Football, Mountains and Beauty
Country of contrasts and physical beauty, an unspoiled oasis.Football really is a global game, but until a few years ago Western Europe was not really aware of how well the Montenegrins could play. That has all changed now and Montenegro enters all the major competitions and is doing quite well
Podgorica, which means under the mountain in Serbo-Croat, is the home of Montenegrin football and it is also the country’s largest city. If you are travelling to Podgorica from London Gatwick, the airline that will carry you is Golubovci, which flies on alternate days. Once you arrive at your destination you will find a stunningly beautiful country where time seems to have stood still.
Sports enthusiasts will love the region around Podgorica, there are ski slopes for winter sports and the Adriatic is close by for lovers of sun and surf. Of course the national football stadium is also based here. This is not a large city, but then Montenegro is not a big country, which probably adds to its charm. To give you some idea of scale, the population of Podgorica is only 140,000.
The centre of the city is the best place to find cafes bars and restaurants. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, in gastronomic terms, you might like to try a Balkan Burger, which apparently is quite different to its American cousin. Other pleasures include open-air nightclubs; the city does get very hot in the summer. Alternatively, if you have the time try exploring some of the surrounding region’s natural beauty where you can see ancient Roman ruins, lakes or visit the National Park at Lovcen.
