Podgorica holidays

How to reach Podgorica

Flight time:

• Flights to Podgorica from London take around 2 hours 45 minutes.

• Other major UK airports, like Manchester and Birmingham, offer similar travel times.

Transfer time:

• The airport lies 11km south of the city.

• There is no public transport so you will have to get a taxi, which takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

Price:

• A taxi costs €15 to the city centre.

Best time to visit Podgorica

Deciding on when to take your Podgorica holidays will depend on your tolerance for heat and whether your focus is on indoor or outdoor activities.

April to June:

• Temperatures ramp up markedly month on month, ranging from 18°C to 26°C, with around 8-10 hours of sunshine daily and minimal rainfall.

July to August:

• Podgorica is one of the hottest places in the Balkans in summer with temperatures typically exceeding 35°C and you’ll get up to 12 hours of sunshine each day.

• If you can handle the heat, it’s a great time for holidays to Podgorica as it’s not the busiest of tourist cities.

September to November:

• With still very warm weather, this is the optimum time to explore the city.

• Temperatures range from 20°C to 10°C and you’ll still get 6-8 hours of sunshine, with just the occasional drop of rain, especially in November.

December to March:

• Winter is very mild compared to the UK, with temperatures ranging from 6°C to 12°C.

• Although there are fewer hours of sunshine, about 4-5 hours a day, it is mainly dry.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Montenegrin is the official language, though it’s essentially the same as Serbian (except that it uses the Roman alphabet rather than Cyrillic). English is widely spoken in the city.

• Local habits and customs: Montenegrins are proud of their nationality and are known for their hospitality and laid-back lifestyle. The vast majority of locals belong to the Orthodox Church, and try to dress modestly if visiting religious buildings. Tipping is generally expected in restaurants and for services, typically around 10 percent.

• Currency: Though not yet a member of the EU, Montenegro uses the euro (€). ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most places.

• Getting around: Podgorica remains easy enough to explore on foot, but in any case, the city’s public transport system is limited, with just a few buses serving the main arteries.

• Electricity and plug types: The voltage is 230V, with two-pin plug sockets (Type C and F). UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Podgorica is in Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT. Daylight Saving Time is observed.

Best things to do in Podgorica

Montenegro’s modern-day capital has an understated appeal, manifest in a coterie of enlightening museums, gorgeous Orthodox churches and vestigial remains from the Ottoman Empire.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Gorica Hill: For a panoramic view of the city, hike to the summit of Gorica Hill, a gentle climb with sublime views, especially at sunset.

• Dajbabe Monastery: Located on the outskirts of Podgorica, this monastery is built into a cave and therefore offers a somewhat unusual perspective of the surrounding landscape.

The best districts

• Stara Varoš: Formerly the city’s Muslim quarter, its wafer-thin streets are packed with Ottoman-era architecture, including several still-standing mosques.

• Trg Republike: The geographical and social heart of the city, this busy and energetic square is surrounded by an orderly grid-like system of streets, principally Slobode – which becomes something of a korzo after 5pm when it’s closed to traffic.

Museums

• City Museum: The most stimulating part of the exhibition is the ethnographic section, particularly a lovely display of 18th- and 19th-century national folk costumes.

• Modern Art Gallery: Housed in the grand Petrovic Palace, this collection comprises a modest selection of 20th-century Montenegrin art and a smattering of African and Asian works - but more rewarding is the series of rotating exhibitions.

Parks and gardens

• Gorica Forest Park: Worth a visit for its pleasant walking trails; it’s to the north of town, behind the easy-to-find national stadium.

• King’s Park: This lush city centre park is a terrific spot for a picnic or a leisurely walk. It’s well-maintained with plenty of benches and shady spots - which is most welcome given the city’s often extreme heat.

Historical monuments

• Clock Tower: Standing some 30m high, the 18th-century clock tower (Sahat Kula) is the city’s most complete remnant from the Ottoman period, and a very fine building it is too.

• Turkish Baths: Secreted away under the New Bridge in the Ribnica River gorge, this ancient building - minus its original roof - has survived to become a thriving little cultural centre, incorporating a bookshop, gallery and café.

• Millennium Bridge: It may not be old, but it is bold - a striking, 140m-long, cable-stayed structure that’s especially striking when lit up at night. Cameras at the ready.

Day trips in the area

• Lake Skadar: Oozing over the Albanian border, beautiful Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans, and also one of its most untouched; the main jump-off point is Virpazar, a cute little fishing village at the northern end of the lake.

