If you are thinking of traveling to Belgrade, Serbia, you are in the right place. Belgrade, which Momo Kapor calls low-budget Paris; It is the most populous city and capital of Serbia. Belgrade is a residential area that lives and has a soul around the clock. The oldest European settlement after Istanbul and Athens was established here, and the city was occupied many times due to its strategic location; It was destroyed and then rebuilt.
The city, which has witnessed 115 wars and 44 destructions, is the birthplace of the Vinca culture in the 6th century BC. The city, which became the living space of the Celts after the Singi, a member of the Thracian tribe; It was conquered by the Roman Emperor Augustus, and in the 520s, it was flooded with Slavs. The fate of the city did not end there. The city came under the rule of the Byzantine Empire, the Franks, the First Bulgarian State, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Serbian Despotate and the Ottoman Empire.
Between the Ottomans and Austria-Hungary, fierce battles were fought for the dominance of Belgrade; The city has become a matter of pride for the two great powers. Later, with the rebellion of the Serbs under the auspices of the weakened Ottoman Empire, the city gained its independence, but a permanent peace environment could not be achieved in the region. Belgrade was occupied by Austria and the Central Powers in the First World War and became the capital of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and was occupied by the Germans in the Second World War.
Belgrade is one of the five statistical regions of Serbia with a special administrative status in Serbia. The metropolitan area is divided into 17 municipalities, each municipality has its own local council. Belgrade City covers 3.6% of Serbia’s territory, and 22.5% of the country’s population lives within the borders of Belgrade. Belgrade is classified as a Beta global city.
This peaceful and bright city, whose name means “White City” in Serbian, has left the dark days behind and has come to the bright today and tomorrow with the cultures it met and fused with as a result of the occupations and reached a cosmopolitan structure. Today, with its 2 million population, smiling people, beautiful girls, lush parks, postcard-worthy natural beauties and entertaining nights, Belgrade is a distinguished Serbian city that leaves people wanting to settle in.
Where is Belgrade?
Let us share with you some of the things you need to know when traveling to Belgrade. Belgrade is a large and important city located in the north of the European country Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, connecting the Pannonian Plain and the Balkans.
When to go to Belgrade?
Belgrade is a city where winters are snowy, summers are hot, and spring and autumn are rainy. In the period between December and March, the temperatures are between 3-4 degrees on average, and they are around 26-27 degrees in summer. The city, which welcomes its guests on rainy spring and autumn days; due to its entertainment and nightlife, it meets with visitors mostly in summer. The ideal times to visit the city are the months between May and September.
Where to Stay in Belgrade
Belgrade is the apple of the eye of Central Europe. The fact that the city is popular, central and affordable also allows it to host thousands of visitors throughout the year. There are many hotels in Belgrade. You can find more than 2000 accommodation facilities in the city. At this point, you may have a hard time deciding where to stay.
However, the prominent accommodation type in Belgrade is the apart options, which are usually flats. These facilities are also more numerous than hotels and are quite affordable and comfortable. In addition to these, although the hotels are located around the center and on the banks of the river, you can find facilities far from the center. However, staying in the city center will be beneficial for you in every way.
Places to visit in Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade is a very rich city in terms of places to visit. At the beginning of these places are the Kalemegdan Fortress and its park, the Saint Sava Cathedral, the Nikola Tesla Museum, the Serbian National Museum and the important historical sites of the city such as Republic Square and Stone Square.
Yugoslav History Museum
The Yugoslav history museum, which also houses Tito’s mausoleum and the House of Flowers, is located in Dedinje. Established on an area of 5253 square meters, the museum consists of 3 sections: the 25 May Museum, the House of Flowers and the Old Museum. Opened on May 25, 1962, the museum chronologically reveals the history and past of the region.
The museum, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, is the most visited museum in Serbia. Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia, which was one of the most powerful countries of a period, is the best choice to see and learn about this country that has been erased from history. While visiting the museum, you can also benefit from the English guide.
Serbian National Museum
The Serbian National Museum, which houses the works of important painters who grew up in Europe and Yugoslavia, is located in the Republic Square. In this museum, you will see works by Picasso, Gustav, Klimt, Van Gogh, Rubens, Kandinsky and many more important artists. In the museum, where the works of Nadezeta Petrovic, one of the first artists of Serbia, are exhibited, you will encounter both a national and a large European art collection.
