One day in Belgrade: an unusual journey from burundukmedia. Nine must-do things in Belgrade Find the most original graffiti in Belgrade
You need to go to Belgrade for the atmosphere of hooliganism, which has almost completely disappeared in modern Europe. The fact is that compared to its neighbors: lovely Ljubljana and clean, combed Zagreb, the capital of Serbia seems to be a place where the “Festival of Disobedience” has dragged on and become a way of life.
Smoking is still allowed everywhere here, trash on the pavements doesn’t bother anyone, but on the streets it’s a no-no, and you’ll meet musicians who seem to have been pulled out into the real world from another Kusturica film. "This is bad?" - you ask me. “This is wonderful,” I will answer you. And not only because Belgrade is a very warm and hospitable city. First of all, he is original and real. Today I will talk about the top things you should do during your stay in the Serbian capital.
1. SEE RED EAGLES
If you go to Belgrade by car, then after crossing the Serbian border, carefully look not only at the road, but also to both sides. The fact is that in the vicinity of Belgrade there are no less hefty red eagles than in any national park. Usually they are not aggressive, they just sit on the fences near the highway that connects Serbia with Croatia, and with an indifferent look they watch the trucks and cars rushing past.
However, keep in mind that if a mouse or any other small rodent that might be of interest to the eagle as a potential snack runs out onto the road, the bird of prey will immediately take off and try to catch the game. So drive carefully so as not to hit the handsome red-haired guy who decided to feast on a mouse right on the roadway.
2. HAVE BREAKFAST AT THE BAKER
Breakfasts in Belgrade hotels, with rare exceptions, are nothing special, so I recommend that all guests of the city go early in the morning to bakeries or “pekars” - if you switch to Serbian. In fact, these are ordinary bakeries, but sometimes they serve coffee.
The best place with bakery joys - Pekara Trpkovic, it is located at Nemaina Street, 32. The legendary bakery opened back in 1908, and they sell the best buns in the city. However, why only buns? The bagels, croissants, cheesecakes, and bagels here are excellent. It’s worth eating them on the go while walking around the city.
3. VISIT THE NIKOLO TESLA MUSEUM
The Nikolo Tesla Museum is the most interesting attraction in Belgrade, and even if you are basically indifferent to museums, it’s worth a visit just for general development. Tesla, without exaggeration, is one of the most mysterious scientists in history, a figure shrouded in myths and legends; there are rumors that he even managed to move a ship in space.
The Belgrade Tesla Museum is interactive, here all guests are shown prototypes of Nikolo Tesla’s inventions, which he presented to investors, and there is also a miniature copy of the famous transformer for generating wireless electricity. By the way, you can experience the effect of the invention for yourself: guests of the museum are given light bulbs, the transformer is turned on, and the light bulbs themselves light up in your hands without any wires - you involuntarily feel like a hero of the movie “Prestige”. Yes, the Tesla Museum is also his mausoleum. The scientist was a patriot of Yugoslavia; after his death, his ashes, according to his will, were imprisoned in a ball-shaped urn and sent to Belgrade. The urn is kept in the museum.
4. STUDY SERBIAN GRAFFITI
Most of the houses in Belgrade are not in the best condition, but the shabby facades of the buildings are compensated by the graffiti that decorates every second house here.
It must be said that street artists approach the design of objects with imagination and diligence: you will notice a graphic image of a toothy city eating nature - a kind of manifesto on the topic of environmental problems, or you will see a person’s face on the entire wall with a window in place of an eye. A detailed study of Belgrade graffiti may take a couple of days, because interesting examples are found not only in the center, but also in residential areas.
5. HAVE DINNER WITH SONGS IN SKADARLIA
Skadarlija is often called a district, but rather it is just a charming little street located on a hill. It was nicknamed the local Montmartre for a very obvious reason - almost all Serbian artists and poets lived and worked here, including Djur Jaksic, one of the most influential poets and playwrights in Serbia. By the way, creative meetings of local literary figures are still held in the house where he lived.
Tourists should come here to dine in the best traditions of Kusturica films - that is, with wine, songs and dances. Restaurants here are open in every second house, and since gypsies lived in Skadarlija before the poets, they provide the right musical accompaniment to the meal. Sometimes you can even see how gypsies with an orchestra escort restaurant guests home - they follow behind and sing songs. How can one not remember the film “Black Cat, White Cat”?
6. WALK THE WALLS OF THE FORTRESS
The main attraction of Belgrade is the fortress, which gave the name to the city, because the city is not a city, as many people think, but a castle or defensive structure. Compared to the fortresses of other cities, Belgrade is large; outside its walls, for example, there is even a modern Kalemegdan park, the name of which translates as “fortress field.” On weekends, families with children like to relax here, because the park has all the conditions for a picnic, and, of course, there are also swings and carousels for kids.
In addition to the monument to the Victor - a sculpture of a naked young man on a high pedestal, which looks menacingly towards Austria-Hungary, the Belgrade Fortress is also notable for the fact that its walls, encircling the hill above the Danube, are suitable for walking. They are wide, but not particularly high, so walking along them is not scary, and the view of the mighty Danube from here offers an exceptional view.
