Podgorica is the capital of Montenegro and its political, economic, and cultural hub. You might think that, like any other capital city, it would attract tourists. But that’s not the case here. Podgorica is a city that holds little to no interest for tourists. There aren’t even enough attractions to fill a single day.
However, if fate has brought you to this city, don’t worry—keep reading. I’ll tell you what to see, where to eat, and what to do while you’re here.
Table of contents:
- Podgorica: General Information
- The Downsides of Podgorica – Why Tourists Avoid It
- Public Transport and Suburban Routes
- The Best Apartments and Hotels in Podgorica
- Dining in the Capital
- Top 15 Attractions
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Podgorica: General Information
A Bit of Dry Statistics:
The city was founded in 1326. By Montenegrin standards, that makes it quite young—after all, cities like Kotor, Budva, and Ulcinj were already on the map as far back as the 3rd century BC.
Population: just 180,000 people. That may seem small for a capital, but the entire country has only about 600,000 residents.
Podgorica lies in a lowland area surrounded by mountains, and it never sees snow in winter. The average daytime temperature in the colder months hovers around +10°C.
During World War II, Podgorica suffered severe destruction under the occupation of Fascist Italy. Although the city has since been rebuilt, that didn’t add to its historical landmarks. Quite the opposite—whatever could crumble, already has.
Tip:
If you plan to visit Podgorica, set aside about four hours. That’s enough time to walk through the city center and see its main sights.
The Downsides of Podgorica – Why Tourists Avoid It
Here are the key reasons why Podgorica doesn’t attract tourists:
- No Sea Access. The nearest beaches are about 40 km away. For most travelers, Montenegro is synonymous with a beach holiday. Let’s be honest—people come here for the coast.
- Transit City, Not a Destination. Despite having an international airport on its outskirts, Montenegro is a small country. The country’s main beach resort, Budva, and the entire Budva Riviera are just 60 km away. So, most travelers head straight from the airport to the coast without stopping in the capital.
- Alternative Airports. Many tourists fly into Tivat Airport, which is practically on the coast. That means their travel route doesn’t even pass through Podgorica.
Personal Opinion:
For me, Podgorica lacks the unique Montenegrin charm. In many ways, it feels like a small provincial town. For example, the city’s main bus and train stations are in worse shape and smaller than those in my hometown, which only has 30,000 residents.
It’s common for tourists to visit Montenegro for two weeks, rent a car, explore every corner of the country, and still never set foot in Podgorica—not even for half a day.
Public Transport and Suburban Routes
By now, you’ve probably gathered that Podgorica is a small city. It’s also located in a seismically active region, with occasional mild earthquakes. This has influenced its public transport system, which is rather limited. So, take note:
Podgorica’s public transport consists of buses—all 16 routes of them. That’s it.
As for intercity travel, buses are the only option as well.
There is also a railway system, though it’s not much better than the buses. Here’s a breakdown of the train routes:
- Podgorica – Nikšić: Nikšić is an industrial town with no tourist appeal, so this route won’t be of much interest to visitors.
- Podgorica – Bar: Around 10 daily trains run on this route. A ticket costs just €3, and in an hour and a half, you’re at the seaside. This is the most popular railway route in Montenegro, both for locals and tourists.
- Podgorica – Belgrade: The country’s only international rail route, with two trains per day running along a breathtakingly scenic track. We’ve taken this route before, and it’s a great alternative to flying. (More details in our article: How to Travel from Serbia to Montenegro.)
For a complete guide to Montenegrin transport—buses, trains, schedules, ticket prices—check out our separate article.
Podgorica does have an international airport, with daily flights arriving from Istanbul, Budapest, Vienna, Paris, London, and Belgrade. How to get to Montenegro from European cities: the best route today.
The Best Apartments and Hotels in Podgorica
If you ever find yourself needing to spend the night in Podgorica, don’t worry—finding accommodation won’t be a problem. The city offers a wide range of hotels and apartments hosted by locals. The main difference? Apartments always come with a kitchen. If that’s important to you, go for an apartment.
