The old town of Budva is perched on a rocky peninsula dominated by towering cliffs.

The earliest settlement was an Illyrian town called Butua or Budva. The first known reference was made by Sophocles in the 5th century BC. Pliny the Elder also described it as a fortified city of Roman citizens. 

Budva was ruled by the Byzantine Empire during the early Middle Ages until a series of dynasties took over. The Vojislavlkevics, Nemanjics, Balsics, Crnojevics, Hranics, and Stracimirovics are just a few. The city later fell under periods of Venetian, Austrian, and French rule. Due to its long and turbulent past, Budva is an agglomeration of significant structures from various historical periods. 

The Old City remains girdled with ramparts, most of which date to the Middle Ages but feature improvements constructed by the Venetians. The citadel also dates to the Middle Ages but was erected on ancient foundations. Of the four historic gates to the city, one for each point of the compass, only two remain in use today (the West Gate and the North Gate). Inside, visitors will find the medieval network of quaint streets and historic churches such as Santa Maria, St. John, and the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity. With monuments set against a backdrop of sea and sky, Budva is sure to inspire all visiting travellers.