7. BUY YOURSELF CREATIONS BY SERBIAN DESIGNERS
Serbian designers are entertainers, and in the good sense of the word. You can get acquainted with their creations in the Belgrade concept store “Supermarket”, which is located at Višijeva Street 10. The “Supermarket” itself is a full-fledged creative space, they not only sell clothes, accessories and interior items, but also have a restaurant serving excellent dishes Serbian, Italian and French cuisine.
If we talk about the style of the items presented here, they can be described as “variations on the theme of Maison Martin Margiela or Acne Studios, but with a Serbian flavor.” Prices for clothing are high by local standards, but in comparison with their Belgian, French or Swedish counterparts they are negligible. And, most importantly, everything is of high quality and unparalleled, because most Serbian brands are not sold in other countries.
8. WATCH THE WORK OF ICON PAINTERS IN THE TEMPLE OF SAINT SAVA
The main church of Belgrade - the Temple of St. Sava - is still not completed. The majestic cathedral building is certainly impressive from the outside, but inside the temple looks quite ascetic - work on the interior decoration is still underway.
But in the cathedral you can see how icon painters work on the images of the Saints, as they say, right in real time. By the way, the current Church of St. Sava was built on the site of a cathedral burned by the Turks in 1595.
9. SPEND AN EVENING ON THE BETON HALA EMBANKMENT
The fashionable youth of the Serbian capital like to while away their evenings on the embankment, not of the Danube, but of the Sava River, more precisely, on that section of it called Beton Hala. Here, right in the middle of traditional Belgrade, there is a conceptual space, designed by the architectural studio Sanzpont Arquitectura.
As a result of the vigorous activity of the Spanish-Mexican design bureau, numerous cafes and restaurants, paths for cycling and jogging appeared on the embankment under massive awnings, and in the evenings this area along the Sava River is beautifully illuminated, so it is pleasant to walk here. The local establishments are all “fashionable and youthful”; the menu has a good selection of wines from Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro, but classic Serbian čevapčić are a bit difficult to find here; they have been replaced by the now popular burgers and pasta.
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Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. Former editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
According to Nietzsche, there are two types of beauty. The one that can be understood by reason, and the one that you feel intuitively and spontaneously. Speaking about Serbian Belgrade, its beauty should be attributed to the second type. It is impossible to explain why the soul and body are so drawn here. No need to. It’s just worth visiting this city at least once in your life, where the contrast is perhaps felt brighter and more expressive than in the famous city, and the residents are more hospitable and good-natured than in their usual homeland.
Belgrade, whose history goes back more than two and a half thousand years, during its existence managed to die thirty-eight times and resurrect the same number of times. There is a mixture of Catholicism and Orthodoxy, East and West, the spirit of war and the thirst for life, fashionable areas, expressive graffiti and buildings damaged by NATO machine guns and airstrikes, joy and tragedy in the eyes of stately Serbs.
To fully experience and understand the character of Belgrade, you need to see the grandiose Cathedral of Saint Sava , visit the sublime Kalemegdan , go all the way Knez Mihailova street , then try local cuisine in one of the cafes, talk with local residents in Russian and easily understand their answer in Serbian, buy a bottle of plum brandy as a gift, throw a coin into the calm waters of the Danube and return to this city more than once!
5 things to do in Belgrade
1. See the grandiose Cathedral of St. Sava
One of the largest Orthodox churches in the world and the main pride of Belgrade residents and all Serbs takes first place on the Belgrade “Must see” list! The temple survived several wars, was built over two hundred years and is still not completed. Approaching this relic of marble and granite and raising your head, you are amazed at the size and monumentality of the cathedral.
Contemplating the cathedral from the outside, you cannot say at all that large-scale construction work is still underway there. However, when you go inside, you realize that its premises are not even at the final stage of finishing. But this does not prevent you from getting an impression from its decoration - on the giant mosaic of the Almighty Savior decorating the dome, only the eyes of Christ occupy more than a meter in length each.
2. Go around the oldest park in Europe, Kalemegdan
Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress, located on its territory, are perhaps the most visited places in Belgrade after the Cathedral of St. Sava. Here you can do many different things: see with your own eyes the grandiose outdoor exhibition of weapons equipment from tanks to cannons, medieval bridges and gates, the three-hundred-year-old Clock Tower, climb the Despot Tower, where there is a large observation deck from which a dizzying panorama of Belgrade opens, as well as the site the confluence of two rivers - the Danube and the Sava, stand at the foot of the symbol of Belgrade - the monument to the Winner, and even play tennis on one of the courts.
Fans of the work of Milorad Pavic will be especially interested in walking around the outskirts of Kalemegdan. The writer lived a stone's throw from this place and loved it so much that he immortalized Kalemegdan in his work in the book “Landscape Painted with Tea.”
Also on the territory of the park is the famous zoo “Park of Good Hope”, which appears in the first frames of Emir Kusturica’s film “Underground”. The zoo, located near the walls of the Belgrade Fortress, survived several bombings during World War II, and the very first NATO bombs fell on it in 1999.
3. Walk the entire Knez Mihailova street
Prince Mihail Street, or Knez Mihailova, as Belgrade residents call it, is the most important artery of the city. It is here that you can feel the whole flavor of the Serbian capital. Smiling Serbs peacefully sipping their coffee, children frolicking on cafe terraces, the open doors of every store and restaurant, blooming fragrant flower beds, the sounds of fountains, Serbian speech and Balkan music merging together.
