48 hours in Belgrade – Weekend Edition
Belgrade In Less Than 48 Words
Belgrade is Serbia’s capital and its largest city, although even locals admit that it is not one of the most beautiful cities around. Its landscape is a disjointed combination of grandiose buildings and Soviet relics, but it has earned a reputation for its museums, restaurants, and nightlife scene.
The Belgrade Fortress (Photo by Xavier Varela)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the Serbian capital via the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, which is located 12 kilometers west of the city center. From there, you can catch a bus that will take you directly to the Slavija Square in the heart of the city. The trip will last for about an hour, and cost you around 40 dinars. You can also simply hire a taxi to take you straight to the city center, although it will cost you much more.
Belgrade is a city built at the confluence of the rivers Danube and Sava, and is divided into two major districts: Stari Grad (Old Town) and Novi Beograd (New Belgrade). You can collect detailed information about the city from the main tourist office (Terazije Passage, near the Albanija building, 00 381 11 2635 622, website), which is open during Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 8 pm, on Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm, and from 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Melbourne’s hotels
A stay may be arranged in one of Belgrade’s excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Hotel Townhouse 27 (Marsala Birjuzova St, 56, Belgrade 11000, (0)11 202 2900, website). It has a great central location, with clean and well furnished rooms complete with amenities such as a B&O TV and a coffee maker. A nice alternative is the Zira Hotel (Ruzveltova 35, Belgrade 11000, (0)11 331 4800, website), which offers modern and comfortable rooms at moderate prices.
Zira Hotel (Photo from Google images)
You can also try out the Design Hotel Mr. President (Karadjordjeva 75, Belgrade 11000, (0)11 360 2222, website). It is Serbia’s first design hotel, and has an ideal location near a main train station. You will also be afforded a free breakfast/dinner, internet, and international telephone facility.
KALAMEGDAN: Let’s take a hike
Perhaps the most popular tourist attraction in Belgrade is the Kalemegdan Park. It is an extensive park located in the city’s Stari Grad district, and was created in 1867. It has an ideal location on the ridge of Šumadija, with a great view of the Great War Island at the Sava River. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful natural lookouts in Belgrade. Tourists and locals both love taking a leisurely stroll along the park’s winding paths, amidst random statues and fountains. You can also simply admire the river views, or just relax on the benches under the shade of the trees.
Kalemegdan Park (Photo by Xavier Varela)
However, you must not miss the Belgrade Fortress, which had served as the city’s chief military stronghold. You can also find at the site a Military Museum, the City Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments, the Cvijeta Zuzorić Art Pavilion, a zoo, and a children’s amusement park.
ADA CIGANLIJA: Go to the “beach”
Another popular tourist attraction in Belgrade is the Ada Ciganlija, which is a river island located in the Sava River, near Central Belgrade. Once a site for public executions, it is now a recreational zone most known for its beaches and various sport facilities. It is estimated that over 100,000 visitors head to the area every day. The seven-kilometer long beach by the lakeside is ideal for swimming and sunbathing, and is a nice place to cool off especially during the summer months. The rest of the island is made up of forests, a zoo, a sporting complex, a golf course, and cafes.
Houseboats at Ada Ciganlija (Photo by Ana Boz)
ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM: Know more about the Serbian history
You can learn more about the Serbian history at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade (Serbia, Belgrade, Studentski trg 13, +381 (11) 3281-888, website). It is considered to be among the oldest museums in the Balkan region, and was established back in 1901. The site was created to preserve the culture and history of Serbia, and its three floors are filled with exhibits such as costumes, rugs, recreations of domestic interiors, and the like. It is open during Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm. Admission will cost you around 120 dinars.
DINNER TIME: Discover Belgrade’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best is Frans (Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18a, Belgrade 11000, Serbia, 0(11) 2641 944, website), which serves an excellent international cuisine, and offers attentive service and an elegant ambience. Have your fill of Yugoslavian dishes at Madera (Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 43, Belgrade 11000, Serbia, (0)11 323 1332, website), as well as a superb wine selection.
