Jaz Beach Montenegro
Jaz Beach is a beautiful, blue-flag beach on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, just 3 kilometers north of Budva. It’s a family-friendly beach that is also frequented by younger holidaymakers and couples of all ages. At 1,200 meters long, this beach is largely made up of pebbles, but there is also a section with soft, golden sand.
Jaz Beach has crystal-clear, blue, almost turquoise-colored waters (depending on the time of the year) and overlooks large parts of the Budva Riviera, including Sveti Nikola Island. Being so close to Budva, it can get crowded here during the peak travel season, but because of its length and width, it largely stays peaceful and relaxed.
Montenegro’s Blue Flag Beaches
Discover Montenegro’s wonderful Blue Flag Beaches, from picturesque coves to long stretches of sand, all recognized with the sought-after award.
A natural rock formation cuts the beach into two unequal parts, a busier northern section backed by a small, paved walkway lined with beachfront restaurants, and a more tranquil southern stretch that exudes an aura of a faraway escape. You can rent sun loungers and parasols, which are less densely spaced in the southern beach part, and there are good on-site facilities throughout, including showers, changing cabins, and toilets.
The water is clean and there are rarely waves here, which is ideal for small children. At Jaz Beach, you’ll find many tourists, as well as locals visiting for the day, especially on weekends. It is very appealing to everyone looking for the quintessential seaside holiday and is, not unsurprisingly, considered by many to be one of the best beaches in Montenegro.
Sveti Nikola Island
Accessible by water taxi from Budva, Sveti Nikola Island boasts several restaurants, bars, and idyllic beaches with clean and sparkling green-blue water.
Things to do
Jaz Beach is a fun and lively beach for the whole family to spend the day swimming, snorkeling, enjoying some watersports, or simply unwinding. There is a range of water sports, including pedal boats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and jet skis. You can also rent a boat or have some fun parasailing, water tubing, or water skiing.
Safe swimming zones are marked with buoys, leaving plenty of room for little and big swimmers immersing themselves in the vast Adriatic. The beach is fed by a river on its northernmost end, where occasionally larger waterbirds such as squacco herons can be spotted. Young kids will certainly love the inflatable water park while older children and adults can try go-karting or relax on the terraces of the laid-back beach bars.
With its proximity to several interesting dive sites, Jaz Beach is a great destination for a little outdoor adventure. It is recommended to arrange courses or expeditions with one of Budva’s dive centers well in advance. Popular sites in that area include the reefs and caves of Cape Platamuni, the Krekavica Cave, and the Oreste shipwreck, which lies at a depth of 32 meters between Jaz and Trsteno Beach.
Watersports in Montenegro
Sailing, kitesurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling are some of the most popular watersports in Montenegro. Find out more!
Safety and Access
Though it may feel remote, Jaz Beach is easily accessible via the main Adriatic coastal road, coming either from Budva or Kotor and then following the signs to Jaz and Trsteno. There is a paid, as well as a large free public parking lot, just a stone’s throw away from the beach, partly shaded.
And while it is possible to arrive by public bus that runs here from neighboring coastal towns, it requires walking for almost two kilometers, from the bus stop in Lastva Grbaljska to the beach – not exactly a breeze in the scorching summer heat. That is why we recommend taking a taxi which costs between 5 and 10 Euros from Budva. Some beach sections are rocky, but otherwise, it’s easily accessible.
Notorious Budva
Find out what makes the coastal resort of Budva a sought-after destination for those in search of a vibrant Mediterranean atmosphere and kilometers of pristine beaches.
Kotor
Kotor is the cultural hotspot of Montenegro boasting numerous historic landmarks, including churches and the UNESCO-listed city walls.
Restaurants on Jaz Beach
If you want to dine in swimwear, with your toes in the sand, there is a smattering of restaurants and waterfront cafes on Jaz Beach that serve casual, beach-friendly meals such as grilled meats & seafood, burgers, sausages, pizza, and fries. On the southern section, you’ll find Madeira Jaz, as well as the Malaya Beach Club and Madeira Laguna, a tavern-style beachfront eatery specializing in fresh seafood.
Along the small promenade, there are several good and affordable options. Poseidon is a family-friendly restaurant with a spacious (and shaded) outdoor terrace, overlooking the sea and offering a wide range of local and international dishes. Unpretentious Kiki sits right on the beach and is a household name on Jaz Beach.
It is renowned for offering large portion sizes a la carte and rotating daily menus with simple, typical Balkan specialties, including stuffed peppers, moussaka, meatballs in tomato sauce, etc. Patrons can even use their sun loungers and parasols free of charge. The same applies to neighboring Sirena, a cozy beachside tavern, where you can’t go wrong with any seafood dish or the large sharing platters.
Beach Bar Jedro (translates to ‘sail’) is well visited for sundowners and late afternoon Aperol Spritz, and there is always chill-out music playing in the background. The large and beautifully decorated terrace, with white canopies hanging from the ceiling, offers a great spot for enjoying a drink and watching the sunset.
Hotels on Jaz Beach
There are a few hotels and vacation rentals directly on Jaz Beach such as Hotel Poseidon, a 4-star retreat with panoramic views of the Adriatic. Opera Jaz is a decent 3-star hotel with spacious rooms and a swimming pool, located one kilometer away from the beach. On-site camping is not permitted but tolerated, but alternatively, there is a glamping site in the neighboring bay.
The nearest resort town is Budva, where you’ll find everything from luxury boutique hotels to resort-style accommodations. But there are many more options available within a short distance of the beach, including villas with swimming pools and affordable self-catering apartments. A bit further afield are the charming towns of Tivat and Kotor, each within half an hour’s driving distance of Jaz Beach, where you can find some of Montenegro’s top hotels.
Tivat
Tivat is an up-and-coming, upscale holiday resort in Boka Bay, known for its super yacht marina dotted with luxury boutiques, international restaurants, hotels, and bars.
Surrounding Areas
Driving up the coastline in either direction takes you to many beautiful places. The Kotor Cable Car is a must-do for young and old travelers visiting this region, offering panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor and Kotor’s Old Town. Golf lovers will not be disappointed with the brand new Lustica Bay Golf Course, an 18-hole playground designed by much-acclaimed Gary Player.
Krimovica and the Lustica Peninsula are known for their picturesque villages, centuries-old churches and olive groves. Lustica Bay is a luxury marina and upscale resort with many good waterfront restaurants and cafes. Needless to say, historic Budva is worth a visit as well to see its medieval citadel and wander among the maze of cute cobblestone streets.
Bay of Kotor
Discover the beautiful Bay of Kotor, a 107-kilometer-long inlet connecting some of Montenegro’s most scenic coastal towns and villages such as Perast and Herceg Novi.
Lustica Bay
Located on the outer edges of the peninsula that separated the Bay of Kotor from the open sea, Lustica Bay is a luxury marina and resort village with shops and restaurants.