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

National Assembly of Serbia

Zemun district

Kalemegdan fortress and the statue of Victor

Belgrade (Serbian: Београд, Beograd) — meaning 'White City' — is the capital of the Republic of Serbia. With a population of over 1.7 million people, 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 recent resurgence as the leading hub in Southeastern Europe makes it a must-see destination.

Understand

History

Belgrade is the capital of the Republic of Serbia and is, as such, the country's largest city with a population of around 1.7 million people. It lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. Later on, 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. 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.

Climate

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.

Get in

Nikola Tesla Airport

By plane

Belgrade's airport is the home base of Air Serbia, which flies to nearly 40 destinations worldwide.

Other major airlines that fly to Belgrade include Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Turkish, Lufthansa, Austrian, Alitalia and Swiss. Turkish Airlines offers flights to Istanbul twice a day. Discount and no-frills carriers offer a modest number of flights. Wizz Air has direct flights from London, Eindhoven, Memmingen, Gothenburg, Malmö, Charleroi, Rome, Stockholm, Hanover, Dusseldorf and Dortmund to Belgrade. Istanbul-based Pegasus connects Belgrade to Istanbul's smaller airport Sabiha Gökçen with great connections to many European and Eurasian cities. Eurowings does have a number of less expensive flights to cities across Europe and Norwegian Air is another low cost airline operating to Belgrade. EasyJet flies from Milan. Flyniki offers low cost flight from and to Vienna. airBaltic offers direct flights from Riga to Belgrade. SkyWorks flies directly from Bern.

For travellers from Asia/Middle East, the low cost airline FlyDubai offers cheap direct connections from India, Sri Lanka and other destinations to Belgrade via Dubai.

For a full list of carriers see Serbia#By plane.

• 1 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG  ^IATA) (18 km (11 mi) west of the city center). (updated Jul 2018)

Getting there:

• Bus#72 runs twice an hour to Zeleni Venac, and costs RSD150 from the driver or RSD89 from the shop inside the departure hall that sells food and newspapers. The bus station for #72 is on the departures level. The trip takes 30–40 minutes. In Zeleni Venac the bus station for #72 is the last on the side where McDonald's is located.

• Minibus A1, operates between the airport and Slavija Square, stopping at Fontana (Novi Beograd) and the main train station. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. The fare is RSD300, which is paid on-board; be sure to tell the driver what your destination is before departure. The trip takes 30 minutes. The bus also runs at night, with a short break from around 02:00-04:00.

• If you prefer to take a taxi, read General precautions below. The taxi fare from the airport is fixed - most taxi companies have a price list in multiple languages. The price is around RSD1800 to the center and New Belgrade, and around RSD2000 to the suburbs. There is no luggage fee. You can order a taxi by phone or simply go left upstairs to the departure section and catch one of the taxis dropping off passengers.

By train

See Serbian Railways for times and prices; the main services are:

• Budapest Keleti: 8-9 hours, two daytime trains and one overnight. Departures are around 08:00, 12:00 and 22:00 in both directions.
• Change in Budapest for most destinations further west, and into Eastern Europe. But there is one direct train a day for Vienna (12 hr) via Budapest. There's also one for Zürich (23 hr), via Zagreb (8 hr), Ljubljana (9 hr), Villach (12 hr) and Innsbruck (18 hr).
• An overnight train runs to Thessaloniki (23 hr) via Nis (5 hr) and Skopje (10 hr). Change in Thessaloniki for Athens, Piraeus and ferries to the Greek Islands.
• Sofia: one train daily (10 hr), departs 10:00 in both directions. Travel via Sofia for Bucharest or Istanbul.
• Podgorica (10 hr) and Bar (12 hr) in Montenegro: one daytime and one overnight train. Timetables still show these as running from the old Beograd station, However, they now run from 2 Topcider train station (in the southern burbs).  They call at Rakovica which has good metro connections to city centre.
• Trains to Novi Sad run every couple of hours, taking 2 hours.

Most mainline trains run from 3 Center Railway Station (Beograd Centar-Prokop) (2 km south of city centre beyond E-75). (updated Jul 2018)

The former main station on Karađorđeva Bvd closed in June 2018. Specify "Beograd Centar" when searching online timetables, as "Beograd" refers to the old station and finds no trains.

The city's other railway stations are:

• Westbound trains (e.g. to Budapest, Novi Sad) also call at 4 Novi Beograd train station, on the west bank of the River Sava. 
• 5 Belgrade Dunav Railway Station (Železnička Stanica Beograd Dunav) (north of Botanic Gardens). This is where trains to Vršac and Zrenjanin stop. Buses 33, 37, 44, 48, 58. Catching trains to Banat is also possible from a side platform of the Pančevački Most BG:Voz station. (updated May 2017)

By bus

Belgrade's central bus station is next-door to the central train station, in Karađorđeva street. Whilst coach service to national and international destinations is frequent, departure times are usually reliable, but arrival times may be not. Timetables aren't clearly posted; the timetables that are there are in Serbian only, so ask for information inside the terminal.

When buying a bus ticket, you will also receive a token to enter the platform area, for national travel. For international travel, you will be given a paper stub to present at the platform gate.

Most coach drivers will charge you a fee of approximately RSD100 per bag for baggage handling in the cargo compartment, though this is not a uniform practice with international travel. Drivers rarely speak English or any other foreign language. Inform yourself about your trip prior to departure as much as you can; if in doubt, ask a fellow passenger for assistance.

Coach travel in Serbia is a hit-and-miss experience; whilst there is a huge number of companies to chose from, not all of them have clean, modern coach fleets, particularly for travel within Serbia or to neighbouring Montenegro. Coaches are more often clean and modern when embarking on trips to Croatia and Western Europe.

For international trips to the rest of Europe, Lasta is the Eurolines carrier.

For long trips, drivers usually stop for 15 min breaks roughly every two hours, though this isn't by any means guaranteed. Pack appropriately with food and bottled water. When disembarking on breaks in the trip, make sure to either secure your belongings, or take them with you.

When you get off the bus, you might be offered a taxi ride or baggage-carrying by some strange people. Be wary of accepting these offers. They may be illegal and the intention may be to rip you off.

By car

Coming north from Subotica and Novi Sad, the E-75 highway is recommended, as well as driving to Belgrade from the south. There is also a major road called Ibarska magistrala (Ibar highway, M-22), which provides approach from south-west (direction of Montenegro, for example). From the west, use the E-70 highway (from Zagreb, Ljubljana, etc.) Major roads can be used coming east and north-east from Vršac and Zrenjanin.

Highways have toll stations, which are moderately priced. Serbia's only highways are parts of E-70 and E-75 roads and the highway passes right through Belgrade, causing traffic jams on the Gazela bridge and at the Mostar junction. These jams have been reduced somewhat in recent years by redirecting heavy goods vehicles to the Belgrade Bypass and by the new Ada Bridge. See the infobox for more information on transiting Belgrade.

Belgrade Bypass When travelling by car from Western and Central Europe to Greece, Bulgaria or Turkey, the route almost inevitably goes through or near Belgrade. If you have decided not to visit the city itself, but to continue straight to, say, Thessaloniki, you might be tempted to use the southern Belgrade Bypass by following the green Niš signs before entering Belgrade. However, as of summer 2014 the bypass is still a patchwork of new and old, good and poor quality road sections, and full of heavy goods vehicles. Therefore it is often faster to go through the Serbian capital.

By boat

Belgrade lies where the rivers Sava and the Danube meet. Passenger ships enable you to reach every place along the Danube in a very convenient and meditative manner with many fascinating attractions along it, but it is a quite slow and rather expensive way of travelling.

By bicycle

Belgrade is on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea.[1]

Get around

Tram in Belgrade

A Belgrade's trolleybus

By public transport

GSP Beograde (ГСП in Serbian Cyrillic) operates an extensive public transport network of buses, trolleybuses, and trams in the city and its suburbs. Maps are available online as well as a route planner; the route planner is more up to date than maps. There is a BusPlus android app (Srb/Eng), useful for navigating all the lines and the stops on a map. There is a paid option to check how many stops the next vehicle has before arriving at the selected bus stop.

Buses

Buses are the backbone of Belgrade's public transportation, and you can get almost anywhere using one of the bus lines. As Belgrade is a huge city, some bus lines can get really full (and some others are full all day (infamous lines 26, 83 or 50)). The quality of the buses themselves can vary greatly, with the general rule being that buses going in and around the city centre, and those going to posher neighbourhoods are usually newer air-conditioned vehicles (usually Polish Solaris Urbino 18). On other routes your luck may vary from relatively newer buses to old (sometimes 30 year old) Ikarbus buses with wooden benches for seats.

Bus terminals

There are three main bus terminals for suburban buses in the city centre: Glavna Železnička Stanica (Main railway station) for buses going to the western and southwestern suburbs. Zeleni Venac is a hub for buses going to the north (Zemun and Batajnica), as well as some western parts of the city (Banovo Brdo, Žarkovo, Čukarica), as well as many pass through lines to many parts of the city. The third hub is Trg Republike, which has now been mostly emptied with lines terminating at Novi Beograd and going through Zeleni Venac

There is no public transport between the three hubs and you would need to walk (steep uphill 10 min (Gl. Ž. St. - Zeleni Venac); 5 min (Zeleni venac - trg Republike).

Trams

There are 11 tram lines in Belgrade. All lines converge in the Slavija-Vukov Spomenik area (except 11 and 13 which go to Novi Beograd from Kalemegdan and Banovo Brdo, respectively).

The most notable line is line nr. 2, which goes around the city centre in a circular route (krug dvojke). Another notable line is the nr. 3, which goes through scenic park area of Topčider.

Several tram lines are served only by new CAF Urbos trams (7 and 12, also 13), while most of the other ones are serviced by old Tatra KT4 and Basel donated trams (some of them more than 50 years old, but in a better state than Tatras, as those trams were left to decay for years during the 1990s and 2000s).

Trolleybuses

Belgrade's trolleybus lines can be divided into two routes, served by 7 lines

One route goes from Studentski trg (near the Republic Square) over Crveni Krst to Konjarnik and Medaković 3 (There are several lines using this route and ending at various points on it.

The other route goes from Zvezdara to Banjica and is used by the lines 40 (Banjica-Zvezdara), 41 (Studentski trg - Banjica) and 28 (Studentski trg - Zvezdara)

The trolleybuses are mostly newer Belarusian-made vehicles with a couple of older Soviet ZiUs

Fares

Bus Plus is the payment system for all modes of public transport except minibuses (other than the line 24, which is part of the public transport system). There are three ticket options for non-residents, which can be bought at kiosks:

• Day tickets (Zone 1+2)
  • One Day Ticket - RSD290 - valid within 24 hours of purchase
  • Three Day Ticket - RSD740 - valid within 72 hours of purchase
  • Five Day Ticket - RSD1040 - valid within 120 hours of purchase
• Single journey ticket (Zone 1+2) - RSD150 - bought from the driver and valid for that ride. Drivers usually reject selling you these and let you ride for free. This is due to the delay for the bus this would cause and the drivers having no change.
• Non-personalized card (Zone 1+2) - RSD250 - Usually one would pay at least 340 to include one ride. Bought from any kiosk and valid within 3 years of purchase. Each journey costs RSD89 and is valid for 90 minutes. Top up at kiosks. Each top up of at least RSD900 adds RSD100 in free credit.

All tickets (except the single journey ticket bought from the driver) must be validated by placing the ticket (card) on the bottom portion of the readers inside the vehicle (Srb/Eng). Inspectors often enter public transport vehicles at major stops, and getting caught without a valid ticket can result in a RSD2000 fine on the spot.

You might notice that a lot of passengers don't have a ticket and that most vehicles will go almost empty when the inspectors show up, if you happen to have no ticket you could try doing the same (Although not knowing Serbian is a significant disadvantage). If you get caught you could just ignore the inspectors and get out at the next stop, as the inspectors have no right to ask for your ID.

Minibus lines connect the suburbs and are generally faster and more comfortable than regular buses. A single journey ticket costs RSD150, payable to the driver. Day tickets and non-personalized cards are not valid on these lines.

Day transport starts at 04:00 and ends at 00:00. Night transport is operated only by buses, and only on some lines (which can differ from day lines even if numbered the same). The buses go roughly every half-hour to every hour. The only ticket option for night lines is a single journey ticket bought inside the vehicle for RSD150 (Zone 1) or RSD210 (Zone 2). Day tickets and non-personalized cards are not valid. Here is a map of night lines.

Tram Line 2 is famous in the city for its circular route, running in both directions. The circle is known as krug dvojke (#2's circle) and surrounds the central city streets. Tram Line 3 is famous for beautiful neighborhoods it goes through, particularly Miloš's Konak Park.

By commuter rail

There is a single commuter train line under control of City of Belgrade, called BG:Voz (BG:Train), running from Batajnica to Ovča, through city centre stations of Novi Beograd, Beograd Centar, Karađorđev Park and Vukov Spomenik. These trains run according to schedule which is every 30 minutes (15 minutes on rush hour). Timetables for Bg:Voz are available here [2]. BG:Voz schedule is subject to change due to the reconstruction of rail tracks from Beograd Centar to Batajnica, which will last at least during 2018 and 2019.

By taxi

Taxis are cheap by European standards, though far more expensive than anywhere else in Serbia. Taxify is a popular phone app to hail taxis; expect to pay in cash. Car:Go is an Uber-like app that is cheaper than Taxify and you can pay by card in the app.

General precautions

Taxi scams are common in Belgrade. It is always best if you order taxi by phone since your order will be saved in the operator database. Here is the official info about taxi service in Belgrade. Taxi fares are regulated by the government and are as follows: RSD140 to start a ride, RSD55-110 per kilometer (depending on time of day) and RSD12.5 per minute waiting time.

Be sure to chose a taxi with a roof sign with the city coat of arms and a number, indicating it's a city-regulated radio taxi. Never take a privately owned cab - the ones with the white marker on the top that does not list the name of the company - since you can pay up to four times the normal price. Also, legal taxis must have their license plates ending with TX (for example: BG-1234-TX).

Insist that the trip be metered. The only exception is the case when you take taxi from the airport, where it is possible to buy vouchers with fixed prices. Tipping taxi drivers is welcomed but not required and your luggage transport is included in the metered price.

If you believe that the driver is trying to rip you off, call the operator of that taxi association to check if the price is regular for the specified distance. Afraid of the 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 drivers signature. Write down the number on the blue sign on the vehicle roof, as well as the license plates. Report the incident to city inspection (+381 11 3227-000) and if you are going from or to the airport, report it also to 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, on the highway is higher. 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).

Yellow lanes

Many boulevards and some streets have yellow lanes. They are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and you are not allowed to use them. The yellow lanes are marked with a yellow line, and are indicated on traffic signs. Some yellow lanes, though, are active only in certain periods of the day, usually during rush hours.

Parking

There are spaces for parking in the city center. There is a large parking garage with 500 spaces under the old palace in the city center, across from the parliament building.

Also, take into consideration that in the center almost all of the parking spaces in the central streets have zones marked with green, yellow or red paint on the street (yellow zone spaces are actually marked orange, to avoid confusion with other marks). You can only stay for 3, 2 or 1 hours, respectively, in those spots. You can pay using the machine usually found near the parking spots, buy the parking ticket at a kiosk or by cell phone (just text your car's license plate number (for example: BG123AA) to numbers 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green)). Every message you send is valid for one hour and, some 5 minutes before the hour has passed, you get a text message telling you that you can send another SMS if you want to extend your parking for the next hour. Of course, this only applies in yellow and green zones, in which you can park for more than 1 hour. After the time is up, you'll have to re-park or risk paying a fine (around €15). All of this only applies on weekdays, from 07:00 to 21:00 and from 07:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays. After that (Sa 14:00 – M 07:00) parking is free.

There are also several public parking garages and parking lots where you can park for an unlimited amount of time during day. Fees are charged on an hourly basis (price varies, usually around €0.7-0.9/hour). In some non-zoned areas, you also pay for parking depending on the duration of your stay, and this is paid in cash to the parking attendant.

Detailed information can be found on the Parking Service website.

Parking violations are dealt with rather swiftly in the city center and with less commitment in the peripheral zones. Failure to pay for parking in a marked spot is handled by parking enforcement officers and can only result in a fine which would be difficult to collect if you're operating a foreign licensed vehicle. On the other hand, illegally parked vehicles are handled by the traffic police. Once spotted, the police are required to wait for 15 minutes for the driver to return. If you do return in time, you will be issued a sanction and a fine (around €50). When the 15 minutes are up, your car will get towed to one of 4 designated lots in the city. You may locate it using an online service. Once at the lot, you will be required to present a valid form of ID and the vehicle matriculation papers, pay the mandatory fine and towing expenses (around €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 €1.5/hour and €4/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.

By night bus

Night public transport starts at 00:00 and lasts until 04:00 and is operated by buses. There are numerous lines that will take you to any part of town [3]. The tickets are bought inside the bus and, as of April 2014, they are RSD150 for one zone and RSD210 for both zones. The ticket seller will ask you where you are going, so that you buy a proper ticket.

Sometimes it can occur that you ride on a daytime line well after midnight. Take note that night lines have suffix "N" (e.g. 15N) and only in them you have to buy the night ticket. Daytime lines are daytime lines even after midnight.

See

Yugoslav Drama Theatre

Saint Sava church Crypt

Overview of the three Belgrade bridges: Gazela Bridge, Old Railroad Bridge, and New Railroad Bridge

Building of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Skadarlija street, Belgrade, Serbia.jpg

Konak knjeginje Ljubice

Knez Mihailova Street

Knez Mihajlova, one of the most popular pedestrian-only streets in Belgrade

Tito's mausoleum

Belgrade city core is not too big. Everything between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova street and Skadarska street is best viewed on foot, and most major sights can be found in the Stari Grad ('Old Town') district. Other than that, it is recommended to use other means of transportation. Note that many of Belgrade's museums are closed on Monday. It may be wise to check before making a visit.

• 1 Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan/Калемегдан). Once an important military fortification and the location of the first settlement of Singidunum, it now serves as the central park of Belgrade. Accessible from the end of the Knez Mihailova street, it offers a great refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, especially in the afternoon. Kalemegdan park is divided into the Upper and Lower town, and contains fortress walls built in several stages throughout history, with several cafés, tennis and basketball courts, museums and an observatory. Be sure to take a stroll around the statue of Pobednik (The Victor), one of the symbols of Belgrade, and enjoy the stunning views over the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. (updated Jul 2016)

• 2 Knez Mihailova Street (Кнез Михаилова улица). The main pedestrian street of Belgrade features beautiful architecture from the late 19th century. Take a stroll down this historic street and enjoy all of the shopping, galleries, street vendors, and cafés it has to offer. The street also serves as the link between the Republic Square and Kalemegdan park. (updated May 2015)

• 3 Republic Square (Trg Republike/Трг Републике). Belgrade's main square features the statue of prince Mihailo Obrenović, which is the main meeting point of Belgradians, popularly referred to as "by the horse". Surrounding the square are famous historical buildings such as the National Museum and the National Theatre. (updated May 2015)

• 4 Skadarlija street (Скадарлија). Popularly nicknamed the "Bohemian quarter", this pedestrian street is filled with restaurants and cafes, most in the spirit of old Belgrade. Live bands playing traditional Serbian music can be heard in the evenings. Skadarlija street is lined with many landmarks, including Dva Jelena Kafana, which was established in 1832. The street is paved in cobblestones, so ladies are advised to avoid wearing high heels, unless highly experienced. Blank-walled buildings on the south side have been painted with impressive 'trompe-l'oeil' paintings to add to the atmosphere. (updated May 2015)

• Terazije and Kralja Milana streets (Теразије и улица Краља Милана). Connecting Knez Mihailova street and the Republic Square with the Slavija Square and the Temple of Saint Sava, which dominates the view as you walk towards it. Take a walk down the street and see the famous Terazije Fountain, Hotel Moskva (formerly called the "Palace of Russia"),the Old Royal Palace (now the City Hall), the New Palace (now the building of the Presidency), and the Yugoslavian Drama Theater. (updated May 2015)

