Belgrade

44° 48' 23.19" N 20° 28' 41.42" E [44.8064, 20.4782] (KML)

Belgrade [M] is the capital of the Republic of Serbia and is, as such, the country's largest city with a population of about 2,000,000 people. It lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube [S] rivers. The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. Later on, it became the Roman city of Singidunum, and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly at Kalemegdan [S] Fortress. As it entered the Byzantine Empire, Belgrade saw many conflicts, including invasion by the Ottoman Empire, until Serbia finally became independent in the 1800s.

After the First World War, Belgrade [M] became the seat of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (in 1928, the country changed name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia) until its collapse, and it saw violence again in 1999 with NATO's bombing campaign. This often violent history and outside influence has colored much of Belgrade's evolution, which is evident in its culture and architecture. Often caught between the hammer and anvil of clashing empires, the city has taken on a unique character, reminiscent of both Austrian and Turkish influences, with a unique set of Communist elements thrown in as Yugoslavia was expelled from the Eastern Bloc in 1948. Yet, the city has its own spirit, and in it can be found some not only unique features, but also a healthy joie de vivre in its café culture, nightlife and often Mediterranean flavor in its view of life.

Whilst there isn't much by way of ethnic or cultural diversity in Belgrade [M], in terms of different migrant populations – compared to other European cities – there are minority communities (largely Roma and Chinese), as well as people from other former Yugoslav republics, such as Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia. There is also a small expat community [2]. Cultural events from round the world, however, are starting to be increasingly common, particularly in the spring and summer months, thanks in no small part to both local arts and culture organizations, as well as foreign embassies/cultural centers. These attract a good deal of local attention, and will help in raising the city's profile as a cultural hotspot.

Belgrade [M] is an energetic city re-discovering its tourism potential. One great new magazine, White City is a must read for anyone who plans on visiting. They call themselves an urban magazine but it's a great lifestyle magazine written in English for both locals and foreigners. It's available at any place that sells magazines in Belgrade.

Belgrade [M] is serviced by Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport [S] (IATA: BEG) [3], about 12 kilometers west of the city center, and is the home base of Jat Airways – Serbia's flag carrier airline – which flies to nearly 40 destinations worldwide. Other major airlines fly to Belgrade, such as Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa. Discount and no-frills carriers such as Ryanair, EasyJet, however, have yet to make their entrance in the Serbian [S] market, which makes the cost of flying to and from the city a bit higher than other destinations. Wizz Air are starting direct flights from London (from 24th July) and Dortmund ( from 12th June ) to Belgrade. Germanwings does have a number of less expensive flights to Germany and Norwegian Air is another low cost airline operating to Belgrade.

There are shuttle buses to the city center from the airport, operated by both Jat and Lasta. These will pick up and drop off passengers at the Hotel Slavija (Jat) and the central train station (Lasta). The fares are about 250 RSD (~€3) for the Jat shuttle, and 150 RSD (~€1.60) for the Lasta bus.

Avoid taxi service being offered by drivers in the airport terminal; the drivers won't use their meters, and will charge many time the normal fare. Metered taxis can be rung in or picked up from the stand outside; just be sure to chose one with a roof sign indicating it's a city-regulated (see below) radio taxi, and insist that the trip be metered. Alternatively, you can go upstairs to the departure section and catch one of the taxis dropping off passengers. They will be happy for the return ride, and the fare should cost around 900 - 1200 RSD (~€10-13) to the city.

There is also city bus service to and from the airport. Line #72 from Zeleni Venac in central Belgrade [M] runs twice an hour, and costs 45 dinars (~€0.5). The trip is around 40 minutes, but is decidedly less comfortable than a shuttle bus or taxi. A more comfortable city bus option is the E7 minibus, going from the airport to Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard in the city center, stopping at the major hotels (Continental, Hyatt and Park) along the way. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. The fare is 100 RSD (~€1.10), which is paid on-board; be sure to tell the driver what your destination is before departure.

From 15th April 2010 SpanAir will start direct flights from Barcelona and Madrid to Belgrade [M].

From 5th May 2010 airBaltic will start direct flights from Riga to Belgrade [M].

The Central Train station is located, not surprisingly, in the city center. All national and international trains stop here.

There are several international train connections from Budapest-Vienna, Budapest-Bratislava-Prague,Zagreb-Ljubljana-Munich, Zagreb-Ljubljana-Zurich and Zagreb-Ljubljana-Venice. Normally, trains should not be too late (seldom more than 1 hour), and usually are very safe. Expect the overnight train from/to Budapest to be overcrowded in summer.

There are also direct (day and night) trains from Bucharest, Kiev, Moscow, Skopje, Thessaloniki, Istanbul (21h) and Sofia and an overnight train from Bar [S] and Podgorica, Montenegro to Belgrade [M]. It arrives early in the morning (around 7). This is a reasonably comfortable train with sleeper cars and nice views (even at night). Upgrade to the cabins with two beds only for 100% improvement. Prices are pretty reasonable. There is also comfortable day IC train from Bar and Podgorica.

For timetables and all other infos check website of national carrier Serbian Railways [S] [4]

Belgrade's central bus station [5] is next-door to the central train station, in Karađorđeva street. Whilst coach service to national and international destinations is frequent, departure times are usually reliable, but arrival times may be not. Timetables aren't clearly posted; the timetables that are there are in Serbian [S] only, so ask for information inside the terminal.

