7 THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY IN PODGORICA

We all do prefer blue skies and sunny weather, but you should not be surprised if you happen to visit Podgorica on a rainy day, as the weather in Podgorica can be quite weird. Official data state that the area has around one hundred twenty rainy days per year, half of them along with strong winds.

In practice, this means that heavy rainfall is no exception, particularly in the period between October and April. Those who live in Podgorica will certainly confirm this: there were quite a few days in November this year when it was raining cats and dogs!

But don’t compare these heavy showers with the drizzle rain characteristic for Western Europe: going out with such downpours means getting totally wet in a few seconds! The rainy periods can be quite long and the autumn storms (called “jugo”, as the wind comes from the south) can blow with a strength of more than 100 km/h (photo: RTCG).

So, what can you do when you are in Podgorica – as a tourist, an expat or for business – and it is raining all the time? Let me give you some tips.

1. Visit the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ

Finally consecrated in 2013 after 20 years of construction, the ‘Hram’, as it is called in Montenegro, with its white stone towers and 7 golden crosses is an important landmark of Podgorica. The stunning interior shows colorful gilded frescoes, magnificent marble floors and mosaics.

Walk around and admire the frescoes with illustrations of saints, biblical figures and other religious scenes. One controversial image, in the apse above the front door, depicts Marx, Engels and Tito burning in hell. On the right side, you can see the wall painting of a group of people, among which are the architect and the builder of the cathedral, but also some political and religious personalities of present times. Pay attention to the huge chandeliers and to the mosaic floor in the middle that depicts Noah’s Ark. And if you are lucky, you might have the opportunity to attend a baptizing or wedding ceremony.

2. Explore the Niagara waterfalls

Take your car or a taxi and explore the Niagara Falls, at a ten minutes’ drive from Podgorica. This place is particularly popular during the summer months, when the locals enjoy refreshing themselves in the cool Cijevna river. So why would you visit the falls during or after heavy rainfall? Because it is incredibly impressive!

Take your umbrella and admire the turbulent waters from the panorama point above the river. Apart from the waterfalls, you will see numerous cascades finding their way through the picturesque karst landscape. The noise of the falling water is ear-deafening and I am sure you would never expect such a natural phenomenon in the vicinity of Podgorica.

3. Book a wine tasting at Šipčanik wine cellar

This wine cellar, located in Tuzi near Podgorica, was once a secret underground Yugoslav-era aircraft hangar. Partially destroyed by NATO bombing in 1999 and abandoned immediately afterwards, the hangar was transformed into an impressive wine treasury in 2007. It has an average depth of over 30 meters below ground and is 356 meters long.  Šipčanik now houses two million liters of wine, aging gently in oak barrels and bottles. (photo: Plantaže)

In an impressive ambiance, you can taste some of the best Montenegrin wines together with delicious national food. There are various programs: from the tasting of three standard wines accompanied by cheese and olives to more extensive options, e.g. tasting of five premium wines paired with traditional Montenegrin dishes.

Šipčanik is no doubt a must-see for wine lovers!

4. Visit the Karver bookstore and café

Karver bookstore is settled at the bank of the Ribnica river, under a bridge that is a main artery for traffic through Podgorica, in the building of a banja, an old Turkish bathhouse that was built at the end of the past century. The place is surrounded by a beautiful green area.

Karver is a gathering place for artists, intellectuals and writers, and the attached café often hosts art exhibitions, lectures and other events. Many foreign titles and book translations can be found here.

5. Go shopping in one of the modern shopping malls

Maybe you would like to buy a special souvenir from Montenegro? A pair of shoes or a nice T-shirt?

Podgorica has several shopping malls, where you can spend a few hours. In Delta City you will find a lot of interesting boutiques, a supermarket, several pubs and restaurants. By the way, the pastries at the Astoria café are delicious! You can also go to the cinema and watch a movie. And there are always some special events, exhibitions or festivals during the weekend.

Other malls are the City Mall and the Mall of Montenegro, where the green market is worth a visit. Or explore the two biggest supermarkets in town, Voli Naš Diskont and HDL Laković, located along the by-pass road around Podgorica. Here is also a big outlet center for sports shops and Jumbo, a huge store where you can find many practical things at a very low price.

6. Enjoy the charm of The Capital Plaza

The huge building of The Capital Plaza is not only a commercial center, it is a place for various activities, a good choice for a rainy day. Apart from the well-equipped fitness center, you can visit the Banya Spa Center where you can use the pool and various saunas  for 20€ (weekends € 25). Or would you like to drink coffee in the Hard Rock Café after you have made a stroll among the branded clothing boutiques?

The cozy lounge of the chic Centreville Hotel & Experiences is attractive for a relaxing afternoon with some light food or a cocktail. Altogether, if you are well-off, this is a perfect place for shopping, pleasure and entertainment.

7. Have a lunch or dinner in a typical restaurant

A rainy day is a perfect occasion for a romantic lunch or dinner, no matter whether you like the local traditional cuisine or some typical oriental food. Of course, it is hard to make a choice, but I’ll try to give you some tips:

If you like traditional food and an authentic local atmosphere, go to Pod Volat (near the Clock Tower in Stara Varoš), where you can enjoy čevapćići and other grilled meat of high quality and low prices. Or if you want to keep it simple: order priganice (fritters or flat doughnuts) with honey and cheese and a glass of local Nikšić beer.

The newly opened restaurant “Masala Art” serves authentic Indian food. The owner and the chef have come straight from India and the food is served in typical dishes (see photo). Or would you like to eat Chinese food? The duck in Restaurant Zhen He in City Kvart is excellent. Akademija Piva is the only place in Podgorica where you can get craft beer. It is very popular, as they also serve good food – I recommend the sausages.

Of course, there are many other things to do on a rainy day in Podgorica: visiting museums or art galleries, drinking coffee in one of the cozy pubs downtown, experiencing a jazz evening in Sejdefa Ethno-Jazz Club….

If you are not in the mood, just stay in bed or relax, reading a book or watching the rain through your window with a glass of wine. Another advice: when you ignore the rain and go out for a walk through the city, you can see many interesting scenes: cars splashing pedestrians, children with rubber boots jumping in big puddles, old ladies hurrying home from the market with their colorful umbrellas…

And don’t forget: The best thing one can do when it’s raining is… to let it rain.