Holiday review of Budva.

If you have ever imagined a location where history, sunlight, and dubious life decisions come together in the most beautiful way possible then Budva in Budva is calling your name. Perched on the Adriatic coast, this small village somehow manages to compress millennia of history into a few cobblestone lanes while also acting as a neon-lit playground for anybody who believes they are cooler than they genuinely are.

Walking around Old Town Budva feels like entering a postcard, but with somewhat more tourists armed with selfie sticks like ancient swords. Though today they mostly whisper to Instagrammers seeking the ideal "look at me pretending I'm in Game of Thrones" shot, the Venetian-era city walls seem to whisper stories of pirates and fights. You can try to forget the man peddling hand-carved wooden trinkets who insists you need exactly three of them, marvel at the Adriatic reaching to infinity, and climb the Citadel.

If you're not into history, Budva has mastered the craft of beach tourism. Local favourite Mogren Beach, hidden like a secret the locals wish to keep to themselves, is a Place of Sand, sun, and enough crystal-clear water to make you think you've mistakenly stumbled into a Mediterranean catalogue. Slovenska Plaza is ideal for those who appreciate a little more disorder. Long, wide, and packed with sunbeds, street entertainers, and the odd excessively zealous volleyball game that will almost certainly strike you if you sit too near.

Things become intriguing in Budva's nightlife. Clubs pound till sunrise, pubs offer cocktails that could or might not include alcohol, and street performers will sing to you either love songs or songs that question your decisions in life. Even if you typically dislike going to clubs, something is endearing about dancing poorly under a neon sign while the Adriatic judges you silently from the other side of the wall.

Food in Budva is so excellent that it merits a whole paragraph on its own. Fresh seafood is pretty much required; if you leave without tasting calamari or grilled fish, you may as well tell everyone you travelled to a location known as "Budva" and stayed in your hotel room the whole time. Local bakeries offer delicacies that are tiny yet capable of inducing an existential crisis, since how can anything taste so excellent? And let's not even talk about the coffee culture. Montenegrins take their caffeine very seriously; this is a diplomatic way of saying you would most likely spend more time drinking espresso than truly accomplishing anything.

Budva is not without flaws. It's noisy, somewhat congested, and there's a risk of being blinded into spending money on unwanted items. Perhaps, though, that is the whole point. Budva is a town eager to avoid being dull. It's a mix of sun, history, nightlife, and seafood all rolled into one, with a little bit of disorder and charm that somehow works. Going to Budva feels like being invited to a party you weren't sure you wanted to attend, but you end up loving it anyway.