Outdoor dining at Madera (Photo from Google images)
You can also try out Langouste (29 Kosancicev Venac Belgrade, 011/3283-680). It is a stylish restaurant with great views of the Sava and Danube rivers, and offers a Mediterranean and pan-Balkan cuisine. Another is Kalemegdanska terasa (Mali kalemegdan bb, Belgrade, Serbia, 328 30 11, website), where you can enjoy goof food, beer, and coffee.
Next 24 Hours
Bajrakli Mosque (Photo from Google images)
Your next 24 hours in Belgrade can be used to discover the city’s other tourist attractions. One of the must-sees in the city is the urban neighborhood of Dorcol. It is located some 700 meters north of the central square Terazij in Stari Grad. The site is one of the city’s original settlements outside of Kalemegdan, and you can find there some of the oldest buildings in Belgrade. An example is the Bajrakli Mosque, which is the only mosque in the city. Another is the Church of Alexander Nevsky built by Russian monks in a unique medieval Serbian Moravian style of architecture.
You can also find in the area the Museum of Vuk and Dositej, the Galerija fresaka (Gallery of the Frescoes), the BITEF Theater, the Pedagogical museum, the Jewish museum, the Museum of the Theatrical Arts, and the Milan Gale Muškatirović sports center.
CATHEDRAL OF SAINT SAVA: Let’s go to church
Make it a point to visit the Cathedral of Saint Sava (Svetosavski Square, Karadjordje’s Park, Vracar Belgrade, Serbia, website). It is considered as the largest Orthodox Church in the world, and dedicated to Saint Sava who had founded the Serbian Orthodox Church. The church’s massive dome stands 70 meters tall, and covers an area of 3,500 square meters. You can also admire its lavish façade built out of white marble and granite, and decorated with mosaics.
Another noteworthy church is the St. Mark’s Church (Bulevar kralja Aleksandra br. 17, 011 / 3231-940, website). It is a Serbian Orthodox church, and is known for its rich collection of religious icons and artifacts. You can also find a crypt at the site where Alexander I of Serbia and Queen Draga are buried.
Cathedral of Saint Sava (Photo by George Groutas)
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: Learn more about nature
Another popular attraction in Belgrade is the Belgrade Museum of Natural History (11000 Beograd, Njegoševa 51, +381 11 3442 147, website). It is regarded as one of the oldest specialized scientific institutions in the country, having been established back in 1895. Inside, you can find around 900,000 exhibits, such as rocks, hunting trophies, and minerals. You can also see various zoological, paleontological, and botanical collections. The site also has a library that contains over 20,000 books and manuscripts about nature and history.
GREAT WAR ISLAND: Go to a nature reserve
Nature lovers will definitely enjoy a visit to the Great War Island. It is a river island located at the mouth of the Sava River into the Danube. It has an area of around 2.11 square kilometers, and has a triangular shape. Roughly two-thirds of the site is currently considered as a nature reserve for 196 different bird species, some of which are endangered. It also has a typical marshy fauna, with plants like reed and yellow flag, as well as trees such as conifers, elderberries, ash trees, black poplar, and hawthorn.
Great War Island (Photo from Google images)
NIGHTLIFE: Indulge in Belgrade’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Belgrade’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the exciting nightlife of the city. One of the most popular is Anderground (Pariska 1a, 11000 Beograd, 381 11 3282524). It has for two decades been one of the top party venues in the city, hosting performances from international DJs. A nice alternative is the Akademija (Rajiceva 10, 11000 Beograd, 381 11 2627846, website), known for its live rock performances, and which has been visited by popular actor Johnny Depp.
You can also try out Plastic (Takovska 34, Beograd, 381 11 3245437). It is a techno/rave club located right at the town’s center, with music played by internationally renowned DJs. A great place to pass the night away is Cvijeta (Kalemegdan, 381 11 2622355), which offers live electronic, house, and alternative DJ mixes.
Related posts: