For other places with the same name, see Belgrade (disambiguation).

Belgrade (Serbian: Београд, Beograd) is the capital of the Republic of Serbia and the country's largest city. Belgrade has been re-emerging as a tourist destination in the past years. Often called the party capital of Southeastern Europe, Belgrade is famous for offering numerous entertainment venues, many historical sites, great local food, and warm people. Various styles of architecture are found in the city, and its resurgence in the 21st century as the leading hub in Southeastern Europe makes it a must-see destination.

National Assembly of Serbia

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 café culture, nightlife and often a Mediterranean touch in its daily life.

Understand

Belgrade, meaning 'White City', has a population of 1.4 million people in the urban area (2022). It lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers.

History

Zemun district

Kalemegdan fortress and the statue of Victor

The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. Later, it became the Roman city of Singidunum, and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly at the Belgrade Fortress. During the Middle Ages the town became a Serbian stronghold until the Ottoman invasion. The city changed hands between the Ottoman and the Austrian empires several times until 1878, when Serbia gained its independence and Belgrade became the capital of the new country.

After the First World War, Belgrade became the seat of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (in 1929, the country changed its name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia) until its collapse in 1943. Due to its strategic location, the city has endured more than 115 wars and has been destroyed more than 40 times. 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 as Yugoslavia was expelled from the Eastern Bloc in 1948 but followed its own brand of communism until Marshal Tito died in 1980.

Climate

Belgrade
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       47     5 −1       40     7 0       49     12 4       56     18 8       58     24 13       101     26 16       63     29 18       58     29 18       55     24 14       50     18 9       55     11 4       57     6 0 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source: Wikipedia. Visit AccuWeather for a five day forecast.
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       1.8     40 30       1.6     45 32       1.9     54 39       2.2     64 47       2.3     74 55       4     79 60       2.5     83 64       2.3     84 64       2.2     75 56       2     65 48       2.2     52 40       2.3     42 32 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Belgrade has a temperate continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters with occasional periods of snowfall. Belgrade experiences all four seasons to their maximums, and those visiting are advised to dress appropriately, and keep an eye on the weather forecast, as the city often experiences sudden gusts of the strong Košava wind, storms, and rainfall, particularly during the summer months.

People

Whilst there isn't much ethnic or cultural diversity in Belgrade compared to other European cities, there are minority communities (largely Roma and Chinese), as well as people from other former Yugoslav republics, such as Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia. There is also a small expat community. Cultural events from around the world, however, are starting to become increasingly common, particularly in the spring and summer months, sponsored by local arts and culture organizations, and by foreign embassies and cultural centers. These attract a good deal of local attention, and help in raising the city's profile as a cultural hotspot.

Belgradians, like most Serbs, are friendly and hospitable people, who will always go out of their way to make guests feel welcome. Whatever the ethnicity, any tourist who comes to Belgrade and treats the locals kindly will see that kindness returned doubled. Most young people speak English well, and usually another foreign language such as German, Russian, or French. As with any destination, it could prove useful to learn some of the local phrases.

Visitor information

• Go Belgrade, ☏ +381 11 26 35 622, information from the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade.

Get in

Nikola Tesla Airport

By plane

1 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG  ^IATA, Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd) is how most visitors reach Serbia. Most flights are by Air Serbia, especially from other Balkan cities such as Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Skopje and Zagreb, and within Serbia from Niš and Kraljevo. Other airlines are mostly traditional "flag-carriers" such as Lufthansa. Serbia doesn't have the EU "open skies" philosophy, so Wizz is the only budget carrier. The airport for practical purposes has a single terminal. Arriving, you pass through the airside lounge before passport control and baggage reclaim. Currency exchange kiosks here give rates within 5% of official rate, good value anywhere. Departing, passport control comes straight after check-in, then you enter the airside lounge. There's retail and eating but little general seating. Each departure gate has its own security screen and cramped waiting area without toilets, a thoroughly awkward design.

Getting there and away: the airport is 18 km west of city centre.

• By bus: Bus 72 runs every 30 mins to Novi Beograd railway and bus station then to Zeleni Venac near Republic Square. It's free and takes 50 min, running daily 05:00-23:30. The bus disembarks passengers outside Departures and then circles around to pick up from Arrivals on the level below. Buses 600 and A1 no longer run.

• By taxi: read the precautions described below. Taxi options from safest to least safe:

- Order by mobile app such as Yandex Go, CAR:GO or Pink Taxi Beograd. It tracks and saves your whole route, and calculates the price automatically. The taxi will meet you upstairs at Departures.

- Order taxi by phone. The taxi will meet you at Departures.

- Take a slip from a vending machine next to baggage claim. This guarantees a fixed price, and there should be no add-ons. Pick up is from Arrivals.

- Taking a taxi waiting at Arrivals is risky, there are too many crooks.

By bus

Buses are the best overland option from western Europe while the railway is being dug up. They run at least daily from Budapest (6-7 hours), Sarajevo (7 hours), Sofia (11 hours) and Thessaloniki (10 hours via Niš and Skopje). Buses connect Belgrade to all the main cities of Serbia: some speed along the motorway, others wend and wind through small towns, so check: the next departure might not be the quickest. Quality of coaches is variable. They stop every 3 or 4 hours for a rest break - keep a close watch on your belongings at these stops, and on arrival be intensely suspicious of taxi touts and supposed luggage porters.

Flixbus is the main operator on long distance routes. Bus lines within Serbia include Ozlem, Jugoprevoz Kruševac, Litas, Niš Ekspres, Dunav Prevoz, Severtrans, Lasta, Best Komerc, Božur and Kavim Jedinstvo.

Belgrade Bus Station or BAS (Београдска аутобуска станица) moved to Novi Beograd in 2024: it's at Antifašističke borbe 2, south across the street from Novi Beograd railway station. They've retained the ludicrous system of a charge of RSD300 to enter the platform area, which may be included in the fare, and you receive a plastic token or paper stub with a QR code to get through the gate. But if you buy your ticket online it's not included, and you have to buy a platform card in the terminal, from a separate kiosk with a queue so long that you'll probably miss the bus. You might also have to pay the bus driver an extra RSD100 per bag placed in the cargo compartment.

The former downtown station on Karađorđeva has closed.

By train

International trains have been a tale of woe for years as the track is dug up. Trains from Budapest are promised from Spring 2026, taking 3 hr 20 min. Until then the workaround is to travel from Budapest Nyugati to Szeged, change to a local train to Subotica, then a Serbian train via Novi Sad to Belgrade Center. There are three connections a day, taking 7 hours.

Trains from Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Sarajevo, Zagreb and Ljubljana have been suspended for years, take the bus.

A nightly sleeper Lovćen runs from Bar on the Montenegro coast, taking 11 hr via Podgorica and Bijelo Polje. It also transports cars, so from Belgrade Center it rumbles onto the car terminal at Zemun at the northwest edge of the city. There's also a daytime service Tara, better for admiring the mountain scenery, and you change trains at Bijelo Polje on the border.

Trains from Novi Sad run hourly and take one hour. From Subotica they're every hour or two taking 80 min. Four trains a day take 6 hours from Niš.

Tickets and timetables are available from the national operator SrbijaVoz, but only in Serbian.

2 Belgrade Center railway station (Железничка станица Београд Центар) finally opened in 2016, a tad beyond its original target of 1979. It was a national joke for decades and has been carefully placed 2 km south of downtown, with poor onward connections. It's nevertheless modern and clean, and known locally as Prokop station for its district.

3 Novi Beograd station (Нови Београд) is a stop for trains running west out of Center Station towards Zemun, Novi Sad, Zvornik and Šid. It's more convenient than Center for connections to city transport, and the new bus terminal is south across the street.

By road

Coming from north or south use Highway E-75. Ibarska magistrala M-22 is from Montenegro and the southwest. From the west (eg Zagreb and Ljubljana) use E-70. There are also major roads from Vršac and Zrenjanin.

