Podgorica

Podgorica [1] is the capital of Montenegro.

[edit] Understand

Besides being a capital of Montenegro, Podgorica is also the country's largest city, having a population of some 150,000 people. The city is situated in central Montenegro, in the scarce Montenegrin lowlands between Dinaric Alps and Lake Scutari.
Area of Podgorica has been continuously inhabited since the Illyrian and Roman era, 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. Nazi and Allied bombings during World War II destroyed much of the historical Ottoman and Montenegro-era Podgorica architecture, and city was reborn as a capital of Montenegro in Socialist Yugoslavia (SFRY). The city was then rebuilt and expanded in a manner typical of Eastern bloc countries, so it is mostly a modern planned city, and by no means a principal sightseeing destination.
While not a typical European eye candy, the is city definitely worth visiting, owing to its interesting mix of old and new, its café culture and nightlife, and laid back Mediterranean atmosphere. Both Montenegrin coastal cities and its mountain resorts are within one hour drive from the city, so it is an excellent starting point for one day trips to anywhere in Montenegro.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Podgorica Airport (LYPG/TDG) is situated 12 km (7.5 miles) south of Podgorica. It is a base for Montenegro Airlines, Montenegrin national carrier, which flies to major European destinations. For booking and flight schedule check the carrier website.For other airlines serving the airport, check the airport website.
Combi buses operate to and from the city center, but may not be available at all times. Thus, probably the bes bet is to take a taxi to the city, as taxis are to be found in abundance in front of the terminal. Taxi ride costs a flat rate €15 as per December 2009, but this should be confirmed with the taxi driver in advance (or there's an Information desk in the airport who can tell you the current rate).

[edit] By train

Train station is located near the city center.
There is regular passenger train service from Subotica through Novi Sad and Belgrade. Train tickets are cheap, but quality of service is lower comparing European standards. There are overnight trains with sleeping cars for around €25. Trains can be late but are a usual mean of transportation.

[edit] By bus

Bus station serves number of domestic destinations, as well as those in neighbouring countries.
The bus and railway station are located next to each other. City center is 10 minutes walk from there, but if you have any luggage - it's recommended that you either take a minibus(combi) or some of the taxis usually waiting at the station entrance.
Timetables (in and out) can be found on the Bus Terminal website: http://www.autobusni-kolodvor.com/en/

[edit] By car

Due to its location in central Montenegro, Podgorica is the hub of all main roads in the country. Road from the northern Montenegro and Serbia requires additional caution during the winter.

[edit] Get around

• Walk - Podgorica is a medium-sized city of about 140,000 people. If Your accomodation is near the city center, or the "Preko Morače" district - all points of intrest could be visited on foot.

• Public transport - Public transportation consists of buses, that are not very frequent, and maps of the lines could be hard to locate. Ticket price is between €0.60 per single ride, and can be purchased on board, usually directly from the driver.

• Taxi - Probably the best option to move around Podgorica are cheap and reliable taxi service. There are over 20 taxicab companies, that usually operate new air-conditioned european sedans. Taxi stands are virtually everywhere in the city, but they could also be reached by calling the dispatcher.

The fare is between €0.50 and €0.80 per kilometre, and usually no start fare is charged. Considering the size of Podgorica - no drive within the city should cost more than €3 or €4.
Taxi numbers:
19700 ALO Taxi
19702 Royal Taxi
19703 Boom Taxi
19704 PG Taxi
19705 Pink Taxi
19706 DeLuxe Taxi
19709 Orange Taxi
19711 City Taxi
19712 Exclusive Taxi
19714 Red Line Taxi
19723 Peugeot Taxi
19800 Bel Taxi
19708 Elite Taxi

