Budva beyond the citadel and the beaches
An Austro-Hungarian fortress ruin above a beach, a church from 840 now used for exhibitions, and an open-air dig by the Hotel Avala — three places left once the citadel and the beaches are done.
- Mogren Fortress
- A ruin from 1860
- Santa Maria in Punta
- A church from 840
- The ancient necropolis
- An open dig by the Hotel Avala
The citadel and the three beaches are what every guide lists first; these three places are what's left once that's done, all within walking distance of the old town or right beside it. Mogren Fortress is a ruin above the beach of the same name, Santa Maria in Punta is a church turned into exhibition space, and the necropolis by the Hotel Avala is an open-air dig with no fence around it.
Mogren Fortress, not Mogren beach
Above the beach of the same name stands the ruin of an Austro-Hungarian fortress from 1860 — unguarded and free, open to walk into at any hour. It's a few minutes' climb from the sand, and almost nobody on the beach bothers.
Santa Maria in Punta, today a gallery
The church on the old town's northern square was built in 840 and no longer holds daily services — the space is used for exhibitions and concerts instead, with no fixed hours. While touring the citadel and the square, it's worth checking on the spot whether it happens to be open for something that day.
The ancient necropolis by the Hotel Avala
West of the old town, by the Hotel Avala, lies an open-air archaeological site. Systematic digging picked up after the 1979 earthquake, when thousands of objects from the Illyrian, Hellenistic and Roman periods turned up across town — some of them now sit in the Budva City Museum. The site has no fence and no opening hours; it's viewed from the street.
One afternoon, three stops
All three sit within the same afternoon as the citadel: the fortress is a short climb above Mogren, the church sits on the square right by the citadel, and the necropolis is a walk west of the walls. Nothing here asks for a separate day.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Is there an entry fee for Mogren Fortress?
No — it's unguarded and free, open to walk into.
Is Santa Maria in Punta open every day?
It has no fixed hours — it's used for exhibitions and concerts, so check on the spot.
What's on show at the ancient necropolis?
An open-air dig by the Hotel Avala, part of the excavation that turned up Illyrian, Hellenistic and Roman finds after the 1979 earthquake.
Ready for Budva?
Where to next
What to eat in Budva
→Fish soup opens the meal, Njeguši ham and cheese come down from the mountains above the bay, and grilled…
Sveti Stefan · 6 km
→The fishing village that became a hotel overnight
How well does Budva suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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