Highways tolls are inexpensive: Serbia's only toll highways are parts of E-70 and E-75, which as A3 goes through the middle of Belgrade. If you're heading for Bulgaria or Greece via Niš, the signs will direct you onto A1 the southern bypass. But except in rush hour, it's just as quick to stay on A3 through the city. A1 is modern but undivided, and you're sure to fetch up behind a slow truckload of watermelons, as heavy goods vehicles are required to use this road and avoid city centre.

Belgrade is on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects the Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea. The route across Serbia is from Budapest via Osijek and Novi Sad to Belgrade, continuing east to Vidin.

By boat

Cruises along the Danube sometimes call at Belgrade, but there are no point-to-point ferries.

Get around

By public transport

Local public transport in Belgrade is free. This excludes trains, and express bus lines with an E route number.

GSP Beograde (ГСП) operates city buses, trams and trolleybuses. Use their Beograd +plus app for timetables and live tracking.

Buses are the mainstay of city transport, and you can get almost anywhere on them. Buses get very full at peak times, and some are full all day, notoriously the 26, 83 and 50. Their quality varies: those around the city centre or serving posh neighborhoods are usually newer air-conditioned vehicles, e.g. the Polish Solaris Urbino 18. Further out you may encounter some elderly specimens, e.g. the 30-year-old Ikarbus with wooden benches for seats.

There are two main bus terminals for local buses: the intercity main bus station (next to the disused railway station) for the west and southwest suburbs, and Zeleni Venac for the north (Zemun and Batajnica) and some western parts of the city (Banovo Brdo, Žarkovo, Čukarica). It's a steep ten-minute walk from the main bus station to Zeleni Venac, with no bus between.

Trams run along 11 routes. These all converge in the Slavija-Vukov Spomenik area except 11 and 13 which run to Novi Beograd. Line 2 orbits the centre.

Trolleybuses follow 7 lines along two main corridors. One corridor is from Studentski trg (near Trg Republike) over Crveni Krst to Konjarnik and Medaković 3. The other is from Zvezdara to Banjica, plied by lines 40 (Banjica-Zvezdara), 41 (Studentski trg - Banjica) and 28 (Studentski trg - Zvezdara).

By train

The suburban railway is called BG:Voz (BG:Train). One line runs from Batajnica in the west through Zemun and Novi Beograd to Beograd Centar then swings north through Karađorđev Park and Vukov Spomenik to Ovča across the river. The other line runs south from Beograd Center via Rakovica to Resnik. Trains run every 30 minutes, 15 mins in rush hour.

Belgrade's metro project is a national joke. It's been talked about since the 1930s, with several great plans put forward, planning teams formed, and funding collaborations announced. Construction began in 2021 than abruptly stopped and has yet to resume.

By taxi

Taxis are cheap by European standards, though far more expensive than anywhere else in Serbia. Car:Go is an Uber-like app and you can pay by card in the app. The other apps are Pink Taxi and Yandex Taxi.

You can find the official info about taxis in Belgrade here. Fares are regulated by the government and are 270 RSD to start a ride, 96-125 RSD per km (depending on time of day) and 20 RSD per minute of waiting time.

Taxi scams are common in Belgrade.

It is always best to order taxis via a smartphone app (Car:Go, Pink Taxi or Yandex Taxi), since it will record the licence plates, and the whole ride. Apps will also give you an approximate price that you will need to pay (actual price might be up to 5% different).

Next option is to order taxi by phone, since your order will be saved in the operator's database. However, the information saved in the operator's database are not nearly as clear or as detailed as the one saved by smartphone apps, so that offers less protection for the customer.

Only take a taxi with a roof sign with the city coat of arms and a number, indicating it's a city-regulated radio taxi. Anything else is a private unregulated cab that may charge four times as much. Also, legal taxis must have licence plates ending with TX (e.g. BG-1234-TX).

Insist that the trip be metered; the only exception is if you take a taxi from the airport and buy a voucher with a fixed price. Tips to drivers are welcome but not required and your luggage is included in the metered price.

If you believe that a driver is trying to rip you off, call the operator of his taxi association to check if the price is regular for the specified distance. Afraid of the city 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 driver’s signature. Write down the number on the blue sign on the vehicle roof, as well as the license plate. Report the incident to city inspection (☏ +381 11 3227-000) and if you are going from or to the airport, also report it to the airport inspection (☏ +381 11 2097-373, taxi@beg.aero). If the driver is aggressive towards you, call the police.

By car

As in most of Europe you must keep to the right side of the road. Driving in Belgrade can be stressful. Avoid rush hours (08:30–9:30, 16:00-18:00). Plan your journey if you are going in to the city core, and expect to have a hard time finding a free parking place 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 (30 km/h), on the highway is higher (up to 130 km/h). 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 Popovića, and other major ones. Keep your seat belts fastened. Other passengers must also do the same, even when sitting on 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 64 174 6411. 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 (RSD1150 for <10 km, RSD1550 for >10 km etc.). There are some other options such as Safe-Driver Beograd. Belgrade is known for nightlife, so if you find yourself in such a situation, this is a way to arrive home safely.

Yellow lanes are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and private vehicles may not use them. They're marked with a yellow line and on traffic signs. Some only apply during rush hours.

Car rental services are widely available both at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and throughout the city. Local agencies often provide more affordable options compared to major international brands, especially for longer trips.

Examples of local providers include: Terminal Rent a Car, MS Rent a Car

Parking

Best option is to avoid bringing a car into the centre, next best is to use a parking garage. Street parking is difficult. There are four zones, clearly marked:

• Red Zone is the central spine from Student Square down to Takovska / Milosa Bvds. You may only stay one hour, RSD56. There are few spaces at the best of times, and with the closure of Republic Square and adjacent streets, it's impractical.
• Yellow Zone has spaces painted orange to avoid confusion with the standard yellow road markings. It cloaks the Red Zone, between George Washington Bvd east and the bus station west, and south just past Slavija Square. Maximum stay is two hours, RSD48 per hour.
• Green Zone is the rest of city centre, maximum stay 3 hours, RSD41 per hour.
• Blue Zone beyond has no limit but still charges RSD31 per hr or RSD150 per day. Spaces near main transport routes fill early as commuters park up for the day then take the bus to the office.

Parking charges apply M-F 07:00-21:00 and Sa 07:00-14:00 (in Blue Zone from 08:00). You can pay using a ticket machine, from a parking attendant, at a kiosk or by mobile phone. With a kiosk ticket, write down the parking time and display it inside your windscreen. By phone, text your car's plate number (e.g. BG123AA) to 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green). Every message you send buys you an hour. Five mins before the hour expires, you get a text warning, and the chance to renew if you're eligible to extend your parking for the next hour.

There are several large public garages for extended parking, e.g. there's one with 500 spaces under the old palace, across from the parliament building. They charge about RSD100 per hour.

Parking violations in the centre are swiftly pounced upon. Failure to pay in a marked spot results in a fine. With illegally parked vehicles, the traffic police are obliged to wait 15 minutes for the return of the driver, who'll have to pay a fine of €50. When 15 minutes are up, the car gets towed to one of four designated lots in the city, which you can locate using the online service. At the lot, you will be required to present a valid form of ID and the vehicle registration documents, and pay the fine and towing expenses, €90 in total.

By bicycle

Old Belgrade is pretty hilly and the cycling 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, Dorćol, Ada Ciganlija, New Belgrade and Bežanijska 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. 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 €2/hour and €8/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.

See

Yugoslav Drama Theatre

Stari Grad

The historic core of the city.

• 1 Kalemegdan is the fortress, park and earliest settlement of Belgrade, on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava. It's free to access 24 hours. Within its bounds are multiple sites including the military museum, a couple of churches, and a zoo.
• Military Museum (Војни Музеј) (within Fortress), ☏ +381 11 334 3441. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Extensive collection of Serbia's military history. Good signage in English. Adult RSD350, con RSD250. (updated Nov 2025)
• Ružica church within the Fortress dates to the 15th century, was destroyed in the 18th century, rebuilt and again destroyed in World War I by the Central Powers. The present version was created in 1925, embellished by bronze soldiers guards in front of it and the unusual chandeliers made out of bullet shells, swords and bayonets. "Ružica" means little rose, though it's clad in ivy.
• Sveta Petka is a chapel next to Ružica built in 1937.

