Belgrade

Belgrade   is the capital of the Republic of Serbia. Various styles of architecture dominate the city while its recent resurgence as the leading hub in south-eastern Europe makes it a must-see destination.

Understand : Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and is, as such, the country’s largest city with a population of about 1.7 million people. It lies on the confluence of the two major European rivers, Sava and Danube. The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. Later on, it became the Roman city of Singidunum, and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly at Kalemegdan Fortress. During the Middle Ages the town changed hands between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Serbian Despotate (of which it was the capital) until 1521, when it was captured by the Ottoman Empire. Until Serbia retained its independence in 1878, the city again changed hands multiple times, but between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Empire. After the First World War, Belgrade became the seat of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, from 1929) until its collapse in 1941, after the subsequent German invasion. During the Second World War it was the seat of the Nazi puppet Government of National Salvation and it was heavily bombed twice, once by the Germans and once by the Allies. It was again liberated by the joint Yugoslav – Soviet Army.

In 1945 Belgrade became the capital of communist Yugoslavia (although the country wasn’t part of the Eastern Bloc after the notorious Yugoslav – Soviet split in 1948), led by Marshal Josip Broz Tito until his death in 1980. During this period Belgrade became the economic, cultural and political center of the Balkans, as the country was balancing itself between the East and the West.

This period of stability did not last, and the country broke up into five new republics after the Yugoslav wars. Not long after that, the city saw violence again in 1999, as it was heavily bombed for 78 days by NATO forces. Finally in 2006, the city became the capital city of the independent Republic of Serbia. This often violent history and outside influence has colored much of Belgrade’s evolution, which is evident in its culture and architecture. Often caught between the hammer and anvil of clashing empires, the city has taken on a unique character, reminiscent of both Austrian and Turkish influences, with a unique set of Communist elements thrown in by the Marshal Tito Government. Yet, the city has its own spirit, and in it can be found some not only unique features, but also a healthy joie de vivre in its cafe culture, nightlife and often a Mediterranean flavor in its lifestyle.

Cultural events from around the world, however, are starting to become increasingly common, particularly in the spring and summer months, due to the involvement of local arts and culture organizations, as well as foreign embassies and cultural centers. These attract a good deal of local attention, and are helping in raising the city’s profile as a cultural hotspot. Belgrade is an energetic city re-discovering its tourism potential.

Access : Coordinates: 44.816667, 20.466667 / By plane : Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (IATA: BEG) is 18km west of the city center, located in the vicinity of Surcin and is the home base of Air Serbia (IATA: JU), which flies to nearly 50 destinations worldwide. The airport has been recently renovated and new facilites have been opened as it is becoming a regional hub. Other major airlines that fly to Belgrade are Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Turkish, Lufthansa, Austrian, Alitalia and Swiss International. Turkish Airlines offers twice daily flights to Istanbul. Discount and no-frills carriers offer a modest number of flights. Hungarian low cost carrier Wizz Air has direct flights from London, Eindhoven, Memmingen, Gothenburg, Malmo, Charleroi, Stockholm, Dusseldorf and Dortmund to Belgrade. Istanbul-based Pegasus Airlines flies from Belgrade to Istanbul’s smaller Sabiha Gokcen Airport with great connections to many European and Eurasian cities. Germanwings does have a number of less expensive flights to cities across Europe and Norwegian Air is another low cost airline operating to Belgrade, flying to Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. easyJet flies from Milan. For travellers from Asia and the Middle East, the low cost airline FlyDubai offers cheap direct connections from India, Sri Lanka and other destinations to Belgrade via Dubai. Good connections for travellers from Asia/Middle East are also offered by Air Serbia and its partner airline Etihad via Abu Dhabi. Since the 23rd of June, 2016, Air Serbia operates direct flights from Belgrade to New York’s JFK International Airport for 5 times a week. Here is the full list of carriers which operate to and from Belgrade Nikola Tesla

To travel between the airport and the city :  Bus 72 runs twice an hour from the bus station near the departures level at Terminal 1 to Zeleni Venac market in the city centre. The tickets (except for the one ride ticket) can be bought from the shop that sells food and newspapers inside the departures hall. The trip takes about 40 – 60 minutes (depending on the traffic) and the buses run from 04:00 to 00:00. As of February 2016, the ticket prices are:
89 RSD (time-limited ticket, 90 minutes)
150 (one ride ticket, this is the price if the ticket is bought in the bus).
280 RSD (daily ticket)
720 RSD (3 day ticket)
1100 RSD (5 day ticket)
Minibus A1, operates between the airport and Slavija Square, stopping at Fontana (Novi Beograd) and Belgrade – Glavna railway station. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. The fare is 300 RSD, which is paid on-board; be sure to tell the driver what your destination is before departure. The trip takes 30-40 minutes.
If you prefer to take a taxi, read General precautions below. The taxi fare from the airport is fixed – most taxi companies have a price list in multiple languages. The price range is from 1400 RSD to Novi Beograd, 1800 RSD to central Belgrade and from 2200 RSD to the suburbs. Luggage fees are usually non – existent, but some companies charge them for luggage which weighs over 30 kg. You can order a taxi by phone or simply go upstairs to the left until you get to the departure section and catch one of the taxis dropping off passengers. You can find the list of the most reliable taxi companies which operate out of Nikola Tesla airport on this link
It is worth noting that you cannot change dinars inside the airport, and while the airport shops will accept dinars, all prices will be stated in Euros.