Knez Mihailova is an open stage for street musicians and a wonderful plein air for artists. Also on this street there are many truly delicious and cozy cafes, as well as shops for every need and budget.
Walking along a wide and bright street, you relax your soul. There is a special relaxing aura that reigns here, which does not allow you to think about the pressing problems of life, to feel bored and sad.
There are many interesting places to explore on Knez Mihailova Street: Chamber of Albania , Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts , her gallery, Belgrade's first skyscraper - Beograjanka , and also famous Hotel Serbian Crown .
4. Take a look at the bohemian quarter of Skadarlija
Every city has its own Montmartre, aka Arbat, Piazza Navona, Via Margutta, and so on along the list of bohemian districts, streets, alleys. In Belgrade, such a place is the Skadarlija quarter, where many artists and creative personalities of Serbia lived and gathered in the 19th-20th centuries. Despite the fact that now you meet curious tourists here more often than poets, painters and artists, you plunge headlong into the special artistic atmosphere of that time.
Skadarlija is a special world, slightly separated from Belgrade (although it is located in its very center), living according to its own laws and its own routine. During the day you won’t find crowds of people, traders and beggars here, as, for example, on the Arbat or Montmartre. Harmony, comfort, creative spirit and aromas of flower beds reign here. Walking along the cobblestones of Skadarlija, every now and then you come across old kafans (cafes), art galleries, antique shops, and houses originally painted and covered with ivy.
At the end of the walk, you should definitely stop by one of the oldest restaurants in the capital - opened in 1864 kafana “Three hats” (“Tri sesira”) . Without any doubt, huge portions of national dishes, cheerful musicians playing and singing songs in all languages of the world, the special aura of the kafana will captivate you just as they once captivated Jimi Hendrix and the Spanish king Juan Carlos.
5. Find the most original graffiti in Belgrade
It is extremely difficult to imagine Belgrade without graffiti. This is its absolutely integral component, which most clearly conveys the character of the Serbian capital. Graffiti is found on almost every house and is not just meaningless inscriptions, but street art with a plan and idea.
Belgrade graffiti is extremely diverse: starting from independent, holistic, artistic, one might say, works, and ending with completely ordinary inscriptions. The most common are political graffiti containing an open call to hate and curse NATO and the European Union and praising Russia and Russian “brothers”. Football fans also like to leave their graffiti - many walls are decorated with portraits of Serbian football players and coaches.
But perhaps the most memorable and expressive graffiti of the city, its symbol and guardian angel, as some Belgrade residents jokingly call it, is “Saint Belgrade” (“La Santa de Beograd”)
. Being 20 meters high and 8 meters wide, it occupies the wall of one of the houses on Karađorđeva Street. It was created by the French artist Guillaume Albi, who for a long time before starting to create this graffiti, studied the history of Serbian art and iconography.
The graffiti “Saint Belgrade” is extremely symbolic and, one might say, reflects the thorny path of life in the city. According to the artist himself, due to the fact that Belgrade was destroyed and rebuilt many times, he depicted a saint who has several hands and a hidden black face. Between her legs is an egg, symbolizing life and civilization. One hand holds him and protects him. The other hand sends lightning to the city to destroy it, but in its sleeve is a white flag of truce. Another hand holds the breast, like a mother feeding her child with milk - feeding the city, but in another sleeve a military weapon is hidden. Another arm sends lightning bolts down upon the city from above, but a bird flies out of the arm to bring peace.
In addition to the above 5 things that you must do in Belgrade, you should not forget about other interesting places. So, for a few hours you can feel like a resident of Belgrade and visit vegetable market "Zeleni Venac"
, where Serbian fruits and berries are sold for ridiculous money. It is also worth taking a walk along the picturesque Tashmaidan Park
. Art lovers will definitely be interested Museum of the Yugoslav Film Archive
, where you can get acquainted with the best examples of cinema, which are stored in the large-scale film archive of Serbia, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, where, in addition to the works of Serbian artists and sculptors, works by Andy Warhol and Joan Miro are presented.
Darianna Oleynikova
In my opinion, the route below makes the most sense logistically if you only have a few hours or a day to explore Belgrade. All the attractions follow one after another, and, in my personal experience, 7-8 hours are enough to complete it completely.
What to see in Belgrade in 1 day: Zheleznichka Stanitsa - the building of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, destroyed by a NATO bomb in 1999 (corner of Nemanjina and Kneza Milos streets) - Slavia Square - Church of St. Sava - back to Slavia Square and further along Beogradska Street to Tasmajdan Park and St. Mark's Church - National Assembly (Savezna Skypstina) - Belgrade Assembly - along Terazije street (Hotel "Moscow" and the monument to Tsar Nicholas II) to the pedestrian street Kneza (Knez) Mihailov - Kalemegdan fortress - back to Kneza Mihailov - Republic Square and dinner on the pedestrian street of Skadarska (or, as it is also called, Skadarlija).
1. Belgrade railway station
Coordinates: 44.80858, 20.45579.
For the only railway hub of a European capital, Belgrade station makes a somewhat unexpected impression: it is quite small, I would compare it with the stations of Smolensk or Saratov.
No fuss, minimum arrivals/departures, only 6 routes. One gets the feeling that rail transport is not popular in Serbia and everyone prefers to travel by bus or car - well, given the modest size of the country, they can afford it. Despite centuries-old close relations with Russia, the railway gauge in Serbia is European - 1,435 mm, that is at the same as ours.
