How much did Budva change in the known and unknown past - from antiquity to the present: it was conquered, demolished and rebuilt by various conquerors; natural forces - earthquakes have destroyed it, and people renewed it - and it has lasted for over three thousand years.
Why is this city long-lived, why are the people of Budva attached to it, why is it the most visited resort on the Montenegrin coast? Nature has endowed this region with rich beauty and favorable conditions for human life: it has always been like this, it is today and it will be so in the future. Generations of inhabitants were changing and crossing here: Illyrians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and others - until the Slovenian population prevailed in the Middle Ages. That is why in this area we have numerous sites of material cultures of several peoples, and this richness and diversity, together with the beauty of the landscape and mild climate, gives this landscape a Mediterranean character and makes it one of the oldest urban units on the Adriatic.
The pieces of evidence of that ancient Budva period are found in the written sources of Greek and Roman writers, beginning with Sophocles, who designates it as the "city of Illyria"; Pliny the Elder, who claims to be the city of "Roman citizens", to Stefan Vizantijc and others, who associates its foundation with Kadma, the founder of Thebes - the famous figure of Greek mythology. Yes, Budva is present in these ancient works of the Greeks and Romans, but it is only with the discovery of the Budva necropolis in 1937. that the ancient history of the city is gaining scientific evidence, as numerous objects of gold jewelry, ceramics, glass, stone and metal were found, which a visitor to Budva can and should see in the Old City Archaeological Museum, which shine with the beauty of form, marvelous artistic and craft skills of the old masters, testify to the life of its citizens, commercial and other connections with the ancient world.
The middle Ages brought about a turbulent change in Budva: with the collapse of the Roman Empire in 395. and the church split in 1054., Budva found itself on the borderline of the division of the Western and Eastern empires - at the crossroads of Catholic Rome and Byzantine Orthodox Constantinople.

What are some of the most important dates and events from that period of its history? Saraceni in 841. ruin and desolate by storming the sea; then Byzantium ruled it for a long time; for a time it was part of the Duklja's state, then, at the end of the twelfth century, a period began when Budva was ruled by Serbian rulers from the Nemanjic lineage. During this time, about two centuries, it achieved considerable economic development: it became an export port, a salt market, had its own fleet, a smaller shipyard, money, received a Statute with a developed city government.
After the collapse of the Serbian state, an unstable period in its history begins - the feudal lords of Budva are replaced: Balšići, Crnojevići, Sandal Hranić, Stevan Lazarević, Đurađ Branković, and in 1442 the Venetian Republic ruled for more than three centuries - until its collapse in 1797 - ruled. Together with the separated municipality (komunitad) Pashtrovici - for all that time it was considered an important defensive bastion of protecting the Venetian possessions in the Southern Adriatic, protecting, especially Boka, from the Turkish conquests.
At that time it often suffered, especially from the Turks in 1571. And since the 1667 earthquake. In the recent history of Budva, power was replaced by the will of the great powers and thus prevented its association with its hinterland - Montenegro. Austria rules Budva for the first time in 1797 - 1806; The Russo-Montenegrin administration in Budva lasted from 1806-1807, and Napoleon's victories would fall under French rule that lasted from 1807-1813. After that, Budva and Boka Kotorska - the Austro-Hungarian monarchy for over a hundred years.
During this time, the city with its surroundings was economically backward, social and cultural life was underdeveloped, the emigration of the population was large, most of them went to America, Russia and Turkey. The First World War, in which more than a thousand fighters from this region fought on the side of the Allied - Montenegrin and Serbian armies, brought liberation from centuries of rule. Serbian Army units liberated Budva on November 8th, 1918.

In the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Budva, together with Boka Kotorska, was part of the Zetska Banovina, whose headquarters were in Cetinje. In the period between the two wars, the development of tourism began, which gradually became the main economic branch of development of this region. Of importance was the opening of the Cetinje - Budva road in 1931, which connected Budva to the hinterland.
The construction of the castle of the royal family Karadjordjevic in Milocer, near Sveti Stefan (Saint Stephan) in 1935. contributed to the discovery of all the charms of sandy beaches, sunny climate, blue and clear sea, hospitality of Budva and Pashtar hosts to the international and domestic public. This prompted the construction of the first modern “Avala” Hotel in Budva in 1939, the Lucice Hotel near Petrovac and the development of domestic tourist accommodation. The Second World War brought a great deal of suffering, suffering and sacrifice to the people of this region. The Italian army occupied Budva and its area on April 17th, 1941. And after the capitulation of Italy, in September 1943, this area was occupied by the German army.
The free-loving people of this region did not accept the occupation. At the Thirteenth of July Uprising of 1941, the Montenegrin people rose up to fight fascism led by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, led by Tito. Many fighters from this area participated in the fight, and more than two hundred gave their lives for freedom. First Bokeh Brigade of the NOR - November 22th, 1944 it freed Budva from the fascist occupiers.