Montenegro fits a lot into a small area: a fjord-like bay at Kotor, a short strip of Adriatic coast with Budva at its center, and mountains rising steeply behind them. Driving from the coast into Durmitor or Lovcen national parks takes a couple of hours and changes the landscape completely.
The guides here cover Budva and Montenegro overall. The coastal season runs June through September and the beaches are narrow, which makes July and August genuinely crowded. Spring and autumn suit the mountains and the old towns better. Roads along the bay are scenic but slow, and the ferry across the Verige strait saves a substantial detour when heading north from Kotor.