Gazela Bridge, Old Railway Bridge and New Railway Bridge

• 2 Belgrade Zoo, Mali Kalemegdan 8 (within Fortress), ☏ +381 11 262 4526. Daily Apr-Oct 08:00–20:30, Nov-Mar 08:00–17:00. Popular, but with a lot of animals in a small space. Adult RSD700, child RSD500. (updated Nov 2025)
• 3 Belgrade Cathedral (Саборна Црква Светог Архангела Михаила), Kneza Sime Markovića, ☏ +381 11 263 6684. Daily 07:00-20:00. The Cathedral Church of St Michael the Archangel is Orthodox, built 1837-40 in neoclassical style with a richly-decorated interior. Buried in front of the church are two notable Serbian linguists, Vuk Karadžić and Dositej Obradović. Free. (updated Nov 2025)
• Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Музеј Српске Православне Цркве), Kneza Sime Markovića 6 (opposite Cathedral), ☏ +381 11 263 8875. M-F 09:00-16:00. Museum of church history with frescoes, mosaics, and icons. Good signage in English. Adult RSD200. (updated Nov 2025)

Academy of Sciences & Arts

• Residence of Princess Ljubica (Конак кнегиње Љубице), Kneza Sime Markovića 8, ☏ +381 11 263 8264. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Built in 1830 as a grand residence for Ljubica Vukomanović (1788-1843), consort of Prince Miloš Obrenović. It remained in royal use to 1842. Since 1979 it's been a branch of the City Museum, exhibiting architecture and furnishings of the 19th century, when Serbia was in transition from Ottoman to European styles. Adult RSD200. (updated Nov 2025)
• National Bank of Serbia has a visitor centre and museum at Kralja Petra 12, a block east of the cathedral. You get to print banknotes with your own face: with the advent of cryptocurrency, the bank probably thought "what the hell". It's open M-F 10:00-16:00.
• Museum of Applied Art (Музеј примењене уметности), Vuka Karadžića 18 (200 m south of cathedral), ☏ +381 11 262 6841. M-Sa 11:00-19:00. Displaying art and design from early history. Adult RSD400. (updated Nov 2025)

Knez Mihailova

• Kneza Mihaila is the main pedestrian street. It's lined by elegant 19th century buildings, coursing south from Kalmegdan to Republic Square, such as Heritage House and Zepter Museum.
• 4 Zepter Museum, Kneza Mihaila 42, ☏ +381 11 328 3339. Tu-F 12:00-20:00, Sa Su 10:00-20:00. Modern Serbian art. Adult RSD200. (updated Nov 2025)
• Heritage House (Кућа легата) is next to Zepter Museum at Kneza Mihaila 46. It hosts changing art exhibitions.
• 5 Ethnographic Museum, Studentski trg 13, ☏ +381 11 328 1888. Th-Tu 10:00-20:00. Extensive display of Serbian costumes, tools, culture and everyday life in past centuries. Adult RSD200. (updated Nov 2025)
• Vuk & Dositej Museum is between the Ethnographic Museum and Bajrakli Mosque at Gospodar-Jevremova 21. It's a branch of National Museum (same hours) showing development of the Serbian language. Adult RSD200.
• 6 Bajrakli Mosque (Бајракли џамија), Gospodar Jevremova 11. 24 hours. Built around 1575 when Islam was the majority religion, it's now the only mosque in Belgrade. Bajrakli means "with flag" - the muwaqqit calculated the exact time of Islamic observances and hoisted a flag to advise the other city mosques, whereupon each muezzin called from their minaret to those within earshot. It's been smashed up several times, most recently in 2004 during the Kosovo conflict, but restored. Free. (updated Nov 2025)

Residence of Princess Ljubica

• Chocolate Museum, Pjarona De Mondezira (block northwest of mosque), ☏ +381 65 990 9097. Tu-Su 10:00-20:00. Chocolate's role in the story of the city, and you get to make your own. Adult RSD1200, child RSD900. (updated Nov 2025)
• Dorćol is the neighbourhood from the mosque down the slopes north to the Danube riverbank. The name is Turkish, dort yol means "four roads" or a crossroads, but it was rebuilt in Austrian style from 1717. The west end looks prosperous but the east end is grubby and industrial, as it's a busy river port.
• 7 Museum of Science and Technology (Музеј науке и технике), Skenderbegova 51, ☏ +381 11 303 7850. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. Gadgets, transport and machinery down the ages. Adult RSD400. (updated Nov 2025)
• 8 Church of St Alexander Nevsky (Црква Св Александра Невског), Cara Dušana 63. Daily 07:00-19:00. This Orthodox church was completed in 1929, replacing that of 1877. It has notable relics and frescoes. (updated Nov 2025)
• 9 National Museum (Народни Музеј), Trg republike 1а (Enter from side-street Vase Čarapića), ☏ +381 608 075020. Tu W F Su 10:00-18:00, Th Sa 12:00-20:00. Founded in 1844, it has more than 400,000 items on 3 floors. It's organised into Paleolithic, Ancient History, Middle Ages and Modern. Adult RSD300, free on Sun. (updated Nov 2025)
• Republic Square south side of the National Museum is the city's main plaza. The equestrian statue is of Prince Mihailo Obrenović (1823-1868), who negotiated the withdrawal of Ottoman troops from Belgrade. The city Cultural Centre also fronts onto the square. In spite of the imposing buildings, it's a drab concrete expanse thronged with traffic along Francuska.
• 10 Sukat Shalom Synagogue, Maršala Birjuzova 19. Sephardic Jews settled in Belgrade from the 16th century, as the Ottomans welcomed those fleeing Spanish persecution. The Ashkenazis arrived in numbers from the 19th century, escaping Tsarist Russia, and completed this synagogue in 1924. It's still active, but now closed to visitors because of the risk of attack. (It's the same story with the Jewish Museum at Kralja Petra 71a.) (updated Nov 2025)

Mid-town

Temple of Saint Sava

Terazije is the spine boulevard, coursing south from Republic Square and becoming Kralja Milana at the Old Palace. It's lined with grand buildings, and the police will shoo you away from several. Saint Sava dominates the view as you walk south.

• 11 Museum of Illusions, Nušićeva 11, ☏ +381 63 611 911. Daily 09:00-21:00. Family-friendly place with all the fairground usuals: distorting mirrors, Ames Room, and so on. Adult RSD900, child RSD650. (updated Nov 2025)
• Museum of the Paranormal is authentically hoaky, at Lomina 14, open daily 12:00-21:00.
• 12 Old Palace (Стари Двор), Dragoslava Jovanovića 2. This was the residence of the Obrenović and Karađorđević princely dynasties from 1884 until 1922. It now houses Belgrade City Assembly, no visits except on business. (updated Nov 2025)
• New Palace is just south of Old Palace on Andrićev Venac square. It was built 1911-22 for King Petar I Karađorđević, and is now the residence of the President of the Republic of Serbia.
• Ivo Andric Museum, Andrićev Venac 8 (behind New Palace), ☏ +381 11 323 8397. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Museum in the home of Nobel laureate Ivo Andric (1892-1975). Adult RSD200. (updated Nov 2025)
• 13 Historical Museum of Serbia (Историјски Музеј Србије), Nikole Pasica 11, ☏ +381 11 339 8018. Tu-Su 12:00-20:00. Huge collection of materials about the Serbian nation from ancient times to the present. In the coming years it's intended to move to new premises on the site of the former railway station. Adult RSD400. (updated Nov 2025)
• 14 National Assembly of Serbia (Narodna Skupština / Народна Скупштина), Trg Nikole Pašića 13. Grand neo-baroque legislative palace, built 1907-36. (updated Nov 2025)
• Postal Museum is a hidden oddity, at Majke Jevrosime 13 a block northeast of the National Assembly. It's open Tu W F Su 10:00-18:00, Th Sa 12:00-20:00.
• 15 St Mark's Church (Crkva Sv Marka / Црква Св Марка), Blv Kralja Aleksandra 17 (Tašmajdan Park). Daily 07:00-19:00. Large Serbian Orthodox church built 1931-40 in Serbo-Byzantine style. Within are the tombs of King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (1308-55), and of King Aleksandar I Obrenović (1876-1903) and his Queen Draga Mašin. (updated Nov 2025)
• Church of the Holy Trinity (Храм Свете Тројице), dwarfed by next-door St Mark's, is Russian Orthodox. It was built in 1924 for White Russians fleeing from the Bolsheviks after their civil war. It's open M-Sa 08:30-18:00.
• Museum of Roma Culture (Kuća romske kulture) is opposite St Mark's at Ruzveltova 54. It's open M-F 09:00-16:00.
• 16 Nikola Tesla Museum, Krunska 51, ☏ +381 11 243 3886. M 10:00-18:00, Tu–Su 10:00-20:00. Nikola Tesla (Никола Тесла, 1856-1943) made huge contributions to electric engineering, pioneering alternative current (enabling long-distance high-energy transfers), radio (underpinning today's mobile comms) and AC motors as used in household and office machinery. Half of this small museum is dedicated to Tesla's personal effects, while the other half contains models of his inventions. English-speaking tours start at the full hour and include demonstrations. Long lines build up at peak hours. English guided tour RSD800, cash only. (updated Nov 2025)

