UltimateCity Guide Podgorica
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The Millennium Bridge over the Morača The Millennium Bridge over the Morača The Ottoman clock tower, Sahat kula, in Stara Varoš

The city guide to Podgorica, Montenegro

Best of Podgorica

A modern capital of bridges, riverside terraces and vranac wine bars, with Roman ruins, an Ottoman old town, and the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar and the mountains within reach.

Where to eatWhat to see
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyPrime neighbourhoods, agents, new developments and how buying worksA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Podgorica

Podgorica is Montenegro’s capital and its crossroads: a relaxed, green city where five rivers meet, with a lively café culture, good food and wine, and the whole country on its doorstep. The Bay of Kotor and the Adriatic are about an hour and a half away, Lake Skadar half an hour, and the old royal capital of Cetinje forty minutes. Our guide covers the city and the best of Montenegro beyond it, place by place.

Millennium Bridge

The symbol of the modern city

The Millennium Bridge

Preko Morače·Bridge & landmark

One tall pylon, a fan of cables and the green-blue Morača below: walk across the Millennium Bridge at sunset, then follow the river to the old town and the clock tower.

Plan your visit

The Montenegrin coast in style

Superyacht marinas, an island village reborn as a hotel, beach clubs and new resort towns, all within two hours of Podgorica: our guide to the luxury coast, and to the developments changing it.

Independence Square in the centre of PodgoricaIndependence SquareChristmas in PodgoricaThe bazaar and New YearPorto Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor at sunset, TivatLuxury guideThe Luxury CoastMarinas, island hotels and beach clubsSveti Stefan and the AdriaticLuxury hotelsAman Sveti StefanReopened in 2026Superyachts below the residences of Porto MontenegroThe back storyPorto MontenegroFrom naval arsenal to superyacht marinaSunset over Portonovi on the Bay of KotorDevelopmentsPortonovi & Luštica BayThe new resort townsSuperyachts below the residences of Porto MontenegroProperty guideBuying propertyRules, taxes and residenceThe old town of Ulcinj above the seaThe deep southUlcinj & Ada BojanaLong sands and fish on stilts

Montenegro on your doorstep

From Podgorica, the whole of Montenegro is an easy trip: the Bay of Kotor and the riviera, Lake Skadar, the old royal capital, Ostrog and the mountains of Durmitor.

Kotor’s old town and the bay from the fortress wallsCoast guideKotor & the BayWalls, cathedral and PerastThe meanders of the Crnojević river flowing into Lake SkadarLake guideLake SkadarWater lilies and pelicansCetinje MonasteryHistory guideCetinje & LovćenA royal capital and a mountainSveti Stefan and the AdriaticCoast guideBudva & Sveti StefanThe rivieraOstrog Monastery in its cliffPilgrimage guideOstrogA monastery in the cliffThe Black Lake in Durmitor National ParkMountain guideDurmitor & the TaraLakes, peaks and a canyon

A city of rivers

Five rivers meet around Podgorica. Swim in the green-blue Morača in summer, walk to the old Ribnica bridge and drive up the Morača canyon.

The Morača river in its canyon north of PodgoricaSummer swimmingFive riversThe rivers that shaped the cityThe Ottoman clock tower, Sahat kula, in Stara VarošThe back storyThe story of PodgoricaFrom Doclea to todayA Belgrade–Bar train high above a valley in the mountainsGreat railway journeysThe Belgrade–Bar railwayOver the mountains to Belgrade

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

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HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Podgorica, Montenegrin food, the coast, the lake and the mountains.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Šipčanik wine cellar

    This week's pick

    Šipčanik wine cellar

    Ćemovsko polje·Wine cellar & tasting

    Autumn is harvest time on the Ćemovsko plain. Book a tour of Šipčanik, the wine cellar inside a former aircraft hangar, and taste vranac where it is made.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaItineraryOne perfect day in PodgoricaA full day on foot, with one taxi rideKotor’s old town and the bay from the fortress wallsItineraryA day in Kotor and PerastA full day, by car or busThe meander of the Rijeka Crnojevića from Pavlova StranaItineraryLake Skadar and the royal capitalA full day by carThe Black Lake in Durmitor National ParkItineraryA weekend in the mountains: Ostrog and DurmitorTwo days by carSveti Stefan and the AdriaticItineraryA day on the riviera: Budva and Sveti StefanA full day, by car or bus

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Independence Square in the centre of PodgoricaNeighbourhood

    The centre (Nova Varoš)

    Independence Square, the café streets of Njegoševa and Hercegovačka, the National Theatre and the best hotels.

