Budva, Montenegro

Capital City

With a population of just 10,918, Budva is the administrative center of a municipality that swells to nearly 20,000 during peak tourist season. While the medieval walled city and sandy beaches attract visitors, the reality for residents is a chronic lack of parking, frequent traffic jams, and a water/electricity grid struggling to keep up with breakneck development. The "Budvanization" of the town has led to an unfortunate urban sprawl of haphazard high-rises, and bureaucracy is a persistent headache. Budva may be Montenegro's top tourist draw, but its charms are best suited for short-term visitors, not permanent residents.