The Best Things to Do in Podgorica & Our Honest Tips

Podgorica Sights on a Map

To give you a quick overview of where everything is located, we’ve marked all the main attractions in Podgorica on a map for you.

Cathedral of the Resurrection

What you need to know: The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the largest Orthodox church in Montenegro and one of Podgorica’s defining landmarks. Built between 1993 and 2013 in the Neo-Byzantine style, it features multiple towers and domes, and the interior is elaborately decorated and gilded.

Is it worth it? Absolutely — this is clearly one of the most beautiful things to see in Podgorica. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the city center, but totally worth it.

Hercegovačka Street

What you need to know: There are a few spots in Podgorica that are great for a leisurely stroll, and Hercegovačka Street is our favorite. It’s a pedestrian zone with small boutiques and good restaurants, located in the newer part of the city near Independence Square.

Is it worth it? Yes — when we visited, most of the shops were closed, but we really loved the relaxed, unhurried atmosphere.

Our tip: Grab some ice cream at Gelateria Figo on Hercegovačka Street — seriously delicious!

Millennium Bridge

What you need to know: The Millennium Bridge spans the Morača River right in the heart of Podgorica. It’s 173 meters long, carries both vehicle traffic and pedestrians, and opened on July 13, 2005 — Montenegro’s Independence Day. With its striking modern architecture, it’s one of the most recognizable things to do in Podgorica.

Is it worth it? Definitely! We really loved the whole area around the Millennium Bridge. The parallel pedestrian bridge next to it is a great spot for photos.

Our tip: Make your way down to the water’s edge too. The river is incredibly clear and perfect for cooling your feet off on a warm day.

Independence Square

What you need to know: Independence Square is Podgorica’s main plaza. It features the Duke Mirko Petrović monument and a fountain, and is surrounded by a few shops, restaurants, and the city’s Hard Rock Café.

Is it worth it? Not really. The square feels pretty deserted most of the time. Occasional events liven it up, but otherwise there isn’t a whole lot to see here.

Our tip: If you do swing by, Your Time Podgorica on the square serves a really good coffee.

Podgorica Old Town

What you need to know: Podgorica’s historic quarter is a little tucked away — partly because there are almost no shops or restaurants here, just residential buildings behind stone walls. But wander through the alleyways and you’ll discover some real highlights: mosques, street art, and more.

Is it worth it? Yes. At first glance the old quarter might not seem that interesting, but look a little closer and there’s actually quite a lot to find — including a mural of Maradona.

Our tip: Konoba ‘Lanterna’ Podgorica is a great restaurant right in the historic center. We had a really relaxed dinner there and loved it.

Clock Tower

What you need to know: Podgorica’s Clock Tower stands at the edge of the old town and dates back to the 17th century. Unlike many other buildings in the city, it survived the bombings of World War II — making it one of the most historically significant landmarks here. At night it’s beautifully illuminated.

Is it worth it? It’s okay. The Clock Tower makes for a great photo and its history is genuinely fascinating, but there isn’t much to actually do here beyond snapping a picture.

Depedogen Fortress

What you need to know: The Depedogen Fortress — also known as the Ribnica Fortress — was built by the Ottomans in the late 15th century. Today it’s mostly in ruins, but entry is free.

Is it worth it? Yes — you can take a lovely walk among the old stone walls and enjoy some great views of the surrounding area.

Our tip: Right next to the fortress is the Old Bridge over the Ribnica River, which also dates back to the 15th century. From the fortress you get a great vantage point over it.

Nijagara Waterfall

What you need to know: Podgorica’s Nijagara Falls got their name because they resemble Niagara Falls in the USA and Canada — just on a much smaller scale. They’re part of the Cijevna River, about 8 kilometers south of Podgorica. The river itself is a real highlight too, with strikingly clear water that shimmers in different colors.

Is it worth it? Yes, but only in winter or after heavy rainfall. In summer the Nijagara Falls often dry up completely, which makes the trip not worth it. That said, the surrounding landscape is still beautiful.

Our tip: Bus line 30 gets you from the city center to the Nijagara Waterfall in about 20 minutes. By car it’s around 15 minutes.

Accommodations in Podgorica

If you’re planning to explore the highlights of Podgorica, try to stay as centrally as possible. If you’re traveling through Montenegro by bus or catching a flight, make sure your place to stay is close to the bus terminal.

These are our hotel recommendations for Podgorica:

If you’re not planning to spend much time in Podgorica and just need somewhere near the airport, there’s also a small but solid selection of hotels available there.

Our recommendations for staying near Podgorica Airport:

Restaurants in Podgorica

Since we only had one day in Podgorica, we tried just two restaurants — but we can genuinely recommend both:

• Figo Gelateria: probably the best ice cream in Podgorica — seriously, don’t miss it!
• Konoba ‘Lanterna’ Podgorica: a great spot for local dishes. We had dinner in the lovely courtyard and loved every bite.

Podgorica Airport

Podgorica Airport (Aerodromi Crne Gore) is the largest airport in Montenegro. Direct flights to several European destinations are available from here, including routes to Germany.

We found the airport quite chaotic and too small for the number of passengers. There were also not enough seats in the terminal.

That said, we had no trouble getting through security and passport control when we flew out.

Read more travel tips for Montenegro including how to get there

How do you get from Podgorica Airport to the city?

You have four options for getting from the airport to the city center: rental car, train, bus, or taxi. Here’s which one makes the most sense for you.

Picking up a rental car at Podgorica Airport

If you’re planning a road trip through Montenegro, a rental car is the best option. Cars in Montenegro are generally affordable and there’s a wide selection to choose from — you pick it up right at the airport and don’t have to think about any other transportation.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
Taking the bus to Podgorica

Several buses run daily from the airport to the central bus terminal in Podgorica. You can find schedules and departure times on the Aerodrom Podgorica website.

Tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver or online at busticket4 (you’ll need to print them out). They cost around 5 euros and the journey takes about 30 minutes.

Taking the train to Podgorica

There’s also a train station near Podgorica Airport, though it’s 1.5 kilometers from the terminal building. A ticket to Podgorica costs around 2 euros and can be purchased on the train.

Schedules and ticket info are available on the zpcg website. The journey takes around 10 minutes.

If you’re traveling light, the train is honestly the best-value way to get from the airport into the city.

Taking a taxi to Podgorica

We’d recommend a taxi if you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with a group or family. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs around 15 euros.

Onward Travel from Podgorica

Podgorica is Montenegro’s main transportation hub, and from here you can easily reach every corner of the country, as well as Albania or Croatia.

The coast is less than 50 kilometers away. It takes about one hour by car to reach Budva. Near Budva you’ll find many of the most beautiful beaches in Montenegro, and Lake Skadar is home to some of Montenegro’s best lesser-known spots.

Buses to coastal destinations like Bar, Budva, and Herceg Novi also depart from the bus terminal.

There are also direct buses to Dubrovnik and Tirana.

When is the Best Time to Visit Podgorica?

Spring and fall are your best bets. April, May, and June, as well as September, October, and November, are ideal months to visit.

The weather is warm and mostly sunny during these periods, making it comfortable to explore the city’s highlights.

We’d avoid July and August — it gets seriously hot in Podgorica in summer.

Winter brings cold and grey weather (though nothing extreme), so December through March isn’t ideal for a city trip either.

Also read our tips on the best time to visit Montenegro

Our Travel Report on Podgorica: Is It Worth It?

We flew out of Podgorica and spent one day in the capital beforehand. If you’re wondering how much time to set aside, one day is genuinely enough.

For a relaxed final day of sightseeing at the end of a Montenegro trip, we found Podgorica perfectly enjoyable. The highlight for us was the Morača River with its bridges — really lovely.

That said, we wouldn’t make a special trip just for Podgorica. There are other places to visit in Montenegro — like Durmitor National Park or Kotor — that are more worth your time.

During our stay we slept at the Kings Park Hotel. It’s very centrally located, close to all the main attractions, with spacious rooms and a small fitness center.

Breakfast was a buffet and was included in our rate — it was fine but nothing special. Overall we’d recommend the hotel for your Montenegro trip, though personally we found it a bit too corporate and felt it lacked a personal touch.