• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Drink
• Get out

Aerial view of Podgorica

Podgorica [1] is the capital of Montenegro.

[edit] Understand

Nazi and allied bombing during World War II destroyed most of the old architecture, so Podgorica is mostly modern city. In the last decade it has been emerging as a modern pro-western city, with blocks of modern buildings overshadowing the old communist architecture. It is not itself considered a tourist destination, but is a hub of Montenegrin tourism, because both its coastal cities and best mountain resorts are within one hour ride from the city, and with its vibrant atmosphere and outgoing citizens - it might be an interesting place to spend a few days in.

Note: Currency in Montenegro is EURO. Most of the young population speaks English. Some signs are in Latin letters while others, especially street signs, are in cyrillic.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

There are several daily flights from Belgrade for around €60. There are regular flights from Budapest, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome and Vienna - ticket price varies.

The airport (TDG) is situated 12 km (7.5 miles) south of Podgorica. The best choice is to take a combi bus to city center, because taxis are much more expensive.

[edit] By train

There is regular passenger train service from Subotica through Novi Sad and Belgrade. Train tickets are cheap, but quality of service is lower comparing European standards. There are overnight trains with sleeping cars for around €25. Trains can be late but are a usual mean of transportation.

[edit] By bus

Bus station serves number of domestic destinations, as well as those in neighbouring countries.

The bus and train station are located next to each other. City center is 10 minutes walk from there, but if you have any luggage - it's recommended that you either take a minibus(combi) (next to all of the little grocery/snack stands) or some of the taxis usually waiting at the station entrance.

[edit] By car

Road through Morača canyon north of Podgorica is considered dangerous during the winter.

[edit] Get around

Podgorica is a medium-sized city of about 140,000 people. There is a public bus system, and a number of minibuses (combis) and unlicensed "taxis" drive around the bus routes, all usually charging €0.50. Unlicensed "taxis" will honk to pick up passengers at bus stations every few minutes. They have no labels or marks on their vehicles whatsoever - you will recognize them only by stopping at the bus stations briefly, honking or waving to the passengers at the station.

Other option is to take a taxi. You can stop one on the street, or call for one through the radio-taxi service. They usually charge around €0.35-€0.70 per kilometre. Considering the size of Podgorica - no drive within the city should cost more than €3 to €4.

Taxi numbers:

9700 ALO Taxi

9706 De Lux Taxi

9711 City Taxi

9705 Pink Taxi

9703 Boom Taxi

9709 Orange Taxi

9704 PG Taxi

9702 Royal Taxi

[edit] See

Millennium bridge. "City Beck's" open bar in the lower right corner

• Old Turkish town called "Stara Varoš" ("old town"), with its mosques and old clock tower. A typical old turkish "kasaba"(town), with narrow and curvy streets.
• King Nikola's castle, turned into a museum, and the surrounding park.
• St. George's church, built in 10th century, on the slopes of the Gorica hill (hill after which the city was named.)
• Skaline (the stairs) on the outfall of the Ribnica river to Morača, with it's old turkish bridge over the Ribnica, and the ruins of old Nemanja's town.
• Hercegovačka pedestrian street in the city centre.
• Newly built Hristovog vaskrsenja orthodox temple.
• Monument to King Nikola in the park across the street from the Montenegro's parliament.
• Millennium bridge, the impressive new bridge over the Morača river.

[edit] Do

While in Podgorica, one can enjoy the diversity of Montenegro's capital cafes and restaurants, check out the nightlife, or take a walk at some of the favourite picnic locations of Podgorica citizens - Mareza, Skadar lake, or Gorica hill. While strolling through Podgorica center, you might find the shopping area interesting, as there is vast number of boutiques, just beware the counterfeits!

Note that swimming in the Morača river might be a pleasant way to cool off in the summer months!

[edit] Buy

Streets in the center of Podgorica are filled with boutiques, but most of them sell counterfeited clothes of world famous brands. There are few exceptions, notably authorized dealerships of Adidas, Nike, LaCoste, etc.

In small shopping centre "Palada" which is very close to city center and the bridge Millennium, you can find stores of Mango, Bata, Springfield, Replay and a few more brands. Open markets on the outskirts of the city are a place to buy very cheap clothing.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Restaurants

There are few restaurants with premium service.

There are many more great restaurants, notably "Salvadore Dali", "Giardino", "Carine", "Galileo" and hotel restaurants, all offering great food at reasonable prices.

Other restaurants:

[edit] Pizzerias

There are dozens of pizzerias through city, and most of the cafes serve pizza, pancakes, etc.

[edit] Fast food

Most popular fast food in Podgorica is hamburger (pleskavica)(Balkan hamburger somewhat differs from western). You can eat great hamburger, as well as anything made on the barbecue(roštilj) in places all across town, but best known and most visited are "Voda u kršu", "Gurman", "Calimero", "Kruna"...

[edit] Drink

Most loved amusement of Podgorica's residents is to sit in a cafe on a summer day and drink their espresso.

There are dozens of cafes in pedestrian Njegoševa street in city center, and many more scattered around the city center. Most of the new and trendy cafes are located around "Vectra" district in the new part of the city.

Modern design and relaxed atmosphere of the cafes coupled with Podgorica's art of making espresso will make an interesting experience. Some of the well known caffes are :"Alpe bar", "Buddah bar", "Bife kod Vlaja, studentski dom" "Carine", "Greenwich", "Grand cafe", "Café, Café"...and many more.

Espresso costs from €0.50 to €1.50. Coke and other soft drinks and juices will cost from €1.00 up to €2.50.

There is a number of clubs and bars to go out to in Podgorica. In the summer, there are many open-air bars and clubs, "City Beck's" on the Morača beach being the best known. However, by law, open air bars must turn the music off at 01.00 AM, when the crowds move to the clubs located mostly in the basements in the city center.

• <drink name="Tantra" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A club around a 15-minute walk (or short taxi ride) from the centre. It plays dance music and is generally busy throughout the week. Drink prices are not too expensive and there is a good atmosphere.</drink>

Clubs are most crowded from 11PM until 2AM on the Friday and Saturday nights, but some of them are full throughout the week.

[edit] Sleep

The price of the accommodation varies, and is from €20 for a room in a motel on the outskirts of the city, up reasonably high prices at the premium hotels in the city centre.

[edit] Budget

• On the every main intercity road on the outskirts of the city there are motels that are the cheapest accommodation in the city. They are easy to spot, as each one has illuminated and clearly visible "Motel" sign. Expect prices from €20 - €25 and up.
• Hotel "Evropa" next to the train station is a cheap choice.

[edit] Mid range

• Hotel Ljubović, under the hill of the same name, offers very cozy rooms and beautiful surroundings for around €60 per night.
• Hotel "Crna Gora" in the very center of the city offers very nice rooms from around €100 and up.
• Hotel "Podgorica" is a very modern hotel on the bank of Morača river, and offers a high level of luxury, at a corresponding price.
• Kosta's, Bojatours and Amabasador are smaller four-star hotels that are popular with local celebrities and politicians visiting the city.

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Get out

• Skadar lake, largest lake on the Balkans, and a national park - just 20 min to the south of the city.
• Morača river canyon, just north to the Podgorica, and the 13th century Morača monastery.
• Doclea(Duklja), ruins of the old roman city that preceded Ribnica and Podgorica.
• Meteon(Medun), 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Podgorica, ruins of a fortress erected at III century B.C.