The name of the Belgrade suburban train sounds funny - “Beovoz”, and this is not jargon, but a completely official name.
2. Traces of NATO bombings
Coordinates: 44.80575, 20.46078
Over time, they became the same landmark of Belgrade as, for example, the Moscow Hotel:
During the bombing of Serbia in 1999, the alliance pilots paid the closest attention to Belgrade. Among other things, the building of the television center and the television tower, the buildings of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, bridges over the Danube and Sava, and for some reason the Chinese embassy were destroyed or severely damaged. They decided not to restore the building of the Serbian Ministry of Defense and General Staff and leave it as a monument to that war and as an edification - which happens to countries that risk pursuing a foreign policy independent of the United States and do not have a strong army or at least sufficient air defense systems.
3. The main attractions of Belgrade: Church of St. Sava
Coordinates: 44.79806, 20.46916.
Church of St. Sava(Church of St. Save in Serbian) in Belgrade has been built for more than a hundred years and, together with the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, they share the honorary title of the largest operating Orthodox churches in the world.
Saint Sava is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It was he who was granted autocephaly (independence of the Serbian Church) from Constantinople in 1219, and Saint Sava became its first archbishop.
Despite the fact that the idea of building the temple arose more than 100 years ago, at the moment it is still in the finishing stage:
The idea of building a temple, which had long been in the air in Belgrade, only took shape in a final decision in 1894. Then there were many years of careful planning and site selection - so that real construction work began only in 1935 and by the beginning of the Second World War the Serbs had only managed to build 12-meter walls. During the war, the Germans did everything to ensure that the Serbs, as allies of Russia, had no time to continue construction; the question was about physical survival.
After the war, communist partisans came to power in Yugoslavia under the command of Marshal Tito, and the new atheistic government seemed to have no use for the temple (in addition, Tito himself was not a Serb and there was doubly no reason for him to resume the construction of a Serbian Orthodox temple). First, a garage was placed within the unfinished walls, then it was replaced by a recreation center - they even thought about demolishing everything and building a circus in this place.
The state quite definitely made it clear to the church that it would not receive permission to continue construction, to which Bishop Amphilohius humbly replied that “he will receive it. And when we get it, you won’t be here anymore.” And he turned out to be right - in 1985 permission was received and a year later work was resumed - by 1990 everything was ready to erect the domes. But on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, war began again, this time civil/ethnic, and construction was again frozen: all the funds collected for the construction of the temple were transferred by the church to medicines and food.
The next surge of interest in the construction of the Church of St. Sava occurred in 2000, after the end of NATO bombing and the loss of Kosovo - the nation needed a powerful unifying symbol. Government participation in the construction was minimal: the parishioners themselves cut down the bushes that had sprouted over 10 years, cleared the area of various debris, and participated in the work to the best of their ability. The dome was created inside the temple, after which it was raised to a height of 40 meters using hydraulic jacks over 28 days.
At the time of writing this text, the work on the interior decoration is still far from complete, but in terms of its main parameters (length 91 meters, width 81 meters, internal height 79 meters, external height including the cross 106 meters, dome diameter 35 meters) the Church of St. Sava claims to be the title of the largest Orthodox church in the world and is definitely one of the most striking attractions in Belgrade.
Saint Sava has only two competitors - Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. The first competitor can be ignored - Hagia Sophia has not been an Orthodox church for several centuries, and for several decades it has not been a temple at all. The second competitor, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, also accommodates 10 thousand believers, but its outer wall is three meters lower. Although it is unclear how this height was measured - as is known, the Moscow temple is located on the bank of the river and has different heights of the western and eastern walls.
Church of St. Sava and the famous Belgrade " muggle"(autumn fog):
In the early morning, muggle is so thick that the house opposite is not visible from the window, but after a couple of hours it can dissipate without a trace, leaving clear, almost summer weather.
Tours of Belgrade from locals
For the most inquisitive travelers who want to better experience the unique atmosphere of the Danube city, I recommend paying attention to “first-person” city tours - your guides will be local residents, historians, artists, journalists and simply experts in their native places. Below is a selection of the most interesting excursions in Belgrade according to traveler reviews. To see all available options, click View All. At the booking stage, you will need to pay online only 20% of the excursion cost - the rest of the amount is given to the guide before it starts.
4-5. St. Mark's Church and Tashmaydan Park
St. Mark's Church coordinates: 44.81055, 20.4689.
Church of St. Mark- one of the largest churches in Belgrade, located on Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard (Kraja Aleksandra Boulevard) in Tašmajdan Park (Tašmajdan).
The temple was built relatively recently: the work was completed in 1940, just before the Second World War. Architects Petar and Branko Cristici took the Orthodox monastery of Gracanica in Kosovo as the stylistic basis.
In the southern part of the temple (to the right of the entrance) rest the relics of one of the most revered rulers of Serbia - King Dusan (1308-1355), which were transferred here from the Monastery of the Holy Archangels near Prizren. Before the construction of the Church of St. Sava, the Church of St. Mark was the tallest in Belgrade.
Tashmaidan Park, memorial to the victims of NATO bombs:
6. The building of the Serbian Parliament or the People's Assembly
Coordinates: 44.81172, 20.46597.
