Here is another jewel of Serbia – its bustling capital of Belgrade. Given that it is situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, the city has always been strategically extremely interesting to invaders.
FROM BELGRADE FORTRESS TO BUSTLING NIGHTLIFE
Even though today’s metropolis is renowned for great cuisine and vibrant nightlife, Belgrade is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world! Have in mind that Vinča culture, one of the most important prehistoric cultures of Europe, inhabited these parts 8,000 years ago. The area was often invaded throughout history by Thraco-Dacians, Celts, Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Frankish, Bulgarian Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, only to be established as a seat of the Serbian king in 1284. Later periods were dominated by the Ottomans and Austrians up until the 19th century. And the beauty is that you can find traces of all those different cultures in today’s modern city of Belgrade.
BELGRADE FORTRESS
Belgrade Fortress situated in Kalemegdan park is one of the most recognizable tourist attractions of the city. It was constructed from the 1st to the 18th century for defense purposes. The fortress overlooks the confluence and provides a great view of the neighborhoods of Zemun and New Belgrade.
Another symbol of Belgrade to be found here is the Pobednik Monument (the Victor). Try to visit the Roman Well, the Clock Tower, and the Great Gunpowder Warehouse. History buffs will be thrilled with landmarks such as Nebojša Tower or the Military Museum.
BELGRADE LANDMARKS
Besides Kalemegdan park, one of the must-sees among Belgrade landmarks is the St. Sava Church. This monumental structure is the largest Orthodox place of worship in the Balkans and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. St. Sava was the first archbishop and founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the 13th century. According to beliefs, his remains were burned by the Ottomans at the place of today’s church.
The main meeting place in Belgrade is the Square of the Republic. Youth gathers here among buildings of great historical importance such as the National Theater and the National Museum. The square is dominated by the 1882 Prince Mihilo Obrenović’s monument sculpted by the famous Venetian artist Enrico Pazzi. Mihailo is one of the favorite Serbian rulers who was educated in Europe and turned Belgrade into a modern and stylish metropolis.
The great Belgrade promenade is just around the corner. This is the always busy pedestrian Knez Mihailova Street with shops and restaurants that will take you from Liberty Square to Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress.
If you are coming during the summer months, you will be happy to know that Belgrade has one of the most beautiful city islands in the world. Locals love to spend time at the beach, but bustling cafés and clubs are open until dawn.
When it comes to nature, Belgrade has a lot to offer. Not only that you can enjoy its green parks, such as Košutnjak, but you can also take a short drive to one of the favorite places for locals to escape the city. Avala mountain is only 10 miles (16 km) from the city center. With its altitude of 511 meters, it provides a beautiful panoramic view of Belgrade. The area is perfect for picnics and sports activities.
NIGHTLIFE IN BELGRADE SERBIA
There are other parts and neighborhoods of Belgrade one should visit. Among others, Zemun, Savamala, and Skadarlija. The latter is the old bohemian part of the city where artists, painters, and writers met since the beginning of the 20th century. This cobblestone street is home to various traditional restaurants where your delicious meal will be served with the sounds of genuine kafana (Serbian traditional restaurant) music.
But there is a lot to do in Belgrade after dinner, because here, every day is a Friday! You can find a variety of mainstream clubbing scenes but also places specializing in R’n’B, rock, jazz. The city gets more vibrant during summer when floating river clubs and barges turn into all-night parties.
The Serbian capital is declared the best place to be when it comes to nightlife by Lonely Planet and the New York Times. Besides bars and clubs, there are music festivals one shouldn’t miss. The biggest is Belgrade Beer Festival in August.
Some Belgrade visit recommendations:
