Podgorica (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Подгорица), during SFR Yugoslavia named Titograd (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Титоград) in honor of Josip Broz Tito, the long-lasting leader of Yugoslavia, is the capital of Montenegro. While not a typical European eye candy, the city is definitely worth visiting, owing to its interesting mix of old and new, its café culture and nightlife, and its laid back Mediterranean atmosphere.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Besides being the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica is also the country's largest city, having a population of some 186,000 people (2011). The city is in central Montenegro, in the scarce Montenegrin lowlands between the Dinaric Alps and Lake Scutari. The Podgorica area has been continuously inhabited since the Illyrian and Roman eras, with settlement on the site of today's Podgorica being firmly established during Ottoman Empire rule. Podgorica was reincorporated in Montenegro in 1878, when the city started to take a more European shape.
Podgorica is a medium-sized city. If your accommodation is near the city centre, or the "Preko Morače" district - all points of interest could be visited on foot. Maps of the lines are hard to find, however Google Maps shows routes and schedules but not live times. Ticket price is €0.90 per single ride, and can be purchased on board from the driver. Some blogs state that no change is given and they will not accept €2 coins, but as of September 2025 this was not the case. There are over 20 taxi companies that usually operate new air-conditioned European sedans.
1 Old Turkish town ("Stara Varoš" or "old town"). with its mosques and old clock tower. A typical old Turkish "kasaba" (town), with narrow and curvy streets. 2 Skaline (the stairs). on the outfall of the Ribnica river to Morača, with its old Turkish bridge over the Ribnica, and the ruins of old Nemanja's town. 3 Monument to King Nikola (Spomenik Kralju Nikoli), Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog (in the park across the street from the Montenegro's parliament). 4 Hercegovačka pedestrian street, Hercegovačka street (in the city centre). 5 Trg Republike, Slobode (next to Hercegovačka street). The central square of the city, a lot of life at the end of the day, when people finish to work.
While in Podgorica, one can enjoy the diversity of Montenegro's capital cafes and restaurants, check out the nightlife, or take a walk at some of the favourite picnic locations of Podgorica citizens - Mareza, Skadar Lake, or Gorica Hill. While strolling through Podgorica center, you might find the shopping area interesting, as there is a good number of boutiques. Swimming in the Morača River is a pleasant way to cool off in the summer months! The other option would be open-air public swimming pools. 1 Rogami Beach (30-minute taxi ride from downtown Podgorica). On the picturesque Moraca River, it is good for swimming and diving.
Almost all fine restaurants in Podgorica are located either in the traditional city center, the new business district around the Roman Square, or along the Sv. Petra Cetinjskog boulevard that connects the two. There are dozens of pizzerias through city, and most of the cafes serve pizza, pancakes, etc. Most popular fast food in Podgorica is the regional hamburger variant pleskavica. You can eat great hamburgers, as well as anything made on the barbecue (roštilj) in places all across town, but best known and most visited are "Voda u kršu", "Gurman", "Calimero", "Kruna"...
Most loved amusement of Podgorica's residents is to sit in a cafe on a summer day and drink their espresso. There are dozens of cafes in pedestrian Njegoševa street in city center, and many more scattered around the city center. Most of the new and trendy cafes are located around "Vectra" district in the new part of the city. Modern design and relaxed atmosphere of the cafes coupled with Podgorica's art of making espresso will make an interesting experience. Some of the well known cafes are: 1 Alpe bar. (updated Apr 2023) 2 Buddha bar. (updated Apr 2023) 3 Carine. (updated Apr 2023) 4 Greenwich. (updated Apr 2023) 5 Grand cafe. (updated Apr 2023) 6 Café, Café.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Podgorica typically sees ~34°C daytime highs and 4 rainy days.
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