Ticket reservations and purchases are made in the terminal building.

When buying a bus ticket, you will also receive a token to enter the platform area, for national travel. For international travel, you will be given a paper stub to present at the platform gate.

Be aware that most coach drivers will charge you a fee for baggage handling in the cargo compartment, though this is not a uniform practice with international travel. Also be aware that drivers rarely speak English or any other foreign language. Inform yourself about your trip prior to departure as much as you can; if in doubt, ask a fellow passenger for assistance.

Coach travel in Serbia is a hit-and-miss experience; whilst there is a huge number of companies to chose from, not all of them have clean, modern coach fleets, particularly for travel within Serbia or to neighbouring Montenegro. Coaches are more often clean and modern when embarking on trips to Croatia and Western Europe.

For international trips to the rest of Europe, Lasta [6] is the Eurolines carrier.

For long trips, drivers usually stop for 15 minutes breaks roughly every two hours, though this isn't by any means guaranteed. Pack appropriately with food and bottled water. When disembarking on breaks in the trip, make sure to either secure your belongings, or take them with you.

When you get off the bus, you'll probably be offered a taxi ride or baggage-carrying by some men. Don't accept any offers, no matter how they may insist. They are all illegal and their only intention is to rip you off.

Coming north from Subotica [M] and Novi Sad [M], the E-75 highway is recommended, as well as driving to Belgrade [M] from the south. There is also a major road called Ibarska magistrala [S], which provides approach from south-west (direction of Montenegro, for example). From the west, use the E-70 highway (from Zagreb, Ljubljana etc.). Major roads can be used coming east and north-east from Vršac [M] and Zrenjanin.

Highways have toll stations, which are moderately priced. As of summer 2007, there is major roadwork on the E-75 highway north, so expect occasional delays. Serbia's only highways are parts of E-70 and E-75 roads and the highway passes right through Belgrade [M] without a bypass, causing large unavoidable traffic jams on the Gazela [S] bridge and at the Mostar junction.

Belgrade [M] lies where the rivers Sava and the Danube [S] meet. Passenger ships enable you to reach every place along the Danube in a very convenient and meditative manner with many fascinating attractions along it, but it is a quite slow and rather expensive way of travelling.

Belgrade [M] is located on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea.[7]

Belgrade [M] has an extensive public transport network, covering almost all areas of the old city, Novi Beograd, Zemun and other out-lying areas. The network itself consists of a large fleet of buses, trolley buses and trams - 1,000 vehicles to be exact, but even this is not enough, and public transport in Belgrade is always crowded during rush hour. Tickets for the public transport network cost 42 RSD when purchased at a kiosk (known locally as a trafika), or 80 RSD when purchased from the driver. All tickets must be validated in manually-operated stamping machines inside the vehicle. Transport authorities routinely check tickets for validation — particularly at peak hours on major lines — and an infraction can land you with an uncomfortable fine, which sets you back about €30.

If you are going to spend an extended period in Belgrade [M], and intend to use public transport a lot, than you can buy passes that range from 15 days to 1 month. Those must be purchased at the public transport department, and can be somewhat difficult for foreigners to acquire, since the process is long (filling out forms with most of your personal information) and attendants do not speak English.

GSP (ГСП in Serbian [S] Cyrillic; [8]) is responsible for public transportation in the city. There are maps of bus, and tram lines on its website, though these are not available on paper for free while in the city.

There are over 120 urban and over 300 suburban bus lines. There are also several seasonal lines, including Ada1-Ada5, the five lines which can take you to Ada Ciganlija [S], and one seasonal, weekend-only line (400) which goes to the summit of Mt Avala [S]. As of July 2007, most of the bus fleet is less than five years old. The area around Zeleni Venac is a major bus hub in the city center, with many lines going to and from Novi Beograd and Zemun stopping there.

Tickets can be bought at kiosks for RSD 42 (~0,45€) or RSD 80 (~0,90€) from the bus driver. Don't forget to validate the ticket for each ride, as there are occasional controls.

Trams are mostly old and cramped, with few being restored; some have been donated from Basel, Switzerland, but they are also well beyond their serviceable lifespan. There are 12 tram lines in Belgrade [M], three of which are connected to New Belgrade.

Line 2 is famous in the city with a circular route, running in both directions. The circle is known as krug dvojke (#2's circle) and rings the central city streets.

Line 3 is famous for a beautiful neighborhoods it goes trough, particularly Miloš's Konak Park.

As of spring 2010, there have been couple of interruptions in tram services downtown (Bulevar Revolucije) due to road work, and new track being laid down on existing tram lines.

Trolleybuses fleet in big majority consist of old soviet made ZiU-9 and new Belarusian made Belkommunmash vehicles AKSM-321 and AKSM-333, and they run only in Old Belgrade [M], connecting the city center to east and south-east. There are eight trolleybus lines.

There are eight public minibus lines (E1-E8).[9] Minibuses are all air-conditioned, smaller and generally quicker than regular city buses. However, tickets are bought only inside a minibus and they are more expensive than ordinary ones. Also, in most stops, there is no indication of minibus line routes. This means that one will have to wait for the minibus to come and read the route written on the minibus itself (or just ask the driver).

