Podgorica

Despite being the country's capital, Podgorica is not the most appealing city in Montenegro and is usually skipped by visitors. However, its relatively central location means that nothing is really far away: both Lake Skadar to the south and the mountain interior to the north are less than 45min away, while you can be cooling off by the coast within 1h

Podgorica is a main transportation hub and is home to the main airport in the country. Buses will drive you from the airport to the main bus station. From there, you can jump on a 2nd bus to reach the largest towns in the country: Kotor, Budva, Tivat, Ulcinj, Cetinje, Žabljak, Kolašin, etc. The railway station is on the main line linking Bar on the coast to Belgrade in Serbia (and stopping at Kolašin and Bijelo Polje on the way)

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the city’s crown jewel. While the exterior is impressive, the interior is a jaw-dropping explosion of gold leaf and frescoes. Look for the "political" frescoes inside: one depicts Marx, Engels, and Tito in hell

If you feel like a swim, head to the “Niagara Falls” on the Cijevna River, about a 10-minute drive from the city center. Spring is the best time to go because the waterfall can dry up completely in peak summer. Another option is the Cemi River, where you’ll find a few “beach” bars with sunbeds along the riverbank