Belgrade
Discover Belgrade
Belgrade (Serbian: Београд, Beograd) is the capital of the Republic of Serbia. It stands at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, where the rolling Pannonian Plain fetches up against the rugged Balkan peninsula, and in 2022 had a population of 1.2 million, about a fifth of Serbia's total. It's a fascinating and friendly destination in its own right, and the obvious starting point for exploring more of Serbia and the Balkans. The core of the city is on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube. Both rivers are navigable by large vessels: the Sava up to Sisak in Croatia, and the Danube from the Black Sea all the way up to Kelheim in Bavaria. It's been inhabited at least since 6000 BC and the earliest recognisable town was the Celtic settlement of Singidūn. The bluff now called Kalmegdan was fortified and its environs grew into the White City, beo grad.
What to Experience in Belgrade
Taste of Belgrade...
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. Some places think that a vegetarian eats fish. If you don't, tell them bez mesa, bez ribe - without meat, without fish. 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.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Belgrade.
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. For Serbian currency, see Serbia#Buy. Menjačnica is a chain of exchange offices, with a dozen city sites. 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.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options44.81944420.3069441 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG , 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 Around & Staying
Getting Around
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).
Where to Stay
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.
Money & Budget
For Serbian currency, see Serbia#Buy. Menjačnica is a chain of exchange offices, with a dozen city sites. 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.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
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.
Glimpses of Belgrade
Pobednik Kalemegdan, Beograd, Srbija
A harbor with boats and a city in the background
aerial view of city buildings during daytime
Hram Svetog Save na Vračaru - Beograd, Republika Srbija; Temple of St. Sava - Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
city buildings near body of water during daytime
A city street filled with lots of traffic next to tall buildings
an aerial view of a bridge over a river
Kalemegdan, Beograd
Pobednik
Belgrade waterfront at night
Pobednik Kalemegdan, Beograd, Srbija
A harbor with boats and a city in the background
aerial view of city buildings during daytime