The least crowded beaches tend to be the ones that take a little more effort to reach. Zanjic and Mirista on the Lustica Peninsula are excellent examples — both are pebble beaches with crystal-clear water, but getting there requires a drive along a winding road or a short boat taxi from Herceg Novi, which naturally keeps the crowds down.
Buljarica, a long pebble-and-sand beach near Petrovac, stays quieter than the main Budva beaches even in peak season. Crvena Plaza (Red Beach) near Ulcinj and the coves around Rose in the Bay of Kotor are also worth exploring for solitude. Many of the smaller beaches between Petrovac and Bar are accessible only by foot or boat.
Timing makes a big difference too. Visit in June or September and almost any beach feels spacious. On the central Budva Riviera, mornings before 10 am and late afternoons after 5 pm are noticeably quieter even in August.