[edit][add listing] See

Millennium bridge. "City Beck's" open bar in the lower right corner

• Old Turkish town called "Stara Varoš" ("old town"), with its mosques and old clock tower. A typical old turkish "kasaba"(town), with narrow and curvy streets.
• Skaline (the stairs) on the outfall of the Ribnica river to Morača, with it's old turkish bridge over the Ribnica, and the ruins of old Nemanja's town.
• Monument to King Nikola in the park across the street from the Montenegro's parliament.
• Hercegovačka pedestrian street in the city centre.
• Trg Republike the central square of the city, next to Hercegovačka street, a lot of life at the end of the day, when people finish to work. Lot of cheap restaurants and friendly people, a pleansant place to spend the first part of the evening.
• St. George's church, built in 10th century, on the slopes of the Gorica hill (hill after which the city was named.)
• Millennium bridge, the impressive new bridge over the Morača river.
• King Nikola's castle, turned into a museum, and the surrounding park.
• Newly built Hristovog vaskrsenja orthodox temple.
• Rimski Trg, the square in the new part of town. Located near the orthodox temple, the square and the surrounding area is the home for the trendiest of Podgorica cafes and restaurants, and favourite meeting point for Podgorica citizens.

[edit][add listing] Do

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 vast number of boutiques, just beware the counterfeits!
Note that swimming in the Morača river might be a pleasant way to cool off in the summer months! The other option would be newly built open-air public swimming pools.

[edit][add listing] Buy

The currency in Montenegro is the Euro (€). ATMs are widespread in the city center and the new part of town. Upscale shops and restaurants will usually accept any major credit or debit cards.
Streets in the center of Podgorica are filled with boutiques, yet, one should be aware counterfeited clothes of world famous brands.
Most of the premium clothing brands have their stores in new part of the city, chiefly Vectra-Maxim neighborhoods. The prices are on par with those in the region.
There are a few shopping malls in Podgorica, most notably Delta City, a 48,000 sqm mall with over 70 stores, food court and a multiplex cinema, and Mall of Montenegro. There are also smaller malls, such as Palada and Nikić Center.
Open markets on the outskirts of the city are a place to buy very cheap clothing, often of low quality.

[edit][add listing] Eat

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[edit] Restaurants

Almost all fine restaurants in Podgorica are located either in the traditional city center, the new bussines district around the Roman Square, or along the Sv. Petra Cetinjskog boulevard that connects the two.

• Maša restaurant, Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog 31, ☎ +382 (0) 20 224 460. Renowned for its fresh seafood.  edit
• Carine Centar, Slobode 43, ☎ +382 (0) 20 402 400. The Carine Center features both the fine dining restaurant and the pizzeria. Probably the best pizza in town.  edit
• Carine Moskovska, Moskovska 43, ☎ +382 (0) 20 402 400. The Carine Moskovska features both the national cuisine restaurant, and the pizzeria. Probably the best pizza in town.  edit
• Salvador Dali, Džordža Vašingtona 87, ☎ +382 (0) 69 234 567. Newly open and chic restaurant, a favourite among local celebrities.  edit
• Plantaže restaurant, Mareza bb (Mareza resort, few kilometers west of Podgorica), ☎ +382 (0) 20 268 722. A great place to eat.  edit
• Hong Kong, Stanka Dragojevića 14, ☎ +382 (0) 20 667 300. So far the only Chinese food restaurant in Podgorica.  edit
• Il Giardino, Rimski Trg 28, ☎ +382 (0) 69 313 313. Renowned for the Italian cuisine.  edit

[edit] Pizzerias

There are dozens of pizzerias through city, and most of the cafes serve pizza, pancakes, etc.

• Alpe Bar, Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog 88, ☎ +382 (0) 20 202 025. A pizzeria and a cafe, one of the city's landmarks.  edit
• Alpe Bar, Stanka Dragojevića 14, ☎ +382 (0) 20 665 771.  edit

[edit] Fast food

Most popular fast food in Podgorica is hamburger (pleskavica)(Balkan hamburger somewhat differs from western). You can eat great hamburger, 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"...
There are no international fast food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King or KFC present in Podgorica.

