Things To Do in Becici

This spotless beach offers a perfect combo of swimming and sunbathing. The water’s pretty calm because it’s in a sheltered bay, making it safe for even the tiniest kids. And there’s no shortage of sunloungers to go round. Plus, if you need to get out of the sun, the ice-cream parlours along the prom are perfect for cooling off.

Becici’s waterfront restaurants and tavernas rarely stray too far from the local cookbook, which means tonnes of mouthwatering fish and meat dishes, many with an Italian twist. Try smoked ham and cheese in olive oil for starters. And if you order the fish of the day as a main, the waiter will fillet it at your table. Wash it down with an ice-cold Montenegrin lager or a glass of Vranac wine.

Becici Beach is a great place to soak up the sun, but it’s also bursting with activities. It has the full spectrum of watersports on offer, with everything from waterskiing to parasailing. There’s volleyball and even the Pro Beach Soccer tournament in summer. But if you prefer to take things at a slower pace, you can always try perfecting your pebble skimming technique.

Come night-time, holidaymakers head to a row of restaurants along Becici’s promenade. And if you’re in need of a cocktail or a few bottles of Niksicko beer, there’s a bar on the beach that has live music in summer. To pick up the pace, Budva is a 20-minute stroll away. Here, disco tents along the seafront pump out Europop and tempt you in with two-for-one drinks.

Becici’s promenade is the place to swap your euros for must-have Montenegrin handicrafts. Lace tablecloths, embroidered by local women, are good buys. So too is olive oil – it even comes in bars of soap. For more holiday-focused purchases, there are stalls selling fake designer clothes and sunglasses opposite the beach. Haggle mercilessly to be guaranteed a bargain.

Budva’s ancient city walls are the backdrop for this ambitious festival dedicated to the performing arts. Top directors from Montenegro, Serbia and other ex-Yugoslavia countries stage everything from taut dramas to sing-along musicals. Plus, there are quirky performances in the city’s squares, drawing crowds of curious onlookers.

The Venetians who ruled Budva in the 15th century left behind these stony fortifications. Climb to the top and you’re served with bird’s-eye views of the Square of the Poets and churches dating back to the 7th century. Afterwards, it costs 3 euros to enter Budva Citadel, a hulking fortress containing a library of rare books and maps. Its terrace looks out to Sveti Nikola island across the sparkling Adriatic Sea.

Becici’s standout restaurants are dotted along the waterfront. Most have terraces offering shade from the sun, where you can sample local dishes like homemade prosciutto and cheese in olive oil. The fish platters tend to be ginormous, heaped with octopus and squid. They go down nicely with an ice-cold Montenegrin lager or a glass of Vrnac wine.

By day, this pavilion-shaped bar on the beach keeps sun-worshippers hydrated. By night, it’s full of partygoers with a few more clothes on who come to hear the DJs or watch live bands. It’s a particularly big hit with locals, thanks to the Montenegrin draughts on tap.

You’ve got unobstructed views of the sea here, not to mention decor that complements the location – think fishing nets, anchor chains and life buoys. But really, it’s the food here that pulls in the crowds. Giant rings of calamari, grilled peppers, and chunky fillets of fresh fish are par for the course.

This summer festival is a lot like the X-Factor. It’s televised across Montenegro and lines up the country’s best unsigned musical talents, who battle it out for the title. It all takes place in Budva old town, a 20-minute walk away. Days one and two are heats where 300 entrants are whittled down to a handful, and on day three the winner is crowned at the closing ceremony.

If you’ve got euros to spend, head for the shops along the length of the prom. They’re stacked with things like Montenegrin lace and wood carvings. If it’s holiday essentials you’re after, Becici’s 3 small supermarkets do a good line in inflatables, suntan lotion, and buckets and spades.

The Montenegrin equivalent of the Tower of London, this stone fortress dates back to the age of jousting and court jesters. Its lofty views of the Adriatic once helped forewarn the town of any approaching pirates. These days, though, it’s tourists who’ve got designs on the citadel, thanks to its beautiful old library and rooftop restaurant.