Kastio fort
A Venetian-era fort above the harbour.
Herbert Frank — CC BY 2.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as long as you credit its author, Ad Meskens. Example: © Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons If you use this work outside of the Wikimedia projec — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oktoober — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oktoober — CC BY-SA 4.0
Petrovac na Moru, Petrovac-on-Sea, is a small resort in Budva municipality on Montenegro's coast between Budva and Bar. A town beach of reddish sand and fine shingle about 600 m long curves round its bay, backed by a car-free promenade of cafés, with pines and olive groves behind. It is known as a calmer, family-friendly alternative to Budva. Remains of a Roman villa and baths survive in town; its mosaic floor, usually dated to the 4th century, may be visible through the windows of a small shelter. Under Venice a fort, generally dated to the 16th century, rose on the rock at the bay's western end to keep pirates away. The town was called Kastel Lastva until 1919, when it was renamed after King Peter I Karađorđević, and became a resort between the world wars. Steps climb the fort, now called Kastio, to a top terrace with an old cannon and views over the bay. About a kilometre offshore lie two islets: Sveta Neđelja (Holy Sunday), whose tiny chapel was built, legend says, by sailors saved from a shipwreck, and Katič beyond it. Their waters belong to Katič Nature Park, protected since 2021 for its seagrass meadows. Petrovac lies where the old mountain road from Podgorica meets the coast, about 19 km by road south-east of Budva's old town; Sveti Stefan is 7 km north-west as the crow flies. A path through short tunnels leads west to Perazića Do cove, while pine-shaded Lučice and long Buljarica beach lie to the south-east. June and September are calmer than high summer.
A Venetian-era fort above the harbour.
A tiny chapel on a rock offshore.
A late Roman villa floor in town.
Town beach and promenade, Petrovac na Moru, Budva municipality
By boat from the small harbour or the beach, a crossing of about 15 minutes, or by kayak on a calm day, keeping clear of summer boat traffic. Landing is not guaranteed, so ask the boatman before you set off; those who land climb to the chapel and ring its bell, said to bring luck.
Yes. A local bus links it with Budva all year, roughly hourly per the Budva tourist board's timetable, and intercity buses serve Bar and, inland, Podgorica, with fewer services in winter. The town itself is small enough to walk.