Petrovac Travel Guide, Tours & Hotels

Best time: June and September for warm sea without the crowds
Ideal for: Families, couples, quieter beach days
Time needed: 2–4 days
Getting there: ~25 min by car from Budva; coastal bus
Region: Budva Riviera
Nearest airport: Tivat Airport (TIV), ~40 km

Ideal for

Families

Beaches

Couples

Swimming

About Petrovac

Smaller and gentler than Budva down the coast, Petrovac keeps a pine-backed promenade, two islets offshore, a compact Venetian fortress and some of the most swimmable beaches on the riviera.

Petrovac occupies a sheltered bay at the southern end of the Budva Riviera, where the hills come down to a reddish-pink shingle beach backed by pines and oleander. The Venetians fortified the bay in the 16th century to watch for pirates, and their small Kastio fort still sits on the southern headland with the best view over the water at dusk. The town has stayed low-rise and family-oriented, with an evening promenade rather than a club strip, which is precisely why many returning visitors prefer it to its louder neighbours. Two islets — Katič and the chapel-topped Sveta Nedjelja — sit just offshore, and a short walk south brings you to Lučice, a small cove many consider the prettiest beach on this stretch, and to the long undeveloped sweep of Buljarica.

Highlights

Petrovac town beach and promenade

Lučice and Buljarica beaches

Kastio fortress at sunset

Boat trip to Katič and Sveta Nedjelja islets

Where it is

Three beaches, three moods

Petrovac’s own beach is the sociable one — loungers, cafés and the promenade at its back. Lučice, over the headland to the south, is a compact horseshoe cove with clear water and a single restaurant, reachable on foot in about fifteen minutes along a coastal path. Buljarica, further on, is the opposite: a kilometre and a half of shingle with a marshy nature area behind it, almost entirely undeveloped, and the place locals go when the resorts fill up in August.

Roman floors and island chapels

Petrovac was Lastva in Roman times, and two 3rd- and 4th-century mosaic floors survive near the centre, protected under cover. Offshore, the twin islets are a fixture of every photograph of the bay: Katič is bare rock, while Sveta Nedjelja carries a tiny chapel that local sailors are said to have built in thanks for surviving a wreck. Small boats run out to them in summer, and the swim from shore is a serious one best left to strong swimmers.

Plan your visit

Line up where to stay and what to do around Petrovac.

Hotels near Petrovac Experiences & tours Explore Budva Riviera All places in Montenegro

Official resources & further reading

National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro

Frequently asked questions

Is Petrovac good for families?

Yes — the bay is sheltered and shelves gently, the promenade is car-free in the evenings, and the town stays quieter than Budva or Bečići.

What are the beaches like in Petrovac?

The town beach is fine reddish shingle and sand backed by pines; Lučice is a small cove ten minutes south, and Buljarica is a long, largely undeveloped stretch beyond it.

How far is Petrovac from Budva?

About 17 km, roughly 20–25 minutes by car or a short ride on the coastal bus.

What is the fortress in Petrovac?

Kastio, a compact 16th-century Venetian fort on the southern headland, built to guard the bay against pirates and now a viewpoint with a summer bar.