• 5 The Old Royal Palace (Stari Dvor/Стари Двор). Located opposite the National Assembly, it was the royal residence of the Obrenović and Karađorđević dynasties from 1884 until 1922. It is now the seat of the Belgrade City Assembly, and the plateau in front of it is often used to welcome Serbian athletes and musicians after successful competitions abroad. (updated May 2015)

• 6 The White Palace (Beli Dvor/Бели Двор). The official residence of the crown prince of Serbia, it is a mansion located in the upscale Dedinje area, as part of the Royal compound. Tours can be booked at the Tourist Information offices. (updated May 2015)

• 7 The New Palace (Novi Dvor/Нови Двор). The New Palace is next to the Old Royal Palace, on Andrićev venac square. Built between 1911 and 1922 as the residence of King Petar I Karađorđević, today it is the official seat of the President of the Republic of Serbia. (updated May 2015)

• 8 The National Assembly of Serbia (Narodna Skupština/Народна Скупштина). Across the Old Royal Palace, at Nikola Pašić Square. (updated May 2015)

• 9 Gardoš (Гардош). A neighborhood in the municipality of Zemun. Gardoš is a hill located near the river bank of Danube, and offers a historical and authentic atmosphere, with narrow streets, old houses and churches. At the top of the hill stands the tower of "Sibinjanin Janko" (or Millennium Tower) - 36m tall, built in 1896, housing an art gallery and boasting beautiful views over the Danube and Belgrade. The area also offers numerous authentic restaurants offering a wide range of dishes, usually traditional Serbian cuisine. (updated May 2015)

• 10 Belgrade Zoo, Mali Kalemegdan 8. Summer: daily 08:00–20:30, winter: daily 08:00–17:00.  

Religious places

Saint Sava temple

• 11 The Temple of Saint Sava (Hram Svetog Save/Храм Светог Саве). The largest church in Serbia and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, under construction since 1935. Uniquely in Belgrade, it is more often known and signposted as a temple rather than a church, but in Orthodox Christianity these are synonyms. Interior decoration is not yet finished, however visitors have access to the north aisle and the crypt which are complete and in use. Located on Karađorđe's plateau in the Vračar area of Belgrade. (updated May 2015)

• 12 Belgrade Cathedral (Saborna crkva/Саборна црква). Also called St. Archangel Michael's Cathedral, it is near the Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan park). Built between 1837 and 1840, with a richly-decorated interior. Across the church is the building of Patriarchy, the seat of Serbian Orthodox Church. Two of the most significant linguists of Serbian history, Vuk Karadžić and Dositej Obradović, are buried in front of the church. (updated May 2015)

• 13 St. Mark's Church (Crkva Sv. Marka/Црква Св. Марка). Built between 1931 and 1940, it is in the Tašmajdan park, next to the main Post office and the National Assembly building. The church is also the final resting place of the famous Tsar Dušan the Mighty. There is a small Russian Orthodox church right next to St. Mark's. (updated May 2015)

• 14 Church Ružica (Црква Ружица). Church Ružica and Church Sveta Petka (Црква Св. Петке) are in Kalemegdan fortress, near observatory (easy to miss, ask for directions). Ružica is first mentioned at 15th century, and destroyed in early 18th century. After that it is rebuild in the present location, and it is the oldest church in Belgrade. It is again destroyed in World War I by the Central Powers, and then renewed in 1925. At that time the church got bronze soldiers guards in front of it and the unusual chandeliers made out of bullet shells, swords and bayonets. (updated May 2015)

• 15 Church of St. Alexander Nevsky (Црква Св. Александра Невског), Cara Dušana 63 (Dorćol (near Skadarlija)). Its history dates back to the time the Serbian-Turkish war (1876), when under the command of General Mikhail Chernyayev (Михаил Черњајев), Russian volunteers arrived in Serbian aid. Firstly they erected a tent near the church dedicated to St-. Aleksandar Nevsky. The old church was built in 1877, but later had a turbulent history. The church has significant relics, frescoes, and in the interior of the plaque, Serbian warriors, the Russian Tsar Nicholas the Second, and King Alexander I Karadjordjevic. (updated May 2015)

• 16 Nikolajevska crkva (Николајевска Црква). Built in 1745 at the foot of Gardoš (Гардош) hill, near the Danube, in the municipality of Zemun. (updated May 2015)

• 17 Church of the shroud of Holy Virgin (Црква Покрова Пресвете Богородице), Kajmakčalanska 55, Vračar. It was built in 1933, in simple Serbian-Byzantine style, richly adorned with frescoes, mosaics, has a rich collection of relics. It is between Boulevard of King Alexander, and Žička street, near the "Red Cross Square" (Црвени Крст). (updated May 2015)

• 18 Monastery Rakovica (Манастир Раковица). Dedicated to St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Monastery went through a turbulent history. Rakovica Monastery is 11 km from the city center, on a circular route, on which the Rakovička river turns to the Avala. Monastery has important relics, and there are tombs of famous personalities (Vasa Čarapić, Patriarch Dimitrije), and until recently Serbian Patriarch Pavle. (updated May 2015)

• Presentation of the Virgin Monastery (Манастир Ваведења Пресвете Богородице), Ljube Jovanovića 8 (Senjak (Dedinje hill)). It is near the center, the Topčidersko hill, surrounded by woods. The church was built in 1935. This beautiful church ("Monastery of the Presentation") was built in the Serbian-Byzantine style, richly painted frescoes, and a rich treasure. (updated May 2015)

• Roman Catholic churches. There are eight 'Roman Catholic churches in Belgrade: the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Hadži Milentijeva 75 (Neimar), the Church of Christ the King in Krunska 23 (Vračar), two in Zemun, and one each in Stari Grad, Čukarica, Zvezdara and Karaburma. (updated May 2015)

• 19 Bajrakli Mosque (Бајракли џамија), Gospodar Jevremova 11 Dorćol. Serbia's only active mosque in a non-Muslim-majority city is in central Belgrade. It was built in the 16th century, when the Ottoman Empire ruled most of the Balkans. (updated May 2015)

• 20 Belgrade Synagogue Sukkat Shalom, Maršala Birjuzova 19, Stari Grad. (updated May 2015)

Museums and galleries

Aeronautical Museum

• 21 National Museum (Народни Музеј), Trg republike 1а. Tu W F and Su 10:00 – 18:00, Th and Sa 12:00 – 20:00. Founded in 1844, has more than 400,000 items including Italian Art Collection (230 works) including Titian, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Canaletto, Tiepollo, Carpacio... French Art Collection (250 paintings) includes Renoir (55 works including 22 paintings), Monet, Degas, Signac, Lautrec, Matisse, Goughen, Utrillo, Pissaro, Corot... Dutch and Flemish Art Collection (120 works) include Vincent van Gogh, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Goyen, and Breughel. Japanese Art Collection has 82 works which include Kunisada, Toyokuni, and Hirosige. Cubist Art Collection includes Picasso, Cézanne, Delaunay, Arhipenko, Mondrian... Yugoslav (Serbian) Art Collection includes Paja Jovanovic, Uros Predic, and Lubarda. Other Art Collections (German, Austrian, Russian) include Durer, Gustav Klimt, Kandinsky, Sisley, Marc Chagall, Modigliani, and Kassat. Free on Su. (updated Aug 2018)
  • 22 Gallery of Frescoes of the National Museum (Галерија Фресака), Cara Uroša 20, ☏ +381 11 30 60 52. The gallery was founded in 1953 as a special institution for the collection, study and exhibit of the Serbian medieval art. It is now part of the National Museum and contains a rich collection of murals and medieval sculptures. Closed for renovation. (updated Aug 2018)

• 23 Historical Museum of Serbia (Историјски Музеј Србије), Square Nikole Pasica 11 (next to the National Assembly of Serbia.), ☏ +381 11 3398 018, +381 11 3398 335. Tu-Su. This museum has a rich collection of materials related to the Serbian nation from ancient times to the present.  

• 24 Ethnographic Museum (Serbian Cyrillic: Етнографски музеј), Studentski trg 13, ☏ +381 11 3281 888. Tu–Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 09:00-14:00. Permanent exhibition of Serbian costumes, tools, culture and everyday life in past centuries. Temporary exhibitions covering related topics.  

• 25 Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Музеј Српске Православне Цркве) (across from the Belgrade Cathedral (Саборна црква), The Residence of Princess Ljubica, near Knez Mihailova Street, entrance from the street Kralja Petra I br. 5th). M-F 08:00-16:00, Sa 09:00-12:00, Su 11:00-13:00. Across the street is the Orthodox Academy of Art and Conservation (frescoes, mosaics, and icon painting)  

• 26 Nikola Tesla Museum, Krunska 51, ☏ +381 11 24 33 886, fax: +381 11 24 36 408, info@tesla-museum.org. Tu–Su 10:00-18:00. Museum dedicated to the man whom Serbs revere. Nikola Tesla (Никола Тесла) made significant contributions to the development of electric engineering, pioneering alternative current (making long-distance high-energy transfers possible), radio (making base work for today's mobile communications) and AC motors (widely used today, e.g. blenders, vacuum cleaners and elevators), among other numerous inventions. Half of this small museum is dedicated to Tesla's personal effects, while the other half contains models of his inventions. There are English-speaking guides who are students from the Engineering Department of the University of Belgrade who can help you understand the sometimes-complicated science. English-speaking tours start at the full hour and include demonstrations. During peak hours you might need to wait a bit. If you are waiting you can use the Wifi with the password "TeslaBG17". 500 RSD (full), 300 RSD (student).  

