Outdoors · Belgrade · Serbia
6 best outdoor things to do in Belgrade
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ванилица, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Ada Ciganlija, Great War Island and Avala Tower and Mount Avala. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 12–15 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 12–15 hours
- Areas
- Čukarica, Zemun and Avala
Outdoors in Belgrade
Beach · Čukarica
1.Ada Ciganlija
Rent a bike at the entrance and ride the loop around the lake, then swim on the quieter far side.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
- Free
Nature · Zemun
2.Great War Island
Visit early on a summer morning for birdlife and a quiet swim before Lido fills up.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Free
Viewpoint · Avala
3.Avala Tower and Mount Avala
Pack a picnic; the forest paths around the summit make it a good half-day escape from the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Zoo · Stari Grad
4.Belgrade Zoo
Combine it with the fortress playgrounds and an ice cream on Knez Mihailova.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
Park · Senjak and Dedinje
5.Topčider Park and Prince Miloš's Residence
Combine it with the Museum of Yugoslavia, a short walk or taxi ride away.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Free
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Garden · Palilula
6.Jevremovac Botanical Garden
Visit in late spring, when the flowering trees and the Japanese garden are at their best.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Čukarica | Ada Ciganlija | Half a day |
| Zemun | Great War Island | 2–3 hours |
| Avala | Avala Tower and Mount Avala | Half a day |
| Stari Grad | Belgrade Zoo | 1–1.5 hours |
| Senjak and Dedinje | Topčider Park and Prince Miloš's Residence | 1.5 hours |
| Palilula | Jevremovac Botanical Garden | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Ada Ciganlija; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Čukarica): Ada Ciganlija, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Zemun): Great War Island, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Avala): Avala Tower and Mount Avala, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Stari Grad, Senjak and Dedinje and Palilula): Belgrade Zoo → Topčider Park and Prince Miloš's Residence → Jevremovac Botanical Garden, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- September: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm, settled days and fewer visitors; one of the best months for walking and day trips.
- August: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 6 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and sunny, with outdoor festivals and the river clubs at their liveliest.
- October: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Golden autumn in Kalemegdan and ajvar-making season at the markets.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Stari Grad — Old Town between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Republic Square
- Zemun — Former Habsburg border town on the Danube with fish restaurants and Gardoš Tower
- Senjak and Dedinje — Villa districts on the hills with embassies and the Museum of Yugoslavia
More of Belgrade
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Belgrade?
Ada Ciganlija. A former river island on the Sava, joined to the bank by dams to create a long lake nicknamed the 'Belgrade sea'.
+Which of these are free in Belgrade?
Ada Ciganlija, Great War Island and Topčider Park and Prince Miloš's Residence.