Tip:
People often ask which neighborhood is best to stay in. The answer? It doesn’t matter. Podgorica is safe 24/7 in every district. Plus, since the city is so small, the center is never more than 2 km away, even from the outskirts. You can easily walk or take a taxi for €5. Everything is close by.
Below is a dynamic list of the most popular hotels in Podgorica. Click on any option to view photos, prices, and reviews.
Restaurants in the Capital
Montenegro has never had a problem with dining out. Enjoying delicious food is practically a national tradition. There are plenty of restaurants, and the food is always tasty, portions are large, and prices are reasonable in most places. Podgorica is no exception.
The city is dominated by traditional Montenegrin cuisine, which means lots of meat, vegetables, and incredibly good bread. You’ll also find plenty of pizzerias and Italian restaurants. Montenegrins love pizza, pasta, and risotto.
Podgorica’s streets are lined with taverns, family-owned restaurants, and national fast food spots. Below is a shortlist of my personal favorites. Maybe they’re not the absolute best, but they’re definitely tasty, affordable, and have a cozy, homey atmosphere.
- Restoran Bar Desetka: 42.44326365401085, 19.2401708292649
- Konoba Lanterna: 42.43677605761545, 19.26042069024484
- Kristal Central: 42.43755444194113, 19.238401537885725
Top 15 Attractions: What to See in Podgorica
Let’s be honest—there are no WOW attractions in Podgorica. But I’ll list all the main landmarks, share my honest opinion on whether they’re worth visiting, give time estimates, and provide tips and recommendations.
Below, you’ll find a map with the restaurants from the list above, as well as Podgorica’s attractions. I’ve also marked the country’s two largest shopping malls, which are considered outlet centers. If a brand exists in Montenegro, you’ll find it there. If not, it doesn’t exist here at all.
Independence Square – The Main Square of Podgorica and Montenegro
What can I say? It’s a rectangle, surrounded by government buildings, with a fountain in the middle.
- Coordinates: 42.44122, 19.26285
- Free and open 24/7
- Time needed: 3–5 minutes—just enough to walk across it.
Independence Square is not exactly buzzing with tourists. In fact, the number of people here gives you an idea of how “touristy” Podgorica is.
Author’s rating:
⭐ 3 out of 10. (+1 point for free Wi-Fi, -1 because it doesn’t actually work.)
A typical central square like you’d find in any post-Soviet city, with an administrative building. It’s hard to call this a real tourist attraction, but you’ll likely pass by it anyway—it’s in the very heart of the city.
Hercegovačka – The Shopping and Pedestrian Street
Some sources call this a top tourist attraction with restaurants and souvenir shops. I’d love to meet the people who wrote that.
Reality check:
- The pedestrian section of the street is only 250 meters long (two blocks)—after that, it turns into a regular road with cars.
- There are a couple of souvenir kiosks, but that’s about it.
- All the restaurants are actually on the nearby streets.
- Even in peak season, the street is empty. You won’t find many tourists here.
- Coordinates (pedestrian section): 42.44259, 19.26327
- Time needed: 10 minutes to walk the entire street.
The shops here sell clothing, shoes, optics, etc.—but nothing tourist-oriented.
Author’s rating:
⭐ 2 out of 10. Nothing to do here at all. If you’re already near Independence Square, you might as well walk through, but don’t expect anything special. Pedestrian streets in any Montenegrin coastal city are 10 times more lively and interesting for tourists.
Stara Varoš – The Old Town of Podgorica
This is one of the few decent historical attractions in the city. Stara Varoš is an Ottoman-era neighborhood, originally built by the Turks in the 15th century. “Varoš” means “city” in Turkish. While it has been destroyed and rebuilt, today you can still wander through its narrow, old streets.
It’s the only district in the capital with any historical charm. Here, you’ll find some of Podgorica’s main tourist landmarks:
- Sahat Kula (Clock Tower) – 📍 42.43560803286012, 19.260109884926948 – Just a tower, you can’t go inside.
