Kotor or Budva for your Montenegro trip?
It is tough to decide which is my favourite Montenegrin city…
The secret hike in Kotor.. or the mysterious island in Budva..
I think Budva just edges it!
Both cities are awesome, so let’s take a journey through Montenegro and see which one is better for your trip, out of Kotor and Budva.
One thing is for sure, you are guaranteed an amazing time in whichever city you decide on!
We will start with the vibe of each city.
Driving a speedboat in Kotor Bay.
The general vibe in Kotor and Budva.
I found Kotor and Budva to feel completely different despite there only being 25 km between them. They are both perfect summer destinations and popular spots in the Balkans, as a result of the beautiful weather Montenegro gets in the summer months.
Budva.
It is no secret that Budva is a beach lover’s paradise.
The first thing I noticed as I wandered from the bus station to my hostel in the Stari Grad (Old Town), was the beautiful palm trees and high rise luxurious hotels.
It feels like a city that is heading for big things in the coming years.
I also walked by many bars and restaurants along the promenades of the beaches, so it is no surprise that the small Coastal city lures in visitors from all over Europe.
That being said, there is a distinct Russian vibe in certain areas of Budva.
I experienced very hot temperatures during my Montenegro trip in the month of June, so it was no surprise to see many of the visitors of Budva occupying the shaded seats in the beach front bars.
Budva is all about its beaches.
Kotor.
It is harder to find the relaxed vibes from Budva in Kotor bay, that’s for sure!
As the daily cruise ships unload the thousands of global tourists each day, the Old Town area becomes pretty hectic, but atmospheric.
Sitting in the Old Town dining outdoors in full restaurants is a pleasant way to spend your evenings.
I found Kotor Bay to have more of a backpackers feel to it than Budva, with more easily accessible hostels and what appeared to be considerably more younger travellers taking part in water sports on the bay.
This backpacking guide to Kotor has a lot of key information for your trip.
Cruise ships are a common feature of Kotor bay.
Are the beaches better in Kotor or Budva?
Budva takes the win on this one!
The beaches stretch over 12 km in length along the Budva coastline, varying from vast white sandy beaches to small pebbled ones.
Even though Budva is a small city, it has over 30 beaches for tourists to enjoy, with my personal favourite being the beach opposite the famous Sveti Stefan Island.
I was sunbathing with the perfect views of the picturesque island.
The popular Seven Bay Trail is a 9 km walking/cycling route which runs from the Stari Grad to Sveti Stefan Island, and it covers some of the beautiful beaches.
This makes for a great day trip.. taking your time, and enjoying several beaches and the sunshine.
A beach opposite Sveti Stefan Island in Budva.
Kotor Bay does have some beaches, but they are much smaller and more intimate than Budva.
I found the water in the Bay to be much shallower than the Adriatic Sea in Budva, which made it nice and refreshing to walk out further and escape the Balkan heat.
You are more than likely going to spot some awesome cruise ships parked up in the bay, which makes for some cool views, especially with the Montenegrin terrain backdrop.
The ‘beach’ in Kotor Bay.
The Old Towns of Kotor and Budva.
The Old Towns in Kotor and Budva are very similar, and both offer a sociable atmosphere.
Both are quaint in many spots, and appear to share very similar architecture throughout the buildings, which make up the shops, restaurants and cafes for the thousands of daily tourists to enjoy.
The view of Kotor Bay from the fortress viewpoint offered a different perspective, which I didn’t get to experience with the Stari Grad in Budva.
View of Kotor’s Old Town form the fortress viewpoint.
Despite it being small in size, Kotor is very lively in the evening.
There are several bars/clubs near each other which have loud music blasting until the early hours. I remember one of the bars having a garden area, which spilled into the street on busy summer nights.
The fresh air is welcome in the Montenegrin heat in the summer.
I stayed in a very lively party hostel while I was in Kotor, so we headed to the Old Town for the obligatory bar crawl after having food and drinks in the hostel.
It doesn’t quite match Budva for nightlife but it does have some options if you want the best of both worlds.
A unique aspect of Kotor is the feline community which has lurked around the Old Town for centuries!
There were stray cats everywhere I looked, while wandering through the narrow streets of the Old Town.
