The Serbian capital Belgrade is located at the mouth of the Sava River into the Danube. This interesting metropolis has a history of over 1,000 years. Due to its good location on two rivers and trade routes, Belgrade was often fought over, partially destroyed and rebuilt. Many tribes dominated the city, such as the Celts, Romans, Hungarians and Byzantines. The cityscape is quite modern – only partly old buildings have been preserved. The fortress Kalemegdan, the National Museum and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral are worth seeing. Belgrade is the most important city in Serbia in terms of education. Many universities and colleges are located here. Also, the city is the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Tip 1: Belgrade Fortress
The number one attraction in Belgrade is not so much a single sight as a large conglomerate of everything that makes the city great.
Kalemegdan is a crown jewel of Belgrade and one of the most famous sights in Serbia. It is a beautiful green space and a fortress with an impressive view over New Belgrade and the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.
From Roman antiquity, medieval Ottoman rule to modern times, Kalemegdan was a center of many turbulent events. The fortress was damaged and rebuilt many times.
This is one of the reasons why it bears a unique blend of Western and Oriental influences. The entire area is home to museums, galleries, restaurants, sports fields and a Belgrade zoo. It is not hard to see why Kalemegdan is one of the most popular Belgrade sights for both locals and tourists.
Tip 2: Church of Saint Sava
The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, with its ten towers, is a unique sight in Belgrade. Moreover, the fascinating emerald green domes – on which there are golden crosses – are a real feast for the eyes. With almost 5000 square meters, the church is one of the largest religious sites in the world!
It is located on the edge of the Vračar hill. From it you can see the main street Ulica Kralja Milana. The location at an altitude of over 130 meters is of special significance. Because it was there that the Albanian commander Sinan Pasha had the body of Saint Sava burnt to ashes in the fire.
Saint Sava was the archbishop of Serbia and was venerated by many.
You will also be amazed by the interiors of the neo-Byzantine style cathedral building. If you look up in the right place, you will see a magnificent golden mosaic in a dome. In it you can see Jesus with his apostles and other religious figures.
Tip 3: Skadarlija Street
Skadarlija is a paved street with a long history, deep in its pebbles under the feet of pedestrians, in a district in downtown Belgrade. It is considered the most important bohemian district of Belgrade and is often referred to as “the Montmartre of Belgrade”, as it was a popular meeting place of Serbian and Yugoslav artists, writers and poets in the past.
Real traditional restaurants are proud of their guest lists of world famous personalities who have been their guests for decades.
This street is considered one of the most cheerful in the city due to the numerous restaurants and kafanas located here. Don’t miss the opportunity to try some of the Serbian specialties here, enjoying some of the acoustic orchestras during the meals.
Tip 4: Republic Square
Republic Square is the most important city square in Belgrade. It occupies an area of 120 meters and is surrounded by important Belgrade landmarks such as the National Theater, the cinema “Jadran”, the home of the Serbian Army, the monument to Prince Mihailo and many others.
Republic Square in its current form was created in 1866, after the Stambol Gate, which was located in this place, was demolished and the National Theater was built in its place.
The gate was built by the Austrians at the beginning of the 18th century on the site between today’s Prince Mihailo Monument and the theater. In its time, this construction was considered one of the most grandiose and beautiful of that time, when Belgrade was still surrounded by a moat.
Tip 5: Avala Tower
Avala TV Tower is a telecommunications and observation tower located on Avala Mountain in the southern suburbs of Belgrade. With a height of 205 meters, it is currently the tallest tower in Belgrade, Serbia and the Balkans.
On a sunny day, the view extends up to 100 kilometers and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city, surrounding hills, towns, roads and rivers, as well as the Pannonian plain to the north.
The Avala Tower was a symbol of pride and is considered one of the famous Belgrade landmarks, not only of Serbia, but also of the former Yugoslavia.
4,000 tons weighed the tower. It was the only tower in the world with an equilateral triangle as a crossbeam and one of the very few towers that were not built directly into the ground, but stood on the stilts. The stilts formed a tripod, the symbol of the Serbian tripod chair.