- City Hall & Natural History Museum – 📍 42.43579, 19.25992
- Two Mosques – 📍 42.43492661769603, 19.257528075181185
- The Old Bridge over the Ribnica River – 📍 42.43949, 19.25882
- Ruins of Depedogen Fortress (Nemanja’s Town) – 📍 42.4389512818445, 19.258753859781546 – Free & open 24/7, just a pile of ruins.
📍 All landmarks in Stara Varoš are marked on the map above.
Author’s rating:
⭐ 6 out of 10. Don’t expect much—just old streets to stroll through. The Old Towns of Kotor, Perast, and Budva are way more impressive. Allocate 30–40 minutes for Stara Varoš.
Religious Landmarks
Podgorica has many churches, monasteries, and a few mosques. If you’re into religious tourism, you could easily plan an entire route just visiting these places. Here are the most famous ones:
- Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Podgorica’s main church) – 📍 42.44573114714968, 19.248239669261356
- St. George’s Church – 📍 42.44560738210323, 19.267127391488447
- Dajbabe Monastery (built into a rock, on the city outskirts) – 📍 42.40445905309492, 19.232681024374443
There are also dozens more churches and monasteries.
Author’s rating:
⭐ 6 out of 10. Personally, I’m not into religious sites, but many pilgrimage tours include these places. Even for a regular traveler, there’s some interesting architecture to see.
- Here all the monuments are in honor of local famous rulers, cultural and art figures. There is even a monument in honor of the Russian poet – Pushkin.
- Monument of the Montenegrin king Nikola: 42.43916, 19.26053. This is an important page in the history of Montenegro.
Podgorica’s Most Photographed Symbols: Millennium & Moscow Bridges
📍 Millennium Bridge: 42.44521807686785, 19.258107618718654
📍 Moscow Bridge (pedestrian): 42.444180074618764, 19.257792189854882
The Millennium Bridge was meant to be a landmark for the new millennium, but due to the Yugoslav Wars and NATO bombings, its construction was delayed. It was finally completed in 2005.
- It’s 140 meters long, connecting the old and new parts of Podgorica.
- Nearby (100m away) is the Moscow Pedestrian Bridge.
Author’s rating:
⭐ 3 out of 10. The Millennium Bridge became the symbol of the city simply because there’s nothing else taller. It’s a basic cable-stayed bridge, like you’d see in any big city.
Podgorica’s “Niagara Falls”
- 📍 42.38352820162553, 19.27921915796106
- Free, open year-round
- 30 min drive from the city, 3 min to visit
Don’t be fooled by the name—this is not the real Niagara Falls. It’s just a 5-meter artificial dam. It looks decent in spring (April–May) when the mountain snow melts, but by July, there’s nothing left.
Be sure to check out the article “Top 25 Attractions in Montenegro“—it features plenty of amazing locations around Podgorica that are definitely more impressive than any landmark in the capital itself.
Tip:
If you’re planning to visit Podgorica, half a day is more than enough to get a feel for the city. It’s much better to spend your time by the sea or in Montenegro’s breathtaking northern mountains. However, if you happen to stay in Podgorica for more than a day, consider going on a gastronomic tour of the capital’s dining spots. The city has plenty of bars and gastropubs where you can try a variety of local alcoholic beverages and indulge in a fantastic gourmet pljeskavica.
- Everything about Montenegrin alcohol: Rakija, wine, beer, Pelinkovac, and more.
Final thoughts:
Podgorica is a city for living and working. It has a large expat community and many residents with temporary residence permits. But it is by no means a tourist hotspot. If you spend two weeks in Montenegro and never set foot in Podgorica, that’s completely fine—you won’t miss out on much. There’s no “wow” factor here; if you do visit, come with zero expectations.
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro
- WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
- Car rental in Montenegro:
- LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
- DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
- Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
- Hotels and apartments all over the country:
- Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
- TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
- Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
- GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
- Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- Internet and Calls:
- Airalo eSIM in Montenegro
- Drimsim – universal sim card for frequent traveler
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel