Montenegro's Capital on Six Rivers
Where six rivers converge, Podgorica has 170,000 people and three overlapping identities: Ottoman, Yugoslav, and modern.
From Tivat Airport, the drive takes about 90 minutes via the Lovcen serpentine through Cetinje or the faster Sozina tunnel road.
Podgorica offers the best restaurants in Montenegro, lively cafe culture, and an emerging gallery scene. It is the launching point for Lake Skadar and the mountain north.
What to See
The ruins of Duklja (Roman Doclea), the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (2013), and the Petrovic Palace art gallery.
Driving from the Capital
Skadar Lake National Park
Thirty minutes south. The largest Balkan lake straddles the Albanian border. Pelicans, water lilies, and grilled carp at Virpazar.
Danilovgrad and the Zeta Valley
Half an hour west. Riverside swimming, kayaking, the Zdrebaonik Monastery, and family wineries.
Zabljak
Zabljak at 1,456 metres in the Durmitor massif: 170 km north. Winter skiing. Summer: Tara canyon, Black Lake, alpine trails.