As of May 2010, minibus fare is 120 RSD.

Taxis are cheap (by European standards) and plentiful, and you can either stop one in the street, or call a taxi company. Ordering a taxi by phone will usually attract a 10 - 20% discount off the final price. Make sure that you ride only in licensed cabs, which carry a little blue sign with the city coat of arms and a number on it, or you may end up paying too much. Never take a privately owned cab (the ones with the white marker on the top that does not list the name of the company), since you can pay up to four times the normal price.

Avoid using taxis in front of airports, bus and train stations! It doesn't matter even if they are licensed, these guys have removed their taximeters and will almost certainly rip you off. Ask people around to show you where the designated taxi stops are. Unfortunately, even some licensed taxis have meters that tick over at an alarmingly quick rate, thus producing vastly inflated fares.

Throughout 2007, major changes are being implemented in the taxi system, as cars are modernized to include receipt printers and an option to pay by card, though it will take some time for the whole taxi network to include this.

As of July 2008, the flag fall for starting a ride is RSD 119 (1.5€), and the rate is RSD 46 per kilometre (1st tarriff) or RSD 56 per kilometre (2nd tarriff, at night and weekends).

Take note that a normal 'step' on a taximetre is about 3 dinars a time, so if you notice a much higher step, ask for a receipt, write down the license plate number, and call 32-27-000.

Not for the faint of heart, particularly during peak hours.

There are many streets which have yellow lanes. They are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and you are not allowed to use them. The yellow lanes are marked with a yellow line, and are indicated on traffic signs. Some yellow lanes, though, are active only in certain periods of the day, usually during rush hours.

There are new spaces for parking in the city center. There is a large parking garage with 500 spaces under the old palace in the city center, across from the parliament building.

Also, take into consideration that in the center almost all of the parking spaces in the central streets have zones marked with green, yellow or red paint on the street (yellow zone spaces are actually marked orange, to avoid confusion with other marks). You can only stay for 3, 2 or 1 hours, respectively, in those spots. You can pay using the machine usually found near the parking spots, buy the parking ticket at a kiosk or by cell phone (just text your car's licence plate number (for example: BG123456) to numbers 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green)). Every message you send is valid for one hour and, some 5 minutes before the hour has passed, you get a text message telling you that you can send another SMS if you want to extend your parking for the next hour. Of course, this only applies in yellow and green zones, in which you can park for more than 1 hour. After the time is up, you'll have to re-park or risk paying a fine (around €10). All of this only applies on weekdays, from 7AM to 9PM and from 7AM to 2PM on Saturdays. After that (Sa 2PM- Mo 7AM) parking is free.

There are also several public parking garages and parking lots where you can park for an unlimited amount of time during day. Fees are charged on an hourly basis. In some non-zoned areas, you also pay for parking depending on the duration of your stay, and this is paid in cash to the parking attendant.

Detailed information can be found on the Parking Servis website [10]available in English and Serbian [S].

Old Belgrade [M] is pretty hilly and the bicycle infrastructure is scarce, so bicycle transport isn't in wide use. However, New Belgrade and Zemun are relatively flat and offer enough space for bikes to be used. Bicycle tracks link Zemun, Dorćol, Ada Ciganlija [S], New Belgrade and Bežanijska kosa. There is a bike lift on Brankov Bridge and the ride is free of charge and there are also some 50 bicycle racks around the city.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring bikes into public transport vehicles.

There are several tourist boats which offer day and night cruises along the Sava and Danube [S].

• Kalemegdan [S]
• Belgrade [M] Fortress

• Knez Mihailova Street [S]

• The National Museum [S]. Currently under reconstruction. Founded in 1844, has more than 400000 items including Italian Art Collection (230 works) including Titian, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Canaletto, Tiepollo, Carpacio,... French Art Collection (250 paintings) includes Renoir(55 works including 22 paintings), Monet, Degas, Signac, Lautrec, Matisse, Goughen, Utrillo, Pissaro, Corot... Dutch and Flemish Art Collection (120 works) include Vincent van Gogh, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Goyen, Breughel ... Japanase Art Collection has 82 works which include Kunisada, Toyokuni, Hirosige... Cubist Art Collection includes Picasso, Cezanne, Delaunay, Arhipenko, Mondrian... Yugoslav (Serbian [S]) Art Collection includes Paja Jovanovic, Uros Predic, Lubarda... Other Art Collections (German, Austrian, Russian...) include Durer, Gustav Klimt, Kandinsky, Sisley, Marc Chagall, Modigliani, Kassat...

• The Temple of Saint Sava [S] Under construction (summer 2008).

• Skadarlija [S], (Skadarska street)

• Republic Square [S] (Main square)

• The Old Royal Palace [S] (Stari dvor)

• Belgrade [M] Zoo, Mali Kalemegdan [S] 8. Summer: Daily: 8AM-8:30, Winter: Daily: 8AM-5PM.  

• The National Assembly of Serbia

• Tito's Mausoleum Take trolleybus # 40 or 41 from Studentski Trg or from Kneza Miloša Street in the direction of Dedinje and ask for "Kuća cveća" (House of flowers). Entry is free of charge, but the museum closes in the afternoons. Inside is the grave of the beloved second president of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, along with his baton collection and two preserved rooms of his furniture.

