Radmila

You know what’s funny about Budva? Everyone rushes straight to the Old Town or Slovenska Beach, but some of the best finds are tucked away in the quieter corners – and Hotel Radmila is exactly that kind of discovery. I stumbled across this three-star gem on Babilonja street during my third visit to Montenegro, and honestly, I wish I’d found it sooner.

The thing about Radmila is that it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. It’s not throwing around marble lobbies or infinity pools, but what it does have is this genuine warmth that you just can’t fake. The owners – and I mean the actual family who runs the place, not some faceless corporation – they remember your coffee order by day three. The rooms are clean and comfortable in that understated Balkan way, with those thick walls that actually keep the summer heat out (trust me, you’ll appreciate this in July). I particularly loved how quiet it gets at night – Babilonja isn’t one of those party streets where you’re dealing with drunk tourists stumbling around at 3 AM, but you’re still only a ten-minute walk from all the action.

Here’s what really sold me though: the breakfast terrace overlooks this little slice of Budva that most visitors never see – local families hanging laundry, kids playing football in the courtyard below, the mountains just sitting there in the distance like they own the place. It’s Montenegro without the Instagram filter, if that makes sense. And practically speaking, there’s always parking (which, if you’ve driven in Budva during peak season, you know is basically a miracle), the wifi actually works consistently, and they’ve got this little arrangement with a family-run restaurant around the corner where you get a discount – the čevapi there will ruin you for anywhere else, I’m not even kidding.

The location is what locals call “perfectly imperfect” – close enough that you can walk to Mogren Beach or the fortress walls without breaking a sweat, but far enough from the madness that you can actually think straight. During the shoulder seasons, especially late September when the sea’s still warm but the crowds have thinned out, this place becomes this perfect little base camp for exploring the real Montenegro. I’ve stayed at fancier places along the coast, sure, but there’s something about Radmila that just works – maybe it’s how the morning light hits the terrace, or how the staff genuinely seems happy to see you, or simply that it feels like staying with distant relatives who happen to run a really solid hotel.

Exploring Budva offers visitors an unforgettable journey through Montenegro’s coastal jewel, from its ancient citadel to its pristine beaches and lively summer atmosphere.