• 27 The Residence of Princess Ljubica (Конак кнегиње Љубице), Kneza Sime Markovića 8. Tu-Th Sa 10:00-17:00, F 10:00-18:00, Su 10:00-14:00. The residence is now managed by the Museum of Belgrade and is used to display the museum material and painting exhibitions. The permanent exhibition at the Residence consists of original furniture, made in Oriental-Balkan style and other styles of the time (Classicism, Biedermeier, Baroque Revival). 200 RSD. (updated Aug 2018)

• 28 Ivo Andric Museum, Andrićev Venac 8. Tu-Th Sa 10:00-17:00, F 10:00-18:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Memorial Museum of Ivo Andric, is dedicated to our writer, Nobel laureate.Closed Mondays. 200 RSD. (updated Aug 2018)

• 29 Tito's Mausoleum and the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia (Serbian Cyrillic: Музеј Историје Југославије), Botićeva 6 (take trolleybus #40 or #41 from Studentski Trg or from Kneza Miloša Street in the direction of Dedinje and ask for Kuća cveća (House of flowers)). Tu-Su: 10:00-18:00 from 16 Oct-23 Apr; 10:00-20:00 from 24 Apr-15 Oct. Artifacts from the former Yugoslavia and around the world given to Tito in his years as president. The Old Museum at the back of the complex, near the House of Flowers, is closed for renovation, as of July 2015. RSD200, Students: RSD100. (updated Jul 2015)

• 30 The Military Museum (Војни Музеј) (inside the Belgrade Fortress). Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Museum has around 30,000 objects in 12 collections and very impressive photo collection with over 100,000 photographs, etc. RSD150.  

• 31 Museum of Roma Culture, Ruzveltova street 41-43. Tu-Su 11:00-16:00. The museum is in a small storage room in a public building in downtown Belgrade. Its walls are covered with photographs and documents in the Roma language. There are temporary exhibitions, different programs and events.  

• 32 Aeronautical Museum (Музеј Ваздухопловства) (adjacent to Nikola Tesla Airport; take bus number 72 which departs from Zeleni Venac terminus/station, to the second last stop). Daily 09:00 - 17:00. The main collection is housed in an architecturally noteworthy geodesic-based glass building, with additional aircraft displayed on the surrounding grounds. The museum owns over 200 aircraft that have been operated by the Serbian and Yugoslav Air Forces, Aeronautical clubs and Avio-companies, 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. 600 RSD. (updated Aug 2018)

Do

Ada Ciganlija island

• Ada Ciganlija is a river island on Sava River with an artificial lake in the center of the city. The lake has an 8 km (5 mi) long gravel beach, which is visited by thousands of bathers during the summer. This is a great place for sports and picnics (barbecue is allowed in the allotted space). It also contains a lot of cafes and restaurants, river rafts (bars-restaurants), some of which are opened whole year round. In summer, it is swamped with people wanting to cool down in the water. Beaches in Ada Ciganlija, with restaurants, cafes on the beach, as well as umbrellas,beds and water sports, reminiscent of many sea beaches, and are the right place for swimming, recreation and enjoyment. You may rent bikes or inline skates at several points near the entry to the island. Lanes for pedestrians and bikers are separated. You have over-the-water bungee jumping facility, as well as water skiing. There are terrains for football, basketball, beach volley, golf and tennis. If you are coming from the direction of New Belgrade or Zemun, consider using small boats from Block 70a edge, New Belgrade, which can take you over the river for around €1. During summer season they go every 15 minutes or less, and offer bike transportation as well. There are also many regular bus services from the city center and other districts to Ada Ciganlija. Additional facilities:
  • Adventure Park is open during summer season (usually from beginning of May until the end of September) +381-64/8210-218, +381-63/1679-787. Price for one go through the park is RSD 800.
  • Segway Rides on small flat track, near cafe Plaža, +381-69/734-929.
  • Outdoor Ice Skating (during winter), or ski and snowboard simulator (all year round)

• Public Observatory (placed at Kalemegdan fortress) features four panoramic telescopes installed for daily observations of the city's panorama.

• National Theatre features opera, ballet and plays. The main hall is simply amazing - decorated with gold and artworks.

• Zemun quay is the most visited Waterfront in Belgrade. Here you can ride a bike, inline skates or walk next to Danube River. For a break, just hop on one of the raft bars or restaurants.

• Strahinjića Bana Street (Serbian Cyrillic:Страхињића Бана улица) is known as the Silicon Valley (Силиконска Долина), located in downtown Belgrade, at the end of Skadarska Street (popularly Skadarlija) laterally, and extends to the Kalemegdan fortress and the zoo. Here are popular bars, restaurants, cafes, and gardens (with slightly higher prices).

• Go bowling, available at:
  • Colosseum Bowling, Dobanovačka 56, Zemun, +381-65/3888-888
  • Usce Shopping Mall Bowling
  • Delta City Shopping Mall

• Ice skating is available during winter months at:
  • Tašmajdan Sports Center, Čarlija Čaplina 39, +381 11 2766-667, RSD200–300.
  • Pingvin Beostar Gym (Penguin), Jurija Gagarina 78, +381 11 2178-183, RSD 200–250.
  • Mali Pingvin Sport Belgrade (Little Penguin), Deligradska 27
  • Open-air ice skating at square Trg Nikole Pašića, winter months, free of charge

• The Great War Island (Veliko ratno ostrvo) is a river island at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, for picnics and bird spotting.

• Mount Avala is a 511m mountain near Belgrade with the 204m Avala Tower at the top. Viewing platform is accessible via a lift with great views of Belgrade and parts of Vojvodina and Šumadija. Entrance fee is RSD50 per person. At the top of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, and the motel and a few restaurants. During the descent, turn right, there is a mountain lodge "Čarapića Brest" (Чарапића Брест), with rooms and good restaurant.

• Visit a splav (literally: raft) – a barge restaurant located along the Sava and Danube rivers. There are two kinds of "splav". Some are restaurants, but most are nightclubs. You can literally club-hop all night long. There is no cover charge to get into any of them. Some ultra popular ones may require that you have an invitation or be on the guest list, but if you tell them that you are a foreigner and that you didn't know they'll usually let you in. Women are not required to be on a "guest list". The music played on the barges is highly varied and can include live bands, Serbian folk music, pop, and dance.

Cinemas

Movies in Serbia are subtitled, not dubbed. Best movie theaters are:

• Cineplexx Usce Shopping Center at Usce shopping mall, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina, 3D projections available
• Cineplexx Delta City, at Delta City shopping mall, Jurija Gagarina 16, +381 11 2203-400, Cineplexx Cinemas
• Roda Intermezzo Cineplex, Požeška 83a, +381 11 2545-260
• Tuckwood cineplex, Kneza Miloša 7a, +381 11 3236-517, in the city center, a bit old, and sometimes too loud.

If you prefer theaters in the city core, check also:

• Dom sindikata, Trg Nikole Pašića 5, +381 11 3234-849
• Akademija 28, Nemanjina 28, +381 11 3616-020
• Yugoslav Film Archive, 11000, Uzun Mirkova 1, Beograd (Take any trolleybus going to Studentski Trg, e.g. 19, 21 and 22.). The Yugoslav Film Archive run contemporary art house movies and classics. The majority of films are what could be termed as "classics" with rather clear emphasis on European cinema, though Yugoslav films are being shown occasionally too. (updated Sep 2017)

Festivals and events

• BITEF, Belgrade International Theater Festival, mid-September
• BEMUS, Belgrade Music Festival, mid-October
• Belgrade Jazz Festival, around October
• Belgrade Tango Festival, around November
• Rakija fest , mid-December, festival of traditional Serbian distilled alcoholic beverage
• Nova godina, 31 December
• Street of Open Heart, mini carnival held on 1 January, starting at noon, on streets of Makedonska and Svetogorska
• Guitar Art Festival, mid-February
• International Wine Fair, around February, Belgrade Fair
• Belgrade4Youth , last weekend in February
• Belgrade Tango Encuentro, around April
• Ring Ring, Festival of new and improvised music – around May
• FERAM, Belgrade Early Music Festival, mid-June
• Belgrade Light Music Festival, around June/July
• Summertime Jazz Festival, around July
• BELEF, Belgrade Summer Festival, around July–August
• Belgrade Beer Festival, around August
• GREEN FEST International green culture festival, around October–November

Sports

Association football

Association football is the most popular spectator sport in Serbia. While Begrade isn't home to any of the traditional European football giants, the local derby between Partizan Belgrade and Red Star Belgrade (won both European and International Cup in 1991), also known as the Eternal Derby (Вечити дерби), is considered to be one of the most intensive sport events. Even if you do not support either club, but you enjoy cheering, watching one of the matches between the two sides is still recommended to experience the atmosphere. Due to the intensity of the rivalry, it is not recommended to wear either team's colors outside the stadium.

Basketball and tennis

Basketball and tennis are also popular. Kombank Arena and Pionir Hall are the main venues for basketball and other indoor sports, while tennis is played at the Novak Tennis Center (Serbia Open), as well as in Kombank Arena (Davis Cup matches).

Learn

Serbian courses for foreigners are organized in several places including:

• Concord
• Institute for Foreign Languages
• Serbian Language and Culture Workshop

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

Buy

New Belgrade, main financial district

For information on the Serbian currency, see Serbia#Buy. Menjačnica Mićko (Vuka Karadzica street #4), changes all currencies, including rare ones.

Most stores operate late hours during work days, while on Saturdays they normally close around 15:00 and most of them are not open on Sundays. However, shopping malls are open late every day, including weekends.

Clothes and accessories

Import taxes make clothes and shoes in Serbia very expensive. Many items from common European chains can be found for 20% less in Budapest. Still, Belgrade has many flagship stores, mostly located on Knez Mihailova Street and the Terazije square, or the pedestrian zone, representing assorted high-fashion brands.

Almost all of the major European brands are present, including H&M, Guess, New Yorker, Zara, Bershka, Hugo Boss, Springfield, Stradivarius, Mango, Diesel, Liu Jo, C&A, and Pull & Bear. More expensive clothes & accessories (such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Lanvin, Marni, D&G, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, YSL, Mulberry and many others) can be usually found either at the Kralja Petra street (Dorćol) in Distante Fashion center, as well as in XYZ stores that are located in Ušće Shopping Center and Delta City.

Local department store chains include Artisti and Land.

Local Belgrade designers are present in the Choomich (Belgrade Design District) shopping center.

The biggest bookstores in Belgrade selling beside Serbian also foreign (mostly English) books are in the city center. Vulkan is at the beginning and Plato is at the end of Knez Mihailova street. The shopping malls also have large bookstores. There are also some shops that sell newspapers and magazines in English, German, French, Italian, Russian and other foreign languages.

• Delfi, ☏ +381 11 2645-783. Inside Student Cultural Center (SKC), Kralja Milana 48, M–Sa 09:00-20:00, Su 12:00-21:00 

• Vulkan, corner of Sremska and Knez Mihajlova, ☏ +381 11 2639-060. M–Sa 00:00–22:00, Su 12:00–22:00. 

