Sunset in Budva and Sveti Stefan: what time the sun sets and where to watch it

What time is sunset in Budva, and where should you watch it from? The sun sets in Budva and Sveti Stefan at anything from about 16:12 in early December to 20:25 at the end of June. At Sveti Stefan people watch it from the shore beside the island or from the viewpoint above, and around Budva the best spots are Cape Zavala and Rafailovići. Most importantly, don't rush off as soon as the sun disappears: the sky often puts on its best show after that.

We live in Montenegro and run photo shoots here, and there is one September evening at Sveti Stefan we still talk about. The first six photos below are from that evening.

What time is sunset in Budva?

In winter the sun sets in Budva between 16:10 and 17:30, in June and July at around 20:20, and in spring and autumn the time gradually shifts from one to the other.

Below are the sunset times for Budva on the 15th of each month, in local time, winter or summer.

Twilight in Budva lasts about half an hour after sunset: the sun has gone, but there's still enough light to stroll around and take pictures.

If you want to know what time sunset is in Montenegro today, just find your month on the chart. Along the coast the time varies by only a few minutes. At the start and end of a month, though, sunset can drift from the chart by about twenty minutes, and right after the clocks change at the end of March and the end of October by a whole hour.

If you're planning a sunset proposal, we cover choosing the month and the hour in our guide to the best time to propose in Montenegro.

Why shouldn't you leave straight after sunset?

You shouldn't leave straight after sunset because the sky over Sveti Stefan often glows brightest once the sun has already dropped below the horizon. So give it about another half an hour.

We very nearly missed an evening like that ourselves at Sveti Stefan, at the end of September 2015.

The sun had set and we were about to leave when, out of nowhere, the whole sky turned fiery red. One of the most unreal sunsets I've ever seen.Mariia Sosnina

The red sky might not come at all, but if it does, leaving five minutes before it would be a real shame.

How long to wait and when to arrive

At the end of September the sun sets at Sveti Stefan at around 18:35, and it stays light until roughly 19:05.

Arrive about an hour before the sunset time on the chart, so you catch the whole golden hour while the sun hangs really low. And don't leave until at least half an hour after it sets. To be honest, the fiery sky doesn't happen every evening: so much depends on the clouds on the horizon, and it's almost impossible to predict.

Where is the best place to watch the sunset at Sveti Stefan?

The best place to watch the sunset at Sveti Stefan is from the shore beside the island or from the viewpoint above it: from either spot the island stands out as a dark silhouette against the sky.

Our September sunset was shot from the shore, and those are the first photos in this article. From here you see the whole island: the tiled roofs, the stone walls, and the boats bobbing by the beach. Just bear in mind that the beaches by the island belong to the Aman resort, and in summer outsiders aren't let in.

So in season people look at the island from above, and there are two places nearby for that.

• The viewpoint above Sveti Stefan. From here you can see the island and the coast towards Budva, and at sunset the water turns pink all the way to the horizon.
• St Sava's Church. It stands on the hill above Sveti Stefan, with a panorama over the island and Miločer Park. It's an uphill climb, so set off in good time.

Can you go onto Sveti Stefan island at sunset?

You can't just go onto Sveti Stefan island for the sunset: the whole island is the Aman Sveti Stefan resort, which opens seasonally and is meant first and foremost for hotel guests.

So people watch the sunset from outside, from the shore or from above, and honestly that's better anyway. From the island itself you miss the main thing, its silhouette against a red sky.

Where to watch the sunset in Budva?

The best places to watch the sunset in Budva are Cape Zavala, where the Dukley hotel stands, and Rafailovići, and right in town the walls of the Old Town.

• Cape Zavala. It juts out into the sea between Budva and Bečići, and from here you can see Budva and its old town.
• Rafailovići. A small seaside village at the south-eastern end of Bečići beach.
• The walls and Citadel of Budva Old Town. From the walls you see the sea, St Nicholas Island and the tiled roofs, and the Citadel itself sits right above the water.
• Mogren beach, on the other hand, isn't a great choice for sunset. It's tucked under a cliff by the old town, and the light goes here earlier than anywhere else.

If you're staying in central Budva and don't want to go far, climb up onto the walls, and for a better sunset head out to Cape Zavala or Rafailovići.

Fancy taking the sunset home with you in photos, not just watching it? Drop us a line and we'll pick a time for your photo shoot to suit the dates of your trip.

The photos below were taken on that same September evening on the beach at Sveti Stefan, before the sunset. You can see how the light changes, from late afternoon to a low sun over the sea.

For portraits, the beach at Sveti Stefan is close to perfect. The island sits right behind you and instantly tells everyone where the photo was taken, while the reddish pebbles and the waves make a warm, lively backdrop.

How to plan an evening at Sveti Stefan?

Planning an evening at Sveti Stefan is easy: it's about 6 km from Budva along the Adriatic Highway by the sea, and it's best to arrive with time to spare, an hour before the sunset time on the chart above.

In summer, allow time from the start for the climb up to the viewpoint.

In autumn and winter it gets cold by the sea quickly after sunset, so bring a warm jumper, even if the day was sunny.

Check the bus or where to leave the car the day before: in summer Sveti Stefan is busy with holidaymakers.

Are sunsets more beautiful in winter or in summer?

Sunsets in Montenegro are just as beautiful in winter as in summer, because the colour of the sky depends on the clouds, not the season.

In winter the sun sets early in Montenegro, between 16:10 and 17:30, and the shore is quiet. In June and July it sets at around 20:20, the evening is warm and you can sit by the water until dark, though there will be more people around.

The fiery sunset from our story happened at the end of September, when the sun already sets at around half past six. So don't tie yourself to a season: a bright sky can come at any time of year.

Would you like to see yourself against a sky like that? We do sunset photo shoots at Sveti Stefan and in Budva: love stories, family and individual sessions. We shoot in an artistic reportage style, with no ostentatious staging, but with humour and meaning, so there's no need to pose, you just relax and be yourselves.

If you're looking for a photographer in Budva, we cover shoots in the town itself on a separate page. And if you haven't decided where to shoot yet, have a look at our list of photo shoot locations in Montenegro.

Tell us which days you'll be in Montenegro, and we'll work out the golden hour for your date.

You can catch a sunset by the sea in Montenegro in any season, as long as you know the time and don't leave too early. And if you're still planning your route, start with our pick of 20 must-see places in Montenegro: Sveti Stefan is on it, of course.

And if you need a photographer in Montenegro who knows when the light here is at its most beautiful, we'd love to photograph you. Come over, you won't regret it!