5 THINGS TO DO IN BUDVA OFF-SEASON

Budva is one of my favorite places for a day trip in spring or autumn. And even in winter it is nice to spend some time on the Budva Riviera when the weather is sunny.

There are many things to do in and around Budva. Enjoying a cup of coffee on the beach of Richard’s Head (Ričardova Glava), listening to romantic guitar music on the square in front of Santa Maria in Punta or watching the luxurious yachts in the harbor…

Or maybe you would like to make a walk along one of the beautiful beaches? Are you interested in history? Or do you prefer visiting an old monastery?

I recommend 5 things you should not miss when you visit Budva off-season.

 

1. Make a walk to Mogren Beach

If you want to make a relaxing walk, follow the pedestrian walking trail from the Old Town to Mogren Beach, which is around 350 m long. At the very beginning of the path you will see the statue “Ballerina”, made by the Belgrade sculptor Gradimir Aleksić. With the old town walls and the famous Ričardova Glava beach as a backdrop, this charming sculpture has been a perfect photo motive for many decades.

Aleksić’s sculpture was inspired by an old local myth about a girl who was engaged to a sailor. She waited for him for many years, watching out over the sea, but he never returned. One day she found his dead body on the rock where the famous statue is located today.

The cliffs above the trail and around the beaches are made of layers of limestone and they are very picturesque. But take care; don’t use the trail with rough weather! It’s dangerous!

2. Visit Mogren Fortress

Mogren Fortress was built in 1860 by the Austro-Hungarians in order to defend the western borders of Budva. The fortress was a powerful fortification of almost rectangular shape with high walls and towers at the corners.

During World War II, the fortress was used as a warehouse for weapons and ammunition. Today only the walls and bunkers are preserved. They are poorly visible fom the road, because of the dense vegetation. The fortress is located between the beaches of Mogren and Jaz, just one kilometer from the town of Budva. It offers a great panorama view of the entire western coast of the Budva Riviera.

How can you get to the fortress? There are two ways: by car (about 1 km from Budva in the direction of Tivat); or on foot by the sidewalk along the road (30 minutes)

Admission is free, but take care: the fortress is not protected.

3. Walking along the beaches

Budva has 25 km of jagged coast featuring 20 magnificent beaches. Off-season, when the beaches are empty, it is a good idea to walk along the sea and enjoy the fresh air.

First of all, explore the beach of Jaz. It is located around 2.5 km north of Budva. Although you can reach it on foot, along the highway, it is much easier to take your car or a cab and you will soon be surrounded by untouched nature. During the summer there is a campsite and several pubs and restaurants, but in the winter season you can enjoy the silence and dense Mediterranean vegetation.

It is hard to believe that Jaz Beach was proclaimed the best European beach in 2015 by Lonely Planet, as it looks rather neglected off-season.

Other possibilities are a walk along the promenade of Slovenska Beach until Dukley’s Garden, from where you can take the pedestrian tunnel to Bečići Beach and continue the walk until Rafailovići.

4. Podmaine monastery

The Podmaine Monastery, one of the main tourist attractions of Budva, is surrounded by apartment buildings and boarding-houses. The only remnant from old times is a picturesque stone bridge near the monastery, leading to some private houses. But the monastery itself is very impressive with its high stone walls, terraces and round tower.

The monastery has an interesting history. It is told that the 19^th century Montenegrin prince-bishop and writer Petar Petrović Njegoš wrote much of his most famous work “Gorski Vijenac” (Mountain Wreath) on the monastery’s terrace overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

The smaller church is dedicated to the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and was built in the 15^th century. Although much of the monastery was destroyed by the earthquake in 1979, it still boasts beautiful 14^th century frescoes and a handsomely restored “konak” (living quarters).

Many frescoes in the monastery were obviously painted recently, e.g. the fresco of a communist officer with a red star, a rope around his neck, who looks terrified, as he was apparently sentenced to descend into hell.

5.. Explore the Old Town

Roaming through the narrow, winding streets of the Old Town is a special experience. The heart of Budva with its impressive city walls, Mediterranean-style stone houses, small squares, churches and other colorful places is especially attractive when you don’t have to find your way through the crowds. Off-season, the atmosphere is relaxed and charming.

The Citadel and the town museum are excellent places to learn more about the history of Budva, one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic Coast. The first mention of a settlement here goes back to the 5^th century B.C.

Around the square in front of the Citadel is a cluster of interesting churches and an archeological site, i.e. the ruins of Roman terms. From the Citadel you have a great view of Sveti Nikola, the only island in the vicinity of Budva. It is connected with Slovenska Beach by a sandbank that is sometimes only 0.50 m deep, depending on the tide. According to legend, when St. Sava was on his way to Mount Athos from Budva, he could not board the ship because of the big waves, so he threw stones and made a shallow spot where he went over and boarded the galley.

Fortunately, Budva has succeeded in maintaining its typical Mediterranean character. Together with its charming beaches and interesting historical attractions, it offers many highlights, also off-season.