Living in Budva Old Town: pros and cons
A bit about my experience of living in Budva's Old Town. To go with the photos)
Pros:
Every time you step out of the house it's like a postcard. You go out for a croissant and coffee and get lost in the narrow lanes — every time you can find something new around the corner.
🍷 Cafés, bars and konobas — literally within arm's reach. Sometimes even too close.
🥁In summer there are free concerts under your windows. Like it or not, you'll have to listen.
🌊 A minute later you're already on the beach: swimming or watching the sea with a glass of Aperol.
🎞️Endless walks through ancient lanes — that very "like in a movie" effect. Just watch your step: the chance of stepping in cat poop is frighteningly high.
💰 You can find all kinds of accommodation: from quite affordable — to super luxury.
😍Living here is priceless: you can feel yourself inside history and become part of the noisy Old Town crowd.
Cons:
😅 Tourists. Lots of them. Really lots. Sometimes it feels like you yourself are part of the sightseeing programme. You can doze off on the beach alone, and open your eyes to see a crowd of German tourists above you.
🎧In season, silence only comes towards morning.
🚗 Parking is only outside the Old Town walls and the prices are not humane.
💧 Old houses are often damp — Medieval romance with a bonus of mould.
It happens that apartments look different in photos than in real life — about 40 years younger.
Bottom line:
Living in the Old Town is definitely worth it, even for a day — it's truly damn atmospheric and the experience will be unforgettable (one way or another😀). The main thing is to be ready for the cons and take everything in polako mode. Then the Old Town will truly become yours
Published September 10, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗
A guide to fast food in Budva's Old Town.
For 2 weeks I studied Google, talked to locals, and then Maksik and I tried the local fast food without sparing ourselves.
So here's a list for you of the tastiest and most interesting little places in the very heart of Budva where you can grab a quick and relatively inexpensive bite.
🥞 The absolute champion on every count: Fluffy Pancakes — tender, airy little pancakes with delicious toppings and sprinkles. 10 pieces for 4 €, sprinkles and toppings cost extra. If you ask me, the pancakes with Dubai cream are a bomb!
🍕 There are pizzerias on every corner of the Old Town, but according to the locals — and I'm with them — this one has the tastiest pizza!
Pizzeria(Main GATE) 3.5 euros a slice, always hot, because it flies off instantly. My favourite is with ham and with salami. Yum!
🥂As a landmark for finding the pizzeria, right next to it is Rakija & Wine Bar. In principle, it can also count as fast food) Goes well with pizza) And in general, stopping for a while in the middle of a noisy street to have a glass of cold prosecco or warming rakija while watching people pass by — that's just great.
Kumpir Box Budva is the Turkish take on our Kroshka Kartoshka. There are 2 options: a plain potato, which is potato + butter + cheese + 1 sauce (5 euros), or the Mix potato, where you add any fillings to the first option (8 euros). A great snack to take to the beach and eat while looking at the sea. Maksik and I definitely liked the potato itself, but not all of the fillings were good.
🍝Another Italian-Turkish option. La Mia Pasta Budva Probably the most controversial: on the one hand, they make the pasta right in front of you, roll out the dough, run it through a cutting machine, boil it, toss it in a cheese wheel and add the fillings. It really looks impressive. And it seems like it should be tasty, but in fact the pasta seems overcooked and a bit dry, and the bacon in the carbonara is just awful. If you ask me, the result didn't live up to expectations, and certainly not for that price.
The list will keep growing, and I hope you'll help me with that)
And bon appétit! Remember, calories don't count on vacation!🙈
P.S. Maksik tried really hard and you kind of get that the food is 👍😂😂
More photos in the comments
Published April 30, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗
The 22nd International Carnival in Budva
Live from Montenegro ⏺️
From April 30 to May 4 Budva will party like there's no tomorrow once again — the 22nd international carnival under the slogan "Spread the Love" will cover the town in a thick layer of glitter, feathers and chaos.
If you're heading to Montenegro for the May holidays, be warned: Budva will be buzzing around the clock. Concerts, parties, DJs right in the middle of the cobbled streets of the old town, light shows on the ancient walls — everything we love, or used to love once)
Last year the festival was slightly spoiled by rain. Well, "slightly" — the final parade went ahead in a downpour in the best tradition of "we can't cancel, the costumes are already ready". The result: wet, ruined costumes, scraped knees of dancers slipping on the wet pavement, and no audience. The 10 people who came with umbrellas were dying of laughter, but honestly cheered the participants on with applause. You can see how it was in the attached photos. To this day, when something doesn't go to plan for me, I remember those soggy gingerbread cookies, crying kids in latex cat costumes, or the Romanians dancing away in the rain. It was sad, touching and laugh-till-you-cry funny all at once. The carnival is senseless, merciless and beautiful — just like life itself.
Useful info:
– Parking near the Old Town is a myth.
– If you've decided to stay in the Old Town — earplugs will help.
– More than 3,000 participants from 10+ countries, 25 concerts and shows at 4 locations are expected.
Key dates:
🔸 April 30 — carnival opening and the traditional Abrum (something like "hey, come out, it'll be fun").
🔸 May 3, 20:00 — the main costume parade along the Budva Riviera.
🔸 May 4 — children's carnival and a programme for kids from five countries.
So, if you've long dreamed of dancing to Balkan rhythms in a sequinned mask, this is your chance!
Set a reminder
📅 30 April — 4 May 2025
📍 Budva, Montenegro
P.S. Get that Batman costume down from the back shelf, glue on the rhinestones and remember: Budva doesn't forgive boring outfits and glum faces.
📎full schedule in the comments
I found a lovely article about where this Balkan extravaganza came from in the first place:
The Guardian: Mardi Gras the Balkan Way
Published April 24, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗
Thunderstorms around Budva and mountains in peach-coloured clouds
For the third day now thunderstorms have been circling around Budva, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. It's pouring everywhere. But Budva is guarded by the mountains, and all we got was a few drops of rain and these amazing views.
Mountains drowning in peach-coloured clouds🤍
Published April 25, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗
A cat review of the Montenegrin coast
🐾A morning dose of Montenegrin cuteness: a cat review from the Adriatic coast.
Let me introduce the national team of Montenegrin mačke.
On offer: a well-groomed lover of floral scents from Bečići, a couple of cheeky cats from Herceg Novi, a harbour workhorse from Budva's Old Town who falls asleep on the go, an intellectual from Perast and the Budva beach gang.
Published April 27, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗
Will you join us next time?
Announcements of hikes and trips, the weekly what's on and new places appear in the channel first.
Where else to go
