City center – Parliament
For your first own walk through Belgrade, the best thing is to start from the city center or to go toward it. Terazijeand Republic squares,as well asKnez-Mihailova Street and its surroundings, with valuable buildings, monuments, cultural offer, are the best choice. This elite pedestrian zone, filled with exclusive shops and excellent cafes, also represents the business-financial center of Belgrade.The most significant building in city center is, certainly, the House of Parliament.
Kalemegdan Park
Belgrade Fortress consists of Upper Town, Lower Town, and Kalemegdan Park. A part of the fortress was turned into a big park, Kalemegdan, at the end of the 19th century, when it became open for the citizens and guests of Belgrade. Today, the visitors to Belgrade, standing on the balconies of Kalemegdan, can “rea” the long history of Belgrade within the walls of the fortress. The park is popular because of its many shady benches, random sculptures, art pavilion, Zoo, amusement park, souvenir vendors.
Downtown Walking Area
With the first Urban Plan, compiled in 1867, began the process of transformation of oriental town into a European throne city. It has always been the center of the town, the liveliest trading, business and gathering center, Belgrade’s main promenade street which attracted visitors. Knez Mihailova Street today, with a lot of its buildings from the 19th century, represents one of the most preserved ambience districts of the town. In 1986 the street had become a walking area. As we write this piece, the Belgrade city authorities are doing their best to transform the downtown in a large and unique pedestrian area around Knez Mihailova Street, which during the works visitors may find a bit of an inconvenience.
Skadarlija – Bohemian Quarter
Steep, winding, covered with cobble-stone, formerly known for its gas lanterns and old poets’ taverns, haspreserved its Belgrade bohemian charmup to present days. Remains of this heritage from the 19th century are a great tourist attraction. The Belgraders hold it with love, melancholy and respect, as a part of themselves, thinking thatthey wouldn’t be what they are without this quarter.
Dinner with live music in Skadarlija
You may experience essence of old Belgrade art bohemia and its spirit in the taverns of Skadarlija. Tastes of Serbian and international cuisine, Balkan eclectic gastronomy, everything spiced up with the old-town live music, await you in Skadarlija taverns. Special atmosphere will be an unforgettable memory. It is possible that you return to your hotel accompanied by a gipsy orchestra, singing with a violin our popular song: “At early dawn…”
Nikola Tesla Museum
Tesla Museum is located in the central area of Belgrade, in the former residential villa of famous Minister of Interior who led the conspiracy against King Aleksandar Obrenović and his wife Queen Draga. Great inventor Nikola Tesla died in New York in 1943. His ashes are kept here in a glowing, golden orb. A short video gives a strong overview of this great man, before visitors get the chance to interact with some of his most famous inventions. The permanent exhibition contains original documents, books, journals, designs and drawings of the greatest Serbian inventor.
Prince Miloš Mansion
Topčider Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Belgrade, stands out for many things. There, formerly in the vicinity of Belgrade, in the 1830’s, Prince MilošObrenović built his royal complex and a center of life in Serbia that had been just liberated from the Ottoman rule. The Topčider River runs through the park. The trees and vegetation in it were planted in the 19th century by French gardeners, and one planetree, more than 160 years old, is still witness to that period.
St. Sava Temple
St. Sava Temple, one of the biggest Christian Orthodox temples in the world, and another symbol of Belgrade are dedicated to the most important Serbian saint and educator, who founded the independent Serbian Orthodox church in the 13th century. The temple is located on the Hill of Vračar, on the plateau near the National Library, and dominates the profile of the central part of Belgrade. The interior is still under construction, but it already looks impressive.
House of flowers – Josip Broz Tito Mausoleum
Epoque of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, lifetime president of the Social Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, still lives in a unique complex of the Museum of Yugoslav History. Invaluable collection with more than 200 000 artifacts representing the fascinating, turbulent history of Yugoslavia. Tito’s mausoleum with its photographs, historical documents, and films from his funeral, is attached to the fascinating Museum of Yugoslavia. The big man rests in angigantic tomb in peaceful surrounds.
