Dajbabe Monastery

Dajbabe Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Dajbabe Monastery stands on a hill on the southern outskirts of Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, about five kilometres from the city centre, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is one of the most unusual monasteries in the Balkans, built inside a natural cave. Visitors reach it by taxi or car from Podgorica, as public transport is limited. It is often combined with a tour of Podgorica, the Ostrog Monastery, the most famous monastery in Montenegro, about an hour away, or Lake Skadar.

The monastery is active, with a community of monks, and visitors should dress modestly, with women covering their heads and shoulders; wraps may be available. The cave church is small and dimly lit, and the passages are narrow. Photography inside may be restricted. Taxi drivers in Podgorica know the monastery, and the fare should be agreed before setting off.

Visiting Dajbabe Monastery: what to see

According to tradition, in 1896 a shepherd boy had a vision of a man, identified as Saint Sava, who told him where to find a cave on the hill of Dajbabe. The monk Simeon Popović, known as Simeon Dajbabski, learned of this, explored the cave and founded the monastery in 1897. He spent decades painting the walls of the cave with frescoes, which he did himself, without formal training, and he is buried in the monastery; he was declared a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church. The cave church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, consists of a narrow passage and small rooms carved into the rock, and its walls and ceiling are covered with frescoes of saints, angels and biblical scenes, painted directly on the rock. Outside the cave, a small church and bell tower were built on the hill, with monks' cells.

The monastery is a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians. The frescoes in the cave are painted in bright colours, and the rough rock surface gives them an unusual texture. The monk Simeon's tomb is in the cave church. The passages lead to small chapels dedicated to different saints. The church above the cave has a simple interior with icons. The bell tower stands on the hilltop beside the church. The monastery's garden has olive and fig trees. The view from the hill takes in Podgorica and the mountains around the city. The cave's temperature stays cool all year. Candles lit by pilgrims illuminate the frescoes. The monks sell icons and candles at the entrance. Pilgrims often pray at the tomb of Saint Simeon.

Dajbabe Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily, from morning until evening. Podgorica is very hot in summer, and the cave is cool inside, but the walk up the hill is exposed. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. The feast of the Dormition on 28 August, according to the Orthodox calendar, brings pilgrims. Orthodox Easter and Christmas bring services. Allow about half an hour for the monastery, and combine it with a visit to Ostrog Monastery. The Ribnica river's old Ottoman bridge and the Clock Tower in Podgorica's old town are about fifteen minutes' drive north.