Travel guide · Serbia
Belgrade travel guide
A fortress over two rivers, kafana dinners and nights on floating clubs
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ZlatanJovanovic, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Serbia's capital stands on a ridge where the Sava flows into the Danube, crowned by the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park. From there the pedestrian Knez Mihailova street leads to Republic Square, the bohemian kafanas of Skadarlija and the huge domed Church of Saint Sava. Belgrade is known for long meals of grilled meat and rakija, late nights on the splavovi river clubs and good-value prices, with Zemun's riverside quay and the Nikola Tesla Museum adding quieter days. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Serbia
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- BEG
- Mid-range daily budget
- $90–$160 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Belgrade Fortress, Kalemegdan Park, Nightlife and river clubs and Kafana culture
Why visit Belgrade
- The Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park look over the meeting of the Sava and the Danube, one of the best free sunset views in the Balkans.
- Kafana culture runs from Skadarlija's cobbled street of 19th-century taverns to modern grill houses serving ćevapi, pljeskavica and kajmak.
- Nightlife goes on until dawn, from cocktail bars in Dorćol to splavovi, the clubs on rafts moored along the rivers.
- Museums cover Nikola Tesla's life and inventions, Tito's Yugoslavia and Serbian art at the restored National Museum.
- Day trips reach Novi Sad by fast train in under an hour, plus the Danube fortresses of Smederevo and Golubac.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Castle · Stari Grad
Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park
The fortress walls, gates and bastions were rebuilt many times by Romans, Serbs, Austrians and Ottomans, and now enclose a free park on the ridge above the meeting of the Sava and the Danube.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Street · Stari Grad
Knez Mihailova Street and Republic Square
Belgrade's main pedestrian street runs from Kalemegdan to Republic Square past 19th-century facades, bookshops and cafés.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Iconic
- After dark
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Religious site · Vračar
Church of Saint Sava
One of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, Saint Sava's white marble and granite bulk dominates the Vračar plateau.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Street · Stari Grad
Skadarlija
A short, cobbled street of 19th-century houses that became Belgrade's bohemian quarter, Skadarlija is lined with old kafanas where tamburica bands play old city songs between the tables.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- After dark
- Couples
- History
Museum · Vračar
Nikola Tesla Museum
A small museum in a villa on Krunska street devoted to the inventor Nikola Tesla, with his personal belongings, working models of his inventions and the gilded sphere holding his ashes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
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Museum · Stari Grad
National Museum of Serbia
Reopened in 2018 after a long renovation, the National Museum on Republic Square displays prehistoric sculpture from Lepenski Vir, Roman silver, medieval Serbian art and a collection of European paintings including French Impressionists.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Stari Grad is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Stari Grad
Old Town between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Republic Square
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
Dorćol
Old riverside quarter of cafés, cocktail bars and the Bajrakli Mosque
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Savamala
Old warehouse district on the Sava, with bars and the new riverside promenade
$$ · Best for families, food lovers and quiet stays
Vračar
Leafy residential hill around the Church of Saint Sava and Kalenić market
What to eat
- Ćevapi — Small fingers of grilled minced meat served in a soft lepinja flatbread with chopped raw onion and kajmak.
- Pljeskavica — A large, flat patty of spiced minced meat grilled and stuffed into lepinja with salads and sauces; the Leskovac style is spicier, the 'gurmanska' version is stuffed with cheese.
- Burek with yogurt — Flaky filo pie filled with minced meat, cheese or spinach, sold by weight and traditionally eaten for breakfast with a glass of drinking yogurt.
- Kajmak — A rich, slightly salty clotted cream made from the skin of boiled milk, eaten with bread, on grilled meat or stirred into dishes.
- Ajvar — A relish of roasted red peppers, sometimes with aubergine and chilli, slowly cooked into a smoky spread.
- Karađorđe's schnitzel — A rolled veal or pork cutlet stuffed with kajmak, breaded and fried, served with tartar sauce and roast potatoes.
When to go
The best times to visit Belgrade are May–June and September–October, when it is warm enough for terraces and river walks but not as hot as midsummer. July and August are hot but bring the river clubs and Ada Ciganlija's beaches into full swing. Winter is cold and quiet, with the lowest prices.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Terraces reopen and Kalemegdan turns green; mild days with some heavy showers in May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot days, swimming at Ada Ciganlija and nightlife on the river rafts; plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September days, theatre and jazz festivals, then cooler, foggy weather by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold with occasional snow and strong košava winds; Orthodox Christmas and two New Year celebrations bring festive evenings. |
Getting there and around
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is about 18 km west of the centre. City bus 72 and the A1 minibus run towards the centre in about 30–45 minutes, and taxis take around 25–30 minutes; use the official taxi desk in the arrivals hall.
The Old Town, Dorćol and Skadarlija are walkable, but Belgrade is hilly and spread out, so buses, trams and trolleybuses or taxis are needed for Vračar, Zemun, New Belgrade and Avala. The city has no metro.
Plan your days
Two days cover the fortress, Knez Mihailova, Skadarlija, the Church of Saint Sava and an evening in Zemun. A third day adds the Tesla and Yugoslavia museums or a day trip to Novi Sad, and a fourth suits the Danube fortresses.
Practical information
- Currency
- RSD
- Language
- Serbian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in Belgrade is treated and generally drinkable; bottled water is inexpensive if you prefer it.
- Emergency number
- 192 police, 193 fire, 194 ambulance
- Tipping
- Rounding up or leaving about 10% for good service in restaurants is common; in cafés, rounding up is enough.
Belgrade is generally relaxed for visitors, but pickpockets work on crowded buses and around Knez Mihailova. Use licensed taxis or apps, and take care crossing roads, as drivers are assertive.
Flights to Belgrade
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Belgrade?
Two days cover the fortress, Knez Mihailova, Skadarlija, the Church of Saint Sava and an evening in Zemun. A third day adds the Tesla and Yugoslavia museums or a day trip to Novi Sad, and a fourth suits the Danube fortresses. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Belgrade?
The best times to visit Belgrade are May–June and September–October, when it is warm enough for terraces and river walks but not as hot as midsummer. July and August are hot but bring the river clubs and Ada Ciganlija's beaches into full swing. Winter is cold and quiet, with the lowest prices.
+What is Belgrade known for?
Belgrade Fortress, Kalemegdan Park, Nightlife and river clubs, Kafana culture, Church of Saint Sava, Nikola Tesla Museum and Grilled meat and rakija. The Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park look over the meeting of the Sava and the Danube, one of the best free sunset views in the Balkans.
+Is Belgrade expensive?
Belgrade is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $90–$160 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Belgrade?
No for the city, where traffic is heavy and parking scarce. A car helps for the Danube fortresses at Golubac and for Viminacium, which are awkward by public transport.