Crypt of Saint Sava

• 17 Temple of Saint Sava (Hram Svetog Save / Храм Светог Саве), Krušedolska 2a. Daily 08:00-20:00. The largest church in Serbia and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, under construction since 1935 and still not entirely finished. It's described as a temple (Hram) to distinguish it from the smaller St Sava Church (Tsrkva) adjacent. The crypt (downstairs from the main entrance) is an extensive, bright and polished area with walls covered with modern iconography, so it looks more like a metro interchange for Orthodox saints than a religious building. Services are held regularly here and in the Church, which you can also visit. Free. (updated Nov 2025)
• 18 Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is at Hadži Melentijeva 75. It's Roman Catholic, and modern.
• 19 Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin (Црква Покрова Пресвете Богородице), Kajmakčalanska 55. Daily 07:00-19:00. Small Orthodox church built in 1933, in simple Serbian-Byzantine style. It's adorned with frescoes and mosaics, and has a rich collection of relics. (updated Nov 2025)

South of centre

• 20 Presentation of the Virgin Monastery (Манастир Ваведења Пресвете Богородице), Ljube Jovanovića 8, ☏ +381 11 369 3264. Orthodox monastery church built in 1935 in the Serbian-Byzantine style. (updated Nov 2025)
• House of King Petar I is a small museum and exhibition space 300 m west of the monastery at Vase Pelagića 40. There's nothing of the king himself here.

Museum of Yugoslavia

• 21 Museum of Yugoslavia and Tito's Mausoleum (House of Flowers / Kuća cveća), Mihaila Mike Jankovića 6 (Trolleybus #40 or #41), ☏ +381 11 367 1485. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. This is in 3 buildings. Old Museum is a general display of the history and culture of the former Yugoslavia. 25 May Museum is an oh-so-Sixties building named for the official birthdate of Josip Broz Tito (1892-1980). It displays presents given to him during his 27-year presidency: he amassed quite a collection of youth relay batons. House of Flowers is his mausoleum. Adult RSD600, student RSD300. (updated Nov 2025)
• 22 Museum of African Art, Andre Nikolića 14, ☏ +381 11 265 1654. Daily 10:00-18:00. West African contemporary art. Adult RSD300. (updated Nov 2025)
• 23 Royal Palace (Краљевски двор). Apr-Nov Sa. Residence of the royal family of Serbia. You can only visit on a guided tour (in English or Serbian), booked through the Tourist Information Offices. The tour takes in the White Palace, with a large art collection. Adult RSD1500. (updated Nov 2025)
• 24 Banjica concentration camp, Veljka Lukića Kurjaka 33, ☏ +381 11 263 0825. Th-Sa 10:00-17:00. This operated from July 1941 to October 1944 under Gestapo leadership; at least 3849 perished here. It's now a museum. (updated Nov 2025)
• 25 Rakovica Monastery (Манастир Раковица), Patrijarha Dimitrija 34 (11 km south, Bus 47 or 506/7). Daily 06:00-17:00. Built on its present site from 1600, the monastery's main structure is the Church of Archangel Michael. The other churches are modern. (updated Nov 2025)
• 26 White Hill (Vinča-Belo Brdo), Belo Brdo 17, Vinca (14 km southeast of Belgrade, Bus 307), ☏ +381 11 806 5334. Apr-Oct Tu W F 10:00-16:00, Th 12:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. A large tell, a 10 m hillock of prehistoric settlements, mostly Neolithic. At weekends there are guided tours through the site. Adult RSD200, conc RSD100. (updated Nov 2025)
• 27 Mount Avala 16 km south of the city is a mountain of 511 m, topped by a telecoms tower. The tower was destroyed by NATO bombing during the Kosovo conflict but rebuilt in 2017. You can ride up to the observation deck for RSD500. Nearby is the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.

West of River Sava

Novi Belgrade (Нови Београд) is the business district, laid out on a grid from 1948.

Zemun is a much older settlement further up the Danube that merged into Novi Belgrade. Enjoy it soon before it subsides into a crater: the bedrock is riddled with medieval passageways, cisterns and shafts, all past due for collapse.

Gardoš Tower

• 28 Museum of Contemporary Art, Ušće 10, ☏ +381 11 311 5713, msub@msub.org.rs. W-M 11:00-19:00. Large museum of Yugoslav, Serbian and international art of the 20th century, in a striking modern building. Adult RSD600. (updated Nov 2025)
• 29 Great War Island (Велико ратно острво, Veliko ratno ostrvo) is the big triangular river island at the confluence of the Danube and Sava. Each summer the army builds a 300 m pontoon bridge from Zemun Quay, then removes it in autumn. It's a wildlife reserve, no buildings are permitted; illegal shacks repeatedly spring up to be swept away by floods before the city authorities can serve eviction notices. Wild boar from the island occasionally wander across to the mainland and make their way towards the swinish attractions of town.
• Little War Island (Malo ratno ostrvo) is much eroded, little more than a line of trees trying to keep their heads above water.
• 30 Gardoš is a hill in Zemun, topped by Gardoš Tower. Also known as Millennium Tower, this was one of seven erected to mark 1000 years of Hungarian settlement along the Danube. The neighbourhod was once part of Zemun Fortress and is now a district of narrow cobbled streets and old buildings.
• Zemun Cemetery ranges west of the tower. Laid out from the 1740s and still in use, it has Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Jewish sections.
• St Nicholas is an Orthodox church 100 m east of Gardoš Tower at Njegoševa 43. It was completed in 1752.
• Zemun Homeland Museum (авичајни музеј Земуна) is 500 m east of Gardoš Tower at Glavna 9. It's open Tu-Sa 12:00-20:00, Su 12:00-18:00 but there's not much in it.
• Zemun Quay stretches along the riverbank east of Gardoš, a pleasant area for strolling and eating.
• 31 Aeronautical Museum (Музеј Ваздухопловства) (next to airport, Bus 72). Closed for rebuilding until 2027. The main collection is in a striking geodesic glass building, with additional aircraft displayed on the surrounding grounds. The museum has over 200 aircraft flown by the Serbian and Yugoslav Air Forces, aero clubs and private & commercial aviation, from gliders to helicopters to jet fighters. There are a number of rare aircraft and other aviation equipment. The museum also displays relics of US and NATO aircraft "donated" during the 1990s Balkans conflicts, including wreckage from a US F-117 Nighthawk. (updated May 2023)
• 32 Obedska bara (Обедска бара), 40 km west of Belgrade, is a large wetland and nature reserve along the north bank of the Sava River.

Do

Aeronautical Museum

• 1 Belgrade Arena is a large multi-sports facility that also hosts concerts and similar events. It's on Blv Arsenija Čarnojevića west of the Sava in Novi Beograd.
• 2 Ada Ciganlija is a river island in the Sava extending 6 km east-west by 700 m north-south, fused to the city mainland since the 1960s and now a large park and recreation area. There are road links at its west and near its east end, while the east tip has a stairway to Ada Highway Bridge. The river loop on its south side between the road links is now a lake for bathing and water sports, with a gravel beach. The island has walking and cycling tracks, sports pitches, golf, and picnic and barbecue areas; camping is not permitted. No bus crosses onto the island but several run along the mainland shore.
  • Badminton Centar is a sports complex at the east tip.
  • Markoni Sport by the east road link hires bikes and has other sports gear.
  • Ice skating: Winter City Ada is by the east road link, see below for other city sites.
  • Veštačka Stena is a climbing wall 500 m west.
  • Aqua Ski is west end of the lake.
• Ada Međica is a small river island 100 m north of Ada Ciganlija. No boats cross between them, you might find one from the north mainland bank.

(And see above for Great War Island, reached by pontoon bridge from Zemun.)

Ada Ciganlija

• Luna Park is a chain of funfairs for younger children, with three sites in Belgrade: within Kalmegdan, on Zemun Quay west of the Sava, and 2 km southeast of the centre down Blv Kralja Aleksandra.
• Public Observatory (within Fortress). Four small telescopes enable daytime viewing of the city. On F Sa evenings from 20:30 if the sky is clear you can use the 110/2050 mm refractor and 200/2000 mm reflector for night viewing, with commentary and guidance from staff. The regular observatory is 3 km southeast in Zvezdara Park, and occasionally has guided tours. Adult RSD400, child free. (updated Nov 2025)
• National Theatre, Francuska 3 (next to National Museum), ☏ +381 11 328 1333. This puts on opera, ballet and theatre. The main hall is worth looking in at, decorated with gilt and artwork. (updated Nov 2025)
• BITEF Theatre puts on contemporary and experimental work at Skver Mire Trailović, by Skadarlija Market.
• Bowling alleys: Žabac is a chain, with centres at Višnjička 70 ("Karaburma"), Patrijarha Joanikija 2a ("Vidikovac"), Stari Merkator Shopping Centre Zemun and Kocic Tennis Centre Zemun. These also have pool tables and darts. Colosseum Bowling is at Dobanovačka 56 in Zemun.
• Ice skating is available in winter at Ada Ciganlija as above, in Trg Nikole Pašića, at Pionir Ice Hall and Olimp Sports Centre.

Cinemas

Monument to the Unknown Soldier, Mount Avala

Movies in Serbia are subtitled, not dubbed. Cinemas include:

• Yugoslav Film Archive shows contemporary art house movies and classics. It's a block southeast of Kalmegdan at at Uzun Mirkova 1.
• MTS Dvorana is a multi-use venue at Dečanska 14, a block north of the Serbian History Museum.
• Tuckwood Cineplex is a small place at Kneza Miloša 7a, a block southwest of the National Assembly.
• Cineplexx Galerija is within Galerija shopping mall, on the Sava riverbank along Blv Vudro Vilson; it has an IMAX.
• Akademija 28 is a cinema and live arts venue 1 km south of the centre at Nemanjina 28.
• Cineplexx UŠĆE is within Usce shopping mall on Blv Mihajla Pupina, in Novi Beograd west of the Sava.
• Cineplexx Delta City is within Delta City shopping mall at Jurija Gagarina 16 in Novi Beograd.
• Roda Cineplex is a small grubby cinema 5 km southwest of the centre at Požeška 83a.

Sports

• Football: Belgrade has five clubs playing soccer in SuperLiga, the country's top tier.

- FK Crvena Vezda are better known as Red Star Belgrade. They play at Rajko Mitic Stadium, capacity 55,000, 2 km south of city centre. Serbia's international games are also played here.

- Partizan Belgrade play at Partizan Stadium, capacity 33,000. It's 1.5 km south of the centre, close to Red Star's stadium.

- The others are FK Kolubara, FK Čukarički and FK Voždovac. Several other Belgrade teams play in lower tiers.

• Rugby Union: Three of Serbia's 12 top-tier clubs are based in Belgrade - Red Star, Rad and Partizan. Internationals are played at one of the big soccer stadiums. Serbia won their first international 8-3, a knockabout in 1918 between Serbian and British Colonies pupils at Heriot's School Edinburgh, but the century since has been pretty much all downhill.
• Others such as basketball or tennis are staged either in Belgrade Arena or Aleksandar Nikolic Hall aka Pionir Sports Complex.

Events

• Dom Omladine is the Belgrade Youth Centre, at Makedonska 22 a block east of Republic Square. Their website lists events appealing to a young audience.
• 3 Belgrade Fair hosts trade fairs year-round - check their website for those open to the public. The exhibition halls are on Blv Vojvode Mišića on the Sava riverbank.
• Street of Open Heart is a carnival held on 1 January on Makedonska and Svetogorska streets.
• FEST is an international film festival in March.
• Guitar Art Festival is in May.
• Ring Ring is a festival of new and improvised music in May. They also organise Todo Mundo world music festival in Sep.
• Belgrade Burger Fest is in May within Kalmegdan Fortress. They mean the burgers you eat in a bun, not stout bourgeoise citizens.
• Belgrade Tango Encuentro is in June.
• Belgrade Beer Festival is in August in Ušće Park.
• BITEF Belgrade International Theater Festival is Sep / Oct.
• BEMUS is Belgrade Music Festival in October.
• Belgrade Jazz Festival is in October.
• Belgrade Early Music Festival is in November.
• No Sleep Festival features electronic, house & retro music in November.

Learn

Over a dozen language schools teach English to Serbians. Those with Serbian courses for foreigners include Concord Language School, Serbian Language and Culture Workshop and Institute for Foreign Languages.

University of Belgrade admits foreign students, as do various private institutions of higher education.

Buy

Novi Beograd business district

For Serbian currency, see Serbia#Buy. Menjačnica is a chain of exchange offices, with a dozen city sites.

Store hours are typically M-Sa 08:00-21:00, shorter or closed on Sunday.

• Delfi is a chain of bookstores, including English publications.

• Buvljak (Бувљак) means a flea market, occupying any edge-of-town brownfield site that developers have not yet cast covetous eyes on. Closest to the centre is at Šajkaška 70 in Zemun on Sunday morning.

Shopping malls

Belgrade has 3 shopping malls in the city - Delta City, Stadion and Ušće Shopping Center - and more than 30 smaller shopping centers such as Merkator, Immo Centar, Millenium, Piramida, City Hall, Zira and others.

• 1 Ušće Shopping Center, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 4 (located in New Belgrade, just across Branko's Bridge. It can even be reached on foot from the old city. Tram 7, 9, 13 or any New Belgrade-bound bus). The largest modern shopping center in Serbia and the region.  
• 2 Delta City, Jurija Gagarina 16 (tram number 7, 9 or 13, bus number 95 or minibus, near "Toplana" (heating plant)). The second largest shopping mall in the city, also in New Belgrade, in Jurija Gagarina street.  
• Stadion, Voždovac, Zaplanjska 32. The third largest shopping mall in the city. 
• Block 70 Chinese Market. You can buy dirt-cheap clothing imported from China. Quality is lower. Closed on Tuesdays! 
• 3 Mercator Center (ТЦ Меркатор), Bulevar umetnosti 4 (bus number 71, 72 or 75, close to Novi Beograd police station and municipal building), ☏ +381 11 4429140.  
• 4 Immo Outlet Center, Gandijeva 21, blok 64. M-Sa 09:00-21:30, Su 11:00-19:00.  

Hypermarkets

• Super Maxi, Bore Markovića (Delta City). 
• Idea Extra Hypermarket, Novi Beograd, Omladinskih brigada 100. 
• Super Vero Hypermarkets, Milutina Milankovića 86a - Novi Beograd; Vojislava Ilića bb - Konjarnik; Nikodima Milaša 2 - Centet Zira; Vojvode Stepe 251 - Voždovac. 
• Tempo Hypermarket, Bežanijska kosa near highway; Viline vode; Ada. 
• Mercator Hypermarket, Bulevar umetnosti 4 - Novi Beograd. 
• Amanplus Market Store, Tošin bunar 172 - Novi Beograd, ☏ +381 11 6555155. 
• Metro Cash & Carry, Krnjača; Zemun; Vidikovac. Metro is a wholesaler, not a retailer, so you need a special card to shop there. These cards are available only to business owners, self-employed artists and the like. You can borrow a card from a Serbian friend who has it. 

Eat

Cafe on Skadarlija

For more on Serbian cuisine, see Serbia#Eat

Belgrade has hundreds of restaurants offering local cuisine, and as a capital city it has a fair selection of other nations' cuisine - these are sparse elsewhere in the country. Even at the top end they're inexpensive compared to western Europe.

Fast food usually comes as roštilj - grills or barbecues such as burgers. Dozens of roštilj outlets around the city.

Burek is for breakfast or food on the go, a pastry filled with feta cheese or meat, or potato (krompir). All bakeries sell them, eat them while they're fresh and hot, traditionally washed down with yoghurt. Similar is the pie called buregdžinice.

Kafana (Кафана) are trad restaurants for filling Serbian meals. These are often enlivened by a string orchestra strumming Balkan airs, think Hungarian only with even better moustaches.

Skadarska (a block south of Francuska) and Strahinjića Bana (at right angles) are streets in Stari Grad lined with restaurants, mostly kafana.

Splav means a raft, a restaurant on a barge moored along the Sava or Danube. They mostly serve seafood, like the places on the quay alongside. Some splavovi are primarily nightclubs and others are budget accommodation.

Food markets

• Zeleni Venac Market is a covered hall just south of Zeleni Venac bus station midtown, open M-Sa 07:00-19:00, Su 07:00-17:00.
• Bajloni Market is a larger hall at the junction of Džordža Vašingtona with Skadarska, open daily 06:00-19:00.

Budget

Some places think that a vegetarian eats fish. If you don't, tell them bez mesa, bez ribe - without meat, without fish.

• Tadich is a pie shop at Kralja Petra 75, open M-Sa 06:00-15:00.
• KMN, Zmaj Jovina 11 (Within Millennium Shopping Centre), ☏ +381 11 328 5591. M-F 10:30-17:00. Great selection of domestic cuisine, including veggie. Friendly efficient staff. (updated Nov 2025)
• 1 Roll Bar, Obilićev venac 1, ☏ +381 62 203 090. Daily 08:00-00:00. Good quality, sizable portions. Try the imperial chicken and feta chicken. (updated Nov 2025)
• Pizzeria Trg, Makedonska 5 (east corner of Republic Square), ☏ +381 64 126 5501. M-Th 10:00-00:30, F Sa 12:00-03:00, Su 12:30-00:30.. Delicious pizza and pancakes. Cash only. (updated Nov 2025)
• Yalla Yalla, Makedonska 11 (off Republic Square), ☏ +381 64 347 7222. M-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 12:00-22:00. Lebanese food. (updated Nov 2025)
• Skadarlijske kobasice, Skadarska 4 (block north of Yalla Yalla), ☏ +381 11 322 1040. Daily 08:00-03:00. Excellent sausages. (updated Nov 2025)
• 2 Giros tim, Balkanska 36, ☏ +381 66 069 999. M-F 10:00-20:00, Su 12:00-20:00. Good gyros. (updated Nov 2025)
• 3 Amigo, Kraljice Natalije 35, ☏ +381 11 361 1663. M-F 07:30-19:30, Sa 13:00-20:00. Very good fried pancakes. (updated Nov 2025)
• Gastroteka, Balkananska 29 (100 m north of Amigo), ☏ +381 63 577 740. M-F 09:00-17:00. Serbian fast food. (updated Nov 2025)
• 4 Jazzayoga, Kralja Aleksandra 48, ☏ +381 11 324 2173. M-F 08:00-15:00. Sandwiches, wraps, juices, and baked goods, relaxing ambience. (updated Nov 2025)

Mid-range

Serbian

• 5 Orašac, Blv Kralja Aleksandra 122, ☏ +38 11 124 33048. Daily 09:00-00:00. A garden restaurant with trad Serbian cuisine. (updated Nov 2025)
• 6 Šešir moj (My Hat), Skadarska 21, ☏ +381 11 722 8750. Daily 12:00-01:00. The hats are the natty boaters of the quartet, who riff away with barcarolles and other crowd-pleasers. Good hearty Serbian fare. (updated Nov 2025)
• Dva Jelena serves trad Serbian fare at Skadarska 32, open daily 10:00-01:00.
• Znak Pitanja (Question Mark), Kralja Petra 6 (by cathedral), ☏ +381 11 263 5421. M-Th 12:00-21:00, F-Su 10:00-22:00. Traditional Serbian cuisine. Try ćevapčići sa kajmakom (grilled minced meat with cream), or if you have an adventurous stomach, try young bull's sex glands & bowels. (updated Nov 2025)
• 7 Loki, Strahinjića Bana 36, ☏ +381 63 164 4492. Daily 10:00-00:00. Pljeskavici are Serbian burgers. Variety of toppings like spicy cheese or pickled peppers. (updated Nov 2025)
• 8 Mika Alas, Stari Obrenovački drum 14 (east bank of Sava 8 km from city), ☏ +381 11 254 4448, mikaalas15@gmail.com. Daily 10:00-22:00. Try their delicious fish soup "riblja čorba" and their house specialty, "smuđ romanov", Pike Perch fillet in white wine cream sauce. Excellent food for an acceptable price. (updated Nov 2025)

Asian

• 9 Makao i Žuto More (Macao and Yellow Sea), Prve Pruge 8, Zemun, ☏ +381 11 319 2931. Daily 11:30-23:00. Good Chinese food. They also have branches at Pere Velimirovića 7 downtown and Starine Novaka 7a near Tašmajdan Park. (updated Dec 2025)
• 10 Moon Sushi, Makedonska 31, ☏ +381 11 334 4569. M-Sa 09:00-01:00, Su 09:00-23:00. Mostly good reviews for their sushi. (updated Dec 2025)
• 11 Marukoshi, Kapetan Mišina 37, ☏ +381 69 479 4715. Tu-Su 11:00-23:00. Japanese restaurant with good-ish reviews. (updated Dec 2025)

Mexican

• 12 Zapata, Vojvode Bogdana 13, ☏ +381 11 380 9207. Daily 09:00-23:00. Friendly place for authentic Mexican fare. (updated Nov 2025)
• Burrito Madre is a chain with five city outlets, open daily 09:00-21:00: at Terazije 27, Karađorđeva 65, Blv Kralja Aleksandra 54, Svetozara Markovića 36, and Maksima Gorkog 9.

Italian

• 13 Botako, Šantićeva 8, ☏ +381 11 344 6770. Daily 09:00-23:30. Good scores for Italian cuisine and ambiance. There's another branch south at Nevesinjska 6. (updated Dec 2025)
• 14 Casa Nova, Gospodar Jovanova 42a, ☏ +381 11 303 6868. Daily 12:00-00:00. Good Franco-Italian fare with ample portions. (updated Dec 2025)
• 15 Restoran Caruso, Terazije 23/8, ☏ +381 11 324 8037. M-Sa 09:00-00:00. Italian restaurant on 8th floor, with views over Terazije, river Sava and Novi Belgrade. (updated Dec 2025)

Splurge

• 16 Sinđelić, Vojislava Ilića 86, ☏ +381 11 308 7067. Daily 09:00-23:00. Traditional Serbian cuisine. (updated Dec 2025)
• 17 Šaran, Kej Oslobođenja 53, Zemun, ☏ +381 11 261 8235. Tu W 16:00-01:00, Th-Su 13:00-01:00. Riverside fish restaurant with live trad music. (updated Dec 2025)
• 18 Lorenzo & Kakalamba, Cvijićeva 110, ☏ +381 11 329 5351. Daily 12:00-00:00. Italian and southeastern Serbian cuisine, but mostly you come for the way-out decor, which is beyond kitsch. (updated Dec 2025)

Drink

Skadarlija street

City tap water is safe to drink. Creaky old buildings may still have lead piping, so run the tap a few seconds first.

