Budva oozes history on all four sides. In fact, there are documents to show that this city was one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. And that is not all, according to local legend; the town was founded by Cadmus the Phoenician, an exiled hero of Thebes who found refuge there for him and his wife, Harmonía.
The area has also been influenced by Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as other subsequent European empires. At present, Budva is the sum of all its visitors, who arrive there from various points of Montenegro and Europe in search of peace and tranquillity.
For all the above, visiting Budva is like taking a trip to the past. Studded with Mediterranean-style buildings, it is known for its spectacular old town, whose Venetian origin can be seen in doors, frames, windows and balconies. Its streets are dominated by a multi-coloured atmosphere, since many of its buildings have been decorated with all the colours of the rainbow.
Among the places to visit in Budva, are three beautiful churches. The oldest, is that of Saint Ivan, from the seventh century. It is followed by the church of Santa María in Punta, a complex built by Benedictine monks that dates back to the year 840. This list is completed with the Church of the Holy Trinity, which was completed in 1804. From a single nave, its interior accommodates the remains of the writer Stjepan Mitrov Ljubisa (1824-1878), born in Budva and considered one of the first realist authors of Serbian literature.
However, the list of things to see and do is not limit to the town itself. If you travel just 8 kilometres southeast you can visit Sveti Stefan, a picturesque fishing village originally from the fifteenth century which has become one of the most visited places of the Budva Riviera (Budvanska Rivijera). Strolling through the streets of this town, you can take in the old-fashioned atmosphere and admire many magnificent examples of popular Montenegrin architecture.
Not far from Sveti Stefan, we find another town with similar characteristics: Miločer, which is often frequented by businessmen and local politicians.
And if you don't mind travelling further afield, you must squeeze in an excursion to nearby Dubrovnik, in neighbouring Croatia, or the photogenic bay of Kotor, both of which have been UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1979.