Discover Belgrade: Fortress, Rivers and Nightlife
Travel guide · editorialFrom the walls of Kalemegdan Fortress, you look out over the confluence of the Sava and the Danube, and on the rivers the splavovi bob on the water: floating clubs and restaurants where the party goes on until morning. Belgrade, the Serbian capital, is one of the oldest cities in Europe and one of the liveliest at the same time. A city break in Belgrade offers history, hospitality and a legendary nightlife scene at moderate prices.
The White City
Celts founded Singidunum, and the Romans turned it into a military camp. The name Beograd, "white city," appears in the 9th century. Because of its strategic location, the city was conquered and destroyed countless times over its history, by Byzantines, Hungarians, Ottomans and Austrians. In the 19th century, Belgrade became the capital of independent Serbia, and in the 20th century the capital of Yugoslavia. In 1999, the city was bombed by NATO during the Kosovo War; some ruins can still be seen.
Sights in Belgrade
The Kalemegdan Fortress, with its gates, towers and ramparts, is now a large park with the Victor Monument, museums and viewpoints over the rivers. From there, the pedestrian zone Knez Mihailova leads to Republic Square with the National Museum and the National Theatre. The Cathedral of Saint Sava in the Vračar district is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, and its crypt and dome are decorated with golden mosaics. Skadarlija, a cobblestone street, is the bohemian quarter with kafanas and musicians. The House of Flowers holds Tito's tomb and is part of the Museum of Yugoslavia. The Nikola Tesla Museum honors the famous inventor.
New Belgrade and Zemun
On the other side of the Sava lies New Belgrade, a planned city from the socialist era with monumental housing blocks such as the Genex Tower. The splavovi line up along the riverbank. Zemun, once an independent town on the border of the Habsburg Monarchy, has kept its own character with its cobblestone streets, the Gardoš Tower and fish restaurants on the Danube. The Savamala district, formerly a hip neighborhood, is being heavily transformed by the controversial Belgrade Waterfront project. On Ada Ciganlija island in the south lies the city's most popular swimming lake.
Eating and Going Out
Serbian cuisine is meat-heavy: ćevapčići, pljeskavica, a large seasoned ground-meat patty, and Karađorđeva šnicla, a stuffed, breaded cutlet. These come with kajmak, a creamy cheese, and ajvar made from peppers. In the traditional kafanas, people drink rakija, a fruit brandy, often accompanied by live music. The nightlife is famous: clubs, bars and the splavovi on the rivers stay open until the early morning hours.
Getting Around and Best Time to Visit
Nikola Tesla Airport is about 11 miles (18 km) west of the city, and buses run to the center. In the city, buses, trams and trolleybuses operate, and have been free of charge since 2025. The best time to visit is spring and fall; summer is hot, and in winter a cold wind called the Košava blows. Day trips lead to Novi Sad, to Smederevo Fortress on the Danube and to Fruška Gora National Park. On Avala Hill south of the city stands a television tower with an observation deck, and wine regions such as Topola, with the Karađorđević dynasty's church, are easy to reach.