Of all the day trips from the beach at Bečići, none feels as different from the coast as Ostrog — a gleaming white monastery built straight into a sheer cliff face, high in Montenegro's mountainous interior. It's the country's most-visited pilgrimage site, drawing over a million visitors a year of every faith, and the drive inland from the Budva Riviera is a proper half- to full-day expedition rather than a quick hop. Here's how to reach it from Bečići, what it costs, and what to know before you go. For the wider set of trips, see our best day trips guide.
At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| From Bečići | Roughly 2–2.5 hours each way by road |
| Entry | Free — donations welcomed |
| Dress code | Shoulders and knees covered; no beachwear |
| Opening | Generally daily, roughly 6:00–17:00 in summer |
| Time needed | A full day out (or a long half-day by tour) |
| How | Self-drive or organised coach/small-group tour |
In short: it's a long but rewarding inland day. Drive yourself for freedom, or take an organised tour to skip the tricky mountain road. Entry is free, but dress modestly and go early to beat the crowds and the heat.
What Ostrog actually is
Ostrog Monastery was carved into a near-vertical cliff in the 17th century and dedicated to St. Basil of Ostrog (Sveti Vasilije), whose relics are kept here and draw pilgrims year-round. Whitewashed and seemingly glued to the grey rock, it's one of the most dramatic sights in the Balkans — and a genuinely working, sacred place, not a museum.
It comes in two parts:
- The Lower Monastery (Donji Manastir) — at the foot of the approach, with a church, accommodation for pilgrims and a car park. Many visitors start here.
- The Upper Monastery (Gornji Manastir) — the famous white shrine set into the cliff, about 3 km further up a steep road. This is the one in every photograph, home to St. Basil's relics.
You can drive between the two, or do as pilgrims do and walk the path up (allow a sweaty 30–45 minutes uphill in the heat — some devout visitors climb the final stretch barefoot). Because Ostrog is a living pilgrimage site of deep significance to Orthodox Christians — and revered by people of other faiths too — visitors are asked to be quiet and respectful, especially inside.
Why pilgrims come
The monastery is bound up with St. Basil of Ostrog, a 17th-century bishop who withdrew to this cliff, is said to have lived out his final years here, and was later venerated as a saint. His relics remain in the Upper Monastery, and for Orthodox Christians a visit is above all a pilgrimage — many come to pray, light candles and queue to venerate the shrine, and some believe prayers here bring healing. What makes Ostrog unusual is its reach across faiths: it draws not only Orthodox pilgrims but Catholics and Muslims too, part of why it counts over a million visitors a year. Understanding that helps set expectations — you're a guest at a place of living devotion, so the quiet, the queues and the dress rules aren't tourist-site formalities but the etiquette of a working shrine. Even non-religious visitors tend to find the atmosphere, and the sheer audacity of a monastery wedged into a cliff, genuinely moving.
Getting to Ostrog from Bečići
Ostrog sits well inland, so this is the longest of the popular Budva Riviera day trips: reckon on roughly 2 to 2.5 hours each way by road from Bečići, depending on traffic and where exactly you start. That makes it a full-day outing. You have two realistic ways to do it.
| Option | Rough cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-drive / rental car | From ~€25/day + fuel | Total freedom and your own timing; but the final approach is a tough mountain road |
| Organised tour | ~€20–35 per adult (coach) | Coach or small-group day tours run from Budva and Bečići, often paired with a stop like Petrovac; a guide and driver handle the road |
A note on the road: the route up to the Upper Monastery is narrow, steep and full of tight hairpin bends, with limited parking at the top that fills fast in summer. If you're not confident on mountain roads — or you'd simply rather look at the view than the tarmac — an organised tour is the easy call, and often the better-value one once you factor in fuel and the stress. Self-drivers should go early, both to get a parking spot and to be up before the midday heat and the tour coaches arrive. See our getting here and practical info pages for car-hire and driving basics.
Cost, entry and dress code
Ostrog is refreshingly cheap to visit — the tricky part is behaving appropriately, not paying.
- Entry is free. There's no ticket; the monastery runs on donations, and it's good form to leave something, especially if you buy a candle.
- Dress modestly. As a sacred site, Ostrog asks visitors to cover shoulders and knees — long trousers or a skirt below the knee, no bare shoulders, and no beachwear (this is a real trap for people coming straight from the coast). Women may cover their heads but it isn't required. Wraps are sometimes available near the entrance if you arrive underdressed, but don't count on it — bring a layer.
- Cash for candles and donations. Small change is handy for candles, donations and any refreshments.
Timing and tips
- Come early. Mornings mean cooler temperatures, easier parking and fewer crowds; weekends and Orthodox holy days are the busiest, when pilgrim numbers swell.
- Combine it, or keep it simple. Because the drive is long, many tours pair Ostrog with a coastal town like Petrovac on the way back. Self-drivers can do the same, but don't over-pack the day.
- Respect the queue. Inside the Upper Monastery, pilgrims line up to venerate St. Basil's relics; join the flow quietly, keep phones down where asked, and don't treat the shrine as a photo backdrop.
- Water and sun cover. The cliffside terraces are hot and exposed in summer — carry water, and remember your knees and shoulders stay covered regardless of the heat.
For a shorter, easier day out, the coastal trips are gentler — see our Kotor and Perast day trip and Sveti Stefan guide, or the full things to do list. But if you make just one inland journey from Bečići, Ostrog is the one that stays with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Ostrog Monastery from Bečići?
Ostrog is inland in the mountains, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours each way by road from Bečići, so it's a full-day trip. You can drive yourself or take an organised coach or small-group tour from Bečići or Budva, which handles the long, winding mountain approach for you.
How much does it cost to visit Ostrog Monastery?
Entry is free — Ostrog is a working pilgrimage site that runs on donations, so it's good form to leave something, especially if you light a candle. If you go on an organised day tour from the coast, expect to pay roughly €20–35 per adult for the coach, guide and transport.
What is the dress code at Ostrog Monastery?
As a sacred site, Ostrog asks visitors to cover their shoulders and knees — long trousers or a skirt below the knee, no bare shoulders, and no beachwear. It's an easy rule to forget when coming straight from the beach, so pack a layer. Wraps are sometimes available at the entrance, but don't rely on it.
Can you drive to Ostrog Monastery yourself?
Yes, but the final stretch up to the Upper Monastery is narrow, steep and full of hairpin bends, with limited parking that fills early in summer. If you're not comfortable on mountain roads, an organised tour is the easier and often better-value option. Self-drivers should set off early for a parking spot and cooler temperatures.
Is Ostrog worth visiting from the Budva Riviera?
For most people, yes — Ostrog is Montenegro's most-visited pilgrimage site and one of the Balkans' most dramatic sights, a white monastery built into a cliff. It's a long drive from the coast, but the scenery and the shrine make it a standout day trip, provided you're happy to spend most of the day travelling.
