Budva

Budva, a lively seaside town, is the hub of Montenegrin tourism. The calm shallow seas of the Adriatic make this area perfect for swimming and fine stretches of beach and secluded coves are strung along the coast either side of the town.

Lying about a mile off shore in Budva's beautiful azure bay is the island of St Nikola. This popular picnic spot offers wonderful views of the Budva riviera and in the summer months boats ply back and forth taking passengers to the little island. There are also boat trips taking passengers along the coast.

The town's main beach, Slovenska, is a pebble beach of about a mile in length. For something more special a short walk south takes you to to Mogren, a pair of sheltered sandy beaches backed by pine woods. A little further down the coast the lively resort of Becici has a long beach with a good choice of restaurants and offers a great variety of water sports and other activities. Spa treatments and massage are also available at some of the luxury hotels here.

In addition to its natural beauty Budva has a picturesque old town thought to be one of the most ancient settlements in the Balkans pre-dating Roman times. Levelled by two earthquakes in 1979 the town was painstakingly rebuilt using even the original honey-coloured stones. Now the narrow streets and shady squares are dotted with boutiques, cafes restaurants and bars.There are also museums and galleries to explore as well as several old churches. All through the summer months theatrical performances, poetry readings and music events take place within the city walls.