauties. If you’re on a tour, they will likely offer the places I’ll mention as extra trips. Besides that, many local tours in Budva’s center organize trips to these spots at reasonable prices. You can also visit them on your own.
Kotor
The first gem of Montenegro is Kotor, a place I visited both during my Balkan tour and on my Budva trip. The journey between Budva and Kotor takes about half an hour. Kotor is a city within walls, with its narrow streets, clock tower, cathedral, cafes, and restaurants in its squares. It’s quite a beautiful place. I also recommend photographing it from outside the walls.
There’s a small entrance fee to Kotor, which includes a tourist map of the city. I’m sharing below the view at the end of a winding, narrow road our guide took us up to capture some photos.
Perast
While you’re visiting Kotor, I’d suggest stopping by Perast, just a 10-minute drive away. This is a sailor’s town with an abandoned feel. There are narrow streets and churches to explore, and plenty of seafood restaurants. It’s not very suitable for swimming, but you can access the sea from the café at the town’s entrance. There’s also a man-made island across from Perast, with a church on it. We didn’t go to the island, but there are boats available to take you across.
Lake Skadar
Another option is Lake Skadar, about an hour’s drive from Budva. This area is a national park and is protected. The entrance fees are reasonable. You can take small boat trips on the lake, which is quite large, at 48 kilometers long. There are water lilies and various birds on the lake. For food, I believe there was only one option, at least we didn’t see many choices. We had a set menu at the restaurant, where you could choose between fish, meatballs, or chicken. There was also access to the lake from the front of the restaurant, but those who swam mentioned that it was quite tiring. I recommend a visit, especially for those who enjoy nature photography. It’s ideal for a few peaceful hours.
Porto Montenegro
Finally, Porto Montenegro is another place you can visit. It’s one of the most luxurious spots in Montenegro. You can see the yachts of famous people at the marina. You can stroll along the coast and have something to drink at the upscale cafés. In my opinion, you wouldn’t miss much if you didn’t visit this place.
For general information on accommodation, food, and transportation in Budva, you can check out my article titled “Things to Do in Budva“.