Zemun – Part of Belgrade for years been under Austrians and Hungarians
It used to be a city with the view of Belgrade, and today it is a city within a city. The beautiful quay on the Danube and authentic old streets of the Lower Town of Zemun still preserve their irresistible attraction. Above is the hill of Gardoš, with remains of the Fortress and Tower. We especially recommend a visit to taverns and restaurants of Zemun: “Šaran”, “Sent Andreja”, “Novi salaš”, “Venecija”, “Žabar”, “Male Villa”… Most of them are located on the bank of the Danube. They are famous, among other things, for fish delicacies made according to recipes of old Danube fishermen.
Avala Tower
Only sixteen kilometers from the city center, a mountain, Avala, on which the restored Tower rises, is the favorite excursion grounds of Belgraders all year long. Serbia’s most beautiful and most significant telecommunications tower is among the city’s five most visited tourist attractions. Apart from the unique panoramic view, tourists and excursionists can also experience the diverse attractions of the newly-opened complex: a rich souvenir shop of authentic Serbian products, sports and children’s playgrounds, a café, a restaurant, a fitness center in the open air, an ethno-shop etc.
Roman Hall (Belgrade Public Library)
In the Roman Hall still contains visible remains of the Southern Gate, stretching all the way to the north-western walls of the Upper Town. During the adaptation of the building of the Library of the City of Belgrade the remains of the stone fort were found. Part of the foundations of the wall and the tower on the southern gate of the castrum were incorporated into the interior of the newly built Roman Hall. This space, houses the remains of Roman waterworks, along with a collection of stone plastics from the period 2nd–4th century. The sculptures, arrows and altars are from the territory of Singidunum and enable the visitors to feel the spirit of the long-lost classical world.
Košutnjak Hill
Forested hills of Košutnjak, “the lungs of Belgrade”, former excursion and hunting grounds of the principality, where people would go in horse-drawn carriages, and by tram in the late 19th century, are today practically in the middle of the city. They are enriched with trim treks, sports and recreational courts. Ski slope is a special attraction, and not only during the winter. There is also the Haiduk’s Fountain, as well as several restaurants with delicious food, hot rakia, mulled wine and beautiful view of the city.
Great War Island
The Great War Island is situated on the very confluence of the Sava and Danube, only some six hundred meters from the city center as the crow flies. Formerly an important military-strategic point, today it is a true environmental oasis of Belgrade. In addition to pile dwellings and gardens of nature lovers, there are colonies of rare bird species on this island. The channel of VelikiGalijaš, on the island itself, is a natural hatchery of Danube fishes. Onthe upstream point of the island, also in the protected zone, there is Lido Beach of Zemun, which can be reached by taxi-boat, and in the summer season also by the pontoon bridge.
Botanical Garden
In the very centre of Belgrade there is a Botanical Garden – “Jevremovac”, named by its founder Prince Miloš Obrenović in honour of his brother Jevrem. It is the habitat to 1,500 herbaceous plants and about 350 species of trees, shrubs and exotic plants. Its greenhouse, built in 1892 in Victorian style, was upon creation the biggest and most beautiful in this part of Europe. “Jevremovac” also has a beautifully arranged Japanese garden. Its authenticity has been preserved until today due to a thorough renewal finished a few years ago…
Local taverns on the banks of the Sava and Danube
If you get down to the banks of the Sava and Danube, your hosts inlively inns and taverns on anchored boats and rafts will do all they can to make you feel welcome. Together with “old town” live music, they offer good selected dishes made of freshwater fish.Do not miss the opportunity to taste piquantfish soup orfish paprikashand large selection of local rakias and Serbian wines.We are sure you will enjoy in this memorableunique experience.
Belgrade Zoo
Inside the walls of Belgrade fortress, is located the Belgrade Zoo, called “The Garden of Good Hope”. It was founded in 1936 and is one of the oldest homes of the animal kingdom in Europe. Did you know that Belgrade has become famous as first city of Europe to have white lion cubs? Today this Zoo covers 7 hectares and is home to more than 2.000 animals and place of reproduction of white lions, as well as of other endangered species, such as the endemic Serbian white-headed griffon vulture.