This is another recognizable landmark of Belgrade - and not only in the political or architectural sense. In 2007, this building celebrated one hundred years... since the start of construction. They decided to build the House of the People's Assembly near Tašmajdan Park, the place where on November 30, 1830, the hatisherif (“order”, “decree”) of the Turkish Sultan was read out, according to which Serbia received freedom, and Milos Obrenovic became the hereditary ruler of the Serbian state.
The cornerstone of the building on Nikola Pasic Square was laid in the presence of the then king Peter I Karadjordjevic.
7. Must-sees in Belgrade: Terazije Street and Hotel Moscow
Coordinates: 44.81293, 20.46045.
That's right: the oldest and most prestigious hotel in Belgrade is named after Moscow. As the Serbian proverb says: “God is in heaven, Russia is on earth.”
Along with its Sofia namesake, Belgrade's Moskva are the only two hotels outside Russia named after its capital. I would without hesitation rank “Moscow” and the monument to the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, located nearby, among the main attractions of Belgrade - at least for guests from Russia.
Bas-relief “Glory to Russia” on the wall of the hotel from Terazije Street:
It symbolizes not three epic Russian heroes at all, but the power of Russia in three elements - on land, on water and in the sky.
On January 16, 1908, the hotel was opened by the King of Serbia, Peter Karageorgievich I, and one of the first guests was the Russian Prince Lovanov-Rostovsky. Among the first guests, the comfort of “Moscow” was also appreciated by Leiba Davidovich Bronstein (better known to the world as Leon Trotsky), who at that time was a correspondent for one of the Russian newspapers. The cafe of the Moscow Hotel quickly fell in love with the Belgrade intelligentsia - they, following the example of Viennese intellectuals, also preferred to discuss the fate of the world and Serbia over a cup of good coffee.
Over time, something like a division along professional lines emerged: government members and parliamentarians gathered on the first floor of the cafe, employees of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered on the second floor, and military personnel on the third. These days, the hotel cafe is famous for its signature dessert “Moscow-Shnit”, a delicate cake with nuts and pieces of fruit.
During World War II, the hotel served as the headquarters of the Gestapo. At this time, the hotel was renamed “Great Serbia” - after the name of the hotel that was located on this site before the construction of the Moscow Hotel.
Due to its rich history and unique atmosphere, the Moscow Hotel is very popular in Serbia and abroad: such world-famous characters as the already mentioned Leon Trotsky, Yuri Gagarin, Joseph Brodsky, Alfred Hitchcock, Milla Jovovich, Jack Nicholson, Sergei Bondarchuk, Al Bano, Leonid Brezhnev, Josip Broz Tito, Brad Pitt, Ray Charles, Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Valentina Tereshkova, Gennady Zyuganov, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov and many, many others - the hotel proudly displays portraits of its famous guests on the walls of the corridors.
By the way, the prices there are quite “earthly”, despite such a number of “celestials”. For example, a standard single room can be rented for about 80 euros per day - for the main hotel of a European capital with comparable history and traditions, this is practically free.
Availability of rooms for the dates you need, as well as prices, can be checked using the link below:
8. The main attractions of Belgrade: Knez Michaela Street
Knez Mikhail Street, or, as the locals call it - Knez Mihajlova (Knez Mihajlova), is a continuation of Terazije Street if you move towards the Kalemegdan fortress.
This is a very pleasant pedestrian street in the very center of Belgrade, in its architectural appearance and general atmosphere it is somewhat reminiscent of Moscow’s Old Arbat - street musicians, artists, traders of all sorts of tourist crap, restaurants and cafes.
Since in the warm season the owners of catering establishments put their tables on the street and there are no clear boundaries between their tables, and the tables themselves are in no way separated from the flow of people walking, in some places Knez Mikhailova itself turns into one large open-air cafe.
9. The main attractions of Belgrade: Kalemegdan Fortress
Coordinates: 44.82148, 20.4508.
Kalemegdan Fortress is one of the main attractions of Belgrade and has a history dating back to the beginning of the first millennium - then it was the Roman fortress Singidunum.
Being Roman, the fortress was repeatedly destroyed by the sworn “friends” of the Romans, the Huns and Goths; in the 6th century, in a destroyed state, it went to the Byzantines, to whom it belonged until the 11th century, until the period of final decline began in Byzantium and the territory of the once greatest empire began to shrink like shagreen leather.
After Byzantium, the fortress went to the Hungarians and belonged to them until the Hungarian king Bela gave it to his son. Then the king’s son married a Serbian princess and in this intricate way the fortress passed to the Serbs. In those days, the entire population easily fit inside the powerful fortress walls, and the Kalemegdan fortress itself was then the capital of Serbia.
The fortress belonged to the Serbs until the conquest of the country by the Ottoman Empire - however, after 1867, Kalemegdan again returned to the Serbs. Such an ancient and rich history of the fortress is reflected in its architecture: Roman walls, Serbian towers built according to all the rules of medieval architecture, Austrian fortifications and Turkish gates.
At the very top of the hill there is an observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of the Danube and Sava rivers and their confluence.
Another landmark of Belgrade is located nearby: the statue of a victorious warrior, which has long been considered a symbol of independent Yugoslavia. The warrior’s face is turned to the opposite bank of the Sava - it was from there that the enemies most often came.
In addition to the fortress itself, Kalemegdan is notable for its park area and museums, among which I would highlight the Military Museum.