• Ivo Andric Museum, Andrićev Venac 8.  

• Ada Ciganlija [S], a river island on Sava River with an artificial lake in the center of the city. The lake has an 8 km long gravel beach, which is visited by about 300,000 bathers per day during the summer. This is a great place for sports and picnics. In summer, it is swamped with people wanting to cool down in the water.

• Veliko ratno ostrvo ("The great War Island") [S], a river island at the confluence of the Sava and Danube [S] rivers, for picnics and bird spotting.

• Nikola Tesla Museum, Krunska 51, ☎ +381 (0) 11 24 33 886 (info@tesla-museum.org, fax: +381 (0) 11 24 36 408), [11]. Tu-F:10AM-6PM, Sa-Su:10AM-1PM. Museum dedicated to the man whom Serbs revere. Half of this small museum is dedicated to Tesla's personal effects, while the other half contains models of his inventions. There are English-speaking guides who are students from the Engineering Department of the University of Belgrade [M] who can help you understand the sometimes-complicated science.  

• Terazije Fountain [S]

• Belgrade [M] Cathedral (Saborna crkva)

• The Residence of Princess Ljubica [S] (Konak kneginje Ljubice)

• The White Palace [S] (Beli dvor)

• The Military Museum [S] (Vojni muzej), inside the Belgrade [M] Fortress

• Avala [S], small mountain (511 m) near Belgrade [M].

Note that many of Belgrade's museums are closed on Monday. It may be wise to check before making a visit.

Public Observatory [S] (placed at Kalemegdan [S] fortress) - There are four panoramic telescopes installed for daily observations of the city's panorama. This is the unique place in Belgrade [M] for panoramic observations. [12]

National Museum [S] - located at Republic Square [S] has an enormous collection of world painters.

National Theatre [S] - watch opera, ballet and plays - the main hall is simply amazing. Decorated with gold and artworks.

Visit a splav [S] (literally: raft) – a barge restaurant located along the Sava and Danube [S] rivers. There are two kinds of "splav". Some are restaurants ( There you can dine and eat with the extra feature of being on the river and enjoying the view) and most are nightclubs. Each "splav" is a nightclub to itself. You can literally club hopp all night long. There is no cover charge to get into any of them. Some ultra popular ones may require that you have an invitation or be on the guest list, but if you tell them that you are a oreigner and that you didn't know they'll usually let you in. Women are not required to be on a "guest list". The music played on the barges is highly varied. Everything from Serbian [S] folk music, pop, dance to latest Euro is played. Another really cool thing about the "splav" is that many of them feature live bands. It is really unlike anything you've ever seen before.

If you have time visit the Belgrade [M] Arena. It is the second largest arena in Europe and the largest in the Balkans. You will definitely be impressed by the architecture. The 2005 European Basketball Championships were held there.

• The European Feature Documentary Film Festival - Magnificent 7 - [13]
• Belgrade [M] Beer Festival
• Festival of new and improvized music - Ring Ring [14]
• Eternal derby - or Belgrade derby is a match between the fiercest city rivals Partizan and Red Star, two of the biggest and most popular sports societies in Serbia. Rivalry is present in a number of different sports but the most intensive matches are between football, basketball and handball sections of both societies.

• Spend an afternoon at the Kalemegdan [S] Park and enjoy the sunset at one of the fortress lookouts.
• Eat burek and yoghurt for breakfast!
• Ride the tram number 2 a full circle.
• Spend an hour sipping coffee or some incarnation thereof at one of Belgrade's cafés.
• Spend a morning at one of the green markets.
• Wonder the Kosancicev Venac neighbourhood preferably on a summer sunday for a taste of authentic Belgrade [M].
• Have a rakija at one of the old style buffets.
• Have a meal at on of the old state owned kafanas like Beogradsko Prolece or Kafana "?".
• Befriend a Belgrader.

(Now you are a Beograđanin/ka)

The currency in Serbia is the dinar [S] . Money can be exchanged at official exchange offices (locally called Menjačnica, often carrying the emblem of the National Bank of Serbia outside the building), which are clearly labeled and they are numerous in central Belgrade [M], or at the airport. Micko (on Vuka Karadzica street) changes all currencies, including rare ones. There are many ATMs, which accept foreign bank and credit cards without a glitch (note: they are new machines so you won’t have any problems with them). Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Maestro are widely accepted but there are some shops, restaurants and hotels where cards are not accepted. American Express is rarely accepted. The dinar is not widely convertible outside Serbia; it is advisable to re-convert your remaining dinars to Euros or other major currencies before leaving the country.

The stores work into late hours during work days while on Saturdays they normally close around 15.00 and most of them are not open on Sundays. Therefore, finding an activity for the weekend must be thought of beforehand. At night, however, there are bars, cafés and discotheques that are open, selling cheaply priced drinks. Belgrade [M] is reputed to have some of the best night life in Europe.

Import taxes make clothes and shoes in Serbia very expensive. Many items from common European chains can be found for 20% less in neighboring Budapest. Still, Belgrade [M] has many flagship stores [S], mostly located on Knez Mihailova Street [S], or the pedestrian zone. They include Escada, Max Mara, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Sweet Years, Paul & Shark, Lacoste, Zara, Gas, Diesel, Miss Sixty, Energie, Tom Tailor, Tally Weil, Springfield, Mango, Cortefiel, Pedro del Hiero, Levi's, and Marella.

