A beautiful little seaside town in Europe is like a mini Dubrovnik but sees just a fraction of the tourist traffic.
Budva is a town in the Budvian Riviera region of Montenegro. It has a population of 28,000 and is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast.
The area is the centre of the country’s tourism, known for its well-preserved medieval walls, sandy beaches and diverse nightlife. In 2024, Montenegro welcomed over 2.5 million tourists, almost half of whom went on to visit Budva. In comparison, nearly 1.4million tourists visited Dubrovnik in Croatia last year.
Stari Grad, the Old Town, is situated on a rocky peninsula at the southern end of Budva Field. It is encircled by stone walls. The fortifications are typical of the Medieval walled cities of the Adriatic, with towers, embrasures, fortified gates, and a citadel.
While the site was permanently settled since the Roman era, most of the existing walls and buildings were erected during Venetian rule. Everything within the walls is pedestrian only.
Budva started significant expansion into Budva Field in the 20th century, with the development of the tourism industry, which saw hotels and other urban sprawl built.
The town has a number of beautiful sandy beaches to visit, including Mogren and Jaz, and lots of small coves and bays. The main beaches can get very busy in the summer
Budva is well known regionally as the capital of nightlife in the eastern Adriatic, and has been nicknamed ‘the Montenegrin Miami’.
The Old Town and its promenade host a wide variety of bars, pubs, and restaurants, and two big clubs – Top Hill and Trocadero – dominate the clubbing scene.
Those looking to gamble are drawn to Budva, as many hotels have attached casinos. The 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale is partly set in the eponymous casino in the fictional Montenegrin Hotel Splendide.
Budva’s marina, nestled to the north of the Old Town walls, is a must-see in the summer – being dominated by luxury yachts that overshadow small fishing vessels owned by the locals.
Those looking to visit Budva can fly directly from UK airports into the capital of Podgorica. From there, it is an hour’s drive to Budva, where accommodation options include hotels, hostels, and Airbnb.
A stay in Budva can last anywhere from a weekend to explore the town for up to a week to enjoy the surrounding region. It is recommended that to visit in April, May, September and October to avoid the busy season.
