Cheap flights to Podgorica from EUR18*

The tiny heart of a tiny country, Podgorica has retained a small-town charm that’s hard to come by in other capital cities in Europe. Sitting at the confluence of the turquoise Morača river and its tributary, the Ribnica, the Montenegrin capital is a curious mixture of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav heritage and modern architecture. It may not be the prettiest city on the continent, but spend just a few hours here and you’ll discover that there’s more to it than meets the eye, from a thriving coffee culture to bar-filled streets and a new pedestrian walkway that snakes through town. Best of all, it’s only 50 kilometres from the glorious Adriatic seaside, and there’s no lack of day trip options in the surrounding area either.

 

Laid-back Balkan charm

Formerly known as Titograd after the lifelong president of Yugoslavia, Podgorica has been destroyed several times over the centuries – most recently during World War II when it suffered heavy bombing from both sides. The name Podgorica, first used in 1326, translates as “under the little mount” and refers to the forest-clad hill overlooking the city. The city has changed hands over and over again, from the Roman and Ottoman empires to Austria-Hungary, and was an important aluminium industry centre during Yugoslav times. It became the capital of the sovereign state of Montenegro in 2006, following a successful independence referendum that dissolved its union with Serbia.

 

Take a leisurely walk between rivers

Kick off your city break in the Ottoman-era neighbourhood of Stara Varoš (Old Town), hugged by the Morača and Ribnica rivers. Stroll the tangled streets and keep an eye out for the handful of remaining Ottoman buildings, including two mosques and the clock tower that was once used to signal Muslim prayer times. Go across Blažo Jovanović Bridge and cool off on Podgorica’s main beach, below where the two rivers meet. Be sure to visit the huge Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ while you’re in this part of town. The Serbian Orthodox cathedral was consecrated in 2013 after two decades of construction and features a rather controversial fresco of Marshal Tito, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels burning in the eternal flames of hell. Continue your stroll to the striking cable-stayed Millennium Bridge, which was opened in 2015 and has quickly become the city’s symbol. Cross it to reach the city centre, featuring government buildings, the National Library and the City Hall as well as several interesting galleries, such as Galerija Centar hosting contemporary exhibitions. Museums you might want to check out include the City Museum with archaeological, ethnographic and art collections and the Natural History Museum of Montenegro, showcasing the best of the country’s rich flora and fauna. For a bit of fresh air, head north to Gorica and stroll its sloping forest park. Look out for Podgorica’s oldest sacred building, the little St George's Church, at the base of the hill and visit the large 1950s monument on the top dedicated to the fallen partisan fighters of World War II.

 

Loosen your belt

The cuisine of the country’s heartland is not for the calorie-conscious but who cares when you’re on holiday? Like other Balkan nations, Montenegrins love a good barbecue, so čevapčići (finger-sized spicy sausages), pljeskavica (pork or beef patty) and ražnjići (pork or veal kebabs) feature heavily on menus. Another regional favourite is burek (filo-pastry filled with meat, cheese or potato), should you need a hearty snack on the go. Other traditional dishes to look out for include sarma (minced pork and rice rolled in cabbage leaves), pasulj (bean soup with flecks of bacon or sausage) and popeci (mince fritters stuffed with smoked ham and cheese). A popular local choice, Pod Volat in Stara Varoš features all these classic taste bud teasers. Portions are extremely generous and good value – for the full experience, order the mixed grill and stuff yourself silly. Lanterna Podgorica is also worth a visit, offering Montenegrin and Italian dishes in a rustic setting. Alternatively, make your way to Podgorica’s own Niagara Falls (that’s right) and enjoy traditional dishes next to the rumbling cascades, a 10-minute drive from the centre. For something Italian, choose Lupo di Mare in the heart of the city or head to Per Sempre (a bit further away but worth the trip).

