...your local connection / Creative Commons BY-SASt. Petka Chapel is the oldest church in the Lower City of Belgrade Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia.

Top things to do & see in Belgrade

Visitors won't run out of things to occupy them in this diverse landscape. A host of museums, historic jewels and impressive statues offer a glimpse into the region's colorful and often troubled past. Some top options:

Historical & cultural attractions

There are lots of historical and cultural attractions throughout Belgrade to catch your eye. Built in the early 1900s, the White Palace contains a royal library filled with more than 30,000 books. For our money, some of the most majestic lookouts along any European waterway can be had with a short climb to a scenic perch along the promontory of the Belgrade Fortress. Plunk a quarter into one of the historic fountains there.

Danimir / Creative Commons BYThe walls of the Belgrade Fortress as seen from the river (click to enlarge).

In Belgrade's most scenic historical district, Zemun, you'll walk on cobblestone streets past spires of Baroque and 19th-century churches, art galleries, craft shops, colorful houses and cafes dotting the riverbank. You'll spot the 19th-century Gardos Tower, a.k.a. the Millennium Tower; step onto its circular balcony for 360-degree views of the orange-tiled houses, the Danube and Sava rivers and the skyline of Belgrade (admission: 200 dinars). 

Kalemegdan Park

Courtesy of Hot MessHot Mess: Cool fun in the summertime.

At the intersection of the Danube and Sava rivers, Kalemegdan Park is a green oasis dotted with centuries-old lookout points fashioned from the rocks, an 18th-century citadel and Austrian clock tower, a Roman well, Ottoman mausoleum, Slavic mansion and a military museum surrounded by aging tanks and artillery. You'll find the Fortress here.

As evening draws near, nearby waterside party rafts come to life in the summertime, including Hot Mess, offering cocktails, champagne and a cool swimming pool, and 20/44, a trendy techno club.  

Around town

The gentrifying Savamala district under the Brankov Bridge offers art galleries and newly fashionable cultural centers such as Mikser House, a former industrial space featuring Serbian designers' wares. At night, bohemian bars such as Ben Akiba offer local specialties — impress a waitress and order a Tetka Bosiljka (absinthe, apple liqueur, Passoa, basil and apple juice).

Further afield, along a street called Dzordza Vasingtona (George Washington), you'll find a pedestrian path lined with wrought-iron street lamps and Belgrade’s oldest restaurants. Try the house cocktail (vodka, gin, triple sec, lemon juice, Red Bull) on the wooden porch of Kaldrma Bar.

Shopping

Take a break from sightseeing and head to the local shopping areas.  Everything from malls to souvenirs shops are within arm’s length. With such a variety of merchandise, fashionistas can indulge in Europe’s finest products while mingling with friendly locals. If you don't need to be back on the ship at dinnertime, dress up and visit a nightclub, hit a casino or see what the local comedians have to offer. 

Courtesy of AmbarAmbar infuses Balkan cuisine with 21st-century ingredients and artistry.

Best bets for dining

Let your nose lead you to the scents of delicious foods flowing throughout the city’s restaurants.  The culinary temptations are a cultural phenomenon. From dishes like dimljena vešalica (grilled pork) to multicultural specialties, chefs are masters at preparing authentic regional cuisines drenched in locally grown ingredients. 

The New York Times Travel section recommends these two restaurants in particular:

• Kafana Čubura (pronounced CHOO-boor-a) is an old-school restaurant, decorated with timber beams, wicker baskets and red-checkered tablecloths, where couples and families linger over copious meals and local beer.
• Ambar, one of many chic restaurant-bars in the Beton Hala development along the Sava River, features a wide open industrial decor, a wood-plank ceiling — and dinners that might start with kaymak (a soft, buttery cheese) flavored with hazelnut and porcini mushrooms; bacon-wrapped prunes from central Serbia, or grilled lamb skewers with sesame seeds. A three-course dinner for two, without drinks, runs $40.

...your local connection / Creative Commons BY-SAKalemegdan Fortress at night in Belgrade, Serbia.

When to go

Belgrade is a pleasure to visit year-round. The city features a temperate continental climate. From May to October (warm season) the temperatures average from a high in the low 80s to the low 60s. In November to March (cold season) the weather ranges between the 40s and lower to the 20s Fahrenheit. 

When you arrive

Getting around

Belgrade’s public transportation of bus, trams and trolleys are available to help you navigate the city.  A bright blue sign makes it easy for visitors to catch a taxi along the bustling streets. If you're here for a couple of days, buy a Belgrade pass. Valid for 72 hours, it gives you plenty of time to discover many of Belgrade’s attractions at a discounted price or for free admission.

Need to know

Language: Serbia has only one nationwide official language: Serbian. English is often spoken in well-established restaurants and in public spaces and is spoken by an increasing number of students and young people. 

Currency: Serbia uses the Serbian Dinar (not the euro)

Your take

How about you? Have you been to Belgrade, or planning to go? We'd love to hear about your experience.  

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