The national museum, the oldest and largest museum of the former Yugoslavia and Serbia, is located in the Republic Square in the heart of the capital city Belgrade.
Founded in 1844, the national museum contains more than 5600 paintings and more than 8400 drawings, with a total of more than 400,000 works. Among these works, there are also very important pieces such as the Miroslav Bible. The works of Nadezeta Petrovic, one of Serbia’s first female artists, also have a very nice presentation in the museum.
Nikola Tesla Museum
In this small but interesting museum built in memory of Nikola Tesla, an important Serbian scientist who is the inventor of alternating current, you will have the chance to see Tesla’s experiments and experience his inventions. We recommend that you visit the museum by using the guidance provided by Belgrade University students to see and better understand what Tesla, who is considered a Serbian hero, did.
Established in 1952, the museum aims to display Tesla’s personal belongings. About 160,000 personal documents and 5700 personal items are exhibited in the museum, and you can find the opportunity to see Tesla’s inventions up close. In the Tesla Museum, Tesla added to our lives; You will witness the inventions of a genius far beyond his time with important items such as fluorescent lamps, neon lights, speedometer, electron microscope, microwave oven. Tesla will greet you with his statue on the first floor of this two-story building.
Saint Sava Cathedral
The Sava Cathedral, which was built on the place where the holy relics of St. Sava, the son of the monarch, the founder of the Serbian Orthodox church, are thought to have been burned by the Turks, is known as the largest Orthodox church in the world. Although it does not have the characteristics of a cathedral in the technical sense, it is considered as such because of its size.
This church-temple, which is one of the symbols of the city and has an important place for Serbian Orthodox, is also likened to the Helsinki Cathedral with its magnificent architecture.
Kalemegdan
Kalemegdan, which is the most touristic area of the city, is a place that you can easily reach thanks to its close location to the city center. The Belgrade Fortress, one of the most important symbols of the city, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, is located in this square, where there is also Kalemegdan Park, the largest park of the city.
This park, which is built on a wide plateau surrounding the castle, which was used as a military base during the war, was also used to keep the enemy under observation during the same periods. The history of Kalemegdan coincides with the history of Belgrade and is the oldest part of the city in the country. Employment of the people has been provided within the walls of Kalemegdan until quite recently.
Belgrade City Transportation
When you travel to Belgrade, you should also know how to get there. You will not need to use a lot of public transportation during your stay in Belgrade, which we can call a medium-sized city. Because the places to visit in the city are always close to each other. However, you can use taxis or public transportation vehicles for journeys that you do not want to walk or that you will make to get to know the city a little more. Taxi fares are quite affordable in the city, but if you show that you are a tourist, you are not likely to be scammed. Therefore, we recommend that you be careful or use the plug-in system that we mentioned in the transportation from the airport.
Public transportation alternatives in the city are based on trams, buses, and minibuses. Although minibuses, which we can call buses or small buses in the city, are the most preferred transportation vehicles, they are generally neglected and worn out. When the crowd is added to this, they turn into a public transportation that is not preferred by tourists.
Belgrade Cuisine
Your trip to Belgrade continues, if you can’t decide what to eat, then it’s time to talk about what to eat in Belgrade. Serbian cuisine, which has a similar and more mixed structure with Byzantine, Mediterranean, Austrian, Hungarian and Turkish cuisines, has a multicultural structure. In this culture, where spices are given a special place, it is very possible to see hot red peppers called “paprika” on the tables. In the culture where meat consumption is given great importance, fish consumption is also common, although not as much as red meat. Food prices in the city are quite affordable, but most of the restaurants are located on the streets of Knez Mihailova, Strahinjica and Skardarlija.
Traditional flavors:
Traditional Serbian meat dish served with a cream-like cream called Kajmak, Rakija with different fruit flavors and served as a shot, cevapcici kebab similar to İnegöl meatballs in our country, Serbian salad, fish soup called riblja soup are traditional delicacies you can eat in the city.
There are also places in the city that make very tasty pizzas. Apart from this, there are places where you can eat dishes from other cultures, fast food restaurants and more. The only thing you should pay attention to when eating in Belgrade is whether there is pork in the food you will eat. If you do not consume pork, it is useful to consult and order because it is very common in the city to include pork in meals.