Good domestic beers are Jelen, Lav, MB and Pils. Foreign beers are widely available and may be made under license in Serbia.

Wines from Serbia and other Balkan countries are good if you pay a little more for quality. Cheap stuff may be disappointing.

Rakija brandy is the national drink. The commonest is plum brandy, šljivovica or slivovitsa; other common varieties are grape, walnut, quince and pear. It can be bought in stores but Serbs insist that home-made rakjia is superior - look out for this at the food markets.

Always toast your companions in the proper manner. Look them in the eye, clink glasses, say Živeli! (cheers!) to all present as if you mean it, and take a sip. Repeat as necessary as the long night wears on.

Coffee is served Turkish-style unless you specify otherwise.

The main groups of bars and cafés are along Strahinjića Bana, along Obilićev Venac parallel to Knez Mihailova, and by the Sava and Danube riversides.

• Zuzu's is a cafe bar at Obilićev Venac 21 a block west of Republic Square, open daily 09:00-01:00.
• Gecko is an Irish pub at Obilićev Venac 17, open daily 08:00-00:00.
• Publin, Lomina 63. Daily 15:00-00:00. Relaxing small pub. (updated Dec 2025)
• Three Carrots Irish Pub, Kneza Miloša 16, ☏ +381 11 268 3748. M-F 09:00-00:00, Sa Su 12:00-00:00. Cheerful pub with food & music. (updated Dec 2025)
• Black Turtle, Kosančićev Venac 30, ☏ +381 11 328 6656. Su-Th 09:00-00:00, F Sa 09:00-01:00. Chain pub run by Black Turtle brewery, which has several other city outlets. Off-beat beers, e.g. mixed with lemon and blueberry syrup, as well as river views at summer sunset if you can grab an outdoor table. (updated Dec 2025)

Sleep

Hostels

• 1 Hostel 360, Knez Mihailova 21, ☏ +381 11 328 4523, booking@hostel360.com. Cosy hostel just off Republic Square. B&B double €36. (updated Nov 2025)
• Hostelche, Kralja Petra 8 (by cathedral), ☏ +381 11 263 7793, hostelchehostel@gmail.com. Clean, cozy place. They have free sheets, towels, laundry, games, books, Wi-Fi, welcome drink, coffee, and tea. (updated Nov 2025)
• 2 Sun Hostel, Novopazarska 25, ☏ +381 65 448 9575. Well-run hostel, clean and spacious, with dorms, apt & private rooms. Comfy, a/c, safe-lockers backpack size, free internet, friendly staff. Dorm €30. (updated Nov 2025)
• 3 Fair and Square Hostel, Svetog Nikole 68 (Bus 65, 74), ☏ +381 11 618 9940, fairandsquarehostel@gmail.com. Comfy rooms, large kitchen and public area as well as patio, friendly staff, cat and dog. Dorm bunk €25. (updated Dec 2025)
• 4 Balkan Soul Hostel, Kosančićev Venac 11a, ☏ +381 60 660 0685, balkansoulhostel@gmail.com. Small but very social and cozy hostel with a well-equipped shared guest kitchen and lounge. Rooms have good air conditioning and wi-fi.77 Dorm €13. (updated Dec 2025)
• 5 ArkaBarka Floating Hostel, Zemun Quay, Novi Beograd, ☏ +381 64 925 3507, arkabarkahostel@gmail.com. Friendly floating hostel on the Danube, with an on-board cafe-bar and sauna. Bunk & breakfast €42. (updated Nov 2025)
• Boatel Charlie and Green House are similar floating hostels just downstream.
• San Art Floating Hostel, Zemun Quay, Novi Beograd (100 m downstream from ArkaBarka), ☏ +381 63 238 278. Is it a chalet, is it a houseboat? Clean, well-run, friendly hostel near river confluence. B&B double €60. (updated Nov 2025)

Budget

• Belgrade City Hotel, Savski trg 7 (Opposite bus station), ☏ +381 11 360 0700, reservations@bgcityhotel.com. Central hotel in Neo-Renaissance building, with gym, restaurant and bar. Double (room only) €90. (updated Nov 2025)
• 6 Villa Forever, Marsala Birjuzova 44, ☏ + 381 11 328 2781, info@villa-forever.com. Basic place near Brankov Bridge. Double (room only) €80. (updated Nov 2025)
• 7 Slavija Hotel, Svetog Sava 2, ☏ +381 11 308 4800, office@slavijahotel.com. Basic but central. On-site business center and sauna. The rooftop restaurant serves breakfast. B&B double €80. (updated Nov 2025)
• 8 Hotel Srbija, Ustanička 127c (3 km south of centre), ☏ +381 11 304 4000, office@hotelsrbija.com. This weary old Soviet tower is where Air Serbia will put you if you miss a connection. Large restaurant on the 18th floor. B&B double €80. (updated Nov 2025)

Mid-range

• 9 Mercure Belgrade Excelsior, Kneza Milosa 5 (near National Assembly), ☏ +381 11 440 2900, hB1E1@accor.com. Decent mid-town Accor chain hotel, rooms equipped with TV, mini-refrigerators, workspaces, and Wi-Fi. B&B double €110. (updated Nov 2025)
• 10 Royal Inn, Kralja Petra 56, ☏ +381 11 400 2621, booking@royalinn.rs. One of the oldest hotels in Belgrade, dating to 1885, gets positive reviews. Rooms are small, but renovated and furnished with TV, air conditioning and mini-bar. B&B double €100. (updated Nov 2025)
• 11 Nevski Hotel, Venizelosova 24a, ☏ +381 11 322 9722, reservations@hotelnevski.com. Comfortable central hotel, with business services and a good breakfast buffet. B&B double €80. (updated Nov 2025)
• Design Hotel Mr President, Karadjordjeva 75 (Opposite bus station), ☏ +381 11 360 2222. Comfortable modern hotel, 61 rooms with internet and standard facilities. B&B double €90. (updated Nov 2025)
• Queen's Astoria Design Hotel, Milovana Milovanovića 1 (Opposite bus station), ☏ + 381 11 411 8822, hotel@astoria.rs. Central hotel with bistro. B&B double €110. (updated Nov 2025)
• 12 Hotel Rex, Sarajevska 37 (500 m south of main bus station), ☏ +381 11 361 1862, info@hotelrex-belgrade.com. Comfy, central business-type hotel. Double (room only) €65. (updated Nov 2025)
• 13 Putnik Inn (formerly Tulip Inn), Palmira Toljatija 9, Novi Beograd (west bank, corner of Bvd Mihajla Pupina), ☏ +381 11 225 9999. Decent 3 star business hotel. B&B double €90. (updated Nov 2025)

Splurge

• Belgrade Art Hotel, Knez Mihailova 27 (block west of National Museum), ☏ +381 11 331 2000. Boutique hotel in very central spot, now part of Radisson chain. With 55 rooms and suites, bar, lounge bar, restaurant and 2 meeting rooms. B&B double €110. (updated Nov 2025)
• Townhouse 27, Marsala Birjuzova 56 (100 m west of city hall), ☏ +381 11 202 2900, hotel@townhouse27.com. Clean efficient 4-star in city centre. B&B double €140. (updated Nov 2025)
• Crystal Hotel, Internacionalnih Brigada 9 (200 m south of St Sava), ☏ +381 11 715 1000, info@crystalhotel.rs. Decent hotel with 44 rooms. B&B double €120. (updated Nov 2025)
• Balkan Hotel, Prizrenska 2 (just north of Hotel Moskva), ☏ +381 11 696 4085. Central functional hotel. B&B double €120. (updated Nov 2025)
• 14 Moskva, Balkanska 1, ☏ +381 11 364 2071. Upmarket hotel in a landmark building. Rooms are stylish but small, and tall visitors should avoid the fifth floor, where the pitch of the roof closes in. Helpful multilingual staff. Excellent breakfast, with the piano tinkling over the eggs and pâtisserie - now this is what you call café society! (Especially with limited mobility, since you can enter via the café at street level and avoid the steps to the main hotel entrance.) Room safe & fridge, Wi-Fi & satellite TV. B&B double €140. (updated Nov 2025)
• Hyatt Regency, Milentija Popovica 5, Novi Beograd (between Ušće Shopping Center and Crowne Plaza), ☏ +381 11 301 1234. Big four star on west bank, spacious comfy rooms. B&B double €160. (updated Nov 2025)
• 15 Crowne Plaza, Vladimira Popovica 10, Novi Beograd, ☏ +381 11 220 4004. Big glassy business hotel on the west bank, with fitness center and conference facilities, connected by passageway to the Sava congress & retail center. B&B double €150. (updated Nov 2025)
• 16 IN Hotel Belgrade, Bulevar Arsenija Carnojevica 56, Novi Beograd, ☏ +381 11 310 5300. Boxy 4-star on west bank, good reviews for comfort & facilities. 200 m from Kombank Arena, handy for riverside life and highway out to airport. B&B double €120. (updated Nov 2025)

