Complete Guide to the Budva Citadel: Review and Top Tips

Visiting the Budva Citadel - Review and Tips

Budva has an adorable old town. It’s small but it was the perfect stop on our drive from Tivat to Lake Skadar. We’re so pleased we stopped here; the highlight was visiting the Citadel. I would recommend adding this gem to your Montenegro itinerary, so read on for our complete guide and review of visiting the Budva Citadel (also called The Citadel Budva).

In this guide, we’ll share an honest review of whether the Budva Citadel is worth visiting, what to expect from your visit, the entrance fees and also tips to enjoy it as a family.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

FULL GUIDE TO THINGS TO DO IN BUDVA
A PERFECT MONTENEGRO ITINERARY
TIPS FOR VISITING MONTENEGRO

OR READ ABOUT OTHER PLACES IN MONTENEGRO WE VISITED:

TIVAT – KOTOR – LAKE SKADAR – NIKSIC – TARA CANYON – DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK – ZABLJAK

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What Is the Budva Citadel?

The Citadel in Budva is the remains of a beautiful old fortress, which is around 2500 years old. It is now open to visitors who can enjoy the rich history and culture as well as breathtaking views over the Adriatic Sea.

It is also one of the main tourist attractions and the best things to do when you visit Budva.

Good to Know Before You Visit the Budva Citadel

Below is some useful information to know before you visit the Budva citadel:

How to get to The Citadel in Budva

The Citadel is located in the Old Town of Budva. (Link to the Google Map location). The Old Town of Budva is small, so you will be able to spot it as it is located at the tip of the hill on the coast.

Ideally, to explore Montenegro properly, you will need to hire a car. I forgot to take note, but I’m pretty sure we parked in this parking lot and it cost less than 1 Euro an hour.

Budva Citadel Entrance Fee

The entrance fee for the Citadel is €5 for adults, and children are free. You don’t need to book in advance, and you can pay at the door; however, please note, it was cash only.

Accessibility

The Citadel doesn’t have an accessible entrance, and there are steps inside. We carried our Joolz Aer+ pushchair/stroller (which I highly recommend for travel) up the main steps, then folded it and left it with the ticket salesperson. I also use this carrier for our baby as he’s not quite walking yet and getting so heavy!

This is, unfortunately, not an ideal activity for those in need of a wheelchair.

Mum in the City and her toddler standing outside the historic Budva Citadel fortress in Montenegro

Me and my son climbing the stone steps of the Citadel in Budva’s Old Town

OUTSIDE & CLIMBING THE STEPS OF THE BUDVA CITADEL

Restrooms

There are public toilets inside the Citadel, but no baby changing facilities.

Eating at the Budva Citadel

The Citadel has a cafe/ restaurant with more amazing views. Unfortunately, the cafe wasn’t open at the time of our visit. We visited in the morning, it looked like it opened around lunchtime.

Complete Guide & Review of the Budva Citadel

In this section, I’ll share what to expect and all the things you won’t want to miss when visiting the Citadel in Budva.

Walk the City Walls

When you enter the Budva Citadel, you come to a beautiful courtyard area. From here, you can climb the steps up to the viewpoint from the old city walls. You’ll see panoramic views of the Old Town and of one of Budva’s Beaches and coastline.

Although there are steps, it’s not too steep, making it perfect for those visiting with little kids.

Panoramic view of Budva and the Adriatic Sea from the top of the Budva Citadel

Mum holding her baby with panoramic views of Budva's Old Town from the top of the Citadel

VIEWS FROM THE TOP OF THE FORTRESS AT THE BUDVA CITADEL

Enjoy the Cafe View

If you head back down to the courtyard, you’ll find steps down. These lead to the cafe area. As I mentioned, the cafe was closed, but it’s still worth coming down for a look because it is one of the most beautiful passages. We visited in April, and the flowers were nearly in full bloom. There are also cannons that my 4-year-old loved to play with, and of course, more great views.

Outdoor café at the Budva Citadel offering scenic views of the sea.

Me with my two sons standing under a purple flower-covered archway at the Budva Citadel

THE CAFE | BEAUTIFUL FLORAL PASSAGE | MY SON PRETENDING TO FIRE A CANNON

Get Educated in the Maritime Museum & Library

Located just off the floral passage is the Maritime Museum. Personally, I wouldn’t call this a museum. More like a room with a collection of model ships and boats in bottles. It only takes a few minutes to look around, but the boys enjoyed seeing the boats.

Before leaving the Citadel, you’ll go through the library. Again, we didn’t spend very long looking in here, but they have a large collection of books on display.

Model ships and maritime artefacts on display inside the Citadel’s museum in Budva

Interior of the Budva Citadel library with wooden shelves, books, and historic charm

THE MARITIME MUSEUM & LIBRARY AT THE BUDVA CITADEL

Is the Budva Citadel Worth Visiting?

In conclusion to this review, yes, the Budva Citadel is absolutely worth visiting! Our whole family enjoyed our time here. Especially for the amazing views and the experience of exploring the old stone fortress. For the small entrance fee, I’d say visiting the Citadel in Budva is also great value for money!

Thank you for reading our complete guide about visiting the Budva Citadel. I hope you’ve found this review useful and you enjoy your trip to Montenegro!