• Plato, Knez Mihailova 48, ☏ +381 11 2625-834. 

International newspapers and magazines

Newsstands and bookstores in the city sell foreign newspapers and magazines. These include Delfi, Plato Press (near Studentski trg), Tell Me (next to the Plato store) and Inmedio (three locations - Delta City, Usce Center, Zira Center). Newspapers and magazines can be found in various international languages like English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, German and others.

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.

• 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 

• 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. 

• Beogradski Sajam. Huge selection of cheap clothes. 

• Block 70 Chinese Market. You can buy dirt-cheap clothing imported from China. Quality is lower. Closed on Tuesdays! 

• Mercator Center, Bulevar umetnosti 4 (bus number 71, 72 or 75, close to Novi Beograd police station and municipal building). 

• Immo Outlet Center, Gandijeva 21, blok 64. 

• Zira Shopping Center, Ruzveltova 33 (near New Cemetery). 

• BN Bos Outlet (Galenika). 

• Otvoreni tržni centar (Buvljak), Antifašističke borbe bb. Hundreds of independent shop owners have stores (all brand new goods) under the open sky. You can buy anything and everything there, from any type of clothes like Italian jeans (some are real, some are real good copies from Novi Pazar) to gadgets, toiletries, cell phone accessories to the most obscure screw or nail. Prices go a lot lower than in bigger malls. (updated Jul 2016)

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 actually 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. Fortunately you can borrow a card from a Serbian friend who has it. 

Eat

Cafe at the Skadarlija street

For information on Serbian cuisine, see Serbia#Eat

Belgrade has hundreds of restaurants specializing in local cuisine and a number of international restaurants. On the whole, prices are cheap compared to Western Europe with main dishes ranging from €5–20 per person.

Without a doubt, the most popular choice of fast food in Belgrade is barbecue (roštilj), and there are dozens of bbq joints around the city where you can have a Serbian burger for around €2, usually with free toppings included. Some of the most popular places are Stepin Vajat (Степин Вајат) and Duff at Autokomanda, Mara and Cica in the downtown area and Iva in Žarkovo.

Belgradians are famous for enjoying Burek for breakfast, which is a type of pastry, usually filled with feta cheese or meat. As a meat and dairy-free alternative, potato (Cyrillic: 'кромпир') burek can often be found. Most bakeries around the city sell them for a cheap price, around 110 RSD. To enjoy a proper Burek, make sure to drink some yoghurt on the side. Similarly, there are many places specialising in Burek and various Serbian and Bosnian pies, called buregdžinice. For good-tasting Sarajevo pies try Tadić (Cyrillic: Тадић) at Kralja Petra 75 or Buregdžinica Sarajevo at Svetogorska 38.

Farmer's market

Depending on the season, an amazing assortment of fruit and vegetables can be found in farmer's markets, including watermelons, olives, wild mushrooms, and fresh figs. Take the time to explore the stalls, and compare the quality and prices of the produce. Most produce at the farmer's markets in Belgrade is organic and fresh from the farmers' gardens brought over daily from the villages surrounding the city.

• Pijaca Zeleni Venac (The farmer's market at Zeleni Venac) (close to the Hotel Moscow) - This is not the largest, but it is the cheapest in the city. Contained in a newly-built complex, it makes for an enjoyable Saturday morning experience, with the lively hustle and bustle of people milling about and stall-owners trying to attract customers.

International cuisine

There are a handful of international restaurants, which can range from moderately priced to very expensive. Many dine out at:

Chinese

• Peking, Vuka Karadžića 2. (updated Sep 2016)
• Mao Tao, Gračanička 18. (updated Sep 2016)
• Makao, Pere Velimirovića 7; Starine Novaka 7a; Prve Pruge 8. (updated Sep 2016)

Japanese

• Moon Sushi & Fusion Food, Makedonska 31. (updated Oct 2016)
• Ikki Sushi Bar, Gospodar Jovanova 46. (updated Oct 2016)
• W Sushi, Vuka Karadžića 12; Andre Nikolića 2a. (updated Oct 2016)
• Marukoshi, Kapetan Mišina 37. (updated Sep 2016)

Mexican

• Zapata, Vojvode Bogdana 13. (updated Oct 2016)
• Burrito Madre, Terazije 27; Karađorđeva 65; Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 54. (updated Oct 2016)

Italian

• Botako, Nevesinjska 6; Šantićeva 8, ☏ +381 (62) 249 703, +381 (11) 3446 770. Daily 10:00-23:30. €4-12 per pizza (large can be shared). (updated Oct 2016)

• Casa, Makenzijeva 24, ☏ +381 (11) 242 1554. M-Sa 12:00-23:00. (updated Oct 2016)
• Casa Nova, Gospodar Jovanova 42a, ☏ +381 (11) 3036 868. Daily 11:30-00:30. Italian-French fusion restaurant. (updated Oct 2016)
• Trag (Spaghetteria Trag), Đorđa Jovanovića 2, ☏ +381 (11) 3227 495. €5-10 per main dish. (updated Oct 2016)

• Caruso, Terazije 23/8, ☏ +381 (11) 3248 037. M-F 09:00-01:00. Located on the 8th floor, it offers stunning views over Terazije, the river Sava, and New Belgrade. €5-10 per main dish. (updated Oct 2016)
• Lorenzo & Kakalamba, Cvijićeva 110, ☏ +381 (11) 3295 351, +381 (64) 8087 806. Daily 12:00-00:00. Specialties of Italian and southeastern Serbian cuisine, set in a truly one-of-a-kind restaurant with eccentric decor and wonderful design touches. €5-20 per main dish. (updated Jul 2016)

Serbian cuisine

Many traditional restaurants/taverns are labeled Kafana (Serbian Cyrillic: Кафана)

For those interested in what would be a typical Serbian meal, check out these places:

• 1 Čobanov odmor (Чобанов одмор), 34 Vojvode Šupljikca, Vračar, ☏ +381 11 2450-947. Čobanov odmor means "shepherd's home/rest", it's authentic Serbian fast food with service in ethno style. Website in Serbian only. 

• Leskovčanin (Лecкoвчaнин), Balkanska 5. Fast food, grill in the traditional way, tasty and varied. It is located next to "Hotel Moskva", (near Terazije). (updated May 2015)

• 2 Manjež kafana (Мањеж), Svetozara Markovića 49, ☏ +381 11 3621111. Famous restaurant with distinctive service. Large selection of traditional Serbian food, great spirits (rakija), premium wines and cakes. It is located near the Yugoslav Drama Theatre and the park, the main street between the Srpskih Vladara (Kralja Milana) and Nemanjina, near Slavija Square. (updated May 2015)

• Orač kafana (Орач), Mekenzijeva 81. It is in the part Čubura - Vračar, near the Slavija square and the Temple of Saint Sava. Kafana Orač (means "plowman") is a tavern with a long tradition, local specialties, and good barbecue. A few years ago (from a nearby old location) moved to this new location. (updated May 2015)

• Orašac (Орашац), Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 122. A garden restaurant with traditional Serbian cuisine. Grill and food prepared by recipes from the old Serbian cuisine. Located near the monument to Vuk Karadžić ("Kod Vuka"), in Belgrade's main boulevard. (updated May 2015)

• 3 Salaš (Салаш), Sinđelićeva 34 (Gardoš (near Danube) - municipality of Zemun.). M-Sa 13:00—00:00, Su 12:00—22:00. Enjoy the authentic atmosphere of the "Salaš" (ranch). Specialties of meat or fish, good wine and views of the river and the whole city. (updated May 2015)

• 4 Sinđelić (Синђелић), Vojislava Ilića 86, ☏ +381 11 2412297. 12—24. National restaurant with traditional Serbian cuisine. It is located near the stadium Sinđelić. From the city center, you can quickly get to the restaurant by city bus no. 31 and trolley bus no. 19 and 29 (from Slavija Square). (updated May 2015)

• Skadarlija. is a pleasant street filled with Serbian and Italian restaurants, not to be missed by gourmands. It is famous for its old restaurants, some of which have been around for over 100 years. Most of the restaurants have string orchestras which play a selection of traditional and modern Serbian songs, like in Lagum 33, Simina 33. (updated May 2015)

• Srpska brvnara kafana (Српска брвнара), Savski kej bb, 44 blok, Novi Beograd. National House "Srpska brvnara" is a floating restaurant (on a raft), located on the banks of the River Sava. Ethno-friendly environment, national cuisine, music tambourine. (updated May 2015)

• Srpska kafana (Српска кафана), Svetogorska 25. Traditional Serbian cuisine. Cult town tavern, the place in which are built in a decade bohemian life. The restaurant is located next to the theater "Atelje 212". Local specialties like home cooked meals, grill, gibanica - a type of pie. (updated May 2015)

• Stepin vajat (Степин Вајат), Vojvode Stepe 2l. Fast food, grill in the traditional way, tasty and varied. It is located next to "Autokomanda" square, and Red Star (Црвена Звезда) football stadium, (near Slavija Square). The shop is in the Serbian-style, wooden house. (updated May 2015)

• 5 ? kafana (Znak pitanja), Kralja Petra 6. traditional Serbian cuisine. Good place to try ćevapčići sa kajmakom (grilled minced meat with cream), or if you have a strong stomach and will to experiment, you might choose (in translation): young bull's sex glands, bowels or glands. (updated May 2015)

Some restaurants are famous not only by the quality, but also the quantity of the meals:

• Malo korzo, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 468, ☏ +381 11 419-922. Cheap but warm restaurant offering barbecue and other Serbian specialities in enormous portions. 

• Srbij (15 km from Belgrade downtown, on Ibar highway (M-22), just after Tilia forest (Lipovačka šuma)), ☏ +381 11 8340-055. If you happen to pass that way, or you are willing to spend half-hour drive from center to find it, it is recommended to visit. Decent restaurant build between village houses, with kind personnel and both tasteful and oversized dishes. (updated May 2015)
• Loki, Gospodar Jovanova 35. 24-hour Pljeskavica (serbian burger) joint between Studentski park and Strahinjica Bana. Variety of toppings like spicy cheese or pickled peppers (updated Oct 2017)

Fish

If you prefer a delicious fish meal try fish gourmet restaurants by the Sava and Danube:

• Mika Alas, ☏ +381 11 2544-448. Stari Obrenovački put 14 (close to Ada Ciganlija). Be sure to try their delicious fish soup "riblja čorba" and their very own house specialty, "smuđ romanov", Pike Perch fillet in white wine cream sauce. Excellent food for an acceptable price. 

• Ivanjica, Stari obrenovački put 8 (close to Ada Ciganlija), ☏ +381 11 3551-938. (updated May 2015)

• Šaran, Kej Oslobođenja 53 (Zemun quay), ☏ +381 11 2618-235. Restaurant by the river, terrace available during summer months, excellent atmosphere, guest cooks from different countries, live old Belgrade music. (updated May 2015)

• Restaurant Club Bacchus, ☏ +381 11 30 15 082. A good fish restaurant on the river Danube. Price is not so high, the best value for money. (updated May 2015)

Vegetarian

In regular restaurants and homes it is sometimes assumed that a "vegetarian" eats fish. If you don't, you should specify (bez mesa, bez ribe - without meat, without fish).

• Vegetarijanska Gostionica "Joy of the Heart", Svetogorska 18 (center), ☏ +381 11 334-5181. Not your typical Serbian meal - as they serve mostly ayyurvedic food for a decent price. Also serves fruit shakes and other non-alcoholic beverages. (updated May 2015)

• Jazzayoga, Kralja Aleksandra 48 (center), ☏ +381 11 32 42 173. Sandwiches, wraps, juices, and baked goods. (updated May 2015)

• Tel Aviv Hummus House, Carice Milice 3. Across from the McDonald's at Zeleni Venac. Delicious and cheap Middle Eastern food. The falafel sandwich is healthy and quick and costs less than €3. (updated May 2015)

Drink

Despite the warnings of the US.CDC [4], tap water in Belgrade is perfectly safe. There is a wide range of bottled waters on offer in grocery stores, supermarkets, and kiosks. The water in the city center tends to have a white appearance when first poured from the tap. This is from air bubbles and disappears within a few minutes.

Serbs love beer, and it is possible to buy a variety of decent domestic beers such as Jelen, Lav, MB, Pils very cheaply and common imported beer is widely available. Foreign beers made under license in Serbia include Heineken, Amstel, Tuborg, Stella Artois, and Beck's. Belgrade holds a Beer Festival annually in August.

Culture Tip: How to toast, Serbian style Like everywhere, Serbs love to toast when in good company, whether it's in a pub or in the home with friends. When toasting in Serbia, it is expected that you look your friends at the table directly in the eyes whilst clinking glasses as a sign of respect. Say 'Živeli!' (cheers!) to everyone and take a sip. Repeat as necessary, and enjoy a night out in Belgrade!

Local wines can be good, although more expensive tends to mean more drinkable, and many of the less expensive bottles are less than satisfactory. Wines from neighbouring Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia are also good and can be found in Belgrade.

The national alcoholic drink is rakija, a Serbian brandy (especially plum brandy - šljivovica, also slivovitsa in English) that is very strong and makes for a good souvenir. While it can be bought in stores Serbs generally maintain home brewed rakjia is superior and they take great pride in their craft. Common varieties include plumb, grape, walnut, quince and pear. Try buying some in the local farmers markets.

For the sober crowd a wide range of juices are available and Cockta A popular Slovenian cola is worth trying.

All cafés serve typical continental coffees, such as espresso and cappuccino but coffee is usually served "Turkish"; and it's what you will get if you don't specify which kind of coffee you want. Whipped instant coffee is also very popular, commonly referred to simply as 'Nes' (as in, Nescafé), which can be served both hot and cold.

The street best known for its trendy cafes is definitely Strahinjića Bana, where cafés are full even on weekdays. The best atmosphere is on Friday evenings when the trendy youth of Belgrade descend to enjoy the music and each other. Out of numerous cafés, the best ones are:

• Insomnia. 

• KontraBar. no alternative place, there are only yuppies and it is quite expensive for Beograd 

• Buongiornio. also a pastry shop 

• Nachos. 

• Veprov Dah. A Scottish pub. 

• Duomo. Italian and Mediterranean restaurant and cafe. 

• Ipanema. 

• Cosy. A French café with excellent ambiance in Makedonska 30, etc. 

The second cafe zone is Obilićev Venac (a street parallel to Knez Mihailova). The best cafes there are:

• Iron. 

• Jelena. 

• Zu Zu's. 

• Irish pub. 

• Simbol. 

Third cafe zone (also a going out zone) is quay next to hotel Yugoslavia in Zemun. On the quay are numerous river rafts (splavovi), many of which are cafes, restaurants and clubs.

Other places worth visiting:

• Inex Film. A squat on the north side of the center, on the shore of the Danube, with weekly film screenings, art exhibitions, and DJ parties. 

• Mali Prag (across from the Hotel Prag) is thought by some to offer the best "Serbian Coffee".

There are many cafés in less popular and crowded areas of Belgrade, which can have a truly unique atmosphere, and are worth exploring. The newly rejuvenated Savamala district (below Brankov bridge) offers many trendy and "hipstery" cafés and clubs, which can be interesting for the younger crowd.

Bars and nightlife

Belgrade is famous for its bars and clubs and vies with Budapest's techno scene, clubs are open until dawn in many parts of the city and even during weekdays parties can be found

• The Three Carrots Irish pub. Bills itself as the first Irish pub in Belgrade, quite easy to miss, just turn left at the bombed out buildings coming up from the train station and walk on the left hand side of the road. (updated May 2015)

• The Black Turtle II Pub, Kosančićev venac 30 (near Kalemegdan), ☏ +381 11 3286-656. Well known for beer mixed with lemon and blueberry syrup, as well as memorable river view at summer sunset, if you are among the lucky ones who manage to get one of the few outdoor tables. If you care about the beer or the atmosphere more than the view, check other Black Turtle Pubs. 

• Maniac bar, Sremska 2 (Podzemni prolaz ispod Albanije). Cheap dive bar in the center playing rock, underground with little indication it exists, crowd can be rowdy.
• Tijuana - Latin Cocktail Bar in Belgrade, ☎ +381 637108833 (Victor), +381 62251494 (Dennis). If you are searching for a nice looking cafe to impress your latest hot date, look away now, but if you want an original experience as far as Belgrade’s nightlife goes, then you should check out Tijuana.

Sleep

Hostels

• Ferijalni i hostelski savez Srbije - Youth Hostel Association of Serbia (Hostelling International Serbia), Dom Omladine, Makedonska 22/2 (down town), ☏ +381 64 112 1040, office@hostels.rs. FHSS - Youth hostel association Serbia is biggest hostel network in Serbia, representative for Hostelling International. 

• 360 Hostel (Belgrade Hostel), Knez Mihailova 21 (down town), ☏ +381 11 3284 523, booking@hostel360.com. Roof garden and barbeques. From €15 for dorm bed, €30 for single. 

• ArkaBarka Floating Hostel, Bulevar Nikole Tesle bb, ☏ +381 64 9253507. A floating house on the Danube. From €15. 

• Backpackers' Lounge Hostel, Cika Ljubina 103, ☏ +381 11 2627 483, backpackerslounge@gmail.com. Clean, comfortable, safe, friendly. Three dorms, two common rooms, kitchen, three bathrooms. Great atmosphere, free internet, free tea/coffee all day. Staff fluent in English and very willing to help. Lockers under the bed for gear that can fit an entire frame backpack. Located on third story of a building. Elevator is eighty years old and has warnings like 'use this and die' printed on it but still works. From €10. 

• Chillton Hostel, Kataniceva 7 (Vracar), ☏ +381 11 344 18 26, +381 62 677 004 (SMS), chilltonhostel@gmail.com. Check-in: 24-hr, check-out: 24-hr. 3 stops from the train station with bus 83. Private rooms and dorms, air conditioners in all the rooms. 

• Chillton 2 Hostel, Vase Carapica 15 (Stari grad), chillton2@gmail.com. Check-in: 24-hr, check-out: 24-hr. 4 stops from the train station with tram 2 direction fortress. Private rooms and dorms, air conditioners in all the rooms. 

• Crossroad Hostel, Gospodar Jevremova 41, ☏ +381 63 252-529, office@crossroad-hostel.com. In a quiet part but on the crossroads of the four most important tourist city areas. No dorms. Single €25. 

• 1 Downtown Central Hostel, Kolarčeva 7 (near Knez Mihailova street and Republic Square), ☏ +381 11 407 38 61. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Wide range of newly furnished accommodation types are offered, reaching a capacity of 70 beds. €6-17. 
• 2 Fair and Square Hostel, 68, Svetog Nikole, Zvezdara (Bus 65 from city centre. Alight at the second stop after bus 65 turn right into Svetog Nikole street. Name of the bus stop is Veljka Dugoševića.), ☏ +381 60 69 222 66, fairandsquarehostel@gmail.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Great value for the price. This is a new industrial-inspired designer hostel situated in a peaceful part of Belgrade. Spacious common area with bench, comfy couches, television, Play Station and a well-equipped kitchen. It is easy to hang out and socialise with other guests. Comprised of 3 buildings, there are options of dormitories and private rooms. Each dormitory room has its own bathroom. Towels provided. There is even an outdoor pool in the summer. Free and fast WiFi throughout premises. Pet-friendly. There are two cats and a dog that can keep your stay enjoyable. Secure parking available for cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Very personalised service from the friendly staff and owner. Direct bus that goes to city centre stops just across the road from the hostel. €6 onwards. (updated Jan 2017)

• Go2 Hostel Belgrade, Prizrenska 1, ☏ +381 11 3612341, office@go2hostelbelgrade.com. Go2 Hostel is in the core center of Belgrade, on Terazije Square, 2 minutes on foot from the Republic Square and just a couple of blocks (~350m) away from Belgrade’s Main Train and Bus Station. Hostel is on the 2nd floor in a building which has a historic value, across the Balkan Hotel. dorms from €8. 

• Good Morning Hostel Belgrade, Takovska 36-38, ☏ +381 11 3295031, info@goodmorninghostels.com. Owned by experienced people from travel industry, across Botanical garden, near Serbian Parliament and close to the bus and train station. Big dorms, large private rooms, common room with computers and free wifi. dorms from €6. 