There are also many multi-brand stores selling higher class designer clothes and accessories. The most known ones are Artisti [S] (a chain of stores throughout the city) who have the new Gucci, Prada, Bikkembergs, Dior, Tod's, DSquared2, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino collections. The second store chain is Land featuring brands such as Just Cavalli, D&G, CNC by Costume National, Iceberg. New stores include Marks and Spencer, Sephora and New Yorker.

The official distributor of Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Versace Jeans Couture is a store Alta Moda in Kralja Petra street. Close to Alta Moda [S] are other designer multi brand stores such as Monobrand [S] and EuroModa [S] . Also, there is a shop called MilModa [S] that is oriented to the younger population. Thus, it features Armani Jeans, Missoni Sport, D&G, Etro, Bogner, La Martina and BluMarine constantly, and (from time to time) fashion brands such as DSquared2, Richmond, Prada, creations of John Galliano and many others (they are official dealers). It is situated near St. Sava`s temple.

Multi-brand store concept is catching on very quickly, so it's not going to be a problem finding all types of clothes. Best concept stores are Buzz (Knez Mihailova street), chain of street-wear stores called Urban and Avanguardia.

Searching for accessories, watches: You can also find a variety of brands, from the affordable (Swatch & Fossil) to the most expensive (Breitling for Bentley, Cartier, Boucheron, Rado...). Accessories can be found everywhere but for the hippest you can see Dve Smizle (Millennium Shopping Mall, Knez Mihailova) and Time Zone feat. Kenzo, Christian Lacroix Bijoux, Miss Sixty Jewelry and others (Makedonska Street, next to Politika newspaper headquarters).

• USCE Shopping Center [S] is the largest modern shopping center in Serbia and the region, [15]

• Delta City [S] is the second largest shopping mall in the city, [16]

• The Fair - Sajam [S] is where you have a large choice of clothes to buy pretty cheaply.

• Block 70 [S] is where the Chinese market is located. You can buy dirt-cheap clothing imported from China. Quality is lower.

• Old Yugoslavian currency [S] can be purchased from street sellers. A 500 billion dinar [S] note makes an interesting souvenir.

• Mercator Center [17] [S]

• Immo Center [S]

• IDEA Extra Hypermarket [S]

• Veropoulos Hypermarket (Novi Beograd) [S]

• Tempo Hypermarket [S]

• M - Rodic Megamarket Hypermarket [S]

• Verano Object - Trosarina [S]

• Interex Konjarnik [S]

• Zira Centre, Ruzveltova Street (near New Cemetery) [18]

• BN Bos Outlet (Galenika) [19] [S]

• Merkur Bezanijska Kosa [20] [S]

• Merkur Karaburma [21] [S]

• Usce Multifunctional Centre, the largest shopping center in the city

• OTC Novi Beograd [S] - Slang name for this shopping experience is "Buvljak" or flea market as 30 years ago it was that. At present day, hundreds of independed shop owners have a "store" (all brand new goods) under the open sky. You can buy anything and everything there, from any type of clothes like Italian jeans (some are real, some are real good copies from Novi Pazar) to gadgets, to toiletries, to cell phone accessories to the most obscure screw or nail - literaly. Pricing is way less than the malls and they actually have sizes for all shapes and sizes! You could spend a full day at the OTC and not see everything.

Serbs are very proud of their food, which is heavy on grilled meats and sausages, local cheeses and bread. Salads are primarily tomato, cucumber, and onion, or cabbage. Local produce is fresh and organic.

Belgrade [M] has hundreds of restaurants specializing in local cuisine and a few international restaurants. On the whole, prices are cheap compared to Western Europe with main dishes ranging from 8-25 dollars per person.

Most Serbian [S] restaurants offer rostilj [S], a large plate of various unseasoned grilled meats, or any possible variety of grilled chicken wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese. It is possible to order fresh salads, plates of grilled vegetables, crepes, or omelets if you are not carnivorous. Serbian cuisine is famous for its heavy use of varied vegetables, fresh or cooked.

Snacking and eating on the go in Belgrade [M] are easy and cheap. Bakeries – called pekara [S] – are ubiquitous in the city center, and you will find a wide assortment of breads, sweet and savoury pastries, sandwiches and pizza on offer. A snack or light meal of pastry and drinkable yoghurt (similar to kefir) will give you an added healthy boost when walking about the city center.

Foods that vegetarians and meat eaters alike should try include kajmak [S] (something between cream cheese and butter) and ajvar, a savory spread made out of roasted red peppers. It is also worth visiting a pijaca (green market) to buy some fresh fruit, vegetables and other grocery items. The farmer's market at Zeleni Venac, close to the Hotel Moscow, is not one of the largest, but it is the one with the least expensive merchandise – in the city. Contained in a newly-built complex, it makes for an enjoyable Saturday morning experience, with the lively hustle and bustle of people milling about and stall-owners trying to attract customers. Depending on the season, an amazing assortment of fruit and veg can be found in farmer's markets, including watermelons, olives, wild mushrooms and fresh figs. Take the time to explore the stalls, and compare the quality and prices of the produce. Most produce at the farmer's markets in Belgrade [M] are organic and fresh from the farmer's gardens brought over daily from the villages surrounding the city. You will notice the particularly good taste of this produce.