10. Republic Square
Coordinates: 44.81607, 20.46048.
Republic Square or, in Serbian, Republika Trg is the “semantic center” of Belgrade, although its geographical center is located on Slavija Square. Republic Square is located exactly between the most important attractions of Belgrade: it is about one and a half kilometers to Kalemegdan and Skadarlija, and a little more to Slavia Square, but it is also quite possible to walk.
Republic Square is home to the National Museum, famous for its collection of Impressionist works - one of the richest in the world, and the National Theater. In front of the National Museum there is a monument to Prince Michael, which performs in Belgrade the same function as the fountain in the Moscow GUM used to do: Belgrade residents love to make meetings and dates under it, as they say - “under the horse.”
11. Must see in Belgrade: Skadarlija
Coordinates: 44.81814, 20.46473.
On city signs Skadarlija designated as the bohemian restaurant district of Belgrade - however, in fact, it is just one street of Skadarska.
Skadarlija is home to cozy paving stones, ivy-covered walls of old houses, numerous restaurants and cafes with summer verandas and names that evoke something from the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and legendary Prague pubs: Tri šešira (“Three Hats”), Putují glamac (“ The Wandering Actor"), Dva Jelena ("Two Deer"), Zlatni bokal ("Golden Glass"), Dva beli goluba ("Two White Doves")... In addition, these are wooden benches, forged lanterns and directions to similar neighborhoods in other countries: Monmartre, Grinzing, Old Arbat...
As often happens, the current bohemian center of Belgrade grew out of the poor gypsy outskirts, where, after the founding of the National Theater in 1868, its actors got into the habit of going for a glass or a glass after performances. Gradually, other creative intelligentsia followed the actors: writers, poets, artists. During the Second World War and during socialist Yugoslavia, Skadarlija's fame faded somewhat, but in the 70s of the twentieth century it gained a second wind when a group of creative people brought Skadarlija into order, adding several new touches to it, such as the Milica Ribnikar fountain and a monument to Djura Jaksic sitting next to his house, to which he did not invite anyone during his lifetime, embarrassed by the modest size of his home. Skadarlija also has its own traditions - for example, cheerfully drinking Belgrade residents often place a glass of wine next to the monument to Jaksic. All these little things create a unique atmosphere in Skadarlija and make it one of the main attractions of Belgrade.
Among the minuses of Skadarlija, I would mention the inadequate prices. For example, the famous Serbian minced cutlet pljeskavica costs about 5 times more there than near Slavija Square.
Another very interesting attraction of Belgrade is located in a somewhat unexpected place - 200 meters from Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport.
Aeronautics Museum
If you have a few hours before departure, I recommend spending them not only exploring the assortment of the local duty-free shop (which is also important and necessary, but you are unlikely to see anything new there), but visiting this museum (entrance ticket for one adult a face costs 500 dinars - about 4 euros) or you can inspect for free the samples of aviation equipment displayed outside, under its walls:
By the way, a few words about Nikola Tesla, after whom the Belgrade airport is named:
First of all, he is known to the world for his discoveries and inventions, such as alternating current, three-phase electric power transmission, asynchronous motor, high-frequency generator, etc., including radio (about which there is an official ruling of the US Supreme Court).
However, like all geniuses, Tesla was a very extraordinary and extravagant personality, and suffered from many mild mental disorders - for example, obsessive syndrome: his fix idea was counting objects and actions, he did everything three times and could only stay in hotel rooms, multiples of three. Tesla also had pearl phobia: he could not be near a woman wearing pearl earrings - and in general Tesla had a deep “personal dislike” for round-shaped objects, human hair and overweight people.
Tesla was a fan of pigeons and constantly brought them with him to hotel rooms, causing the understandable displeasure of their staff and neighbors. His friend George Westinghouse did not believe in the genius of Tesla's inventions and promised to pay him a percentage for every horsepower sold. No one thought that the Serb's inventions would go so far, and one day Westinghouse was forced to declare that he could no longer pay interest. Tesla could have easily become the richest man in the world, but instead he simply broke his contract with Westinghouse.
Naturally, Belgrade could not do without a museum dedicated to such an outstanding compatriot. This museum is located at Krunska 51, opening hours 10-18, on weekends 10-13; closed on Monday.
Throughout its history, this city was bombed 40 times. Therefore, it is not surprising that many attractions in Belgrade bear echoes of destructive vicissitudes. Situated at the intersection of the Danube and Sava, it does not scare away guests with traces of bombing, but rather attracts with avenues and parks, large-scale temples and skyscrapers flowing upward, ancient walls and majestic palaces.
Thanks to the hospitality of local residents who will always tell you what to see in Belgrade , There is always an atmosphere of goodwill and cordiality here.
What to see first in Belgrade
It takes a long time to think about where to go in Belgrade , you won't have to. Everywhere the eye stops at interesting places and objects.
1. Belgrade Fortress
Wooden bridge over the defensive ring ditch to the gates of the Belgrade Fortress The founding place of the city, divided into 2 parts. The area of the Upper and Lower parts is completely filled with ancient monuments. The omniscient will show you the ruins of a Byzantine castle, the remains of settlements, churches, artillery sites as a reminder of the original function of the fortress.