I was speaking to a local market trader who was selling cat themed souvenirs and he said that cats were brought into Kotor hundreds of years ago to protect the Old Town area from mice and pests.
I enjoyed stroking the well looked after animals during my travels and got the perfect cat souvenir for my mam, who is cat crazy!
If you love cats then maybe Kotor is the perfect spot for you!
A quirky bar in Kotor Old Town.
There are cat souvenirs everywhere in Kotor.
Budva is a walled town which dates back to the Venetian period in the 15th century, and I could feel the history as I walked down the cobbled streets.
The religious buildings within the walled area just spring out of nowhere as you walk around the tight alleyway corners.
The Church of St. Trinity was my favourite and the one to look out for as you explore!
Depending on which way you exit the Stari Grad in Budva, you will be welcomed by the beautiful harbour on the West side, or the popular Greco Beach if you leave through the East Gate.
Both are picture perfect!
Views of Budva’s Old Town.
Kotor and Budva are both abundant with restaurants, both local and International cuisine.
I really enjoyed ‘Hong Kong Restaurant’ on the edge of the Old Town in Budva with harbour views!
In Kotor, I dined at several Mediterranean style restaurants and enjoyed them all.
I found the waiters to be very laid back in every restaurant I visited in Montenegro.
A restaurant in Budva Old Town.
A cool activity in both cities.
When I go on a backpacking adventure I always look for unique things to do in the destination, ranging from dark tourism to historical landmarks, and colourful street art.
Both Budva and Kotor had some very interesting activities available.
Here was my favourite one from each location:
A secret hike to Kotor Fortress.
Before I arrived at Kotor I had read about how awesome the viewpoint was from the fortress, so when another traveller in the hostel mentioned the ‘secret’ way, it piqued my interest.
The regular route up to the fortress consists of 1350 steps at the back of the Old Town and costs a small fee, however, you can reach the fortress for free by hiking up one of the steep mountains and entering the fortress through the back window.
Just started the hike in the boiling heat.
The ‘secret’ back entrance to Kotor Fortress.
I was slightly regretting this choice when I was dripping wet in the 34 degree heat with a bottle of water which tasted like it had just been poured from a kettle…. but I did it, I completed the challenge.
The views were so worth it!
We still used the stairs on the way down after grabbing some ice cold refreshments at the top.
There is no doubt that this is one of the best things to do in Kotor.
My favourite view in the Balkans.
A bike ride to a mysterious island in Budva.
I saw some photos of Sveti Stefan while I was planning my Balkans adventure, so I had planned one of my days in Budva to go and find the beautiful island.
I rented a bike from the hostel for €3 for the full day and followed the map onto the Seven Bay Trail.
The hostel worker tried to explain the route, however, I prefer to explore without much pre-information, so I followed the promenade along before I came to my first obstacle.. or what appeared to be an obstacle from a distance.
The mountainous terrain of Montenegro continues through Budva to its coastline.
There are several tunnels which continue the trail route through the giant mountains, which are well lit and covered in colourful graffiti art.
This is a really cool spot for a bike ride!
Reaching Sveti Stefan by bike was rewarding.
Other notable parts of the route from the Stari Grad include several beaches, ‘Milocer Park’, and many packed restaurants.
Ideal for a refreshment stop!
Overall, the Seven Bay Trail took about 90 minutes each way to complete, but this did include many stops to explore Budva’s beauty and a sit down in the pub for a drink each way.
There are many tunnels through the mountains in Budva.
The Montenegro flag displayed proudly in Budva.
Other things to do in Kotor Bay.
As Kotor is home to one of the most picturesque bays in the world, many of the activities in the city are water sports, or include traversing the bay.
A sunset paddle boarding tour.
Combine sunshine, exercise and the beautiful views in Kotor as you do a stand up paddle boarding tour of the bay.
You will also experience an awesome Balkan sunset!
Take a speedboat ride around the bay to the Blue caves.
You will explore Perast, a former submarine tunnel, and Mamula Island before reaching the natural beauty spot of the blue caves.
I enjoyed the caves, as we all jumped off the boat and had a swim around them to cool down. We then swam into the darker bat caves which were pitch black, except for the shine from the bat’s eyes.
