Podgorica out and about

The Clock tower is situated in the heart of the old town, know as Stara Varoš. During the Ottoman rule (1474–1879) it was the very centre of Podgorica. The Clock Tower is the land mark of both Stara Varoš and Podgorica.

The largest and the most beautiful lake in the Balkans is located near by Podgorica. It is only twenty minutes drive from the Hotel Ramada Podgorica. Endemic plant and animal species, natural habitat for endangered bird species and cryptodepression are just some of the features of this exceptional landscape, located close to the city. In addition, you will be able to see monasteries built on the islands, protected by the trees. If bird watching is your passion, then visiting the lake is the right choice. The distinctive monasteries were built during the Middle Ages, when the Crusaders moved across these areas on their way to the Middle East. They are unique in their beauty. The speciality of this tourist sight is the gastronomic tour, which is a great opportunity to taste local delicacies such as fish, goat cheese and olives. Hiking, boat, bike or quad rides along the beach could be a good way to explore this fantastic sight.

If you are a wine lover, you would be pleased to know that the vineyards around Lake Skadar have been famous since the Roman times, while stories and legends about the grapes and wine from Crmnica originate from the ancient past. For centuries, wine has been an integral part of the Montenegrin culture, faith and traditional customs. Montenegro is the birthplace of Vranac, deep red colour wine, named after the black horse of the same name – the metaphor for a strong, noble wine. Back in 1907, Montenegrin Vranac won the first prize at the London Wine Fair. The vineyard is spread on 2,300 acres, with 11.5 million grapevines. It is situated on a plateau with an altitude that varies between 45 and 70 meters above the sea level, which is suitable for growing vines. The vineyard is bordered by the River Cijevna. In the immediate vicinity of the vineyard there is the Šipčanik Wine Cellar which is unique in its configuration, history, and oenology collection. In addition, the Wine Cellar Šipčanik offers organised wine and food tasting. These warm-hearting, easily accessible environments are on the top of the list of our recommendations.

If you like to explore history, make sure to visit Doclea. The remains of the ancient city of Doclea, dating from the first decade of the firtst century AD. It is located 4 km away from the city at the confluence of the rivers Zeta, Morača and the Širalija. This historically and archeologically important site has been examined since the late 19th century. The discovery of the famous „Podgorica glass“, which is now kept in the Russian State Hermitage Museum, Doclea site was marked as the important world heritage site. If you prefer hiking to driving, Doclea could be reached by the marked walking trail. The Old town Medun is situated around 12 kilometers to the north-east from Podgorica, well-known for its monumental complex consisting of the remains of the Illyrian city Meteon, St. Nikola’s Church and Marko Miljanov home, who was a hero and the famous writer, nowdays it is a memorial museum.

There are numerous possibilities for enjoying in the capital city. You can rent a bike in our eco-friendly hotel and have a sightseeing tour in your own way. The boulevard in the immediate vicinity of the hotel has a marked cycle path, which allows visitors to make a tour around the city, on both banks of the Morača River. During the ride, we recommend you to visit Sastavci, the confluence of the Ribnica River into the Morača River. A bridge from the Ottoman period is a sight worth visiting. The specialty of this tour is getting to know different parts of the city and it is the easiest access to the sights. We suggest visiting the former King Nichola’s Castle, now the Center of the Contemporary Art.