2. Kalemegdan Park
Stone staircase to the lower terrace of Kalemegdan Park Vladimir Alic Representing a cultural and historical complex, the park is located near the fortress. A tourist train runs through the territory, allowing you to look at the best attractions of Belgrade without fatigue and loss of time: a zoo, a military museum, a play park, an art pavilion, sports grounds.
3. Prince Mikhail Street
Prince Michael Street is the main pedestrian street in Belgrade JuJu939 If we list the main attractions of Belgrade briefly , then this street cannot be ignored. Exploring the city begins with getting acquainted with it, the main pedestrian street of the city. It is here that the local atmosphere is conveyed in full force. Walking along it, you can’t help but admire the slender architectural ensemble consisting of buildings built in the 70s of the 19th century. The eye is attracted by a slender male figure on a horse, made of bronze - a monument to Prince Mikhail.
4. Skadarlija Quarter
Short Skadar Street (only 590 meters) in the evening This place can easily be classified as a city, it is so colorful. Once upon a time, gypsy artisans settled here, today it is called the bohemian quarter. Everywhere you are invited to try the cuisine of restaurants and cafes, and there is no intrusiveness or lack of culture in the invitations. The music, the walls of the houses painted with pictures and the characteristic cobblestone pavement perfectly create the atmosphere of an idle, pleasant holiday.
5. Serbian Parliament building
The monumental building of the Serbian Parliament on Nikola Pasic Square In the recommendations of tourists, this place, called the People's Assembly, deserves attention for its austere architecture. The building with noble outlines, founded at the beginning of the last century, is located in the center of the city and, despite its relatively modest (by architectural standards) age, seems like an ancient building. Interesting compositions on either side of the entrance: a man holding a horse. The installation symbolizes the conquest of nature by man.
Check out the beautiful places of Belgrade in this wonderful video!
6. Avala TV tower
Avala TV tower on Mount Avala The 250 m high structure on Mount Avala also deserves the attention of tourists. At an altitude of 122 m there is a restaurant, 2 elevators, and television antennas rising above the observation deck. One of the places completely destroyed by bombing in 1999. Reconstructed and opened to the public in 2010.
7. Belgrade Zoo
Albino animal at Belgrade Zoo The territory of the small but cozy zoo is completely dotted with hillocks, creating the impression of a level landscape. Definitely worth a visit if you don’t know what to see in Belgrade in 1 day. Peacocks walk around the territory, aviaries and pens are located so that it is easy for visitors to take photos and videos. There is a cafe and a petting zoo for children.
Entrance to the Nikola Tesla Museum building According to reviews from city guests, the museum of a world-famous man could be more impressive. The area is small (only 3 rooms) and the number of exhibits is insufficient. It is recommended to take excursions that include practical experiences. Particularly noteworthy is the overview of the scientist’s personal belongings and the golden urn with his ashes. Please note that tickets here are sold for cash only.
9. Aeronautics Museum
Exhibit: Open Air Aeronautics Museum 10. National Museum of Serbia
Monument to Prince Michael on Republic Square near the National Museum of Serbia The museum is located in the building of a former bank and exhibits a huge collection of art and archaeological exhibits. Its location on the Place de la République and its tourist rating attract a lot of visitors. The museum houses works by Renoir, Degas, Matisse, Rembrandt, Modigliani, Picasso and other famous painters. Free admission to educational programs.
11. Temple of St. Sava
Monument to Karageorgi and St. Sava Cathedral Looking at the sights of Belgrade photos with names and descriptions , It’s hard to ignore the largest temple in the Balkans. With the simplicity of its architecture, the temple resembles famous buildings from Byzantine times. It has gigantic dimensions and a cozy, homely atmosphere. The façade of the temple is decorated with white marble, and the interior walls are decorated with bright mosaics. The inner vault of the dome is painted with a fresco of amazing beauty and size. The outside of the dome is crowned with 18 crosses, and 49 bells ring from the bell tower. At the same time, the church building can accommodate about 10 thousand believers.
12. St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church at night Walking around the center of Belgrade on a trip, you suddenly come across this ancient church, surrounded by buildings of modern architecture. Made of red brick, the temple is striking in its size, while the interior decoration is very modest. Unlike other churches, candles here are placed in special iron boxes installed on the porch. The capacity of the temple is 2000 people. The entrance is decorated with mosaics, and the main altar and iconostasis are made of marble. The cathedral houses a large collection of icons, and the remains of some national figures are buried here. There is a Sunday school at the church and a children's and adult choir.
13. Ruzica Church
The Ružica Church stands close to the walls of the Belgrade Kalemegdan fortress Planning what to see in Belgrade , Be sure to add the city's oldest church to your list. The temple is illuminated by a man-made chandelier, assembled from cartridges, cartridges, sabers and parts of pistols. The church iconostasis is also interestingly designed, decorated with the finest gilded carvings. Models of a knight and a soldier are installed in front of the entrance. Once upon a time there was an armory here, which was reflected in the unusual equipment of the temple.
14. Military Museum
Exhibition of military equipment in front of the entrance to the Military Museum Located in the Kalemegdan fortress, the museum will be of interest to connoisseurs of weapons of the 19th-20th centuries. The exhibition presents military artifacts, equipment, and clothing from the period of ancient times to modern history. Equipment in the form of artillery of all calibers is located in the open air, and two floors are allocated for the museum itself. Undoubtedly, this landmark of Belgrade deserves a visit. Some rooms are equipped with interactive tablets that complement the exhibitions and tell about the events presented.
