Our time in Budva has been the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. If Kotor feels like a quiet glass of wine at sunset, Budva is a champagne cocktail served with fireworks. The town is vibrant, lively, and full of energy. Clubs, restaurants, boutique hotels, and a seemingly endless stretch of beaches all hug the Adriatic coastline. There’s also plenty here for the thrill seekers—parasailing, cliff diving, water sports, and excursions into the rugged Dinarides.
Exploring the Old Town
Budva’s Old Town (Stari Grad) is perched on a small peninsula that juts into the sea, surrounded by medieval stone walls that seem to rise straight out of the Adriatic. While it resembles Kotor’s Old Town in its winding cobblestone alleys, charming squares, and stone architecture, the vibe here feels different—”newer”, more polished, and even better maintained inside the walls. That’s not to take anything away from Kotor’s ancient, UNESCO-listed beauty, but Budva’s Old Town feels alive in a different way.
The history here stretches back over 2,500 years, making Budva one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. Founded by the Greeks and fortified by the Romans, the Old Town has endured earthquakes, invasions, and centuries of transformation. Today, cafés spill into squares, boutiques hide behind heavy wooden doors, and bell towers peek above the walls. The sea laps right at its base, making the views from the ramparts unforgettable.
We visited three times—once for cocktails, once for dinner where we lingered for hours in a hidden courtyard (Casey finally got his Mexican dinner), and once for exploration and a lazy seaside lunch. Each time, the Old Town revealed a new layer of charm.
A Day at Dukley Beach Club
One afternoon we treated ourselves to Dukley Beach Club, and it felt like a little slice of Mediterranean heaven. Lounging under the sun with chilled cocktails in hand, we swam in the crystal-clear Adriatic, nibbled on fresh Mediterranean dishes, and watched parasailers drift across the horizon. Music played in the background, laughter echoed from the cabanas, and the day stretched out blissfully slow. It was everything a beach day should be.
The Road to White-Water Rafting
The day after our beach escape, we swapped cocktails for chaos and ventured into the Dinarides for a white-water rafting adventure on the Tara River. To get there, we hired a driver—an experience that turned out to be scarier (and far more entertaining) than the rafting itself.
We left at 6:30 in the morning and quickly realized our driver believed speed limits were a suggestion rather than law. On narrow, winding mountain roads, he hurled us around bends like he was auditioning for a Balkan Fast & Furious reboot. At one point, Casey and I were texting each other from the back seat, making jokes about how this story would end up in the blog. The texts provided much-needed comedic relief as our driver cursed every car in front of him, passed at impossible moments, and delivered death glares in multiple languages. By the time we stopped at Piva Lake, I was convinced we had cheated death.
But the view was worth it. Piva Lake is a man-made reservoir created in the 1970s with the construction of the Mratinje Dam. Surrounded by dramatic peaks and sitting at nearly 700 meters above sea level, its turquoise waters shimmer like glacial lakes in Iceland. It was breathtaking—calm and serene after the madness of our journey.
At basecamp, we were welcomed by the kindest host, who fed us a hearty breakfast of eggs, ham, cheese, and warm homemade bread. Over coffee, we chatted about her life in Serbia, her travels to America, and what it was like running a rafting company with her husband and sweet dog, Mila.
After suiting up, we hopped into a Land Rover Defender (Casey’s dream vehicle) and bounced our way up the canyon to the launch point. For four hours we rafted the Tara River—Europe’s deepest canyon and the second deepest in the world after the Grand Canyon. The canyon cuts a dramatic 82 kilometers through the mountains, reaching depths of 1,300 meters, with the river forming part of the natural border between Montenegro and Bosnia.
We hit 23 rapids, some smooth and some wild. Halfway through, Lucas, one of our fellow rafters, convinced me to climb 4 meters up the rocky wall and jump into the freezing water—an international leap from Montenegro to Bosnia. The shock of the icy current was exhilarating and something I’ll never forget.
After the rapids, we returned to camp for a meal of meat and potatoes—simple, hearty, and 100% locally raised. No imports here, and you could taste the difference. Tara Outdoor Adventure gave us an unforgettable day, and if you want to see a glimpse of it, click here for our video highlights: Tara Rafting Adventure.
Movie Nights in Budva
When we weren’t exploring or risking our lives in mountain drives, we relaxed with a lineup of movies. Here are my quick takes from a casual viewer’s perspective:
Weapons (2025)
Genre: Horror/Mystery
Starring: Julia Garner, Amy Madigan, Josh Brolin
Synopsis: A small town unravels after a series of bizarre murders tie back to a reclusive family and their eerie farmhouse.
My take: Weird and depressing but we liked it. Great acting, original story, and it deserves a sequel (especially about Aunt Gladys). 7.5/10
Life of Chuck (2025)
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Mia Sara, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, Jacob Tremblay
Synopsis: Based on a Stephen King novella, the story is told in reverse, chronicling the life of Charles Krantz as the world slowly unravels.
My take: Deep, moving, and a reminder of life’s fleeting beauty. A little preachy at times but it stuck with me. 8/10
Nope (2022)
Genre: Horror/Sci-Fi
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, Steven Yeun
Synopsis: Siblings discover a mysterious presence haunting their family ranch while they try to capture evidence of it.
My take: Nope. Hated it. By far my least favorite Jordan Peele film. 3/10
Talk to Me (2022)
Genre: Horror/Supernatural
Starring: Sophia Wilde, Zoe Terakes, Miranda Otto, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen
Synopsis: Teens discover they can communicate with spirits using an embalmed hand—until things go too far.
My take: Clumsy but entertaining. Not scary, but strong practical effects. 6/10
Dangerous Animals (2025)
Genre: Horror
Starring: Hassie Harrison, Jai Courtney, Josh Heuston, Ella Newton
Synopsis: A family vacation spirals into terror after they cross paths with a deranged killer in the wilderness.
My take: Original but uneven. Strong acting, weak CGI, lazy ending. 5/10
The Naked Gun (2025)
Genre: Comedy/Action
Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston
Synopsis: A reboot of the classic slapstick detective comedy, full of over-the-top gags.
My take: Not my style of comedy, but Liam Neeson did well. Pamela Anderson was fun to watch. 4/10
A Nice Indian Boy (2024)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Starring: Naveen Gavaskar, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Megha Gavaskar
Synopsis: A modern rom-com about an Indian-American family navigating love, tradition, and an unexpected relationship.
My take: Cute and heartfelt but uneven. Loved the representation and Megha Gavaskar stole the show. 6/10
Night of the Reaper (2025)
Genre: Horror
Starring: Jessica Clement, Summer Howell, Ryan Robbins
Synopsis: A masked killer stalks a small town, leaving clues that reveal their identity.
My take: Interesting but predictable. Casey wants to rewatch for clues—I won’t be joining him. 5/10
What’s Next
We leave on Friday for Sweden, where the pace of travel will pick up again. The next four weeks will be a road trip through Sweden and Norway, filled with long drives, short stays, and—if nature cooperates—the Northern Lights. We’ll also be spending a night in an igloo hotel, something we’re both really looking forward to.
After the slow and relaxing five weeks in Montenegro, we’re ready for a change of pace. This will likely be my last blog post for a couple of weeks, but I’ll be sharing photos on Instagram in the meantime. Follow along at @BrandOnTheRunBlog for updates.
Budva has been thrilling, beautiful, and at times terrifying (thank you, Mr. Speed Racer driver). But most of all, it’s been memorable. And that’s all we can really ask for.
Brand On The Run 