Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, is not a really tourist destination. It is a business, government, and educational centre of the country. Being located between the picturesque mountains of the North of Montenegro and the awesome beaches of the Adriatic coast, it seems less attractive. It is even called one of the dullest European capitals sometimes. Partly that’s true, and one more significant drawback of Podgorica is that it can be very hot here during the summer season (compared to the mild Adriatic climate or mountains of Durmitor and Prokletije).
But Podgorica has its charm and sights to visit. Besides, during spring or autumn, it can be a very good location for visiting the national parks of Montenegro. It is located 29 km from Lake Skadar, 38 km from Cetinje, 59 km from Biogradska Gora, and 60 km from Lovćen, so you can get to each of these places within one hour from Podgorica. Two hours will take the route to Durmitor, and about three hours will take the route to Prokletije. So it is quite convenient to stay in Podgorica.
But what can you see in Podgorica itself?
First of all, Podgorica has 6 rivers: Morača, Ribnica, Zeta, Sitnica, Mareza, and Cijevna. The region is rich in water, and it is the location of the most famous vineyards in Montenegro. Morača, flowing into Lake Skadar, is the largest river. It forms a breathtaking Morača canyon not far from the capital. Nearby Morača monastery is located, a Serbian Orthodox monastery, dating back to the 13th century.
Morača is known for its bridges. The most famous is the Millennium Bridge, opened on 13 July 2005, representing the modern side of Montenegro. This bridge contrasts with old bridges like Vizier’s Bridge (Vezirov most), built in the 18th century to connect Ottoman Empire roads, or Yugoslavian bridges of the 20th century, like the bridge of the Zlatičanin brothers.
The oldest bridge in Podgorica is the Old Bridge over the Ribnica (Stari most na Ribnici). It is located over a small river Ribnica, near its confluence with Morača. Initially, the bridge was built by the Romans. Then, in the 18th century, it was reconstructed under Ottoman rule, so its second name is Adži-paša’s bridge. Now, it is a popular Instagram spot located in the very centre of the city.
Another attraction related to water is Niagara waterfall. Niagara is located near Podgorica (road to Tuzi) on the river Cijevna, and you can get there by car or taxi, this will be a 10-minute ride. The water here has a beautiful colour. The best time to visit Niagara is spring or early summer, when there is a lot of water here. Then by the end of summer, it gets much drier.
There is an interesting archaeological site located just 3 km north of Podgorica. Its name is Duklja (otherwise Doclea or Dioclea, also known as Docleia or Diocleia). It was an ancient Illyrian, Roman, and Byzantine city. It was a large settlement already in the 1st century AD, and in the 3rd century AD it became the capital of the new Roman province.
Podgorica has a compact centre where everything is within walking distance. There are several pedestrian zones here. The centre includes administrative buildings, hotels and banks, together with the National Theatre, the Montenegrin Musical Centre, museums and libraries.
Another interesting place in Podgorica is Stara Varoš, which is an Ottoman-era neighbourhood. It was the centre of the city in the 15-19th centuries, and nowadays it is quite close to the centre, too (conveniently located between the modern centre and the main bus station). It was significantly damaged during World War II. But still, some interesting monuments were preserved, for example Sat Kula (the Clock Tower), initially built in 1667.
On the bank of the river Morača, you may notice an interesting monument to Vladimir Vysotsky, a famous Soviet poet, singer, and actor. Vysotsky was deeply fond of Montenegro and its people. He expressed his love for Montenegro in his poem “For the Montenegrins“.
Among the museums you can visit in Podgorica, the most interesting are the Museums and Galleries of Podgorica, the Centre of Contemporary Art, the Natural History Museum, Podgorica City Museum.
Saborni Hram Hristovog Vaskrsenja, or the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, is located in the New Town neighbourhood of Podgorica. Built in 1993-2013, it is often considered one of the most interesting Orthodox churches constructed recently.