Tips for a European Summer Trip to Budva, Montenegro
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
I’ve said that Montenegro feels like Croatia did ten years ago, and many other travelers have agreed with me! This Balkan country in Eastern Europe is known for its natural beauty both inland and along the coast.
A couple of summers ago, I spent an entire month traveling north in the Balkans along the Mediterranean coast, including almost a week in Budva, Montenegro.
I started this trip in Athens and Meteora, Greece, flew to the island of Corfu, Greece, then made my way by ferry to Saranda and Ksamil, Albania, and by bus up to Budva and Kotor, Montenegro, then Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina (it was easier to stay inland than get to Neum), and finally, Novalja, Croatia.
Perhaps I will do a full blog post outlining this month-long itinerary if that is of interest, but in the meantime, here are my thoughts on traveling to coastal Montenegro - specifically Budva and Kotor - in the summer!
THOUGHTS ON BUDVA, MONTENEGRO:
The video below is from the walkway around the water and boats in Budva, Montenegro, just outside the Old Town area. I personally liked Budva a lot and am glad I stayed there compared to Kotor. Seriously, how beautiful is it?!
BAY OF KOTOR DAY TRIP FROM BUDVA
Doing a Bay of Kotor day trip with a small group boat trip around the bay was the perfect summer activity. I booked a catamaran cruise through the GetYourGuide app which made it super easy.
Kotor felt more crowded than Budva - Budva had more space outside the old town to walk around, admire the boats, it had a little more of a beach area, and better nightlife options in my opinion.
However, the Bay of Kotor was spectacularly gorgeous. I’ve been saying it is one of, if not the most, naturally beautiful place in Europe I have been to yet. Especially by boat, taking in the views of the mountains from the water is just stunning. Photos do not do this place justice!
Old Town Budva
Old Town Budva is not driveable as it is an old Medieval town which makes it nice to be able to explore by foot. It is really pretty and the buildings and cobblestone streets make it feel like you stepped back in time a bit. However, the cafe scene and yachts bring you right back into the present day and remind you that you are indeed experiencing European Summer as its finest!
The marina is nice to walk along as well as the water views are nice and there are plenty of boats and yachts. The center of the Old Town is a maze of scrambled streets and tiny pathways with apartment buildings and cafes.
GETTING TO BUDVA
Getting to Budva was kind of tricky for me as I wasn’t able to rent a car (since I went from south to north, starting in Greece and traveling the coast up to Croatia last summer, I wasn’t able to rent a car in one country and drop it off in a different one).
Coach buses are pretty much the only option if you are coming from another country and can’t fly or drive.
Make sure to purchase the bus ticket in advance online and print it out (ask your hotel if they can print it for you) or buy it in advance from the station -
Anddddd tack on a few hours for possible delays. Every bus I took in the Balkans took longer than the ticket said and I even missed my connection one time in Croatia (luckily, the same company had another one coming so they just transferred my ticket for free)!
Is Montenegro the “Next” Croatia?
For the past few years, people have been saying that Montenegro will be the next Croatia as it feels similar to Croatia before its major tourism boom. I like Croatia and have been there 3x over the years and feel the same…Croatia is nice, but is just…so crowded in the summer these days.
However, Montenegro is still a different country, with a different culture, and plenty of its own natural beauty!
A lot of entrepreneurs and digital nomads I’ve met have been spending more time in Montenegro as well so I could see it growing in popularity as time goes on.
Have you been to Montenegro or the Balkans area yet?
