Where to stay · Belgrade · Serbia
Where to stay in Belgrade
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dungodung, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Stari Grad. Old Town between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Republic Square. Best alternatives — families: Vračar; budget: Savamala; nightlife: Dorćol.
Key facts
- First visit
- Stari Grad
- Families
- Vračar
- Budget
- Savamala
- Nightlife
- Dorćol
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Stari Grad | Old Town between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Republic Square |
| Families | Vračar | Leafy residential hill around the Church of Saint Sava and Kalenić market |
| Couples | Stari Grad | Old Town between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Republic Square |
| Budget | Savamala | Old warehouse district on the Sava, with bars and the new riverside promenade |
| Luxury | Senjak and Dedinje | Villa districts on the hills with embassies and the Museum of Yugoslavia |
| Nightlife | Dorćol | Old riverside quarter of cafés, cocktail bars and the Bajrakli Mosque |
| Food lovers | Dorćol | Old riverside quarter of cafés, cocktail bars and the Bajrakli Mosque |
| Solo travellers | Dorćol | Old riverside quarter of cafés, cocktail bars and the Bajrakli Mosque |
| Shopping | Stari Grad | Old Town between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Republic Square |
| Quiet stays | Vračar | Leafy residential hill around the Church of Saint Sava and Kalenić market |
Belgrade neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Stari Grad
Stari Grad is the historic core, running from the Belgrade Fortress along the pedestrian Knez Mihailova street to Republic Square, the National Museum and the National Theatre. Skadarlija's kafanas are a short walk east. Hotels and apartments here put almost every central sight within 15 minutes on foot.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights; Plenty of cafés and restaurants; Pedestrian streets
- Watch out
- Busier and pricier than other districts; Street noise on weekend nights
- Nearby
- Belgrade Fortress, Knez Mihailova Street, Republic Square, Skadarlija
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
Dorćol
Dorćol slopes from Knez Mihailova down towards the Danube. Its grid of streets holds the Bajrakli Mosque, Princess Ljubica's Residence and some of the city's best cafés, bakeries and cocktail bars, especially around Strahinjića bana and Cara Dušana streets. The Danube quay and the Jevremovac botanical garden are close.
- Good
- Walk to the fortress and the river; Excellent cafés and bars; Local, lived-in feel
- Watch out
- Some lively streets stay noisy late; Steep walk back up to Republic Square
- Nearby
- Princess Ljubica's Residence, Bajrakli Mosque, Kalemegdan, Danube quay
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Savamala
Savamala lies between the Old Town and the Sava, with 19th-century buildings, the old main railway station and the bridges to New Belgrade. Bars and clubs have filled former warehouses, and the Sava Promenade runs along the river beside the new Belgrade Waterfront towers and the Galerija shopping centre.
- Good
- Close to riverside clubs; Short walk uphill to the Old Town; Riverside walks
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic on the main roads; Mix of construction and run-down blocks
- Nearby
- Sava Promenade, Branko's Bridge, Galerija shopping centre
$$ · Best for families, food lovers and quiet stays
Vračar
Vračar is a well-kept residential district around the Church of Saint Sava, with tree-lined streets, Kalenić farmers' market, the Nikola Tesla Museum on Krunska street and many neighbourhood restaurants. It is a 20-minute walk or short bus ride from Republic Square and feels calmer than the Old Town.
- Good
- Quiet but central; Good local restaurants; Markets and parks
- Watch out
- A walk or ride to Kalemegdan; Few big hotels
- Nearby
- Church of Saint Sava, Kalenić market, Nikola Tesla Museum, Slavija
$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Zemun
Zemun was a separate town on the Austro-Hungarian side of the border until the 20th century and still feels distinct, with low houses, a market, the cobbled lanes up to Gardoš Tower and a long Danube quay lined with fish restaurants and floating bars. Buses reach the centre of Belgrade in about 25 minutes.
- Good
- Riverside walks and fish restaurants; Small-town atmosphere; Sunset views over the Danube
- Watch out
- Bus ride to the main sights; Fewer hotels
- Nearby
- Gardoš Tower, Zemun quay, Great War Island
$$ · Best for budget, shopping and nightlife
New Belgrade
Built from the late 1940s across the Sava, Novi Beograd is a district of wide boulevards, socialist-era housing blocks, business hotels and the Ušće shopping centre. Ušće Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art face the fortress across the river, and many splavovi are moored along its bank.
- Good
- Modern hotels with parking; Close to the river clubs; Faster access to the airport
- Watch out
- Sights are spread out; Wide roads are less pleasant on foot
- Nearby
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Ušće Park, Ušće shopping centre
$$$ · Best for luxury and quiet stays
Senjak and Dedinje
These upmarket residential hills south of the centre hold diplomatic residences, large villas, the Museum of Yugoslavia and Topčider Park. They suit travellers who want quiet boutique hotels and green space, and who don't mind taxis into town.
- Good
- Very quiet; Leafy streets and parks; Upmarket guesthouses
- Watch out
- Taxi needed for the centre; Little nightlife
- Nearby
- Museum of Yugoslavia, Topčider, Hippodrome
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Stari Grad | $$$ | Belgrade Fortress, Knez Mihailova Street, Republic Square, Skadarlija |
| Dorćol | $$ | Princess Ljubica's Residence, Bajrakli Mosque, Kalemegdan, Danube quay |
| Savamala | $$ | Sava Promenade, Branko's Bridge, Galerija shopping centre |
| Vračar | $$ | Church of Saint Sava, Kalenić market, Nikola Tesla Museum, Slavija |
| Zemun | $$ | Gardoš Tower, Zemun quay, Great War Island |
| New Belgrade | $$ | Museum of Contemporary Art, Ušće Park, Ušće shopping centre |
| Senjak and Dedinje | $$$ | Museum of Yugoslavia, Topčider, Hippodrome |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Belgrade for first-time visitors?
Stari Grad. Stari Grad is the historic core, running from the Belgrade Fortress along the pedestrian Knez Mihailova street to Republic Square, the National Museum and the National Theatre.
+Where should families stay in Belgrade?
Vračar: Quiet but central.
+Which area of Belgrade is best for a budget stay?
Savamala ($$): Old warehouse district on the Sava, with bars and the new riverside promenade.