Tivat Airport to Budva — 25-Minute Drive via Vrmac
Head south from TIV along the main road. Three kilometres out you enter the Vrmac tunnel, exit at the Tivat-Budva intersection, and follow the road through Radanovici toward the coast. The Petrol station in Radanovici is your last chance to refuel before the riviera, so stop if the gauge is low. Outside peak hours the airport-to-Old-Town drive takes about 25 minutes.
During July and August the final approach via Becici into Budva often grinds to a halt in the afternoons. Drivers heading for Jaz Beach or the northern side of town should use the Jaz exit before the main junction — it avoids the worst summer queues altogether.
Top Riviera Beaches
The Budva Riviera runs 21 km from Jaz Beach southward to Petrovac. Notable stops along the coast road:
- Mogren: A pair of cove beaches linked by a cliff-cut tunnel, within walking distance of the Old Town. Sun-lounger and bar service runs from May to September
- Jaz: A broad, sandy bay located 3 km north of central Budva. Upper car park is free; the waterfront lot is paid. Regular venue for summer concerts
- Sveti Stefan: The photogenic fortified island 6 km south of Budva, now a luxury resort. Milocer beach on the mainland side is open to everyone. The best vantage point is from the road above
- Becici: A long, shallow-gradient sandy beach stretching between Budva and Sveti Stefan. Suitable for families, staffed by lifeguards in season, with plenty of paid parking
Inside Budva's Old Town
The fortified peninsula takes about 15 minutes to walk from end to end. Enter via the landward gate, weave through the cobbled lanes, and finish at the Citadela where the view stretches south to Sveti Stefan. Restaurants within the walls carry a tourist premium — better-value spots sit a block inland from the gate. Parking along the quayside is significantly easier to find after dark.
Driving Excursions from Budva
Head 6 km south along the coast road to the Sveti Stefan lookout. A pull-in marked by a low stone wall is on the right. Walk down from there to Milocer beach, which is public and free. Access to the adjacent Queen's Beach requires a hotel guest pass.
Return through the Vrmac tunnel to Kotor in about 25 minutes. For a full-day circuit, continue from Kotor to Perast, catch the Verige ferry, visit Herceg Novi, and loop back along the coast. The UNESCO Old Town of Kotor is a 25-minute drive north.
The mountain road to Lovcen National Park branches off near Cetinje, roughly 90 minutes from Budva. The Njegos Mausoleum stands at 1,657 m — bring a layer even in midsummer. Sections of the road lack barriers, so driving in daylight is strongly recommended.
Parking and Refuelling
Budva offers two main paid lots: an underground garage beside the Old Town walls and an open-air lot behind the bus station. Both tend to fill by mid-morning in summer. Free roadside spaces exist along the Becici road, though they involve a 10-minute walk. The closest fuel station to the centre is on the main road at the Becici turn-off; the Radanovici station is handier if you are driving back to TIV.