Restaurant Suggestion:
Lorenzo&Kakalamba – One of the most popular restaurants in the city, Lorenzo&Kakalamba is a restaurant with a remarkable and very pleasant ambiance where you can taste traditional dishes. A place loved by locals, the business is a place that tourists discover, so it is a busy and crowded place.
You must make a reservation before you go.
Address: Cvijićeva 110 (ulaz iz Vladetine) 11000 Beograd
Patisserie Suggestion:
Toma – One of the city’s popular patisseries, Toma is a place to go and eat, as it has a wide variety and is located in a very convenient and central location. You can go to this 24-hour establishment and have delicious pizzas or snacks.
Address: Beogradska 14, 11111 Beograd
Tel/Fax: 011/2439-112; 011/2437-387
Tip: You can leave a tip of 50 to 100 RSD for the service you receive in Belgrade, Serbia. This is enough to satisfy the service personnel.
Shopping in Belgrade
Wouldn’t you like to beautify your Belgrade trip with shopping? Among all Belgrade’s boutiques, the best is undoubtedly the products in the Supermarket, which include Acne, Melissa, Cutler and Gross, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lomography, S’NOB, Converse and numerous world-famous brands. Sushi service for evening hours; Omelette and bagel sales are available for breakfast. There is also a section for vintage enthusiasts with beautiful and timeless products. It is worth noting that Belgrade’s affordable prices are not valid in this store either, it is closer to European standards.
Clothes designed by local designers named Šlic are among the places to add to your shopping list in Belgrade. Since everything in the shop, which means zipper, is designed as a few examples, if the things you like do not fit your size, you may have to have them sewn.
There are many shops selling vintage products in the city. The most famous of these is the Jane Doe Vintage Shop in Kapetan Minisa.
Belgrade Nightlife
Belgrade, which is at the top of the list of cities with the best nightlife in Europe; It has a lively and very active nightlife. The energy of this city, where you can see people of all ages on the streets, even late at night, is very high. When the tireless and enthusiastic Belgrade nightlife combines with the city’s historical texture, colors and lights, you witness a great entertainment. Moreover, in this country where alcoholic beverages and quality venues are very cheap, you can experience the entertainment that overflows the streets from discos, pubs and strip bars to the fullest.
You can spend your evening in one of the places on the riverside in this city, where the dose of entertainment never drops, especially in summer. While the floating clubs and bars here are very popular, they are highly appreciated for their live music service most evenings. In addition to bars and nightclubs, there are also casinos and taverns in the city. If you want to spend a quiet night with a higher cultural threshold, you can book your place in a theater or a music concert.
You can find people from all walks of life together in Belgrade nightclubs. Everyone is very warm and dynamic with the effect of entertainment, dance and alcohol. When you listen to the rhythm in the streets of Belgrade after midnight, you can find yourself in the most lively nightclubs of the city. Some places require a reservation, but if you have a Serbian friend, you can enter them very easily. However, make sure to make your reservation before going to the venues.
Nightclubs on the Sava River are perhaps the most exclusive clubs that direct the nightlife of Belgrade. You can find the best DJs here as well as attend the biggest electro house parties here. These clubs, where live performances and fashion shows are exhibited on certain days, are really quite inviting. When you travel to Belgrade, do not leave without tasting the nightlife!
Belgrade Festivals
- Guitar Festival
- International Film Festival (February)
- Dance Festival (April)
- Wine Festival (May)
- Summer Festival (July)
- International Jazz Festival
- Beer Festival (August)
Belgrade Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day (January 1-2)
- Christmas for Orthodox (January 7)
- Serbian National day (15-17 February)
- Holy Orthodox Friday (Banks open) (April 10)
- Easter (12-13 April)
- Labor Day (May 1 – May 2)
- Independence Day (11 November)
Practical Information for Belgrade
- Serbia dialing code: +381 / Belgrade dialing code: 11
- Police: 192
- Fire Brigade: 193
- Ambulance: 194
- Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport: (+381 11) 209 4444
- Belgrade Cultural Center: +381 11 32 81 859
Belgrade Currency
The currency of Serbia is Serbian Dinar. The international currency code is RSD.
Belgrade Official Language
What languages do you need to know when traveling to Belgrade? Its official language is Serbian. Other languages spoken in Belgrade are Hungarian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Croatian and Montenegrin, but speaking of these languages is prohibited by the Serbian government.