It’s also worth noting that the airport duty free is vastly overpriced. For example, bottles of viljamovka – pear rakija with a pear grown inside the bottle – sells for the equivalent of around 10 euros in convenience stores throughout the city centre but is priced at 74 euros in the airport. If you’re planning to take bottles home as souvenirs you would be best placing them in your hold luggage.

By train : Update The Main Railway Station – Glavna Railway Station – in the centre of the city is closed. As of 1 July 2018 all domestic and international trains depart from and arrive to the new main railway station officially called Beograd Centar but more commonly known by the name Prokop amongst locals. The exception to this are the Belgrade-Bar trains which depart from Topcider Station (reached using tram No. 3). The new Beograd Centar – Prokop station is located between the Senjak and Autokomanda areas of Belgrade and can be reached by public transport, by taking buses 34 and 36, trolleybuses 40 and 41.

The new Prokop station has minimal facilities for now so it is recommended that you buy everything you need for your journey before arriving at the station, such as food and water.

Budapest: Two daily trains between Budapest and Belgrade. InterCity Avala leaves at 12:05 from Budapest – Keleti station, arriving in Belgrade at 20:13. Another daily train, the Ivo Andric leaves at 08:05 from Budapest – Keleti station, arriving at 16:32. In addition to that, the overnight train Beograd leaves at 22:25 from Budapest – Keleti station and arrives to Belgrade at 6:21. There are reservation – free seats for all trains. One way ticket is 15 EUR and the return ticket is 26 EUR (this offer is called the “Belgrade special”, as of July 2016). Beware of people posing as very friendly guards, trying to enter your sleeping compartments on the night train from Belgrade to “help” you, as they are trying to rob you. They will leave your compartment door unlocked and rob you when you fall asleep. Do not listen to them and ask them to show you their work credentials to be sure. Also it is good to secure your door apart from the lock, just to make sure, as these people know how to break into compartments. This is known to have occured as soon as you cross the border into Hungary, but it is a quite rare occurence.
Ljubljana: One daytime train, leaving at 8:25 and one seasonal night train, leaving at 21:05. There is a discounted Belgrade Special ticket, non – refundable and bound to specified train and day, costs 29 EUR (one way, reservation included in price).
Podgorica and Bar, Montenegro: One daytime and one night train (plus 2 more during the summer season). The price to Bar is 21 EUR plus a 3 EUR compulsory seat reservation or 6 EUR couchette reservation (6 seats).
Skopje: One daytime train, leaving at 8:20 and a night train, leaving at 22:14. Return ticket costs EUR 32.60 EUR (“Serbia special”).
Sofia: One night train, which leaves at 20:30. One way ticket costs 20.60 EUR and 6 EUR for couchette reservation.
Thessaloniki: There is a train which leaves at 18:30. One way ticket costs 33.80 EUR, return 54 EUR.
Timisoara: Two daily trains (6:50h and 15:38h). You’ll have to make 2 easy train changes to Belgrade: First, from Timisoara – Nord station take the short train trip to Vrsac station and then you catch a train from Vrsac station to Belgrade – Dunav station. The return ticket from Timisoara – Nord to Belgrade – Dunav costs 14 EUR, just ask for the “Banat Special”. There are no direct trains to Bucharest.
Vienna: Daily train from Vienna – Hauptbanhof at 9:12h. The return ticket costs 70 EUR.
Zagreb: One daytime train, leaving at 11:05 and one night train, leaving at 23:48. The regular ticket costs 24.40 EUR one way, while the return ticket costs 48.80 EUR. It is important to emphasize that every additional passenger has a 50% discount for the return ticket (just ask for the “City Star” ticket). For example, the “City Star” return ticket costs 73.20 EUR for two passengers.

By bus : Belgrade Bus Station, also known as BAS (short for Beogradska Autobuska Stanica), is right next to the central train station, in Karadordeva street. While coach service to national and international destinations is frequent and departure times are usually reliable, beware that the arrival times may be not. The timetables aren’t clearly posted and are in Serbian only, so ask for information inside the terminal. When buying a bus ticket for national travel, you will also receive a token to enter the platform area. For international travel, you will be given a paper stub to present at the platform gate.

Be aware that most coach drivers will charge you a fee of approximately 100 RSD per bag for baggage handling in the cargo compartment, though this is not a uniform practice with international travel. Also beware that drivers rarely speak English or any other foreign language. Inform yourself about your trip prior to departure as much as you can  if in doubt, ask a fellow passenger for assistance. Coach travel in Serbia is a hit-and-miss experience. While there is a huge number of companies to chose from, not all of them have clean, modern coach fleets, particularly for travel within Serbia or to neighbouring ex – Yugoslav countries. Coaches are more often clean and modern when embarking on trips to Western Europe. For long trips, drivers usually stop for 15 min breaks roughly every two hours, though this isn’t by any means guaranteed. Pack appropriately with food and bottled water. When disembarking on breaks during the trip, make sure to either secure your belongings, or take them with you. When you get off the bus, you’ll probably be offered a taxi ride or baggage – carrying by some men. Do not accept these offers. They may be illegal and the intention may be to rip you off. For international trips to the rest of Europe, Lasta is the Eurolines carrier.

By car : From Hungary :  If you are coming from Hungary, you should use the E75 highway (M5 in Hungary, A1 in Serbia). After crossing the border at Horgos – Roszke, you will pass through Subotica and Novi Sad. It is 2 hour ride from the border. From Montenegro :  Use the E763 highway, also known as the Ibarska magistrala (M22 in Serbia). After crossing the border at Gostun – Dobrakovo, you are going pass through Zlatibor, Uzice and Cacak before reaching Belgrade, But beware that this is a mountainous road and accidents are common, especially during the summer. It takes about 5 – 6 hours from the border to Belgrade. Also beware of the road works, as the road is slowly being upgraded to a dual – carriageway. The first section, from Ljig to Preljina will open on the 25th of August, 2016.

From Slovenia and Croatia :  Use the E70 highway, when coming from Ljubljana or Zagreb (A3 in Croatia and Serbia). You will enter Serbia at the Batrovci – Bajakovo border crossing. From there it takes 1 hour to Belgrade. From Romania :  Use the E70 highway, coming from Timisoara (M10 in Serbia, DN59 in Romania). You will cross the border at Vatin – Moravi?a and pass through Vrsac and Pancevo. It takes around 2 hours to Belgrade. From FYROM :  Use the E75 highway (A1 in FYROM and Serbia). You will cross the border at Tabanovce – Presevo, and go through Nis and Kragujevac, before reaching Belgrade. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to get to Belgrade.

From Bulgaria :  Use the E80, and the E75 highways (A4 and A1 in Serbia). After crossing the border at Kalotina – Gradina, use to E80 to Nis, and join into the E75 there, continuing to Belgrade. It takes 4 hours to complete the trip from the border. From Albania :  Use the Tirana – Pristina highway, then continue to Nis and join into the E75 highway to Belgrade. It takes 6 hours to complete the trip from the first border. Beware that you will be crossing 2 borders, out of which, one is administrative. When coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina it is recommended to go into Croatia and use the A3 highway to Belgrade, as the infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in bad shape.

By boat : Belgrade lies where the rivers Sava and the Danube meet. Passenger ships enable you to reach every place along the Danube in a very convenient and meditative manner with many fascinating attractions along the way, but it is a quite slow and rather expensive way of travelling.
By bicycle : Belgrade is located on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea.

Get around : By public transport : GSP Beograde  operates extensive public transport network of buses, trolleybuses, and trams in the city and suburbs. Maps are available online. There is a BusPlus android app for checking wait times for the next vehicle to arrive at any given stop. Also you can use the Plan Plus website and Android App for route planning
There are 12 tram lines, hundreds of bus lines, 8 trolleybus lines, and 9 public minibus lines (E1–E9).
Fares : Bus Plus is the payment system for all modes of public transport except minibuses. From the 1st of October the prices of fares have changed and new tariff zones have been introduced.

There are two farecard options for non-residents, which can be bought at kiosks:

Paper card for 40 RSD (plus credit for rides). These last for one use only . They are used for one-day tickets, three-day tickets and five-day tickets. This is probably the best option for tourists.
Plastic card for 250 RSD (plus credit for rides) valid for 3 years. They can be used for all types of fares.
City transport is divided into four tariff zones. The first tariff zone is for all the buses within the inner city limits, the second tariff zone includes the outer city area, the third zone includes the suburban areas of Grocka, Barajevo, Sopot and Obrenovac and the forth zone includes the cities of Mladenovac and Lazarevac. You can see the full map of the new tariff system here. If you are staying in Belgrade, you will mostly be riding in the first tariff zone, therefore the prices in this article are for the first and the second tariff zone.
If you are riding through several tariff zones, you have to select the appropriate tariff zone on the ticket validator before validating the ticket. The validator can be confusing at first glance but there is an option for the English language on the top right corner of the validator (press ENG). Just select the zone to where you want to ride to and validate the ticket (of course if you are riding through only one zone you do not have to do that). You also have a option to validate a group ticket on the validator. Every station should be clearly marked on which zone it belongs to, and you also have the option to check the validator what stop is the next one and which zone it belongs to (the Serbian word for zone is “Zona” ).

You cannot purchase a ticket for a single ride. This ticket has been replaced by a 90-minute ticket and the price is RSD89. When you enter a bus, you have to validate your ticket on a validator and from then on you can ride on any bus for the next 90 minutes. Every time you enter the bus you have to validate your ticket. Keep in mind that the 90-minute period in which your ticket is valid does not mean you have to leave the bus once the 90 minutes are up, but you cannot validate the ticket anymore once the 90 minutes expire. For example, if you enter the first bus and validate your ticket at 13:30, you can enter another bus at 14:59, validate your ticket and ride the bus as long as you want.

If you plan to use the public transportation often, you can buy a 1-day ticket (280 RSD), a 3-day ticket (720RSD) or a 5-day ticket(1100RSD) using your BusPlus card. These types of tickets are different from the 90-minutes ticket – the time limit for these tickets start when you buy them, not when you validate your ticket when you enter your bus. When you buy this type of ticket, you will get a reciept which will tell you when exactly does your ticket expire. These tickets also have to be validated when you enter the bus. Also note that these types of tickets are not valid for the night buses(from 00:00 hours untill 04:00 hours, also there are some daily buses that depart at 00:00. The night buses have the N suffix on the number of the line). If the ticket is purchased from the driver, the fare is 150RSD and the ticket is valid for one ride only. Children under the age of 7 ride free.

All tickets (except those bought from the driver) must be validated on machines inside the vehicle. Tickets are also valid for BG:Voz commuter rail, but not for BeoVoz and minibuses.

Minibus fares are RSD150, payable to the driver.

Ticket inspection in the daily buses is carried out by the Direction of public transportation of Belgrade and the “BusPlus” company. You will recognize the ticket inspectors easily as they carry small black devices for the ticket inspection. If you are caught without a ticket the fine is 2000RSD and you can pay on the spot (you will then receive a receipt and you can use it to ride until the end of the day with no additional charge) or you can give the ticket inspectors your identification card so you can receive your fine of 6000RSD (3000RSD if you pay in the next 8 days). The fine is regulated by the Penal Code of the Republic of Serbia. Please note that you are not obliged to give the ticket inspectors your identification card, but if you refuse the ticket inspector may call the communal police. It is for the best however that you save yourself the inconvenience and buy the ticket. If you are caught without one, or the ticket wasn’t validated for some reason, apologize to the ticket inspectors and ask to get off at the next stop.

Daily transport starts at 04:00 and ends at 00:00. Night transportation is operated only by buses. It is sparse and goes every half-hour to every hour, but there are plans to make all night lines depart every half-hour. It is best to ask where and when to use it since some of the night lines are modified versions of the daily ones. Here is a map of night lines. Tram Line 2 is famous in the city with a circular route, running in both directions. The circle is known as krug dvojke (#2’s circle) and rings the central city streets. Line 3 is famous for a beautiful neighborhoods it goes through, particularly Milos’s Konak Park.3

By commuter rail :  BG:Voz (BG:Train) is an additional line. These trains run according to schedule which is every 30 minutes (15 minutes on rush hour). Timetables for both Beovoz and Bg:Voz are available here . Note that trains are often late and delayed. By taxi :  Taxis are cheap by European standards, though far more expensive than anywhere else in Serbia. CAR:GO Car Service Downloadable app for fast efficient and inexpensive car service around town. Automatic PayPal account – no need for local cash. Location by GPS. Available 24/7.

General precautions :  Taxi scams are common in Belgrade. It is always best if you order taxi by phone since your order will be saved in the operator database. Here is the official info about taxi service in Belgrade. Taxi fares are regulated by the government and are as follows: RSD140 to start a ride, RSD55-110 per kilometer (depending on time of day) and RSD12.5 per minute waiting time. Be sure to chose a taxi with a roof sign with the city coat of arms and a number, indicating it’s a city-regulated radio taxi. Never take a privately owned cab – the ones with the white marker on the top that does not list the name of the company – since you can pay up to four times the normal price. Also, legal taxis must have their license plates ending with TX (for example: BG-1234-TX).

Insist that the trip be metered. The only exception is the case when you take taxi from the airport, where you may approach the taxi desk for a receipt stating a fixed price for travel to various parts of the city. You will pay the driver the exact amount stated on the receipt given to you at the airport desk. Tipping taxi drivers is welcomed but not required, and your luggage transport is included in the metered price.

If you believe that the driver is trying to rip you off, call the operator of that taxi association to check if the price is regular for the specified distance. Afraid of the inspection, they might call back the driver and bring him to reason. Also, ask for a signed bill indicating date, time, start and end destination, price and drivers signature. Write down the number on the blue sign on the vehicle roof, as well as the license plates. Report the incident to city inspection (+381-11/3227-000) and if you are going from or to the airport, report it also to airport inspection (+381-11/2097-373, taxi@beg.aero). If the driver is aggresive towards you, call the police.

By car :  As in most of Europe you must keep to the right side of the road. Avoid rush hours (8:30–9:30AM, 4:00–6:00PM). Belgrade is not Rome, Moscow or Beijing, but getting around can be stressful if you aren’t used to traffic congestion combined with aggressive local driving habits. Plan your journey if you are going in to the city core, and expect to have a hard time finding free parking places on the streets during Friday and Saturday evenings in the center. Garages might be a better choice.

Keep your low beam headlights turned on, during both day and night. Speed limit on the streets of the city is 50 km/h, near schools even less, on the highway is higher. Police is known to wait at places where you might feel comfortable to drive over the limit, but almost never on the highway. Take special care while crossing Branko’s bridge, and driving on following streets: Bulevar Mihaila Pupina, Jurija Gagarina, Vladimira Popovica, and other major ones. Keep your seat belts fastened. Other passengers must also do the same, even when sitting in the back seat (if there are seat belts installed).

Allowed level of blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.03%, which is roughly equal to one drink. If you do go by car to drink, consider going back using taxi or Safe driver service, +381-64/1746-411. They will come to pick you up on the small, folding motorcycle, pack it in your trunk, and drive you back home in your car. Their charge is modest, and slightly higher than one-way ride with the taxi (~5€ for <5km, ~7€ for <10km, and ~10€ for >10km)

Rent a car :  Rent a Car Beograd Low cost car rental in Belgrade, free car delivery to hotel or airport. Available 24/7. Rent-a-car service, airport pick up, professional private driver, all day transportation, rent a luxury car, limousine service.  Yellow lanes :  Many boulevards and some streets have yellow lanes. They are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and you are not allowed to use them. The yellow lanes are marked with a yellow line, and are indicated on traffic signs. Some yellow lanes, though, are active only in certain periods of the day, usually during rush hours

Parking :  There are spaces for parking in the city center. There is a large parking garage with 500 spaces under the old palace in the city center, across from the parliament building.