There is also pljeskavica [S], the Serbian [S]

There are a handful of international restaurants, including Japanese,Chinese and Indian. These are moderately priced to very expensive. Many dine out at "Peking" restaurant, and "Mao Tao" is an excellent choice as well for Chinese. Dju-Dju [S], "Moon" [S] (in Makedonska 30) and Ikki Sushi Bar [S] are perfect places for those who like sushi or other tasty japanese dishes. Zapata's is the best (and pretty much only) Mexican restaurant in town and "Cosy" [S] (Makedonska 30) the best French Café with excellent food and prices (our favorite one too).

Skadarlija [S] is a pleasant street filled with Serbian and Italian restaurants, not to be missed by gourmands. It is famous for its old restaurants, some of which have been around for over 100 years. Most of the restaurants have string orchestras which play a selection of traditional and modern Serbian songs, like in "Lagum 33" (Simina 33).

If you prefer a delicious fish meal try the fish gourmet restaurant Mika Alas [S] close to Ada Ciganlija [S] (Stari Obrenovački put 14; 011/254-4448; [22]). Be sure to try their delicious fish soup "ribja corba" and their very own house specialty, "smudj romanov", Pike Perch fillet in white wine cream sauce. Excellent food for an acceptable price.

Vegetarijanska Gostionica "Joy of the Heart" [S] - Svetogorska 18 (center) Tel. 011/334-5181. Not your typical Serbian meal - as they serve mostly ayyurvedic food for a decent price. Also serves fruit shakes and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Despite the warnings of the US.CDC[23], tap water in Belgrade [M] is perfectly safe. There is a wide range of bottled waters on offer in grocery stores, supermarkets, and newskiosks ('trafikas').

Serbs love beer, and it is possible to buy a variety of domestic beers such as Jelen,Lav,MB,Pils,... along with a few imported beers, at very cheap prices. The domestic beers are quite decent. Made in Serbia beers also include Heineken, Amsteel, Tuborg, Stella Artois, and Beck's. Belgrade [M] holds a Beer Festival annually in August.

Culture Tip: How to toast, Serbian style Like everywhere, Serbs love to toast when in good company, whether it's in a pub or in the home with friends. When toasting in Serbia, it is expected that you look your friends at the table directly in the eyes whilst clinking glasses as a sign of respect. Say 'Živeli!' (cheers!) to everyone and take a sip. Repeat as necessary, and enjoy a night out in Belgrade [M]!

Local wines can be good, although more expensive tends to mean more drinkable, and many of the less expensive bottles are less than satisfactory. The national alcoholic drink is rakija, a Serbian brandy that is very strong and makes a good souvenir.

For the sober crowd, Belgrade [M] has blueberry, raspberry, tomato, peach, apple, strawberry, and any other kind of juice you can think of.

There are a couple of places worth visiting if you are a fan of cafe culture. The street best known for its trendy cafes is definitely Strahinjića Bana [S]. On this street, cafes are full even on weekdays. All cafés serve the usual continental coffees, such as espresso and cappuccino. However, regular coffee comes in the form of Turkish coffee, not filtered coffee. If you want a filtered coffee, you need to specify this when ordering, and not all coffee shops have it. Also very popular is whipped instant coffee, commonly referred to simply as 'Nes' (as in, Nescafé). A cafe called Mani Prag (across from the Hotel Prag) is thought by some to offer the best "Serb Coffee" in the world.

The best atmosphere is on Friday evenings when the trendy youth of Belgrade [M] descend to enjoy the music and each other. Out of numerous cafes, the best ones are: Insomnia [S], KontraBar [S], Buongiornio [S] (also a pastry shop), Nachos [S], Veprov Dah [S] (a scottish pub), Duomo [S] (Italian and Mediterranean restaurant and cafe), Ipanema [S] and "Cosy" [S], a new French Café with excellent ambiance in Makedonska 30 etc.

The second cafe zone is Obilićev Venac (a street parallel to Knez Mihailova). The best cafes there are Iron, Jelena [S], Zu Zu's, Irish pub [S], Simbol [S] and many others.

Third cafe zone (also a going out zone) is quay next to hotel Yugoslavia in Zemun. On the quay are numerous river boats (splavovi), many of them are cafes, restaurants and clubs.

Other places worth visiting: "The Three Carrots Irish pub [S]"- bills itself as the first Irish pub in Belgrade [M], quite easy to miss, just turn left at the bombed out buildings coming up from the train station and walk on the left hand side of the road.

Several hotels have opened up in Belgrade [M] recently, mainly in the center of the city. Some are only open in the summer, but a couple function all year round. There are also several hotels right around the train station that are relatively cheap (30-40 EUR) however the quality varies. Just walk around and you should find one with empty rooms without much difficulty.

• Beli grad [S], Nemanjina street 42, Phone: +381 11 3612126 or +381 64 5471320, (www.hostelbeligrad.com ; hostelbg@gmail.com) Hostel has a very central location on the Slavija Square, in Nemanjina Street, just beside McDonald's restaurant. The railway and bus station are easy to reach and the airport bus terminal is just across the street. The hostel has one 8-bed room, one 6-bed room and one private room with a French bed. All rooms are air-conditioned and dispose of personal belongings cabinets and reading lights. A spacious bathroom and a separate toilet are at disposal to guests. A kitchen is available for guests' use, as well. Wireless internet in all rooms. On check-in, guests will be given bed linen and two towels that they will return on check-out. Tax is included in the price of accommodation.

