Bečići vs Petrovac: family beach resort vs quiet pine-scented cove
Is Bečići or Petrovac better for families?
Bečići is Montenegro's best family beach — 1.7 km of gentle sand, shallow entry, all beach services, and a short walk or bus ride from Budva's amenities. Petrovac is better for couples and slow travellers wanting quiet — a small pebble beach flanked by Venetian towers, Olive Island just offshore, and a genuinely low-key pace that Bečići and Budva completely lack.
Same coastline, completely different rhythm
Bečići and Petrovac both sit south of Budva on the Montenegrin Riviera, and both are alternatives to the noise and density of Budva itself. But they appeal to almost opposite types of traveller.
Bečići (3 km south of Budva) is an extension of the Budva resort zone — a long sandy beach backed by large hotels, with beach bars, water sports and a summer atmosphere that mirrors Budva in miniature. Petrovac (15 km further south) is a small coastal town that has preserved a genuinely quiet character: a curved pebble beach, pine trees, a 16th-century Venetian tower, and a pace of life that belongs more to the 1970s than to the contemporary Adriatic resort circuit.
| Bečići distance | 3 km south of Budva |
| Petrovac distance | 15 km further south (18 km from Bečići) |
| Best for families | Bečići — see the full Bečići beach guide |
| Best for quiet/couples | Petrovac |
| Getting between them | 20–30 min by car, local bus €2–3 |
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Bečići | Petrovac |
|---|---|---|
| Beach type | 1.7 km soft sand, shallow gradient | Curved pebble cove, clearer water |
| Atmosphere | Resort, organised, beach services | Quiet, local, pine trees, old town |
| Families with children | Excellent — shallow, sandy, safe | Good — calmer than Budva but pebble |
| Couples / slow travel | Adequate | Excellent |
| Accommodation | Large resort hotels + apartments | Smaller hotels, apartments, B&Bs |
| Cost | €€–€€€ | €–€€ (cheaper than Budva/Bečići) |
| Nightlife | Low-key (Budva 3 km away) | Very low-key |
| Restaurants | Good variety | Limited but quality, local fish |
| Landmark | Milocer reserve nearby | Venetian tower, Olive Island |
| Nearest city | Budva (3 km) | Budva (15 km), Bar (30 km) |
Bečići beach: Montenegro’s best sandy beach
Bečići won a Blue Flag award in 1935 — one of the first beaches in the world to do so — and the beach has maintained its reputation for clean, well-organised swimming. The 1.7 km of sand is the longest unbroken sandy beach in Montenegro, with a gentle gradient that makes it ideal for children who are still learning to swim. Sun loungers and parasols are available for rent throughout the beach (€5–10 per lounger per day), water sports operators offer jet ski, paddleboard and banana boat rentals, and the beach bars and restaurants run the entire length.
The backdrop is large resort hotels — some aging Yugoslav-era blocks alongside newer developments. The strip has more infrastructure than charm, but as a beach destination for families it is genuinely excellent. See the dedicated Bečići beach guide for the full breakdown of loungers, water sports, and getting there.
Budva: Tandem Paragliding (All Inclusive)Petrovac: the quiet choice
Petrovac na Moru (to give it its full name) is a small town of about 1,500 residents that sees a surge in summer visitors — mostly Montenegrin families, Serbian weekenders, and a growing number of international travellers who have discovered that it’s possible to have a genuinely quiet beach holiday in Montenegro without going to the mountains.
The beach is a 460-metre crescent of rounded pebble, flanked at one end by the 16th-century Venetian fortress (Kastio) and at the other by pine trees descending to the waterfront. Olive Island (Katic Island) sits 150 metres offshore — a tiny rock topped with a chapel, accessible by swimming or short kayak. The water here is notably clear, consistently rated some of the cleanest on the Montenegrin coast.
The old town behind the beach is modest but genuine: a handful of traditional restaurants, a morning market, the fortress-tower now used as a café terrace. In the evening, the promenade fills with locals in the passiata — the southern European tradition of an evening walk that Petrovac has retained more authentically than Budva.
A typical day in each town
A day in Bečići tends to follow the beach. Families claim loungers in the morning while the sand is still cool, swim in the shallow water, and break for lunch at one of the beachfront restaurants. The afternoon is often quieter, a good moment for a nap at the hotel or apartment before the evening stroll. If the group wants more variety, Budva is close enough to reach for dinner, and the Budva old town makes an easy evening outing. For the wider picture of the resort zone, see the Bečići destination page and the Budva guide.
A day in Petrovac is slower and less structured. Coffee on the promenade, a swim off the pebbles before the crowds build, a long lunch in a konoba, then an afternoon walk among the pines. Many visitors head for the water around the island with a mask, or hire a boat or kayak for a change of scenery. If you fancy paddling, a paddle board or kayak trip along the cave-studded coast is a natural fit for the Riviera, and the Petrovac destination page gives more background on the town itself.
The difference is less about what you can do and more about how much the town does for you. Bečići hands you a ready-made beach day. Petrovac asks you to build your own, and rewards you for it.
Choosing by season
Both towns lean heavily on summer, but they feel different at the edges of the season. Bečići is built around its hotels and beach services, so it is at its most lively when everything is open and at its flattest when the resort strip winds down. Petrovac, as a small town with a life of its own, keeps a more natural rhythm outside peak weeks, though some seasonal restaurants and rentals will still close.
