About Budva

As the metropolis of Montenegro tourism, Budva has beautiful beaches, high standard hotels, contemporary equipped restaurants where one can enjoy in abundant gastronomy offer – both national and international one – and the assortment of private accommodation. When we talk about Budva, we should remind you of the fact that exotic landscapes need not always be remote and inaccessible. In the very core of the Adriatic Shore of Montenegro, Budva waits for you and offers you a memorable vacation. It is up to you to decide. There are 31 developed swimming spaces (four blue flags), i.e., some 20 marvelous secluded  sandy beaches and big town beaches; clean and safe sea water; the shore along which one can swim however long the desire lasts; numerous sporting activities and active extreme water and field sports; some 70 hotels mainly of 3- and 4-star category (more than 13,000 beds); about 100 private villas and board and lodgings; as well as other offers in private accommodation houses plus unforgettable day and night entertainment.

In order to get familiar with the soul of local residents – who live in Paštrovići, Maina, and Grbalj – and of Budva people, one has to taste the specialties of local national cuisine and to experience the hospitality of these hosts. It is recommended to visit the walls of Old Town of Budva and to feel the spirit of ancient times and renaissance charm of Budva.

Budva is known for its status of the oldest town on the Adriatic shore. In its tragedy titled “Oicle”, written in the 5th century B.C., Sophocles mentioned the town as the Illyrian town of Bathoe. The Greek writer Pseudo-Skilak mentioned the same name in the 4th century B.C.. The Greek writers Plynie and Ptolomei mentioned Budva under the name Butua, i.e., Budva (it is considered as the original Illyrian name). By the legend, Cadmus, the son of the Phoenician King Agenor and Queen Telephassa, and his wife Harmony founded it.  Being expelled from Thebes, they arrived to the territory settled by Encheleis, an Illyrian tribe, in an ox-puled chariot, and founded the settlement there.  It is considered that Budva was named after the oxen that had driven the chariot (Greek notion BOUS means OX.).

This region is abundant in important cultural and historical monuments and valuable sacred objects. There is one history-related legend per each stone of Old Town of Budva informing of all the glories and spirits of past times, of towers and wars,  as well as of the eras of Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Saracens, Turks, Venetians, Austro-Hungarians and Frenchmen. The Old Town is surrounded by the town walls with towers, gates and fortresses. The walls were constructed during the time of Venetian administration. However, it is believed a part of the walls existed even in the 9th century. The Walls were destructed in the earthquake, in 1667, and its present appearance originates from the time of the Austrians.

The interior of the town walls preserves the Old Town’s network of narrow streets with the small piazzas and enclosed stony street flights of stairs, facades with small windows and sculptured window frames, as well as balustrades, bronze door-knockers and lamps. Special attention is deserved by the Old Town sacral buildings, such as the Church of St. Maria in Punta, the small Church of St. Sava, the Church of St. Ivan and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

The remains of the grandiose basilica originating from the era of early Christianity (the 5th and 6th century) is situated just opposite the Citadel that was constructed on the highest place in the town and is united with the walls that surround it. Once, the Acropolis of Hellenistic Budva from the 5th - 4th century B.C. was there.

The remains of a necropolis, which had been in use over the time ranging between the 5th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D.,  and exceptionally valuable finds were discovered near Avala Hotel, as well as the remains of Urban Villas that were discovered unexpectedly while excavating the ground for the foundations of Avala Hotel. Both necropolises have been systematically explored several times over the few previous decades so far.

 Visit Budva and enjoy in carnivals, folk dances, music, sporting and all other events that TA of Budva organizes each year only for you and surprises and amazes you over and over again. 

Welcome!