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The well-preserved Budva Old Town, nestled on a small peninsula, stands in stark contrast to the burgeoning skyline of new buildings emerging on the town's coastline.
A nice holiday if combined with Kotor, but not enough activity year-round to justify working from there. Too quiet.
As part of a tour in the Balkans in 2021, Montenegro was the next natural destination after a few weeks in Tirana. Budva hadn't been somewhere I was too interested in visiting but appeared a better option than the rather sombre capital of Podgorica.
If booking out of peak season you should have no problems getting a great deal on a good quality apartment. Even during peak summer months the cost shouldn't be prohibitive compared to other summer destinations.
Not a great deal of dedicated options for coworking, with a good looking option having opened a year after my visit. Plenty of coffee shops towards the centre.
Even though it is a predominantly tourist destination, restaurant prices are great value whilst compared to Western European destinations. Great deals on accommodation outside of the tourist season.
Unless you plan to spend a lot of time at the beach, there’s likely not enough to keep you entertained in Budva for more than a couple of days outside of work. While the old town is picturesque, it primarily serves as a tourist attraction, and there is no central urban hub to justify a longer stay.
Montenegro operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with Western Europe.
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The entire town is easily accessible by foot, with more residential neighbourhoods to be found going back from the beach.
A small coworking office is offered by a local company specialising in overseas business registrations. Internet was stable, and it was comfortable week, but by no means somewhere you would consider basing yourself for a prolonged period. Day rates were very affordable, around €5.
Since I visited two more coworking offices appear to have opened with AdriaHub looking like a good option for anyone passing through the town.
Montenegro plans to introduce a 2-year renewable Digital Nomad Visa by 2025, exempting holders from income tax to attract remote workers and improve digital infrastructure. Program rollout starts this year, but requirements are still forthcoming.
Encircled by a fortress wall, the Budva old town provides a refreshing contrast to the wave of new construction high rises cropping up throughout the city.
The weather wasn't quite warm enough during April to be consistently on the beach but did prove to be a great period for exploring the outdoors. If planning on making the most of the beaches you'd be best off heading for the peak summer months.
One week was plenty and I would have been in no hurry o stay longer.
My visit coincided with the COVID period which perhaps painted an unfair reflection on how quiet the area was, but the lack of coworking spaces at the time were an indication that there wasn't much demand for such services. That appears to have changed recently with two new offerings having opened up in the last couple of years.
In the summer it is a popular draw for people across Europe, so expect there to be high seasonal differences.
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