Stay safe

Overall, Belgrade is a pretty safe city, but like anywhere, you should always keep money, mobile phones, travel documents and other valuable personal items in secure places. Pickpocketers are known to operate in public transportation, and other crowded places so never wear a backpack or purse on your back and make sure that you have your wallet in one of your front pockets. If you own a car, it is preferable to have a security system. Traffic laws are usually observed although nervous drivers can change lanes suddenly or make dangerous turns when avoiding traffic during rush hour. So be cautious if you are a pedestrian or riding a bike. The taxi drivers are notorious for swerving in and out of lanes. Pay close attention to the traffic signals as a pedestrian.

Also try to avoid getting into conflicts. If you are staying out late in a bar or a club, there is always a small chance that someone will try to pick a fight especially if you are in a group and a single guy is showing hostility. That is a trap by local thugs looking for a brawl. Just ignore them and walk away no matter what they say or do. The chances that this will happen are very low, but stay alert. Do not try to make fun of the locals in your native language. Almost everyone has at least a basic understanding of English and is familiar with foul words and curses. Generally, common sense is the best way to stay safe in any city in Europe, and in Belgrade.

In Serbia, including Belgrade, violence against the LGBTQ population can occur, and as such LGBTQ travelers should exercise discretion. As a rule, public displays of affection between two people of the same sex are likely to be met with disapproval and sometimes verbal abuse and/or physical violence. There are several gay bars and clubs in the city and they tend to get quite full. Be cautious when arriving at or leaving such clubs. Often there is security personnel guarding the immediate entrance. There are also LGBTQ parties organized periodically by various organizations and at different locations, such as Loud and Queer events, so it is useful to follow LGBTQ guides to Belgrade and keep up with the current hotspots.

Emergencies

In case of an emergency, call 192 (police), 193 (fire) or 194 (ambulance). Always carry the phone number and an address of your embassy with you. In case of injury or illness, the place to go is the Urgentni centar (Emergency center), Pasterova 2 of the Clinical Center of Serbia. Be aware that not all medical facilities have personnel that speak English or other foreign languages. Consult the embassy of your country if possible.

Pharmacies on duty 24/7:

• Prvi maj, Kralja Milana 9, +381 11 3344-923
• Sveti Sava, Nemanjina 2, +381 11 2643-170
• Zemun, Glavna 34, +381 11 2618-582
• Dom Zdravlja Novi Beograd, Palmira Toljatija 7

Stay healthy

Belgrade's climate is generally temperate, so tourist visits are possible at any time of year. However, July and August can be uncomfortably hot, with temperatures reaching 40 °C (104 °F) on several days. Minimize your exposure to the sun on such days to avoid heat exhaustion. On the other hand, January and February are sometimes very cold. When it snows in winter, the streets are covered in sleet the next day, so be careful when walking. The Košava, a notorious Belgrade wind, may give you a cold more quickly than you would expect - take care and dress appropriately.

For runners, a sunrise or sunset run through Kalemegdan is a must-do. Running along the Ada lake in the mornings or evenings is a great experience too. Try to avoid running during the day, as it usually is both hot and very crowded.

There are a lot of stray animals roaming streets, particularly dogs. Whilst it is very rare that they demonstrate outward signs of illness or aggression, err on the side of caution and avoid coming in physical contact. These are nevertheless rarely seen in the city center.

Pharmacies – called 'apoteka' – are found throughout the city center. Look for lit green crosses on building façades. Some, such as the ones in Francuska or Kralja Milana streets, are open 24/7. These will carry a range of prescription medicines, as well as over-the-counter products like pain killers and vitamin supplements.

Connect

Belgrade and its approach highways have 4G from all three Serbian carriers, A1, MTS and Yettel. As of Nov 2025, 5G has not rolled out in Serbia.

Cope

There are a few dozens gyms around the city, every neighborhood has at least a few. Prices range (so as quality) €20–80 per month, or a bit less for 12/16 visits.

In case you need to fix your umbrella you may do that in the last remaining umbrella service in town in Visnjiceva 4.

It is difficult to avoid tobacco smoke in restaurants, bars and clubs. However, other enclosed public places, including the malls, are smoke-free. Some hotels allow smoking in parts of the building.

Embassies and other diplomatic missions

• Canada, Kneza Miloša 75, ☏ +381 11 306 3000, bgrad@international.gc.ca. M-F 08:00-16:00. This also acts for Montenegro and North Macedonia. (updated Dec 2025)
• China, Užička 25, ☏ +381 11 369 5057, chinaemb_yu@mfa.gov.cn. (updated Dec 2025)
• Finland, Birčaninova 29, ☏ +381 11 306 5400. This also represents Finland in Montenegro and North Macedonia. (updated Dec 2025)
• Germany, Neznanog junaka 1a, ☏ +381 11 306 4300. Same building as Polish Embassy. (updated Dec 2025)
• Greece, Francuska 33, ☏ +381 11 322 6523. (updated Dec 2025)
• Japan, Trešnjinog cveta 13, Novi Beograd, ☏ +381 11 301 2800. (updated Dec 2025)
• Mexico, Ljutice Bogdana 5, ☏ +381 11 367 4170. (updated Dec 2025)
• North Macedonia, Gospodar Jevremova 34, ☏ +381 11 328 4924, belgrade@mfa.gov.mk. (updated Dec 2025)
• Poland, Neznanog junaka 1a, ☏ +381 11 206 5301. Same building as German Embassy. (updated Dec 2025)
• Romania, Mihaila Avramovica 12, ☏ +381 11 367 5772, belgrad@mae.ro. (updated Dec 2025)
• Russia, Deligradska 32, ☏ +381 11 361 1323, info@ambarusk.rs. (updated Dec 2025)
• Switzerland, Blv Oslobođenja 4, ☏ +381 11 306 5820. (updated Dec 2025)
• Turkey, Krunska 1, ☏ +381 11 333 2400, embassy.belgrade@mfa.gov.tr. (updated Dec 2025)
• United Kingdom, Resavska 46, ☏ +381 11 306 0900. (updated Dec 2025)
• United States, Blv kneza Aleksandra Karađorđevića 92 (200 m east of Royal Palace, Bus 42), ☏ +381 11 706 4000. (updated Dec 2025)

Go next

• Novi Sad is a fine old city 100 km north of Belgrade, the standout being its Petrovaradin Fortress brooding over the Danube.
• The town near Novi Sad on the south bank of the Danube is historic Sremski Karlovci, with many museums, churches and galleries.
• The mountain west of it is Fruška Gora, with monasteries, vineyards and wildlife.
• South of Belgrade, near the town of Topola in Šumadija region, is Oplenac hill, with the Mausoleum of the Serbian Royal family.
• A little north of there near Aranđelovac is Orašac, cockpit of the First Serbian Uprising against the Turks.
• Vršac, 60 km northeast of Belgrade, is a notable wine-growing area.
• There are spas at Aranđelovac, Mladenovac and Mionica-Valjevo.
• Viminacium is the extensive remains of the Roman provincial capital of Moesia. It's 80 km southeast of Belgrade near Pozarevac in Podunavlje region.
• Leave the country by boarding the train Lovcen (433) at 8:20 PM to wake up in Bar (a coastal Montenegrin city) at 7:23 AM (with a border control happening in the middle of the night).