If you are flexible on dates, the shoulder months are worth a look. Our comparison of May, June and September explains how the coast changes through the early and late summer, and the general best time to visit Montenegro guide covers the rest of the year. Peak summer is the hardest test for Bečići’s tranquillity and the easiest case for choosing Petrovac; if you are dead set on high summer with children, though, Bečići’s organised beach is the more forgiving option. For month-specific advice, Montenegro in July and Montenegro in September are useful companions.
Cost difference
Petrovac is meaningfully cheaper than Bečići or Budva:
- Accommodation: A double room in a family-run apartment in Petrovac: €40–75 in July. Equivalent in Bečići resort hotel: €90–160.
- Beach: Petrovac’s beach has fewer organised sunlounger rentals (some free zones remain). Bečići’s beach is almost entirely organised.
- Restaurants: Local restaurants in Petrovac run €12–20 for a full meal. Similar quality on Bečići’s beachfront: €18–30.
The saving over a week is €150–400 depending on accommodation choice.
Price is not the only variable. A cheaper base can cost you in other ways if you rely on public transport or taxis for most of your outings, so think about how often you will leave town. Families who plan to spend nearly every day on the beach usually get more value from Bečići’s convenience, while couples who like to wander and eat locally tend to feel the saving more in Petrovac. If you are weighing up where your budget goes overall, the Montenegro budget guide and the comparison of luxury vs budget travel help you decide what is worth paying for.
Getting around from each base
Bečići sits right next to Budva, which makes it a comfortable launch point for almost everything on the coast. You can reach the old town by bus or taxi, and from Budva onward the rest of the Riviera opens up. Our day trips from Budva guide lists the excursions that start nearby, and Budva from Kotor is handy if you want to split a stay between the bay and the beach.
Petrovac is further from the busiest part of the coast, and that distance is part of its appeal. It is a pleasant base if you are happy to take a bus or hire a car for a day out and come home to quiet. If you plan to drive, the renting a car guide covers what to expect, and getting around Montenegro compares buses, taxis and self-drive more broadly. Travellers who would rather not drive can lean on organised excursions and the local bus, which works well for a relaxed trip.
The practical rule: choose Bečići if you want options on your doorstep, and Petrovac if you are content to travel for them.
Profile cards
If you’re travelling with children under 10 and sandy shallow water is non-negotiable: Bečići. The beach is made for small children.
If you’re a couple looking for quiet evenings, local atmosphere and pebble-cove swimming: Petrovac wins clearly.
If you want to be 3 km from Budva’s restaurants and nightlife but not inside the noise: Bečići — close enough to access everything, slightly removed from the most intense concentration.
If you’re a solo slow traveller or digital nomad: Petrovac. The slower pace, lower prices and pine-scented walks make it an excellent base.
If you want both: Bečići for the first half, Petrovac for the second — they’re 18 km apart.
Splitting a stay works best when you let each town do what it is good at. Spend the first days in Bečići on the sand and in the water, then move south for slower evenings. If you want a change of pace on the water in between, Budva: 5h Private Boat & Beach Hopping is one way to see the coastline from the sea rather than from the road.
If you are travelling with children, the family travel tips for Montenegro and the guide to Montenegro with kids go further on what to pack and how to pace the days. For the bigger decision about where on the coast to anchor your whole trip, see Budva vs Sveti Stefan, and for the full week-by-week picture, the 7 days in Montenegro itinerary shows how the coast fits into a wider route. Our blog also has a personal take in Bečići: better than Budva for families? and a look at hidden beaches around Petrovac and Bar.
For accommodation style once you’ve picked a town, see hotel vs apartment in Montenegro, and for more excursion ideas from either base, day trips from Budva and best beaches in Montenegro cover the wider Riviera.
Frequently asked questions about Bečići vs Petrovac
Can I swim at Bečići if I’m not staying in one of the resort hotels?
Yes. The beach is public. You can walk in from the town, rent sunloungers independently, and use the beach bars and restaurants without being a hotel guest. Some hotels have fenced private sections, but the majority of the beach is open.
Is Petrovac beach sandy or pebble?
Pebble — rounded smooth stones, not sharp gravel. Many visitors find it comfortable with beach shoes or sandals. The water tends to be clearer over pebble than sand.
How do I get from Budva to Petrovac?
Regular local buses run from Budva bus station to Petrovac (journey: approximately 30–40 minutes, cost: €2–3). By car or taxi: 15 km, 20 minutes. Taxis cost around €20–25.
Are there good restaurants in Petrovac?
Yes, though limited in number. The best are the traditional konobe (taverns) in the old town serving fresh grilled fish, seafood pasta, and local lamb. Čista, Konoba Olive and several seasonal restaurants on the promenade have good reputations. Reserve in peak season.
Is Petrovac good for snorkelling?
Yes — one of the better snorkelling locations on the Montenegrin coast due to the clear water and rocky outcrops near Olive Island. Visibility is typically 5–10 metres.
Can I easily day trip from Petrovac to Kotor?
Yes. Petrovac to Kotor is 46 km, approximately 55 minutes by car. Regular buses run to Budva, from where connections to Kotor are frequent. The drive is scenic — the coastal road offers beautiful views.
Top experiences booked through GetYourGuide
Kotor Old Town Small-Group Walking Tour
Small-group walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town — city walls, cathedral and hidden squares with a licensed guide
Kotor Old Town City Walking Tour
Guided walk through the medieval gates, St. Tryphon Cathedral and the Venetian-era alleyways of Kotor Old Town
Kotor: 1-Hour Essential Walking Tour
Fast-paced 1-hour intro to Kotor — main monuments, city walls gate and key facts for first-time visitors