Apartments Šišević

I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Apartments Šišević in Lastva Grbaljska, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The address might throw you off if you’re expecting to be right in Budva’s old town buzz, but actually, that’s exactly what makes this place brilliant. You’re tucked away on Sebeljska street in this quiet residential area that feels authentically Montenegrin, not touristy at all.

The thing about staying here is that you get the best of both worlds – you can walk down to the waterfront in maybe 15 minutes (there’s this lovely path that locals use), but when you come back at night, you’re not dealing with the party crowd or overpriced tourist restaurants right outside your door. The Šišević family has been running these apartments for years, and you can tell they actually care about the details. I mean, most 3-star places don’t maintain a 9.8 rating without doing something right. The apartments themselves are spotless – like, your grandmother would approve kind of spotless – and they’ve got this homey feel that makes you want to actually cook a meal instead of eating out every night. The kitchens are properly equipped, not just for show, and there’s decent WiFi throughout (tested it during a work call, no drops).

What really won me over was the morning routine I developed there. You know how some places feel sterile? This isn’t that. I’d make coffee, step out onto the balcony, and watch the neighborhood come alive – kids walking to school, neighbors chatting over garden walls, that sort of authentic daily life you miss when you’re stuck in hotel corridors. The parking situation is actually manageable too, which anyone who’s driven around Budva will appreciate. During peak summer months, you’ll want to grab groceries early from the local market (there’s a small one about 10 minutes walk away), but honestly, even in July the area never felt overwhelmed like the coastal strip does. The only minor thing – and this is really minor – is that if you’re the type who needs to stumble out of bed directly onto the beach, you’ll need those 15 minutes of walking. But given how peaceful your evenings will be, and how much money you’ll save not being in the thick of tourist central, it’s absolutely worth it. Plus, the walk takes you through some lovely residential streets where you’ll see how people actually live here, which beats another generic hotel view any day.

The concierge service in Budva can arrange exclusive boat tours, secure reservations at seaside restaurants, and organize visits to nearby Sveti Stefan and Kotor Bay.