Budva Old Town walls and Citadel: where to get in and what you can see

Want to see Budva Old Town from above? The fortress walls ring the whole of Budva Old Town on its rocky peninsula, but you can only walk one stretch of them, from Ričardova Glava beach to the square in front of the Citadel. From up there you look down on terracotta roofs, narrow lanes, the Bay of Budva and the marina.

We live in Montenegro, and this page brings together our photos from the walls. Below we explain where the entrance is and when it's closed, what you can see from different points on the walls and what makes the Citadel at the southern tip of town worth a look.

How do you get up onto the Budva Old Town walls?

You can only get up onto the Budva Old Town walls through the entrance by the Citadel, and only if the walls are open that year. There are three entrances in all:

1. By the Citadel. Walk to the far end of the Citadel and turn left; you don't need to go inside the fortress itself. This is the only entrance they let people up through when the walls are open.
2. By La Villa café. A staircase leads up to the walls from here, but it's locked.
3. From inside the town. This entrance is tucked away on the side of the Old Town opposite the Citadel, and it's locked too.

We wouldn't try to sneak onto the walls through the locked entrances. We know for a fact that one of the holiday flats nearby has its own way out onto the walls and the owners keep dogs, so it could simply be unsafe.

Are the walls open now, and how much does it cost to go up?

Whether the Budva Old Town walls are open depends on the year: for some reason they don't open every season. In 2026 they didn't open at all and everything stayed locked. In previous years it cost €2 per person to go up, but prices here keep rising, so check the current price at the entrance.

Can you walk all the way round the walls?

No, you can't walk all the way round the walls in Budva, and you never could. Only one stretch opens for walking: it starts at the Astoria restaurant above Ričardova Glava beach and ends at the square in front of the Citadel.

What can you see from the Budva Old Town walls?

From the Budva Old Town walls you see the Old Town from above: terracotta roofs, the narrow lanes between them, the Bay of Budva and the marina. The view changes a little from point to point, so take your time and stop often.

The white umbrellas on Ričardova Glava in our photos belong to the Astoria restaurant. We cover this beach and others near the Old Town in our round-up of the best beaches in Budva.

What is the Budva Citadel?

The Budva Citadel is the Old Town's main fortress, standing above the sea at its southern tip. Its sea walls run for 160 metres, with the east and west towers at either end.

Inside the Citadel there's a library where old books, maps and model ships are kept behind glass, and from the fortress walls you get a view of the sea. You pay to get into the Citadel (€3.50 in 2026), while wandering the streets of the Old Town is free.

By the way, it's not just tourists who love the Citadel: wedding ceremonies are held there too. If you're planning a wedding in Montenegro, have a read of our guide to a wedding at the Budva Citadel.

The view of Budva marina from the walls

From the walls you can see the whole marina with its boats and yachts: it starts right in front of the Old Town, and the Bay of Budva stretches out beyond it.

When were the Budva Old Town walls built?

Most of the Budva Old Town walls were built under Venice, which ruled the town for almost 400 years, from 1420 to 1797. Most of the houses inside the walls date from the same period.

On 15 April 1979 an earthquake badly damaged Budva, and restoring the Old Town afterwards took eight years, until 1987.

When is the best time to go up the Budva Old Town walls?

The best time to go up the Budva Old Town walls is in season, if they've opened that year: out of season the entrance by the Citadel is closed even in good years.

On summer days tour groups arrive in the Old Town and the narrow lanes get crowded. In the morning it's almost empty and not yet hot, so it's worth starting your walk around town early. For the sunset, though, head to the sea: our article on sunset in Budva has the best spots and timings.

A photo shoot by the Old Town walls

Old stone walls, the Citadel above the sea and terracotta roofs make Budva Old Town a beautiful backdrop for any type of shoot. We shoot without ostentatious staging, but with humour and meaning: there's nothing to act out for the camera, just relax and be yourselves.

Allow about an hour and a half for a photo shoot; we time the start for the soft light before sunset.

To see what it looks like, have a look at our love story in Budva Old Town: a stroll through the lanes that ends with photos in the Citadel. More shots from the town are in our Budva photo shoot gallery.

You'll find more about us and our shoots on the photographer in Montenegro page. And we explain how a shoot in the town itself works on our photographer in Budva page. Drop us a line and we'll find a day and time for your shoot!

What to see in the Old Town after the walls?

Once you're back down from the walls, explore the town itself: old churches, the square below the Citadel and quiet lanes covered in ivy. We've mapped out a route through them in our guide to Budva Old Town. For more trip ideas, read our article on things to do in Montenegro. Come over, climb the walls and see Budva from above: you'll love it!