• Belgrade [M] Eye Jostel, Krunska 6B, Phone: +381 64 2588 754, Email: belgradeeye@gmail.com [24] a large family house turned into a hostel that offers a surprising degree of comfort at very low rates (starting at €10). Private rooms are available as well as dorms.

• Chillton Hostel [S], [25] Kataniceva 7, Phone: +381 11 344 18 26 SMS: +381 62 677 004 Email: chilltonhostel@gmail.com, Hostel is in the "Belgradest" part of Belgrade [M] - Vracar, 3 stops from the train station with bus 83. Private rooms and dorms, air conditioners in all the rooms.

• Chillton 2 Hostel [S], [26] Vase Čarapića (Vasina) 15, Phone: +381 11 328 3 33 SMS +381 61 328 33 33 Email: chillton2@gmail.com, Best location in Belgrade [M], right between Republic square and the fortress. Private rooms and dorms, air conditioners in all the rooms.

• Crossroad hostel [S], 41 Gospodar Jevremova, Phone: +381 63 252-529, (Email: office@crossroad-hostel.com), [27] is in the tourist core of the city, in a quiet part but on the very crossroads of the four most important tourist city areas. Prices starting at €10.

• Friends Hostel [S] , [28] Oblakovska 11 (Autokomanda) , Phone: +381 11 369 00 49, +381 63 166 87 75 Email: friendshostelbelgrade@gmail.com, Best location in Belgrade [M], Hostel is located in the city center, accommodation in double bed, Four bedrooms or six bedrooms. All rooms have cable TV, security box, free coffee and tea, wireless internet ........

• Green Studio Hostel, Karadjordjeva 69/42 (From the bus station, you just cross the street with the trams and take a right and look for number 69, it is about a 20 second walk. From the train station take a left out of the door; keep walking across the next intersection into the park. From the park you should cross the street with the trams and look for number 69. About a minute walk.), ☎ +381 11 263 36 26, (greenstudiohostel@gmail.com), [29]. Owned and run by fellow backpackers and locals, prices start at €10 and include everything from laundry, computer access, high speed wireless internet, to beer and rakija, coffee and tea. In the center of the city,on the banks of the river, and very close to the bus and train station, has dorms, large private rooms, and a large open common room always alive. All facilities work and are accessible 24 hours, as well as no check out times - sleep late!  

• Happy hostel [S], Kralja Milutina no.28, Phone: +381 64 1176 075 414, (Email: happyhostel@yahoo.com), [30]. Happy Hostel is in Kralja MIlutina street no. 28, at the corner with Nemanjina street, on the Slavija square, which is the absolute cultural nucleus of Belgrade [M].In the immediate vicinity: the City parking lot, banks, supermarkets, buses.The following facilities are included in the price:linen and towels,washing machine and dryer,hair dryer,iron and ironing board,TV set with DVD player and stereo,cable internet,wireless internet,residence tax. We will be there for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making sure you’re feeling secure as well as having fun !Prices starting at €12

• Hostel Captain [S], Kapetan Misina 16, Phone: +381 11 218 18 19 Mobile: +381 65 243 9596, (Email: office@hostelcaptain.com), [31] is the leading hostel in Belgrade [M] with its superb location in the city center. Provide a unique experience which offers safe, comfortable budget accommodation and great facilities: including bar, internet, chill out areas and of course a great atmosphere where is possible to meet other like minded people. Prices starting at €10.

• Hostel Jelica Milanovic, Krunska 8 [S],[32]: a highschool campus in the middle of town which functions as a hostel in summer, between June, 20th and August, 30th. Depending of category of rooms, prices are 9 or 11 €. It's also a biggest and one of the cheapest hostel in Belgrade [M] with big variety of special services and comfortable rooms.

• Hostel Tis [S], Koste Abrasevica 17, [33] +38111 3806050, Email: tishostel@sbb.rs a large two floors villa, with a specious garden and a large living room. Comfortable 6 bed (around €12,00 per person) and 2 bed rooms (around €14,00 per person), all air-conditioned. 24h reception, parking space, safe-lockers. It is situated in 'Vračar' neighborhood. Rather far out of town and Taxi drivers often have trouble locating it, expect to pay 750 Dinars (on meter).

• Hostel Yellowbed [S], Visnjiceva 3, Phone: +381 11 2628 220, Email: office@yellowbed.net), [34] at a very heart of Belgrade [M] where ancient and modern downtown clashes. Yellowbed is situated in well-known street of Visnjiceva, which entrances both, modern and old-fashioned Belgrade. You are about to get-in-known Belgrade within five minutes from our hostel since all social & cultural stances and events take place around. And if you desire to go out into the town, we'll provide you with all information you need, but do not forget, everything is on a 5-10-15 minutes by foot. Clubbing, restaurants, National theater, National museum, Freedom square, University square, Student park, etc. Prices from 10EUR + taxes.