• Green Studio Hostel, Karadjordjeva 69/42 (From the bus station, you just cross the street with the trams and take a right and look for number 69, it is about a 20 second walk. From the train station take a left out of the door; keep walking across the next intersection into the park. From the park you should cross the street with the trams and look for number 69. About a minute walk.), ☏ +381 11 263 36 26, greenstudiohostel@gmail.com. Owned and run by fellow backpackers and locals, free laundry, computer access, high speed WiFi, to beer and rakija, coffee and tea. On the banks of the river, has dorms, large private rooms, and a large open common room always alive. All facilities work and are accessible 24 hours, as well as no check out times - sleep late. From €10. 

• Happy Hostel, Kralja Milutina 28 (at the corner with Nemanjina street, on the Slavija square), ☏ +381 64 1176 075 414, happyhostel@yahoo.com. Following facilities are included in the price: linen and towels, washing machine and dryer, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, TV set with DVD player and stereo, cable internet, wireless internet, residence tax, 24-hour reception. From €12. 

• Hedonist Hostel, Simina 7, ☏ +381 11 3284 798, +381 64 26 20 999, office@hedonisthostelbelgrade.com. On a quiet street of the city center, with a nice garden. Large common area with a common room (cozy traditional Serbian interior) directly connected with the kitchen and the garden. Bedrooms are newly furnished, cozy and always clean and fresh. Room price includes free Wi-Fi, computer access, security lockers for each bed, fresh linen & towels, maps and info, coffee & tea and cable TV & movies. From €9, including taxes. 

• Hostel Beli Grad, Nemanjina 42 (on the Slavija Square, in Nemanjina Street, just beside McDonald's restaurant.), ☏ +381 11 3612126, +381 64 5471320, hostelbg@gmail.com. Airport bus terminal is just across the street. The hostel has one 8-bed room, one 6-bed room and one private room with a French bed. All rooms are air-conditioned and dispose of personal belongings cabinets and reading lights. A spacious bathroom and a separate toilet, common kitchen. WiFi, bedsheets, towels, residence tax included. From RSD1200. 

• Hostel Captain, Kapetan Misina 16, ☏ +381 11 218 18 19, +381 65 243 9596 (Mobile), office@hostelcaptain.com. Safe, comfortable budget accommodation and facilities including bar, internet, chill out areas and atmosphere where it is possible to meet other like minded people. From €12. 

• Hostel Goodnight Grooves, Zeleni Venac 2, ☏ +381 11 2185824, goodnightgrooves@gmail.com. Spacious rooms. Breakfast included. From €9. 

• Hostelche Hostel, Kralja Petra 8, ☏ +381 11 2637793, +381 63 8379461 (cell phone), hostelchehostel@gmail.com. New, cozy, clean place. They have free sheets, towels, laundry, games, books, 24–hour reception, internet, Wi-Fi, welcome drink, coffee, and tea. From €14. 

• Hostel Dali, Kosovska 3. Pretty hostel. From €10. 

• Hostel @ Jelica Milanovic School, Krunska 8, hostel.jelica@gmail.com. A high school campus in the middle of town which functions as a hostel in summer, between June 20th and August 30th. RSD1000-1100. 

• Hostel Revolution One, Nusiceva 4. Hostel is on the 6th floor of building with an elevator. From €10. 

• Hotel Center, Gavrila Principa 46a, ☏ +381 11 361 96 86, hostelcentar@sezampro.rs. 100 m far from main bus and train station. Hostel capacity is 30 beds on 3 floors with 10 beds on every floor. 2x double rooms, 3x 3 bed rooms, 3x 4 bed rooms, 1x 5 bed rooms. Rooms include: air conditioning, 2 SAT-TV, computer LCDTFT 22” (internet access), fax/telephone. There are discounts for groups and longer stays. Accommodation, bed (+tax+residence tax+insurance) €19. breakfast €3, hb(breakfast and dinner) €6. 

• Hotel Central Station, Karadjordjeva 87 (opposite to the Central Railway and Central Bus Station), ☏ +381 11 268 50 67, office@hostelcentralstation.com. Central Station is in a building regarded as a cultural monument and a city landmark. The building has accommodated guests since the beginning of the 20th century. In a completely redecorated and refurbished 150-m² space the hostel offers accommodations in twin-bed, four-bed, 6, 8, 10 bed-rooms. Guests have free internet access, a living room, a safe and secure storage room and gentlemen's and ladies bathrooms at their disposal. All rooms are air conditioned. From €12. 

• In Old Shoes Hostel, Brankova 18, ☏ +381 11 218 36 50, +381 64 136 65 05 (Mobile/SMS), info@inoldshoes.com. Great staff, very good location, free WiFi, maps, coffee and tea, cable TV, air conditioning, 2 and 4 beds private and dormitory rooms. From €10, taxes included. 

• Indigo Hostel Belgrade (by the entrance of the Kalemegdan park and Knez Mihajlova street), ☏ +381 11 26 26 333, mail@indigohostel.info. From €15. 

• Madness Hostel, Brace Jugovica 7, bgmadness@gmail.com. Check-in: 11:00, check-out: 10:00. 14 beds and 1 bathroom. A renovated apartment. Free coffee, tea, and sugar all day. From €12. 

• Manga Hostel, Resavska 7 (City center), ☏ +381 11 324 38 77, +381 64 261 05 09. 3-floor house, 1x10, 2x4, 1x1 rooms, 24-hr reception, private yard, air conditioning, free: wifi, lockers, towels, coffee & tea, maps, cable TV and DVDs, 24 hr supermarkets in the surrounds. Train station is 2 stops away (or 10 minutes walking). Beds from €10. 

• Melimelo, Kolarceva 3. 3 rooms. From €6. 

• Montmartre Hostel, Nusiceva Street 17. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 10:00. Free breakfast From €11. 

• 3 San Art Floating Hostel, Usce bb, ☏ +381 63238278. Unique hostel on water where you come as a guest and leave as a friend. From €15. 

• Star Hostel, Cara Urosa 37, ☏ +381 62 224646, hostel_star@yahoo.com. Air-conditioned, safe-lockers backpack size, free Wi-Fi, coffee and tea, laundry, custom guided maps, big common room with movie collection, Xbox, book exchange, very friendly staff, very knowledgeable about Belgrade and are there all the time for all your travel needs. Dorm bed: €10-€12, Single €25. 

• Sun Hostel Belgrade, Novopazarska 25 (Vracar), ☏ +381 64 12 01 065, hostel.sun@gmail.com. May accommodate up to 35 people (apartment, private rooms, dorms), very comfortable rooms, air-conditioned, safe-lockers backpack size, two cpu with free internet, very friendly staff. €8-€19. 

• Sweethouse Hostel, Hilandarska 7a, ☏ +381 11 334 10 79, +381 69 334 10 79, sweethousehostel@gmail.com. €9 for dorm bed; €30 for private. 

• Three Black Catz Hostel, Cika Ljubina 7/49, ☏ +381 11 2629826, reservationtbc@gmail.com. A flat turned into a hostel. Often has free Rakija (plum brandy), 4-star free laundry service. It's a common place to meet expat foreigners who live in Belgrade. Nice intimate place - neighbors drop in for a chat - no isolated backpacker ghetto. Dorm bed: €10–11. 

• Time Hostel, Cara Lazara 9 (Walking down the pedestrian street, Knez Mihailova, towards Kalemegdan just turn left on Nikole Spasića Street and then the first left again.), ☏ +381 11 32 85 160, hello@time-hostels.com. Hospitable and knowledgeable staff, spacious and comfy rooms, fully equipped kitchen, hostel-wide free wi-fi, and a great, central location to explore Belgrade. Beds for 18 people, including a private room, as well as three variously sized dormitory rooms, From €15. 

• UNI Hostel (one minute away from trolley loop, line 7l, which stops at the train and bus station), info@uni-turs.com. Price starts from RSD800 (8-bed room) excl. BTO/Tax (RSD114). 

• Yolostel, Uzun Mirkova 6/6, toll-free: +381 64 141 9339, yolostelbg@gmail.com. Reception is open from 09:00 until 17:00. From €15. 

Budget hotels

• Belgrade City Hotel (Белград Сити Хотел), Savski trg 7 (Opposite the railway station Belgrade.). In a Neo-Renaissance building. 

• Hotel Bristol, Karađorđeva 50. Old style hotel near the bus station. The breakfast is included. Twin room: €45/night. 

• Hotel Royal (Ројал Хотел), 56 Kralja Petra (Near Belgrade Fortress and Knez Mihailova Street). One of the oldest hotels in Belgrade, dating to 1885 

• Hotel Srbija (Хотел Србија), Ustanička 127c (Near the sports hall and the park Šumice.). Quickly connected with the highway and the Slavija square. 

• Hotel Villa Forever (Хотел Форевер), Marsala Birjuzova 44 (in the heart of Belgrade). 

• Kasina Hotel (Касина Хотел), Terazije 25 (near the Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Street). 

• Nacional Hotel (Национал Хотел), Autoput br. 5 (next to the highway (Belgrade-Zagreb), the Noewom Belgrade (about {{convert|5|-|6|km|0|abbr=on}} from city center)). 

• 4 Park Hotel (Парк Хотел), Njegoseva 2 (near Slavija Square), ☏ +381 11 414 6 800, reception@hotelparkbeograd.rs. 

• Slavija Hotel (Славија Хотел), 2 Svetog Save (Slavija square), ☏ +381 11 3084800. 

• Villa Allegra, ☏ +381 65 2415600, hotel_allegra@yahoo.com. Vojvode Dragomira 18b, Vračar. 

• Zeleznicar Konaciste (Железничар коначиште), Savska 6. (near the railway station), ☏ +381 11 2645199. Means 'Railway guest house'. 

Mid-range

• Hotel Excelsior. Kneza Miloša 5. In the center, near the National Assembly of Serbia. 

• Mr. President Design Hotel. This is a nice, new and modern hotel. Across the street from the city's train station. 61 modern rooms with internet and modern conviences. About €100 for double. 

