Podgorica

Podgorica today: the capital of Montenegro

Podgorica is Montenegro's administrative, business and transport centre. The municipality has 179,505 inhabitants according to the 2023 census, covers 997 km² and stands at an official elevation of 44.5 m. Its built core extends across about 108 km², within a setting of rivers, plains, vineyards and archaeology.

Stara varoš is the Ottoman core dating from the XV to XIX centuries and was partly destroyed in the Second World War. Within it, the Depedogen fortification stands on the Ribnica, while Osmanagića Mosque and the Starodoganjska Mosque, the latter dating from the end of the XV century, are in Stara varoš. The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, consecrated in 2013, reaches 41.5 m. The Galerija Risto Stijović, opened in 2018 in the house where the sculptor grew up, stands in Stara varoš.

What to see and do in Podgorica: heritage, wine and rivers

Duklja (Doclea), around 3 to 4 km northwest of the centre, was established as a municipium during the reign of Emperor Claudius, 41 to 54 AD. It had 8,000 to 10,000 inhabitants, was destroyed by an earthquake in 518 and was renewed by Slavs in the VII century. It appears on the UNESCO Tentative List as "Doclea", reference 5563, dated 06/07/2010 in the Cultural category.

At Sastavci, the Ribnica meets the Morača beside a stone bridge probably dating from the Roman period. Gorica is a park with the Monument to the Fallen Fighters and the Church of Saint George at its foot, built from the IX to XI centuries. Part of Skadarsko jezero National Park belongs to the municipality; the park was declared in 1983 and has been on the Ramsar List since 1996. The Nijagara waterfall on the Cijevna, about 4 km from the centre and about 10 m high, is a summer river-bathing spot.

Wine tourism centres on Ćemovsko polje, with around 2,300 hectares owned by Plantaže and around 11.5 million vines. Vranac is the characteristic grape variety. Ten family-run wineries operate around the city: Radević Estate, Ćetković, Rajković, Bogojević, Vukićević, Vučinić, Krgović, Miranović and Đukić. The city's culinary offer encompasses Asian, Indian, Arab and Mediterranean cuisines.

Getting to Podgorica

Air arrivals use Aerodrom Podgorica (TGD), located about 5 km south of the city in Golubovci. Golubovci belongs to the municipality of Zeta.

The railway station lies around 1.5 km southeast of the main city square, on the Beograd, Bar, Nikšić and Shkodër, Albania, lines. Podgorica is also a junction for main roads linking the coast with northern Montenegro.

When to visit Podgorica

April and May offer the recommended spring period, while September and October are the recommended autumn months. July and August are the busiest months. January and February are identified as the quieter period.

Podgoričko kulturno ljeto fills the city's summer with exhibitions and open-air programmes from June to September, staged across venues such as the Natural History Museum, the Moderna galerija and Njegošev park. The NLB Podgorica Millennium Run takes place each November, starting near Most Milenijum, with 5 km, 10 km, 21.1 km and 42.2 km categories.