Podgorica holidays

Holidays to Podgorica put you right in Montenegro’s capital, with modern malls, riverside beaches and lots of restaurants.

City breaks to Podgorica

When tourists think of Montenegro, they often forget about its capital, Podgorica, and head straight to the south coast for a beach break or hit the slopes up north. But it’s worth adding this city to your itinerary to see the medley of Ottoman-era houses, Austrian shopfronts and shiny new malls. They act as a memento to the time when the Romans, Turks and Austro-Hungarians owned this city. When you stroll around the old town, you’ll quickly realise it’s different to other European cities – modern architecture, a vibrant café scene and lots of green spaces replace historical monuments and narrow cobbled streets.

Riverside beaches

For your nearest sand and sea fix, you’ll have to drive about an hour to the south coast, where you can find some of Montenegro’s best beaches. Like Sveti Stefan – it’s at the end of a causeway and looks out to the old village with red-roofed buildings and winding streets. Or, if you just want a refreshing dip, there are rocky riverbanks just off the city centre, which have a few spots where you can swim or paddle in the river. Plus, Galeb Beach, on Moraca River, has a sandy shore to relax on.

Sail around Lake Skadar

If you’d rather see some of Montenegro’s wildlife, head to Lake Skadar National Park – it’s just outside Podgorica. The lake’s so big that two thirds of it are in Montenegro and the other half stretches over the border to Albania. It’s famous for its diverse wildlife and flowers, with over 270 species of birds that live here during migrating season. If you want to do a spot of birdwatching, you may be able to see white little egret, white spoonbill and lots of different types of ducks. Plus, there are cormorant nests in the north swamps. You can take boat rides around the lake, or just relax around the shore.