Also, take into consideration that in the center almost all of the parking spaces in the central streets have zones marked with green, yellow or red paint on the street (yellow zone spaces are actually marked orange, to avoid confusion with other marks). You can only stay for 3, 2 or 1 hours, respectively, in those spots. You can pay using the machine usually found near the parking spots, buy the parking ticket at a kiosk or by cell phone (just text your car’s license plate number (for example: BG123456) to numbers 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green). Every message you send is valid for one hour and, some 5 minutes before the hour has passed, you get a text message telling you that you can send another SMS if you want to extend your parking for the next hour. Of course, this only applies in yellow and green zones, in which you can park for more than 1 hour. After the time is up, you’ll have to re-park or risk paying a fine (around €15). All of this only applies on weekdays, from 7AM to 9PM and from 7AM to 2PM on Saturdays. After that (Sa 2PM – Mo 7AM) parking is free.

There are also several public parking garages and parking lots where you can park for an unlimited amount of time during day. Fees are charged on an hourly basis (price varies, usually around €0.7-0.9/hour). In some non-zoned areas, you also pay for parking depending on the duration of your stay, and this is paid in cash to the parking attendant.

Parking violations are dealt with rather swiftly in the city center and with less commitment in the peripheral zones. Failure to pay for parking in a marked spot is handled by parking enforcement officers and can only result in a fine which would be difficult to collect if you’re operating a foreign licensed vehicle. On the other hand, illegally parked vehicles are handled by the traffic police. Once spotted, the police are required to wait for 15 minutes for the driver to return. If you do return in time, you will be issued a sanction and a fine (around €50). When the 15 minutes are up, your car will get towed to one of 4 designated lots in the city. Once at the lot, you will be required to present a valid form of ID and the vehicle matriculation papers, pay the mandatory fine and towing expenses (around €90 in total).

Other parking options :  At the same time there are a lot of unused private parking spaces all around the city. In time when everybody has a smartphone, there’s a new possibility – parking share. Lako parkiraj is an online service that connects owners of parking spaces with those who need to park. You can use it to easily find and book parking places in Serbia in advance. Detailed information can be found on the Lako Parkiraj website.

By bicycle :  Old Belgrade is pretty hilly and the bicycle infrastructure is scarce, so bicycle transport isn’t in wide use. However, New Belgrade and Zemun are relatively flat and offer enough space for bikes to be used. Bicycle tracks link Zemun, Dorcol, Ada Ciganlija, New Belgrade and Bezanijska kosa. There is a bike lift on Brankov Bridge operating 365 days and the ride is free of charge. There is also more than 50 bicycle racks around the city.

Riding a bike on the same roads with cars and buses is considered too dangerous, although on smaller streets it can be reasonably safe. Avoid riding on major (multilane) roads. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring bikes into public transport vehicles. Bicycle rentals are available mostly at recreational areas like Ada Ciganlija or Zemun quay. Average price is around 1.5€/hour and 4€/day.

By boat :  Small boats connecting Ada Ciganlija to Novi Beograd’s Block 70a are the only mode of public transport on rivers. Also, there are several tourist boats which offer day and night cruises along the Sava and Danube. By foot :  Belgrade is mostly pedestrian friendly. The city center can be seen on foot and the main pedestrian street is Knez Mihajlova which connects to the Kalemegdan fortress. The riverbanks are also full of people on weekends when the weather is nice. Belgrade also has a lot of beautiful parks. The pedestrian paths are mostly in good shape but be careful in some places, especially in Skadarlija where the old cobble path is in pretty bad shape.

There are plans to expand the pedestrian zone near the Knez Mihajlova street. Work has already begun to transform several streets into pedestrian areas and in a couple of years, the entire area around Knez Mihajlova and the Republic square should be traffic-free.

Attractions : As mentioned, Belgrade city core is not too big. Everything between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihajlova street and Skadarska street is best viewed by foot. Other than that, it is recommended to use other means of transportation. Note that many of Belgrade’s museums are closed on Monday. It may be wise to check before making a visit.

Kalemegdan – Belgrade Fortress : Once an important military fortification, it now serves as the central park of Belgrade. Accessible from the end of the Knez Mihailova street, it offers beautiful views, especially during sunset. The largest part of is a park, along with the fortress walls, with several cafes, tennis and basketball courts, museums and an observatory. Don’t forget to take a look at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, and the statue of Pobednik (Winner), one of the symbols of Belgrade.Take tram number 2 from the railway station and disembark at the 4th stop (Kalemdag)to avoid the walking uphill. Knez Mihailova Street  :  Main pedestrian street in Belgrade. Crowded during the day and night. Mostly shopping and numerous cafes. Republic Square (Main Square) :  Main meeting point in the city (also called kod konja – “by the horse”), right next to the statue of Mihailo Obrenovic (riding a horse), National Theater, National Museum and Knez Mihailova Street. Best place to arrange a meeting.

Skadarlija (Skadarska street) :  Pedestrian street filled with restaurants and cafes, most in the spirit of old Belgrade. Live bands playing old Belgrade music can be heard here in the evenings. The street is paved in cobblestone so high heels are not advised. Blank-walled buildings on the south side have been painted with impressive ‘trompe-l’oeil’ paintings to add to the atmosphere.
Srpskih vladara (Kralja Milana) street :  connecting Belgrade Fortress, Knez Mihailova street and Republic Square with Slavija Square and The Temple of Saint Sava dominate the view as you walk towards it. Notice Terazije Fountain, Hotel Moskva (Former Palace of Russia), The Old Royal Palace, following the New Palace, and theater Jugoslovensko Dramsko Pozoriste, as you wander around.

