The Coast Nobody Talks About
Petrovac technically belongs to the Budva municipality, but it feels nothing like Budva. The town has about 1,500 permanent residents, a single main street, and a beach that is just big enough to feel spacious even in August. There are no high-rise hotels, no thumping beach clubs, and no queue for ice cream. Instead, there are family-run apartments above the olive groves, a fortress on a rock in the bay, and two offshore islets — Sveta Nedjelja and Katič — that glow in the evening light.
Beyond Petrovac, the coast turns truly wild. Lučice beach sits in a sheltered cove a ten-minute walk south of town. Buljarica is a broad sweep of dark sand and pebble that runs for a full kilometre along a flat, marshy coastline. There are no sunbed operations here, no lifeguards, and on weekdays in June you might share the entire beach with a dozen other people. It is the kind of Mediterranean coast that used to exist everywhere and now survives in only a few places.
Petrovac Town
The town's centrepiece is its red-pebble beach, sheltered by headlands on both sides and watched over by the Castello fortress — a small Venetian-era fortification sitting on a rock just offshore, connected to the mainland by a short walkway. The main promenade runs along the beach, lined with restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops that are low-key by Budva standards. Behind the promenade, a few streets climb into the hillside past apartment buildings and olive trees. The Romani mosaics — a well-preserved 3rd-century floor discovered in the 1970s — sit behind a protective building on the edge of town and are worth a brief visit. The town shuts down noticeably after October, with many restaurants closing until April.
Lučice Beach
A ten-minute walk south from Petrovac's main beach, along a paved coastal path, brings you to Lučice — a small cove of smooth pebbles flanked by pine-covered headlands. The water is clear and calm, sheltered from the open sea by the surrounding rocks. A single beach bar operates in summer, renting sunbeds and serving cold drinks. Outside July and August, you will have the cove mostly to yourself. The path from Petrovac is flat and shaded by pines — pleasant even in midday heat.
Buljarica Beach
Five minutes south of Petrovac by car (or a 25-minute walk along the coast road), Buljarica stretches for one full kilometre along a flat, marshy coastline. The beach is a mix of dark sand and small pebbles, backed by reeds, tamarisk trees, and an area of wetland that is home to birds and frogs. There are no sunbed operations, no beach bars (though a couple of basic cafes operate on the road behind in summer), and no development plans on the horizon — the area has environmental protection status. The swimming is good along the central section where the seabed is sandy, though the water can be cooler than the sheltered coves further north. Bring everything you need: shade, water, and food.
The Drive Down
From Budva, take the main coastal road south through Bečići and Rafailovići. After passing through the short tunnel beyond Pržno, the road rises over a headland and drops into the Petrovac valley. The entire drive is about 17 km and takes 25 minutes, though summer traffic around Bečići can add time. The road is good quality throughout with sea views on the left-hand side for most of the route. For the return trip, or to continue further south, see our guide to beach-hopping the Budva Riviera.
Where to Eat
Petrovac's waterfront has a dozen restaurants and konobas. Quality is generally good — the town does not get enough tourist volume to sustain genuinely bad places. Grilled fish, octopus salad, and Njeguški pršut are reliable orders. A couple of places specialise in seafood risotto made with local catch. Prices run about 15–20% lower than equivalent restaurants in Budva. For the best value, look for the places set one street back from the promenade — same food, no sea-view markup. In Buljarica, eating options are minimal, so either eat in Petrovac first or pack a picnic.
Practical Tips
- Road: Well-surfaced two-lane coast road the whole way. Two short tunnels. Watch for slow-moving traffic in summer.
- Swimming: Petrovac and Lučice have gentle entries. Buljarica is deeper with a sandy bottom but no lifeguards.
- Supplies: Stock up in Petrovac. There is a small supermarket on the main street and a bakery. Buljarica has nothing.
- Best time: June and September. July and August are fine but busier. October sees many restaurants close.