 

Where coffee culture meets nightlife

Coffee (kafa) is a national obsession, either served Turkish- or espresso-style. Zrno, a popular new-wave hangout, offers perhaps the widest selection of roasts and blends in town. For a dose of old-world charm, opt for Korzo, a traditional café-patisserie, established in the 50s. Most cafés do double duty at night as bars, and many of them set up outdoor seating as soon as the weather turns warmer. Culture Club Tarantino is a favourite haunt of creative and alternative types, with a quirky, cosy interior and a leafy terrace, perfect for long chats. It doesn’t get homelier than at Soba, designed to resemble a large living room lined with bookshelves. Come early to snag a seat on the windowsill. Choose Caffe Berlin for a bohemian atmosphere and The Nag's Head if you’re seeking an English-style pub. On the other side of the Morača river, visit Mehanizam and admire its steampunk design (the murals are courtesy of a local artist duo). Just around the corner from the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, you’ll find the hip Street Bar, with fake shop fronts and frequent live jazz and blues music.

 

The gateway to Montenegro’s many wonders

Podgorica, the country’s main transport hub, is ideally located for hopping around in Montenegro. A 30-minute train journey away lies the eerily beautiful Lake Skadar, one of Europe’s most important bird reserves. Nestled in the embrace of mountains, it’s the Balkans’ largest lake, with two-thirds of its body in Montenegro and the rest in Albania. For pure magic, jump into a boat or rent a kayak and explore Skadar’s maze of reed-lined waterways, islets and water lily meadows. To get there, catch a train towards Bar and get off at Virpazar. Ostrog Monastery, 50 kilometres to the northwest, looks just as out of this world. One of the most dramatically sited churches in the world, the 17th-century complex was carved out of a vertical rock wall, 900 metres above a valley, and looks as if it had grown straight out of the cliff face. Ostrog is also an important place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians, believed to have miraculous healing powers. Nature lovers shouldn’t miss the country’s stunning (and still largely off the beaten path!) national parks. Durmitor, to the northeast, is a paradise for hiking, white-water rafting and skiing, where 2,000-metre-plus peaks contrast with glacial lakes and fast-flowing rivers wind their ways through deep canyons. The remote and mysterious Prokletije Mountains, straddling the Montenegrin-Albanian border, are among the last stretches of wilderness in Europe, while the nearby Biogradska Gora National Park harbours one of the last remaining primeval forests on the continent. And then, of course, there’s Montenegro’s magnificent coastline – with more mountains. Here, they rise sharply from the turquoise waters, while ancient walled towns gleam in the sunshine beneath them. Sitting just 60 kilometres from Podgorica, Budva, nicknamed “the Montenegrin Miami”, offers long beaches and parties until dawn. From here, the coastline’s star attraction, dreamy Kotor, nestled in the corner of its namesake bay, is a 30-minute drive away. Head there and marvel at the perfect harmony nature and architecture creates here.

 

Podgorica airport

Podgorica International Airport is a small, single-terminal airport, located 11 kilometres south of central Podgorica. The easiest way to reach the city is by taxi or car rental, as currently there’s no direct public transport link between the city and the airport. However, if you don’t mind a little bit of walking, there’s a train station just over a kilometre from the terminal building. The airport has a café-bar, a duty-free shop and a kiosk. And just a head’s up in case you were planning to stay at the airport overnight: it shuts after the last scheduled flight has arrived and passengers are not allowed to stay in the terminal building.

 

Podgorica weather

You can leave your brolly at home: Podgorica is one of the sunniest cities on the continent, blessed with 2,480 hours of sunshine per year! It has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. The best time to visit Podgorica is from mid-April to June and September to mid-October. July and August can be scorching hot in the Montenegrin capital, so you’d better head to the Adriatic coast or into the mountains.

FAQs for booking flights to Podgorica

How to get cheap flights to to Podgorica?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Podgorica flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Podgorica?

The best times to visit are from mid-April to June and from September to mid-October, with this great weather and not so many tourists. Podgorica is one of the sunniest cities in Europe. The city experiences 2,480 hours of sunshine a year—so with its Mediterranean climate; it is always a great destination to visit almost any time of the year. July and August can be very hot, sometimes with temperatures soaring, making visits to the Adriatic coast or the mountains a more appealing option. The winters in Podgorica are cold and rainy. It’s less than ideal for sightseeing, but great for the skiing enthusiast. Spring and autumn are the most colourful seasons in the city, with a variety of outdoor activities and cultural events and temperatures ranging from cool to comfortably warm.

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