The Old Royal Palace : , at Nikola Pasic Sqaure, built in 1881, it was residence of Serbian kings, now used as Town Hall.
The White Palace :  is a mansion located in Belgrade, Serbia. The mansion is part of the Royal Compound, a real estate of royal residences and parklands located in Dedinje, an exclusive area of Belgrade.  The New Palace : -The New Palace is located next to ?he Old Royal Palace, the square Andricev venacno. 1st. It was built between 1911 and 1922, as the residence of King Petar I Karadordevic. Today is the official seat of the President of the Republic of Serbia.

The National Assembly of Serbia :  located across from the Old Royal Palace, at Nikola Pasic Sqaure. Gardosh :  is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade. It is located in Belgrade’s municipality of Zemun. Gardos the hill, located on the right side of the river Danube, is a historical and authentic cultural environment with narrow streets, houses and historic churches. At the top of the hill, there is a tower “Sibinjanin Janko” (or Millennium Tower) – height of 36m, which opened in 1896, with a gallery and a beautiful view of the river, and Belgrade. On the hill and near by the river is a large number of restaurants with local food, seafood restaurants and floating (splav) restaurants.
Belgrade Zoo :  Mali Kalemegdan 8. Summer: Daily: 8:00AM–8:30PM, Winter: Daily: 8AM – 5PM. , located inside the Belgrade Fortress

Churches and Monasteries : Saint Sava Temple :  The largest Orthodox church in Serbia, and one of the biggest Orthodox churches in the whole world. In 1594, Turkish vizier Sinan-pasa burned the holy relics of Saint Sava (1174-1236), founder of the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church, on the spot where the temple is located today, in retaliation for the rebellion of the Serbian people. Since then, the Serbs wished to erect a church in honour of Saint Sava at this location, and have first built a smaller church next to the place of the burning of the relics (this church also still stands, and is located to the left of the main entrance to the big temple). The temple was built from 1935 in several phases – interrupted first in 1941 by WWII, and later by Communist authorities, the work was only resumed in 1985. Interior decoration is not yet finished, however visitors have access to the north aisle which is complete and in use. From the quality of the marble and plaster work already in place, it will be stupendous when it is finished. The underground crypt, future burial site of Serbian patriarchs, dedicated to Saint Lazarus of Serbia, is also nearly completed. It is located near Slavija square, easily accessed from Bulevar Oslobodjenja, and visible from most points of the city. Due to its impressive size, it is often called a cathedral, although it is not yet the seat of a bishop or the patriarch.
Belgrade Cathedral :  is dedicated to Saint Archangel Michael, and is located near Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan) at Kneza Sime Markovica 3. It was completed in 1840, and its interior was richly decorated in the fashion of Serbian neo-classicism. Building of the Serbian Patriarchate is located opposite the Cathedral, and it is also the location of the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as a beautiful patriarchal chapel dedicated to Saint Symeon.
St. Mark’s Church :  built from 1931 to 1940 is located in Tasmajdan park in Belgrade, near the Parliament of Serbia. It was designed as a copy of the famous Gracanica monastery near Pristina. Behind the church, there is the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, built by White Russian immigrants who came to Serbia after the Russian Revolution of 1917-1922.
Ruzica Church and Church of Saint Petka :  are located on Kalemegdan fortress, near the observatory (easy to miss, ask for directions). Ruzica Church, dedicated to the Birth of the Holy Virgin Mary, was first mentioned in the 15th century  it was destroyed in the early 18th century, and later rebuilt in its present location. It was the military church of the garrison that was located in the fortress. It was once again destroyed in WWI by Central Powers, and then rebuilt again in 1925. At this time the church received its unique bronze soldier statues and the unusual chandeliers made out of bullet shells, swords and bayonets, a unique example of trench art with religious motifs. Church of Saint Petka (Paraskevi) is located next to it; it was built around a miraculous spring, and in honour of Saint Petka whose relics were kept in Belgrade fortress during the Middle Ages.
Church of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist ,  Central Cemetery (Centralno groblje), Zaplanjska 47a. A small graveyard church, located in the Vozdovac municipality, contains a unique historical relic of large significance, protected by UNESCO: the iconostasis that was brought to the church in the 70’s was built by Serbian and Russian officers who were interned in Bad Sulza concentration camp for the chapel in the camp.
Church of Saint Alexander Nevsky  : Cara Dusana 63, Dorcol (near Skadarlija). The history of this church dates back to the time of the Serbian-Turkish war (1876), when Russian volunteers arrived in Serbia under the command of General Mikhail Chernyaev. The old church was built in 1877, but was later demolished in order to build a bigger one, which was completed in 1912, and designed by the famous Serbian female architect Jelisaveta Nacic. There is a memorial plaque in honour of the fallen Serbian and Yugoslav soldiers, Russian czar Nicholas II and King Alexander Obrenovic inside the church. The frescoes have eroded over time, and the interior is currently rather simple, apart from the impressive marble iconostasis.
Church of the Translation of Relics of Saint Nicholas (Nikolajevska) :  built in 1745, it is currently the oldest church building in Belgrade. It contains one of the most beautiful baroque iconostases in Serbia. It is located at the foot of the hill known as Gardos , near the Danube, in the municipality of Zemun.
Church of the Holy Virgin :  Kajmakcalanska 55, Zvezdara, Belgrade. It was built in 1933, in the Serbian-Byzantine style, richly adorned with frescoes, mosaics, has a rich collection of relics. It is located between Buevara King Alexander, and Zica street, near the “Red Cross Square” .
Monastery Rakovica :  – dedicated to St. Archangel Michael and Gabriel. Monastery went through a turbulent history. Rakovica Monastery is located 11 km from the city center, on a circular route, which the Rakovicka river turns to the Avala. The Monastery has important relics, and there are also tombs of famous personalities (Vasa Carapic, Patriarch Dimitrije), and most recently Serbian Patriarch Pavle.
Presentation of the Virgin Monastery :  Ljube Jovanovica Street No. 8, Senjak (Dedinje). It is located near the center, the Topcidersko hill, surrounded by woods. The church was built in 1935. This beautiful church (“Monastery of the Presentation”) was built in the Serbian-Byzantine style with richly painted frescoes and a rich treasury.

