Chill. Kotor. Montenegro.

By myplaceintheworldSeptember 17, 2016 ( 2 )

So you’ve spent lots of energy exploring Kotor, and climbing ‘that hill’ (how could you forget!), perfect time then to take it easy. How does a day sound on the beach with another lovely old town thrown in for good measure? A worthy day trip from Kotor is to the coastal resort of Budva and this can be done using the local bus service.

So how do you get there?

To get to Kotor bus station you head out of the main town gate, turn left and take a 5-10 minutes walk up the hill (only a small one this time!!). The journey from Kotor to Budva takes around 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the bus you pick, with some buses going via Tivat airport. On arrival at the bus terminal in Budva the walk down to the beach area takes a further 15 minutes through the residential area. When you get there you’ll find some beach bars that run along the promenade with sun beds and umbrellas available for some chill out time should you need some R&R time after all those hills!

What do I get for the effort?

As you explore Budva you’ll notice that it’s really a town of two halves. The newer part of town with its apartment blocks, bars/clubs and a long sandy beach that in the height of summer caters for crowds of package tourists. The resort is popular with Eastern Europeans who flock here for some sun, sea, sand and some lively nightlife. However much more interesting and possibly the main reason to visit Budva is it’s atmospheric Stari Grad or Old Town.

Set on a small peninsula near the port area, this walled town is compact and has some great narrow cobbled streets to wander and lose yourself for a few hours. You’ll find small boutique shops, cute courtyard cafes, small churches and a citadel. The view from various parts of the walls is pretty good, but in terms of historical sites there’s not much to get your teeth into if that’s your thing. Having said that you could easily spend a decent part of the day just wandering, chilling, grabbing a drink and finding a cute little courtyard for some lunch.

Anything Else?

Whilst you’re in the area (and if you’re feeling slightly more adventurous) you should take the opportunity to make a short detour before returning to Kotor. From the bus station take the local network to Sveti Stefan a couple of miles south of Budva. This small town built on a island now connected by a short causeway is pretty much off limits to most travellers. It’s now a 5 star hotel complex owned by the Aman Resorts. The views though from the road down to the town can be found on many a travel brochure for Montenegro. It’s a steep walk down the steps or winding road and getting back up is a task in itself. But hey you’re getting used to hills by now, right? There are few small cafes and a beach area to chill out on at the bottom. Is it worth the trip? Well you get great views, picture postcard photo opportunites and a nice little beach. Just ensure you leave yourself plenty of time to catch the bus back to Budva – timetables seemed pretty relaxed!!