You do not need a car to have a full Budva Riviera holiday. The whole coast here is compact and walkable, stitched together by a flat seafront promenade, a network of cheap local buses, and taxis that never cost much for short hops. Add summer taxi-boats and Budva's bus station for day trips, and a car-free stay is not only possible but often less stressful than parking one all summer. Here's how to move around the Riviera on foot, by bus and by boat — and how to reach the sights without hiring a car. For the car case, see renting a car in Montenegro.
At a glance
| Getting around by… | Rough cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking the promenade | Free | Bečići ↔ Budva (~3 km, flat) |
| Local coastal bus | Around €1.50–2.50 | Along the coast to Sveti Stefan |
| Olimpia / Blue Line bus | Around €2–2.50 | Longer coastal hops |
| Taxi | ~€5 short, ~€10 nearby | Quick door-to-door, luggage |
| Summer taxi-boat | Varies | Coves and beach-hopping |
| Bus from Budva station | Varies by route | Day trips to Kotor, inland |
In short: walk or bus for everyday moves along the coast, taxi when you're in a hurry or loaded with bags, and use Budva's bus station and organised tours for the bigger day trips.
Walking: the promenade is your main artery
The single best way to get around locally is on foot. A flat, paved seafront promenade runs the ~3 km from Bečići to Budva Old Town, hugging the beach the whole way — a stroll of roughly 30–40 minutes, and a genuinely pleasant one past cafés, beach bars and the water. There's no hill to climb, so it suits families and older walkers, and it means you can stay in calm Bečići and simply walk into Budva's nightlife and restaurants, then wander home.
Heading the other way, Rafailovići is only about 1 km north of Bečići — an easy 10–15 minute walk around the point to its cluster of seafront konobas. For anything within the Bečići–Budva–Rafailovići triangle, walking is usually quicker than waiting for a bus once you factor in stops.
The promenade is level and pram- and wheelchair-friendly for most of its length, which is a real plus for families and anyone who'd rather not tackle steps and hills. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water in summer — there's little shade in the middle of the day — and you'll find the walk doubles as a scenic outing rather than just a way to get from A to B. Many visitors end up walking far more than they expected simply because it's so pleasant and everything is close.
Local buses along the coast
For anything beyond comfortable walking distance, the local coastal buses are the workhorse. The key route for visitors links Budva – Bečići – Rafailovići – Pržno – Sveti Stefan, stopping at the resorts strung along the shore; the main operator on this stretch is the Mediteran Express, and buses run frequently — often every 10–15 minutes in summer. A ride costs around €1.50–2.50 depending on the operator and how far you go (fares have crept up, so the old flat €1.50 is now the low end), usually paid in cash to the driver — which makes reaching Sveti Stefan (~5 km south) cheap and simple without a car.
Two named services you'll also see are the Olimpia Express and the regional Blue Line, with fares around €2–2.50 for longer coastal hops. Buses are the budget backbone of a car-free trip; just carry small change, since drivers don't always give change for large notes.
| Route | Rough fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budva ↔ Bečići ↔ Sveti Stefan (Mediteran Express) | ~€1.50–2.50 | Frequent (~10–15 min); stops at the coastal resorts |
| Olimpia Express | ~€2.50 | Local Budva-area service |
| Blue Line (regional) | ~€2–2.50 | Longer coastal connections |
Fares are 2026 ballparks from local transport guides — treat them as approximate, as they can nudge up in season.
Taxis and summer taxi-boats
Taxis are cheap and plentiful for short trips. A ride within Budva typically runs around €5, and hops to nearby settlements around €10 — worth it when you're carrying luggage, out late after the buses thin, or travelling as a group where splitting the fare beats separate bus tickets. Use marked taxis and confirm the fare or meter before setting off, especially in peak season.
In summer, the coast adds a fun extra: taxi-boats and water taxis shuttle along the shore and out to beaches and coves that are slow to reach by road. They're a lovely way to beach-hop or reach a quieter swim, and to get out to islands and secluded spots off the main strip. Prices vary with the route and season, so ask at the harbour or beach jetty.