Museums and galleries : The National Museum of Serbia :  1 Trg republike, . Reopened 28 June 2018. Located at Republic square. Founded in 1844, has more than 400,000 items including Italian Art Collection (230 works) including Titian, Raphael, Tintoretto, Lorenzo di Credi, Canaletto, Tiepollo, Carpaccio etc. French Art Collection (250 paintings) includes Renoir (82 works), Monet, Degas, Signac, Lautrec, Matisse, Gaughen, Cezanne, Pissaro, Corot etc. Dutch and Flemish Art Collection (120 works) include Juan de Flandes, Bosch, Vincent van Gogh, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Goyen, Breughel, Mondrian… Japanase Art Collection has 82 works which include Kunisada, Toyokuni, Hirosige etc … Yugoslav (Serbian) Art Collection includes Paja Jovanovic, Uros Predic, Lubarda. Other Art Collections (German, Austrian, Russian…) include Picasso, Durer, Klimt, Kandinsky, Sisley, Marc Chagall , Kassat, Roerich, Ryepin, etc.
Gallery of Frescoes of the National Museum :  Cara Urosa 20,  +381 11 306 052, . Closed on Mondays.. The gallery was founded in 1953, as a special institution for the collection, study and exhibit of the Serbian medieval art. It is now part of the National Museum and contains a rich collection of murals and medieval sculptures.
Ethnographic Museum :  Studentski trg 13,  +381 11 3281 888 . Tu–Sa: 10AM–5PM, Su: 9AM–2PM.. Permanent exhibition of Serbian costumes, tools, culture and everyday life in past centuries. Temporary exhibitions covering related topics.
Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church :  (Located across from the Belgrade Cathedral, The Residence of Princess Ljubica, near Knez Mihailova Street / entrance from the street Kralja Petra I br. 5th.) . weekdays from 8-16C, 09-12C on Saturdays, Sundays 11-13C. Across the street is the Orthodox Academy of Art and Conservation (frescoes, mosaics, and icon painting)
Nikola Tesla Museum :  Krunska 51,  +381 (0) 11 24 33 886 (info@tesla-museum.org, fax: +381 (0) 11 24 36 408), [5]. Tu–Su: 10AM–8PM. Museum dedicated to the man whom Serbs revere.
The Residence of Princess Ljubica : Kneza Sime Markovica 8, [6]. The residence is now managed by the Museum of Belgrade and is used to display the museum material and painting exhibitions. The permanent exhibition at the Residence consists of original furniture, made in Oriental-Balkan style and other styles of the time (Classicism, Biedermeier, neo-baroque).
Ivo Andric Museum : Andricev Venac 8 . Closed on Mondays.. Memorial Museum of Ivo Andric, is dedicated to our writer, Nobel laureate.
Tito’s Mausoleum and the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia :  Boticeva 6 (Take trolleybus #40 or #41 from Studentski Trg or from Kneza Milosa Street in the direction of Dedinje and ask for Kuca cveca (House of flowers). Tue-Sun: 10am-6pm from 10/16 to 4/23, 10am-8pm from 4/24 to 10/15.. Artifacts from the former Yugoslavia and around the world given to Tito in his years as president. RSD400, Students: RSD200.
The Military Museum :  (inside the Belgrade Fortress) . every day except monday, 10am-5pm. Museum has around 30,000 objects in 12 collections and very impressive photo collection with over 100,000 photographs, etc RSD150.
Museum of Roma Culture :  Ruzveltova street 41-43 . Tu-Su: 11AM-4PM. The museum is situated in a small storage room in a public building in downtown Belgrade. Its walls are covered with photographs and documents in the Roma language. There are temporal exhibitions, different programs and events.
Aeronautical Museum : (adjacent to Nikola Tesla Airport. Take bus number 72 which departs from Zeleni Venac terminus/station, one stop before departures (terminal) which called Rodni Terminal.

