Although Nikšić area has seen human settlements since antiquity, most of the modern Nikšić is a planned city. Very little remains of the Ottoman architectural heritage, despite the long presence of Ottoman Empire in the area. The city layout visible today still follows the 1883 urban plan commissioned by King Nicholas and designed by Croatian architect Josip Slade.

According to this plan, the streets of Nikšić radiate to the north and east from the central city square (today a roundabout), locally known as Skver. The radial streets are intersected by circumferential streets and avenues, thus creating a half-spider web-like street layout.

Layers of different architectural styles and urban patterns are evident along the radial network of streets. Thus, closest to the central roundabout is the historical core of Nikšić, formed after the liberation from Ottoman Empire, and serving as a nucleus for Slade's urban plan. This area, on the foot of Trebjesa Hill, is home to King Nicholas Palace, City Park, and Freedom Square, main city square located along the central Njegoševa Street. The area is composed of mostly single or two storey row housing with basic designs, an architecture typical for late 19th and early 20th centuries Montenegro. The roundabout and the surrounding area is still the focal point of activities in the city, as bus and train stations, as well as commercial and civic services are located in the area.

Farther from the central roundabout, the historical core is encircled with a layer of mass residential blocks, built during the SFRY era. The building of the highrise residential blocks facilitated housing of the large population drawn to the city by rapid post-World War II industrialisation. The SFRY era apartment blocks are still home for the majority of residents of Nikšić.

Beyond the blocks, the city expanded in form of a suburban sprawl, that consists of detached housing. Close to the city blocks and major industrial areas, the lowrise single home suburbs are built with well executed urban plans, but farther away from the center, the city expanded in a chaotic and informal way. In addition, the rural areas south of Nikšić have merged with the city, so low density suburbs extend from the city in every direction, covering much of the Nikšić Field.

The city is the home of the Nikšićko beer.
Within King Hikola Palace, we find the County Museum (Zavičajni Muzej), presenting documents attesting to the development of the City, presenting documents attesting to the development of the City. As the main cultural event of Montenegro, we have the "Septembarski Dani Kulture" (Cultural Days of September). As for the "Bedem Fest Rock Festival", taking place at Château Bedem, it becomes, at the level of Rock, one of the most important organizations among all the countries that formed the former Yugoslavia. Other Nikšić festivals include a city with a well knowed bohemian atmosphere.
We note, in the same musical genre, the "Lake Fest Rock Festival", taking place on the shores of Lake Krupac, the "Međunarodni Festival Glumca" (International Festival of Actors), the "Međunarodni Festival Kamerne Muzike" (International Chamber Music Festival), the "Međunarodni Festival Gitare" (International Guitar Festival), or the "Pjesnik na Korzu" (Festival of Poets on the Promenade). And not to mention that filmmaker Živko Nikolić is a native of Nikšić, who is considered to be the best director of Montenegro.

Around the city are three lakes, Krupać, Slano and Liverovići, which are popular as a destination.