Budva

As a walled coastal town, it is located on the beautiful blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. It is part of the increasingly famous Budva Riviera, known for its pristine sandy beaches and exciting nightlife. The old town, known as Stari Grad, is surrounded by 15-metre-high medieval walls built by the Venetians, reminiscent of the more famous ones found in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. Budva is a relatively small town with a population of around 15,000, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a holiday that combines stunning natural scenery with a vibrant cultural scene.

The town has a pleasant Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot summers and wet winters. This makes it ideal for people who want a summer holiday, with June, July, and August being excellent months. The late spring and early autumn are also hot, although there is more risk of rain during that time. August is the best time to swim, when the sea temperature averages above 25 degrees.

Its first colonisation was by the Illyrians in the 5th century BC, and local legend holds that it was the first town that the Illyrians built. It had fallen under Roman dominion by the second century and was famous for the olives and grapes that were produced there. It fell under Byzantine control after the fall of the Roman Empire, a state of affairs that lasted until the Serbs took control in the 12th century. By the 15th century, like the majority of the Adriatic, it had fallen under Venetian control, a period marked by skirmishes with the Ottomans to the east. Napoleon conquered it in the early 19th century and then passed it to the Austro-Hungarians, until the empire fell after World War I. It then joined the Slavic Republic, which later became Yugoslavia, splitting from it after the civil war that ravaged the Balkans during the 1990s.

Combine a beautiful town centre with a gorgeous coast, and you have the perfect family holiday. Families should head to the famous Jaz beach, whose shallow waters and sheltered nature make it ideal for children to enjoy the sapphire waters of the Adriatic safely. No trip to Budva would be complete without a walk along the Old Town Walls, which offer panoramic views over the bay and the surrounding area. The Old Town (Stari Grad) is the perfect place to find a café and enjoy some family time amidst impressive architecture.

With several incredible beaches, including Mogren Beach and Jaz Beach, each one renowned for the clarity of its water and the quality of its sand, tourists will not want to leave. Visitors could also take a boat trip to Sveti Nikola, an island just off the town, which is nicknamed Hawaii by the locals and more than earns its name. Other attractions of note include the town’s stunning medieval walls, which offer panoramic views of the surrounding area, and the ballet dancer statue, which looks out to sea and has become the town’s totem.

Renowned for having the finest nightlife in Montenegro, the city more than lives up to its name, with a plethora of clubs, restaurants and bars for visitors to enjoy. There are plenty of cool bars in the old town, where visitors can enjoy a cocktail surrounded by the impressive medieval walls. Budva’s most famous club is called Top Hill, an open-air nightclub that accommodates more than 5,000 people and offers stunning nighttime views over the city. There are also a variety of restaurants serving local food, with great views over the Adriatic, ensuring that Budva has something for everyone to enjoy.

Budva’s beautiful Old Town (Stari Grad) is the town’s vibrant shopping hub, with an array of shops offering products from local designers and more international names. The area is famed for the quality of its boutique fashion outlets, with colourful clothes in abundance. There are also a large number of shops on the town’s dreamy promenade, offering jewellery, cosmetics and souvenirs.