Doing day trips without a car
You can reach almost every big Budva Riviera day trip car-free, and the hub is Budva's bus station, a short bus or taxi from Bečići. From there, intercity buses run to Kotor, Podgorica, Cetinje and beyond, making self-guided trips to the Bay of Kotor entirely doable on public transport. Budva to Kotor, for instance, takes about 40–45 minutes (longer on services routed via Tivat) and costs roughly €4–5 one way — just note that Montenegro's bus stations, Budva's included, add a small ~€1 platform token at the ticket window on top of the fare, and drivers charge €1–2 per suitcase stowed in the hold.
For sights that are awkward by bus — inland monasteries, national parks, multi-stop loops — organised tours are the easy answer. Coach and small-group day tours to Kotor and Perast, Ostrog Monastery and the like depart from Budva and Bečići, with a driver and guide handling the roads; you can book these through your hotel or a platform like GetYourGuide or Viator. The car-free rule of thumb: buses for the coastal towns, tours for the mountains. See our full best day trips guide for the options.
Walking distances from Bečići
| Destination | Distance | On foot |
|---|---|---|
| Budva Old Town | ~3 km | ~30–40 min along the promenade |
| Rafailovići | ~1 km | ~10–15 min around the point |
| Sveti Stefan | ~5 km | Better by local bus (~€1.50) |
Practical tips for car-free travel
A little know-how makes the buses and boats effortless. Carry small change in euros — local bus fares are paid in cash to the driver, and they don't always break large notes, so keep a few coins and small notes handy. There isn't a slick app-based ticketing system on the local coastal lines; you flag the bus, board, and pay onboard, which is refreshingly simple once you accept it runs on cash and rough timetables rather than to-the-minute schedules.
Plan around the heat and the season. Buses run more frequently in summer when demand is high, thinning out in the shoulder months, so check the last-bus time if you're heading out for the evening — after the buses stop, a taxi home from Budva to Bečići is short and cheap anyway. The promenade is fully lit and busy into the night in season, so walking back from Budva is a safe, pleasant default for many visitors.
Base yourself well and you'll barely miss a car. Staying in Bečići or Rafailovići puts you on the promenade and the coastal bus route, within easy reach of the beach, restaurants and Budva's old town — exactly the car-free sweet spot. For where that sits in the wider picture, and for emergency numbers, currency and other basics, see our getting here and practical info pages, and the getting to Bečići guide for arriving in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get around the Budva Riviera without a car?
Yes, easily. A flat promenade links Bečići and Budva (~3 km), cheap local buses run along the coast from around €1.50, taxis are inexpensive for short hops, and Budva's bus station plus organised tours cover the day trips. For a beach-based holiday, a car is often more parking hassle than it's worth.
How much is the bus from Bečići to Budva or Sveti Stefan?
The local coastal bus linking Budva, Bečići, Rafailovići and Sveti Stefan costs around €1.50, paid in cash to the driver. Named services like the Olimpia Express and regional Blue Line run around €2–2.50 for longer hops. Carry small change, as drivers may not break large notes.
How far is the walk from Bečići to Budva?
About 3 km along a flat, paved seafront promenade — roughly a 30–40 minute stroll past cafés and beach bars, with no hills. It's the nicest way to reach Budva's old town and nightlife, and it means you can stay in quieter Bečići and walk in for the evening, then wander back.
Are there taxi-boats on the Budva Riviera?
Yes, in summer. Taxi-boats and water taxis shuttle along the coast, reaching beaches, coves and islands that are slow to get to by road — a fun way to beach-hop or find a quieter swim. Prices vary by route and season, so ask at the harbour or beach jetty for the current fare.
How do I do day trips from Bečići without a car?
Use Budva's bus station for intercity buses to Kotor, Cetinje and Podgorica, which makes coastal and city trips easy on public transport. For inland sights like Ostrog or the national parks, book an organised tour with a driver and guide. As a rule: buses for coastal towns, tours for the mountains.
Is Bečići wheelchair accessible?
It's one of the more accessible bases on the Montenegrin coast. The ~3 km seafront promenade is flat and wheelchair- and pram-friendly for most of its length, linking Bečići to Budva, and there are accessible hotels in the Bečići–Budva area. The beach itself has less dedicated infrastructure than Greece's ramped beaches, so check what your hotel or beach club offers for sea access. Bear in mind that Budva's Old Town and Kotor are cobbled and stepped — charming but hard going — so use the flat coast as your base and pick accessible spots for day trips. Local buses aren't reliably step-free, so book accessible taxis or transfers where you need them.