• Cetinje: The old royal capital of Montenegro, sleepy Cetinje sits just over the mountainous crest from Budva and Kotor, and is well placed for a visit if you’re heading between coast and interior.

Activities for families in Podgorica

Although not a large city, holidays to Podgorica are well suited to families and there are a handful of things young and old(er) can try their hand at together.

• Cafés: Café life is a serious business here, so gather the troops, kick back and enjoy a beverage or two in one of the capital’s many convivial outdoor cafés and bars.

• Adventure Park: Located in Lovćen National Park about an hour’s drive away, this cool park is a series of aerial walkways, zip-lines, cargo nets and hanging log poles, with different challenges depending on age and fitness - be prepared to have a blast.

• Historical monuments and sites: For those with kids interested in Ottoman history, there’s plenty to marvel at, including a fine clock tower and a brace of ancient mosques.

Free things to do in Podgorica

From one of the country’s most exciting events to leisurely korzo strolls, Podgorica has plenty of free activities to participate in.

• Free events: The city’s most enjoyable free event is the Moraca River Dives competition each July, where divers of world-class repute compete in dramatic plunges from the Vezirov Bridge, north of town.

• Free museums: Many of Podgorica’s museums offer free admission on certain days, for example, the Natural History Museum of Montenegro is free to visit on Sundays.

Nature and outdoor activities

There’s little by way of outdoor adventures within, or near, Podgorica itself, so your best bet is to make your way to Lovcen National Park or Lake Skadar, which also offers outstanding birdwatching.

• Birdwatching: Lake Skadar is the largest body of water in the Balkans, and as one of the most important birding sanctuaries in southeastern Europe, it’s a haven for ornithologists and is home to the magnificent and rarely seen Dalmatian Pelican.

• Hiking: Lovcen National Park is a magical moonscape of bleached limestone slopes and huge karst boulders - but above all it offers fantastic hiking. Abutting the Albanian border are the stunning Prokletije mountains, a heavily glaciated region with some seriously challenging peaks.

• Lake kayaking: Lake Skadar’s still waters are perfect for kayaking, so if you fancy a paddle, the Outdoor and More agency in Virpazar rents out single and double kayaks, or you could join a guided tour with Undiscovered Montenegro.

Local dishes in Podgorica

Montenegrin cuisine is overwhelmingly dominated by meat, but there are possibilities to sample plenty of different fish here in Podgorica, whether that’s freshwater fish from nearby Lake Skadar or seafood from the Adriatic.

Some typical dishes

• Pasulj: A thick bean soup flavoured with bits of bacon or sausage, this is a particularly welcoming dish in cooler weather.

• Cicvara: A creamy polenta-like mixture made with cornmeal, cheese, and kaymak (a type of dairy cream) - rich, delicious and very satisfying.

Meat dishes

• Njeguški pršut: This is Montenegrin prosciutto, cured in the mountain village of Njeguši. It’s a staple at any traditional meal and is often served with local cheese and olives.

• Karađorđe vasnicla: Artery-clogging and gut-busting - but oh so delicious - this rolled veal steak stuffed with cheese and coated in breadcrumbs is named after the national hero, Karađorđe Petrović.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Krap na žaru: From Lake Skadar, grilled carp is traditionally preserved through a process that involves salt-curing and smoking with wild pomegranate or willow wood that imparts a unique aroma and a distinctive reddish colour to the fish.

• Riblja čorba: Created as a way for fishermen to use the small fish nobody bought, this delicious fish stew is made with a variety of local fish, tomatoes and spices.

Street food

• Burek: A substantial wedge of flaky pastry filled with meat, cheese, spinach and occasionally mushroom that’s just the job for a quick snack on the go.

• Ćevapi: These morish rissoles of spiced minced meat served with onion and a cut of thick, doughy bread are sold at street stalls all over town.

Sweets and desserts

One popular sweet treat is priganice, fluffy, fried doughballs usually served with honey or jam. Look out too for syrupy baklava sweets, while Montenegrin ice cream (sladoled) is excellent, and sold on the streets almost all year round.

Local drinks

• Rakija: A potent fruit brandy that comes in various flavours, such as plum (šljivovica) or grape (loza) - but pace yourself to avoid waking up with a shocked head and raw throat.

• Vranac: A robust red wine made from the indigenous Vranac grape, known for its deep flavour and smooth finish.