    Explore The centre (Nova Varoš)     The Ottoman clock tower, Sahat kula, in Stara VarošNeighbourhood

    Stara Varoš & the rivers

    The Ottoman old town, the clock tower, the old Ribnica bridge and the fortress where the rivers meet.

    Explore Stara Varoš & the rivers     Independence Square in the centre of PodgoricaNeighbourhood

    Preko Morače & the cathedral

    Across the river: the Millennium Bridge, the Cathedral of the Resurrection, the Petrović Palace and Rimski trg.

    Explore Preko Morače & the cathedral     The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaNeighbourhood

    City Kvart

    The modern district of glass offices, apartments, restaurants and bars, where Podgorica goes out.

    Explore City Kvart     The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaNeighbourhood

    Gorica & the hills

    The wooded hills that frame the city: Gorica, which gave Podgorica its name, and Ljubović in the south.

    Explore Gorica & the hills

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Montenegrin food: the back storyPodgorica · In depth: food
    2. 2Pod VolatStara Varoš · Traditional Montenegrin
    3. 3Konoba LanternaCity Centre · Konoba: Montenegrin & Mediterranean
    See all 18

    Cafés

    1. 1Podgorica’s café life: the back storyPodgorica · In depth: café culture
    2. 2ZrnoPreko Morače · Coffee
    3. 3Caffeine Coffee ShopPodgorica · Coffee
    See all 14

    Bars

    1. 1Vranac and the wines of Montenegro: the back storyĆemovsko polje · In depth: wine
    2. 2The Blind PigCity Kvart · Cocktail bar
    3. 3ShelterCity Centre · Cocktails & eclectic food
    See all 10

    Nightlife

    1. 1Podgorica after dark: the back storyPodgorica · In depth: nightlife
    2. 2BiroPodgorica · Club
    3. 3KolektorPodgorica · Club
    See all 14

    Hotels

    1. 1Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraCity Centre · 5-star hotel
    2. 2Crowne Plaza PodgoricaPreko Morače · 4-star hotel
    3. 3Hotel Alexandar LUXCity Centre · 4-star hotel
    See all 11

    Sights

    1. 1Podgorica: the back storyPodgorica · In depth: the city
    2. 2Millennium BridgePreko Morače · Bridge & landmark
    3. 3Moscow BridgeCentre · Footbridge
    See all 14

    Culture

    1. 1Njegoš, poet-prince of Montenegro: the back storyCetinje · In depth: literature
    2. 2Montenegrin National TheatreCity Centre · Theatre
    3. 3Petrović Palace & Centre of Contemporary ArtPreko Morače · Palace & gallery
    See all 7

    Parks & rivers

    1. 1Five rivers: the back storyPodgorica · In depth: the rivers
    2. 2The Morača riverPodgorica · River
    3. 3The Ribnica riverStara Varoš · River
    See all 7

    Walks

    1. 1The Morača riverPodgorica · Walk
    2. 2The Ribnica riverStara Varoš · Walk
    3. 3Stara VarošStara Varoš · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Green Market (Zelena pijaca)City Centre · Market
    2. 2Mall of MontenegroCity Centre · Shopping centre
    3. 3Big FashionCity Kvart · Shopping centre
    See all 6

    Getting around

    1. 1The Belgrade–Bar railway: the back storyPodgorica · In depth: a great railway
    2. 2Podgorica AirportGolubovci · Airport
    3. 3TaxisPodgorica · Taxis
    See all 13

    Property

    1. 1Porto Montenegro: from naval arsenal to superyacht marinaTivat · In depth: developments
    2. 2Portonovi and Luštica Bay: the new resort townsBay of Kotor · In depth: developments
    3. 3The Bar–Boljare motorway: the road northPodgorica · In depth: developments
    See all 6

    Health

    1. 1Codra HospitalPodgorica · Private hospital
    2. 2Hospital Dr MedtimPodgorica · Private hospital
    3. 3Ars Medica Special HospitalPodgorica · Private hospital
    See all 9

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