[edit] Contact

Internet: Café www.com, Bokeška 4
SPORTS CENTER: EMINENT teniss club, Pg-Dg 6 km, tel. 067 247 394

[edit][add listing] Drink

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 caffes are :"Alpe bar", "Buddha bar", "Carine", "Greenwich", "Grand cafe", "Café, Café", "Switch cafe", "Soul II Soul"...and many more.
Espresso costs from €0.50 to €1.50. Coke and other soft drinks and juices will cost from €1.00 up to €2.50.
There is a number of clubs and bars to go out to in Podgorica. In the summer, there are many open-air bars and clubs. However, by law, open air bars must turn the music off at 01.00 AM, when the crowds move to the clubs located mostly in the basements in the city center.
It is important to determine weather a club plays worldwide popular dance hits the entire night, or does the playlist include folk music from EX-Yugoslav countries, which is often the case. The latter could be difficult for a foreigner to enjoy, so asking around before going out for the night might be a good option.

• Switch cafe, Stanka Dragojevica (center). 08.00 - 02.00. A club in the city centre, just five minutes walk from the main Republic Square in Podgorica, near the Millenium bridge. It plays mostly foreign pop/electronic/rock music, and there are interesting music programs almost every night. Drink prices are not too expensive (beer: 1.10, wine: 1.50). Place with lot of fun.  edit

• Tantra. A club around a 15-minute walk (or short taxi ride) from the centre. It plays dance music and is generally busy throughout the week. Drink prices are not too expensive and there is a good atmosphere.  edit

Clubs are most crowded from 11PM until 2AM on the Friday and Saturday nights, but some of them are full throughout the week.

• S K A L I N E (open river bar), Podgorica,old town. best place in the Podgorica by day and night. two river,two bridges.Pop music,drinks,coctails,icecream.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

The price of the accommodation varies, and is from €20 for a room in a motel on the outskirts of the city, up to over 100 euros in the premium hotels in the city center.

[edit] Budget

• On the every main intercity road on the outskirts of the city there are motels that are the cheapest accommodation in the city. They are easy to spot, as each one has illuminated and clearly visible "Motel" sign. Expect prices from €20 - €25 and up.
• Hotel "Evropa" next to the train station is a cheap choice.

[edit] Mid range

• Hotel City, under the Ljubović hill, offers very cozy rooms and beautiful surroundings for a reasonable price.
• Hotel "Crna Gora" in the very center of the city offers very nice rooms from around €100 and up.
• Hotel Podgorica, Bulevar Svetog Petra Cetinjskog 1, ☎ +382-20-402-500 (recepcija@hotelpodgorica.co.me, fax: +38220402501), [2]. Very modern hotel on the bank of Morača river, and offers a high level of luxury, at a corresponding price.  edit
• Hotel "Best Western Premier" is a four-star hotel in the Vectra district.
• Hotel "Apart Premier" is a four-star hotel in the Vectra district.
• Kosta's, Bojatours and Amabasador are smaller four-star hotels that are popular with local celebrities and politicians visiting the city.
• Kerber hotel. The Hotel Kerber has a reliable (and free) internet connection in all rooms.  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Hotel Ambasador Podgorica [3] is a 4 star property Ambasador Hotel located on the banks of Moraca River, and very close to the financial and Government district. Checkin 24h Checkout: 6:00 - 12:00 Price: 45 - 75 Euro p. person inclusive Breakfast. Address: Vaka Djurovica 5.

[edit] Get out

• Skadar lake, largest lake on the Balkans, and a national park - just 20 min to the south of the city.
• Morača river canyon, just north to the Podgorica, and the 13th century Morača monastery.
• Doclea(Duklja), ruins of the old roman city that preceded Ribnica and Podgorica.
• Meteon(Medun), 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Podgorica, ruins of a fortress erected at III century B.O.T.
• Cetinje, a bit further (45mn by bus, about a bus per hour), but it is a great opportunity to escape from Podgorica's pollution for a couple of hours by breathing the fresh air of the Lovcen National Park in the former capital.