Activities : Ada Ciganlija is a river island on Sava River with an artificial lake in the center of the city. The lake has an 8 km long gravel beach, which is visited by thousands of bathers during the summer. This is a great place for sports and picnics (barbecue is allowed in the allotted space) . It also contains a lot of cafes and restaurants,river rafts (bars-restaurants), some of which are opened whole year round. In summer, it is swamped with people wanting to cool down in the water. Beaches in Ada Ciganlija, with restaurants, cafes on the beach, as well as umbrellas,beds and water sports, reminiscent of many sea beaches, and are the right place for swimming, recreation and enjoyment. You may rent bikes or inline skates at several points near the entry to the island. Lanes for pedestrians and bikers are separated. You have over-the-water bungee jumping facility, as well as water skiing. There are terrains for football, basketball, beach volley, golf and tennis. If you are coming from the direction of New Belgrade or Zemun, consider using small boats from Block 70a edge, New Belgrade, which can take you over the river for around €1. During summer season they go every 15 minutes or less, and offer bike transportation as well. There are also many regular bus services from the city center and other districts to Ada Ciganlija. Additional facilities:
Adventure Park is open during summer season (usually from beginning of May until the end of September) +381-64/8210-218, +381-63/1679-787. Price for one go through the park is RSD 800.
Segway Rides on small flat track, near cafe Plaza, +381-69/734-929.
Outdoor Ice Skating (during winter), or ski and snowboard simulator (all year round)
BeoQuest scavenger hunts, ? +381 63 858-1138 (info@beoquest.net), [12]. can be played at city center.
Public Observatory (placed at Kalemegdan fortress) features four panoramic telescopes installed for daily observations of the city’s panorama.
National Theatre features opera, ballet and plays. The main hall is simply amazing – decorated with gold and artworks.
Zemun quay is the most visited Waterfront in Belgrade. Here you can ride a bike, inline skates or walk next to Danube River. For a break, just hop on one of the raft bars or restaurants.
Strahinjica Bana Street is known as the Silicon Valley , located in downtown Belgrade, at the end of Skadarska Street (popularly Skadarlija) laterally, and extends to the Kalemegdan fortress and the zoo. Here are popular bars, restaurants, cafes, and gardens.
Old Brewery Bajloni  – complex at Cetinjska 15. street (parallel to the bohemian street Skadarlija), are center of unusual newly opened bars, cafes and clubs for entertainment, special fun on weekends late at night…
Go bowling, available at: Colosseum Bowling, Dobanovacka 56, Zemun, +381-65/3888-888
Usce Shopping Mall Bowling
Delta City Shopping Mall
Ice skating is available during winter months at:
Tasmajdan Sports Center, Carlija Caplina 39, +381-11/2766-667, RSD200–300.
Pingvin Beostar Gym (Penguin), Jurija Gagarina 78, +381-11/2178-183, RSD 200–250.
Mali Pingvin Sport Belgrade (Little Penguin), Deligradska 27
8 Open-air ice skating at square Trg Nikole Pasica, winter months, free of charge
Room Escape:
EscapeMania, Terazije 38/1, +381 62 149 20 30, RSD4000. Two rooms: Voodoo Tales and Robin Hood.
The Great War Island (Veliko ratno ostrvo) is a river island at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, for picnics and bird spotting.
Mount Avala is a 511m mountain near Belgrade with the 204m Avala Tower at the top. Viewing platform is accessible via a lift with great views of Belgrade and parts of Vojvodina and Sumadija. Entrance fee is RSD50 per person. At the top of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, and the motel and a few restaurants. During the descent, turn right, there is a mountain lodge “Carapica Brest” , with rooms and good restaurant.
Visit a splav (literally: raft) – a barge restaurant located along the Sava and Danube rivers. There are two kinds of “splav”. Some are restaurants, but most are nightclubs. You can literally club-hop all night long. There is no cover charge to get into any of them. Some ultra popular ones may require that you have an invitation or be on the guest list, but if you tell them that you are a foreigner and that you didn’t know they’ll usually let you in. Women are not required to be on a “guest list”. The music played on the barges is highly varied and can include live bands, Serbian folk music, pop, and dance.
You can also book fun experiences such as panoramic flying, outdoor and indoor shooting, and bubble football experience through an all-inclusive service such as Concierge Belgrade

Cinemas
Movies in Serbia are subtitled, not dubbed. Best movie theaters are:

Cineplexx Usce at Usce shopping mall, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina, +381-11/2854-495, 3D projections available
Cineplexx Delta City, at Delta City shopping mall, Jurija Gagarina 16, +381-11/2203-400, Cineplexx Cinemas
Roda Intermezzo Cineplex, Pozeska 83a, +381-11/2545-260
Tuckwood cineplex, Kneza Milosa 7a, +381-11/3236-517, in the city center, a bit old, and sometimes too loud.
If you prefer theaters in the city core, check also:

Dom sindikata, Trg Nikole Pasica 5, +381-11/3234-849
Akademija 28, Nemanjina 28, +381-11/3616-020
Festivals and events
BITEF, Belgrade International Theater Festival, mid-September
BEMUS, Belgrade Music Festival, mid-October
Belgrade Jazz Festival, around October
Belgrade Tango Festival, around November
mid-December, festival of traditional Serbian distilled alcoholic beverage
Street of Open Heart, mini carnival held on 1 January, starting at noon, on streets of Makedonska and Svetogorska
Guitar Art Festival, mid-February
International Wine Fair, around February, Belgrade Fair
Belgrade Tango Encuentro, around April
Festival of new and improvised music – around May
FERAM, Belgrade Early Music Festival, mid-June
Belgrade Light Music Festival, around June/July
Summertime Jazz Festival, around July
Belgrade Summer Festival, around July–August
Belgrade Beer Festival, around August
GREEN FEST International green culture festival , around October-November

Shopping Malls : Belgrade has 3 shopping malls in the city – Delta City, Stadion and Usce Shopping Center – and more than 30 shopping centers like Merkator, Immo Centar, Millenium, Piramida, City Hall, Zira and others.

Go next : Fruska Gora mountain / Novi Sad / Sremski Karlovci / see the famous hill Oplenac (town of Topola) south, near Belgrade ‘/ historic place of Orasac / Obedska bara / Vrsac.