• Best Western Hotel Sumadija. Free WiFi for the guests in whole hotel. 
• Nevski Hotel. Venizelosova 24a near Skadarlija (bohemian street), Strahinjića Bana street (called the Silicon Valley). 

• Tulip Inn Putnik Hotel. Palmira Toljatija 9. In the central part of New Belgrade, near the Danube. 

• Hotel Astoria (Side street just opposite the railway station.). Apartments available. Bistro restaurant. €61 a double including private facilities and breakfast. 

• Hotel Rex (close to the train station). Very nice business-type hotel with 24 hour reception and friendly English speaking staff. Price around €60. 

• Studio APOLLO 011, Suboticka 23 (Zvezdara), ☏ +381 63 1161982, +381 61 1558752, office@apollo011.in.rs. It is tidy, comfortable and pleasurable place. 

• LifeDesign Hotel, ☏ +381 11 35 34 300. Modernly designed, elegant architecture, location emanates the spirit of the Balkan capital. A four-star hotel located in commercial and cultural center of the city. 

• Belgrade Art Hotel, Knez Mihailova Street, ☏ +381 11 3312000, info@belgradearthotel.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. With 55 uniquely designed rooms and suites, bar, lounge bar, restaurant and 2 meeting rooms, Beograd Art Hotel will meet needs of business people. €110. 

Splurge

• Holiday Inn, fax: +381 11-3100123. Spanskih Boraca 74, in the dynamic New Belgrade business district, 10 minutes' drive from the centre of the Serbian capital. 

• Hotel Evropa, Terazije 2, ☏ +381 11 36 26 017, office@hotelevropa.rs. In a historic building close to the National Assembly building. Air-condition, free Wi-Fi, free access to the spa centre: a sauna, a Turkish bath and a jacuzzi. 

• Hotel Townhouse 27, Marsala Birjuzova 56, ☏ +381 11 20 22 900, hotel@townhouse27.com. 

• Crystal Hotel Belgrade, Internacionalnih brigada 9, ☏ +381 11 7151000, info@crystalhotel.rs. New boutique hotel with a beautiful view of St. Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox church in the world. It has 44 rooms with high speed Internet and pay TV. 

• Balkan Hotel, Prizrenska 2, ☏ +381 11 36-36-000. A four-star hotel overlooking the Terazije square. Refurbished in 2006, with modernly equipped rooms and international restaurant Orient Express. 

• Moskva, Balkanska 1, ☏ +381 11 2686-255. A landmark building which was remodeled in 2009 and features small rooms with wi-fi and satellite TV. The staff apparently has been overhauled as well after previous poor reviews on that front. Counts a number of celebrities among its guests from its eastern bloc days. 

• Aleksandar Palas, Kralja Petra 13–15, ☏ +381 11 3305-300. A boutique hotel near the Knez Mihailova pedestrian street and the Kalemegdan fortress. 

• Hyatt Regency Belgrade, Milentija Popovica 5, ☏ +381 11 301 1234. In New Belgrade some 9 km from the airport. Between Ušće Shopping Center and Crowne Plaza. Includes a good restaurant. 

• Crowne Plaza Belgrade, Vladimira Popovica 10, ☏ +381 11 222 3500. Completely renovated in late 2013. Formerly Continental and InterContinental. In New Belgrade (5-10 min by car/30-45 min walk from the city center via Brankov Bridge), and connected through a passageway with the Sava congress center. 

• Admiral Club Beograd, Venizelosova 31, ☏ +381 11 303 8260. In the oldest part of Belgrade - Dorćol, near the National Theatre. In addition to the 17 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, the hotel has unique “Glass Garden”, parlor and pastry - coffee shop. 

• In Hotel Belgrade, Bulevar Arsenija Carnojevica 56, ☏ +381 11 310 5300. In New Belgrade, 9 km from the airport and 200 m from Kombank Arena. 

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

Connect

The international telephone code for Serbia is 381. Most cities in Serbia and mobile operators have 2-digit area code. There is only one area code for Belgrade and that is 11. Typical land-line phone number in Belgrade +381-11/xxx-xxxx. Typical mobile phone number is +381-6x/xxx-xxxx. From Serbian land line phone, use 00 prefix for international calls (e.g. 0031-20/xxx-xxxx for Amsterdam, Netherlands), and prefix 0 for calls inside Serbia but outside your area (e.g. 021/xxx-xxxx for Novi Sad, Serbia or 06x/xxx-xxxx for Serbian mobile). If you dial inside the same area, there is no need to use the prefix (just dial xxx-xxxx). From a mobile phone, you always have to dial the area code (011/xxx-xxxx for Belgrade land line phone, 0xx/xxx-xxx(x) for other Serbian land line phones or 06x/xxx-xxxx for Serbian mobile).

Basically all of Serbia is covered with mobile networks of all three operators. It is easy to buy and charge cheap pre-paid numbers at the kiosks around the city. If you use 064, 065 or 066 (MTS), pre-paid number, use *100# to check the credit, for 063, 062 and 069 (Telenor), use *121#, for 061 and 060 (Vip), use *123#.

There is a number of red-colored payphones across the city, operated by telephone cards available at the kiosks.

Free wireless access is available at Student park in Belgrade center and in many restaurants, bars and hotels. Mobile operators offers pre- and post-paid wireless Internet packages.

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.

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. 

• Finland, Birčaninova 29, ☏ +381 11-306 5400, fax: +381 11-306 5375, sanomat.beo@formin.fi. M-F 08:00-15:45. 

• Germany, Neznanog junaka 1a, ☏ +381 11 3064-300. M-Th 08:00-16:00, F 08:00-14:00. 

• Greece, Francuska 33, ☏ +381 11 3226523, gremb.bel@mfa.gr. 

• Japan, Genex Apartments, Vladimira Popovića 6, ☏ +381 11 3012800-4, fax: +381 11 311-8258. 

• Macedonia, Gospodar Jevremova 34, ☏ +381 11 328 4924, belgrade@mfa.gov.mk. 

• Mexico, Ljutice Bogdana 5, Dedinje, Savski venac, ☏ +381 11 367 4170. 

• Poland, Kneza Miloša 38, ☏ +381 11 2065 301, belgrad.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl. 

• Russia, Deligradska 32, ☏ +381 11 361 1090, +381 11 361 1323, fax: +381 11 361 1900, info@ambarusk.rs. 

• Switzerland, Bulevar Oslobođenja 4, ☏ +381 11 3065 820. 

• Turkey, Krunska 73 (formerly Krunska 1, now further down the street), ☏ +381 11 3332 400, embassy.belgrade@mfa.gov.tr. 

• United Kingdom, Resavska 46, ☏ +381 11 2645 055. 

• United States, Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karađorđevića 92 (The U.S. Embassy has moved from its downtown location at Kneza Miloša 50 to a new building in the Dedinje area of Belgrade), ☏ +381 11 706 4000. 

Go next

Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad

• If you like visiting monasteries, they are plentiful on Fruška Gora mountain.

• The beautiful city of Novi Sad is nearby.

• Sremski Karlovci (Сремски Карловци) north of Belgrade, near Novi Sad. Sremski Karlovci have a very rich history, numerous monuments, museums, churches, galleries, the famous wine cellars, and others. It also hosts The Patriarchy residence, Karlovci’s Grammar School – the oldest Serbian high school, The Chapel of Peace – built in 1817, The Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

• Go to see the famous hill Oplenac(Опленац), (town of Topola) south, near Belgrade. There is a Mausoleum of the Serbian Royal family Karadjordjevic (St. George's Church), museums. You can also enjoy the famous royal Oplenac the vineyard. Surrounding the town of Topola is a famous wine growing region with excellent wine, try it!

• A little bit closer to Belgrade, approximately 70 km (43 mi) away from Oplenac, you will find historic place of Orašac. In 1804, in this village was organized the First Serbian Uprising against the Turks. Orašac has museum dedicated to the First Serbian Uprising and a monument to the Karadjordje, leader of the Uprising.

• Obedska bara (Обедска бара) is a large swamp-forest area and natural reserve stretching along the Sava River in Southern Srem (Serbia), some 40 km west of Belgrade.The pond is an authentic complex of stagnant tributaries, marshes, pits, marsh vegetation, damp meadows and forests.

• Serbian wine routes. In the vicinity of Belgrade has several offers "wine roads"! Wine roads of Smederevo (southeast of Belgrade), Oplenac (south), or Fruska Goraand Sremski Karlovci (north of Belgrade).

• Vršac town features a prominent mountain famous for its vineyards and wine.

• If you are interested in Serbian spas there are plenty of them, closer to Belgrade, the Bukovička Spa(Ser: Буковичка Бања) -Aranđelovac, Selters Spa(Ser: Селтерс бања)- Mladenovac, and Banja Vrujci (Ser: Бања Врујци)- Mionica- Valjevo, is about 80 km south from Bg.

• Cruise the great rivers Danube and Sava interesting to nearby destinations.

• In summertime, spend a night in bungalow on Sava river in Boljevci.

Archaeological sites

• 33 Lepenski Vir, Boljetin, Donji Milanovac (180km east of Belgrade), ☏ +381 30 501-389, +381 30 501-398. Daily 09:00-20:00. An important archaeological site (first house approx. 6250 BC). It consists of one large settlement with around ten satellite villages. Numerous piscine sculptures and peculiar architecture. Adults 400RSD, Kids 200RSD.  

• 34 Vinča-Belo Brdo, Belo brdo 17, Vinca (14 km downstream from Belgrade. Take bus #307.), ☏ +381 11 80 65 334. Tu W F 10:00-16:00; Th 12:00-18:00; Sa Su 10:00-18:00 April to October. One of the largest tell sites in the Balkans, covering 10 hectares of land with 9 metres of cultural deposits and a total height of 10.5 metres. Come to see how prehistoric people used to live. Every weekend visitors can join guided tours through the site.  

• 35 Viminacium (Near the village of Stari Kostolac (near Pozarevac) about 80 km south-east of Belgrade). Open for visiting Feb-Nov, during summer 09:00-19:00, during spring and autumn 10:00-17:00. Known archaeological site, it used to be a major Roman provincial capital and military camp of the Roman province of Moesia. It contains archaeological remains of temples, streets, squares, amphitheatres, palaces, hippodromes and Roman baths.