15. National Theater
View of the National Theater from Republic Square Serbian cultural traditions are sacredly honored in this original architectural structure. Located in the city center, it is amazing in size. Enhance your trip with a cultural experience! Excellent acoustics, a professional cast, and high-quality acting provide unearthly pleasure from the performances, mostly classical ones.
Sights of Belgrade: what else to visit in Belgrade
Make a list in advance of what to visit in Belgrade in the amount of time you have. What is most striking here is the contrasts. Dilapidated houses are replaced by representatives of modern architecture made of glass and concrete, and quiet cozy areas alternate with noisy establishments where fun and joy always reign.
16. Palace of Princess Ljubica
Facade of the palace of Princess Ljubica in the center of Belgrade Mister No The wife of the former prince Milos Obrenovic once lived in this residence. Recreated interiors of previous eras give an idea of how representatives of the princely families lived. The rooms are huge in size, gilded beds, sofa rooms in Turkish style will fully meet your expectations. Perhaps even the most luxurious hotels in Belgrade are inferior to the palace in magnificence. It is worth booking in advance an audience or show with an artist who will stage a real tea ceremony.
17. Mausoleum of Tito “House of Flowers”
Fountain among flowers at the mausoleum of the former ruler of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito Include a piece of the country's socialist past in your trip. The building itself is devoid of pathos and looks modest both inside and outside. Of interest are the glass pavilions in which the personal belongings of Marshal Tito and thousands of relay batons that were passed to the leader during the Olympics are on display. The entrance here is reminiscent of a theater huge mirrors, heavy velvet curtains and columns. There is a flowering garden around the tombstones. Visiting the mausoleum is free, but it is always not crowded.
18. Gardosh Tower
Millennium Tower on a hill above Zemun CrniBombarder!!! From the observation deck, where you can go up for a fee, a beautiful view opens up, although the tower itself is not very high. An authentic object in the Zemun district is a unique symbol of Belgrade. Many inscriptions on the walls date back to the beginning of the last century. It’s worth coming here to see the surrounding area from above.
19. Ada Tsiganliya Peninsula
“Stone City” - a collection of stone sculptures by Ratko Vulanović at the entrance to the lake A peninsula on the outskirts of the city, turned into a holiday destination. In summer there are always a lot of people swimming, sunbathing, and playing sports. The bridge over Ada, crossing the river, impresses with the elegance of its design, illuminated at night. Tourist reviews recommend spending a whole day visiting here. At the end of the swimming season, the skating rink and ski slopes begin to operate here.
20. Rivers Danube and Sava
Majestic view of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers in Belgrade The river banks of Belgrade with 16 islands stretch for 200 km. The city itself is formally located at their confluence, but does not completely descend to their banks. The 2,850 km long Danube and the Sava (945 km) attract huge numbers of tourists. The most beautiful view of the rivers opens from the Kalemegdan fortress.
The absence of a visa requirement when entering Serbia significantly reduces the cost and ease of holiday opportunities. Feel the mood woven from contrasting notes of bitter memory of the city’s past and undying optimism. Relax in an environment of goodwill and famous Serbian hospitality!
Imagine the dialogue:
- Why are you so happy?
- On vacation soon.
- Where are you going?
- To Belgrade.
- To Serbia?
- Cool! You are lucky.
Introduced? I'm having a hard time too. Because nobody never goes on holiday to Serbia. Due to historical and political turbulence, this country found itself cut off from the warm sea. And, if we were to go to the Balkans, then probably to Montenegro or Croatia. That’s how I ended up in Belgrade simply because “it happened that way.” But I don’t regret it at all. And I’m ready to list several reasons for visiting the capital of Serbia:
- A visa is not required to enter Serbia. One of the few European countries where Russians can enter without a symbolic mark in their passport.
- Serbs sincerely love Russians. Yes, not all. Yes, they wouldn't love. But the fact remains a fact. Most Serbs, having learned that you are from Russia, will treat you with brotherly love.
- One day is enough for a leisurely stroll around Belgrade, which fits perfectly into the Air Serbia flight schedule. The fact is that for this airline, a transfer in the capital of more than 7 hours is, in principle, not uncommon. And given that you don’t need a visa to enter the city, this is an ideal option for exploring Belgrade. Actually, that’s what happened to me.
Getting around Belgrade
To get to the city from Nikola Tesla Airport, you should take a taxi. Firstly, it will save time. We only have one day to explore the city. Secondly, communicating with Serbian taxi drivers is simply something. Yes, they talk “incessantly” like other representatives of the profession. But the Serbian language gives them a unique flavor, because it is so similar to Russian. As soon as the driver finds out that you are from Russia, he will remember the entire rich (in his opinion) arsenal of Russian words. And this arsenal consists mainly of Serbian words, which, he hopes, are similar to Russian ones. In a word, it is a lot of fun and will be remembered for a long time. In addition, taxis from the airport are relatively inexpensive. By the way, the transfer can be ordered in advance. It will be even cheaper.
You can easily get around the city on foot. The historical center is not so big, and you are unlikely to have the desire to go to the outskirts. The sleeping areas of Eastern Europe are not particularly beautiful.
You can get back to the airport by bus. It’s cheaper, and we’ve already talked to taxi drivers.
Belgrade Fortress - Kalemegdan
