A BUDDING MIAMI-STYLE BEACH CITY WITH A NICE OLD TOWN

Budva is one of the oldest cities along the Adriatic Coast and the most popular destination in Montenegro. It’s not the history that draws in tourists primarily though - but its beach resorts and the accompanying beach resort economy. Here, you’ll find high-rise modern apartment complexes, nice hotels, plenty of restaurants, and bars to party. You can also expect to see some yachts along the harbor. It felt to me like a tiny Miami.

Like all of Montenegro, Budva is small - and can comfortably be experienced in a day if you just want to sightsee. It’s easy to base in one coastal city in Montenegro, though, and explore the rest by day trips. I think Budva is the best base if you want to relax along the beach, have plenty of restaurant options, and go out partying. While you’ll get through the sights quickly, you can spend many days along its coast and enjoying the local economy. I’m only going to write about the sightseeing, though, and leave it to you to find the right restaurants and bars.

STROLL THROUGH OLD TOWN

Budva has a tiny Old Town - which was the entire city before tourist expansion outside of the city walls started in the early 20th century. While aesthetically similar to Kotor or Dubrovnik, it’s much smaller and less impressive. The streets are idyllic - and you can walk along the city walls (for $2) and explore its Citadel (for $3). I wouldn’t expect to spend more than a few hours here.

RELAX ALONG THE BEACH

The main reason to go to Budva is for its sand beaches, so I think any trip would be incomplete without heading to a beach. My favorite was Mogren Beach - which is accessible by a promenade from Old Town. You’ll be able to see the most famous statue in the city - the Ballerina - along the short walk and enjoy some stunning cliff views.

TAKE A DAY TRIP

The different Montenegrin coastal cities are small and can each be comfortably experienced in one day. Instead of changing cities every day (and having to drag your luggage around), I think the better way to experience Montenegro is by day trips.

Budva is an excellent base if you’re hoping to relax along the beach and party at night. If you base in Budva, you can travel by bus to Kotor (the most famous Montegrin Old Town, which is a bit like Dubrovnik), Perast (a sleepy bay town known for its Italian architecture), or Herceg Novi (another coastal bay city known for its fort, sea mud and spas). Then, at the end of the day, you can sit along the beach or head out for drinks.