Tour Kotor Bay with some experienced locals by kayak.
You will visit nearby fishing villages and local beaches over several hours. You don’t need any prior kayaking experience to enjoy this one.
The blue caves in Kotor.
A very sweaty hike.
Other things to do in Budva.
Budva is famous for its thriving party scene, whether it is the daytime beach bars, or nightclubs which blast music all night long, so if you’re looking for a party then you have chosen the right place.
Budva is also full of beauty though, so make sure you explore some it with these activities:
Paragliding over Budva’s coastline.
Enjoy unbeatable views of the Budva Riviera from the sky as you glide over the Adriatic coastline with an experienced instructor.
This one isn’t for the faint hearted!
Sightseeing on the Adriatic Sea.
A local will take you on a two hour boat ride stopping at the famous sights along the coast.
This is a nice relaxing way to experience Budva.
A beach front bar in Budva.
Getting around Kotor and Budva.
Both Montenegrin cities offer similar transport options for visitors, so here are the different options for you choose between:
On foot.
Both Stari Grad are pedestrianised, and of a smaller size, so if you are sticking to the Old Town areas, then walking is your best option.
There are good walking routes in both cities even if you are heading off the beaten track. You can follow the bay round for miles in Kotor, or the beaches along the Seven Bay Trail in Budva.
The heat in the summer might be the only obstacle for this option.
By bus.
There are cheap bus fares available to tourists, and very regular buses which can take you anywhere in the area, such as Perast, Risan, Tivat, along with Budva and Kotor.
I didn’t have any issues finding the bus station in both cities.
By taxi.
If, like I did, you arrive in Kotor in the afternoon heat, carrying a heavy backpack, then a taxi is a life saver. I found there to be many taxis in both cites, although they did seem to be more expensive in Budva!
By boat.
To fully appreciate the beauty that Montenegro has to offer, you will more than likely have to go on a boat ride. There are official tours that run daily in both cities, so you can visit the caves and beautiful Adriatic coastline.
As I wrote in the earlier section, a bike ride along Budva’s coast is a true highlight of my travels to the Balkans, so renting a bike and exploring in either of the picturesque destinations will be a day to remember.
Boat is a very popular way of traversing the bay in Kotor.
You will find many boats in Budva also.
Where to stay in Kotor.
There are some beautiful hotels with bay views in Kotor.
Where to stay in Budva.
You will find some luxurious high-end accommodation options along the Budva Riviera.
How to get from Budva to Kotor.
Road is the only option to travel between Kotor and Budva, and it is only around 22 km between the two cities.
The bus is the cheapest option at around £6 each way, with it taking around 30 minutes. I found the bus to be on time and comfortable for the short ride.
Taxi is another option, and it might save you five or ten minutes, but you are looking at double the cost of the bus.
I would say a taxi is a good option for multiple travellers to split the costs, but if you are travelling solo as I did, then the bus is the true backpacker’s way to do it!
Map showing directions from Kotor to Budva.
Create some flexibility on your Montenegro trip with a rental car.
The whole of Montenegro is reachable within a couple of hours, so plan your itinerary around your own timeline.
How to reach Budva and Kotor.
Montenegro is a small nation which borders five countries, and has a long coastline of Adriatic Sea, so this makes reaching both Kotor and Budva relatively simple.
By air.
Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro has an airport operating over 400 flights a week, therefore, is a good point to head for. You are looking at around 60-90 minutes by road from Podgorica airport to both Kotor and Budva.
By road.
Both Montenegrin cities are reachable by road from both domestic and international cities in the Balkan region. If you are travelling from another country, you will have to cross the border, which can be time consuming in busy periods.
By sea.
Both Kotor and Budva are accessible by boat, with Kotor Bay being a very popular stop for International cruise ships.
Kotor bus station.
The Balkans is abundant with other destinations to consider.
Montenegro is one of many beautiful countries around the Balkans region.
If you fancy visiting multiple Balkans cities, then you should consider planning your travel route around Croatia, Bosnia and Albania, as well as Montenegro.
I enjoyed all four countries over a 10 day backpacking trip, and travelled through the countries on the bus network, which I found to be comfortable and efficient.
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