"Ballerina" Statue
Budva ballerina
Bronze figure on the rocks along the path to Mogren.
The statue stands on a coastal outcrop between the Old Town and the path to the beaches. The spot offers a view of the walls and the bay.
How to Get There
On foot from Budva center ~15-22 min.
From Becici by taxi ~10 min.
From Rafailovici by taxi ~12 min.
From TIV airport (Tivat) by taxi/transfer ~25 min.
From TGD airport (Podgorica) by taxi/transfer ~53 min.
Description
What this place is
The “Dancer from Budva” is a bronze statue set on a seaside rock along the walkway between Budva’s Old Town and Mogren Beach. It has become one of the city’s best-known icons.
Key features
- Sculptor Gradimir Aleksić; installed in 1965, an early public artwork on the Budva Riviera.
- Bronze figure in a delicate one-leg pose – often nicknamed the “Ballerina” or “Dancing Girl.”
- Photogenic setting on the rock by the path from Richard’s Head to Mogren, with views of the Old Town and St. Nikola Island.
- Local legend frames it as a symbol of loyalty: a girl waiting for her sailor at these rocks.
- Was washed off by a winter storm 2020/2021; after conservation it was returned on June 3, 2021.
What to see
- The statue with the backdrop of Budva’s walls and the Adriatic.
- Prime photo spots along the coastal path and near the Mogren footbridges.
- Surf splashes around the rock in rough seas.
History
Created in 1965 by sculptor Gradimir Aleksić, the statue’s site on the rock beside the Mogren path was chosen with local input and an architect, integrating the piece into the shoreline rather than on a formal plinth.
Over the decades it became a city emblem, reinforced by a romantic tale of a dancer awaiting her sailor. A severe storm at the turn of 2020/2021 dislodged the statue; after conservation it was reinstated on June 3, 2021, resuming its role as a hallmark stop on Budva’s coastal walk.
Practical information
Location: coastal path between Budva Old Town and Mogren Beach (near Hotel Avala).
Getting there: 5–10 minutes on foot from the Old Town gates toward Mogren.
Access: free, 24/7; no tickets.
When to visit: year-round.
Visit length: 15–30 minutes for viewing and photos.
Best time: sunrise and sunset for softer light and calmer seas.
Notes: rocks and path get slippery in swell; sections may close temporarily after storms.