• Hotel Center [S], Gavrila Principa 46a, Phone: +381 11 361 96 86 Email: hostelcentar@sezampro.yu, Hostel is in the city center, in the epicenter of whole happenings. 100 m far from main bus and train station. Hostel capacity is 30 beds on 3 floors with 10 beds on every floor.2 x double rooms, 3 x 3 bed rooms, 3 x 4 bed rooms, 1 x 5 bed rooms. Rooms include: - air conditioning - 2 SAT-TV (72-81 cm) - computer LCDTFT 22” (internet access) - fax/ telephone. Accommodation, bed (+tax+residence tax+insurance) 19,8€ - €23, breakfast €3, hb (breakfast and dinner) €6. There are discounts for groups, longer stay, according to the hostel business policy

• Hotel Central Station [S], Karadjordjeva 87, Phone: +381 11 268 50 67, Email: office@hostelcentralstation.com, [35]. In the very center of the city of Belgrade [M] a new hostel "Central Station" welcomes its guests. Unlike most facilities of its kind, "Central Station" is situated in a building regarded as a cultural monument and a city landmark. Located opposite to the Central Railway and Central Bus Station. The building has accommodated guests since the beginning of the 20th century. Back then it was known as women's hotel "Carigrad." In a completely redecorated and refurbished 150m2 space the hostel offers accommodations in twin-bed, four-bed, 6, 8, 10 bed-rooms. Guests have free internet access, a living room, a safe and secure storage room and gentlemen's and ladies bathrooms at their disposal. All rooms are air conditioned. Prices starting at €12.

• Hotel Royal [S], Kralja Petra. January 2005 prices: single for 24 EUR/night, double for 35 EUR/night, both including (simple cooked) breakfast. Very central: close to shopping streets, going-out areas and the fortress. Takes credit cards. Has live music in the basement at night.

• In Old Shoes [S], Brankova 18, Phone: +381 11 218 36 50, Email: info@inoldshoes.com, [36]. In Old Shoes Hostel is located just 10 min. walking distance from Main Train and Bus Station and 5 min. from the middle of Belgrade [M]. 2, 4 and 10 beds rooms at the super cheap price of 15, 11.5 and €9.5 including air conditioning and internet!

• Hostel MANGA [S], Resavska street 7, Phone: +381 11 324 38 77, +381 64 261 05 09 [37] New hostel in a 3-floor house, located in the very city centre (next to the House of Parliament and the City Hall... everything is really walking distance!), 1x10, 2x4, 1x1 rooms, 24hrs reception, private yard, air conditioning, free wifi, free lockers, free towels, free coffee & tea, free maps, cable TV and DVDs, 24hrs supermarkets in the surrounds. Train station is just 2 stops away (or 10 minutes walking). Beds from €10.

• Star Hostel [S]: Cara Urosa street no 37; tel: + 381 62 224646; Email hostel_star@yahoo.com : air-conditioned, safe-lockers backpack size, free internet + WIFI, free coffee and tea, laundry, custom guided maps, big common room with biggest movie collection, xbox, book exchange, very friendly staff, very knowledgeable about Belgrade [M] and are there all the time for all your travel needs. Prices in between €10 and €12, private for 35. [38]

• Sun Hostel [S]: Novopazarska 25 located in "Vracar" part of Belgrade [M] with great transit connections to the city centar and walk distance from Ortodox Temple of Saint Sava,famuos Kalenic open market,Gradic Pejton(craftman center), Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra(shoppong street) The Natural History Museum in NJegoseva Street and The National Library of Serbia; tel: + 381 64 11 21 040; Email hostel.sun@gmail.com : We can accommodateup to 20 people (4,6,10 bed in rooms), very comfortable rooms, air-conditioned, safe-lockers backpack size, two cpu with free internet, very friendly staff . Prices are between €10 to €19,depend of the room .

• Three Black Catz Hostel [S], Cika Ljubina 7/49, Tel: +381 11 2629826, Email: reservationtbc@gmail.com,[39]. A flat turned into a hostel. In the heart of town on main Republic square. Prices for dormitory; €10-11 . Amazing welcome - was handed a beer from the owner as we sat down for a chat! 4-star free laundry service. Nice intimate place - neighbors drop in for a chat - no isolated backpacker ghetto here!

• UNI Hostel [S][40] The UNI Hostel is in the very downtown Belgrade [M]. It is five minutes away from the train and bus station and 20 minutes away from the airport. In addition it is only one minute away from trolley loop, line 7l, which stops at the train and bus station. Price starts from 800RSD (8-bed-room) excl. BTO/Tax (114RSD). Emails: info@uni-turs.com/arazmani@uni-turs.com

• Mr. President Design Hotel [S], [41]. This is a very nice, new and modern hotel. It is located literally across the street from the city's train station, about 50 feet. It has 61 ultra modern web connected rooms with all of the modern conviences. The average room for 2 people cost about €100 per night.

• Holiday Inn Belgrade [S] [M] located in New Belgrade, in the vicinity of Belgrade Arena

• Metropol Palace Hotel [S] located in city-center, in the immediate vicinity of cultural and historical sights. (currently closed for reconstruction, open Q1 2008)

• Best Western Hotel Sumadija [S] located in modern business part of Belgrade [M], Banovo Brdo. Belgrade city center is 7.5 km, Belgrade Fair 2 km and Belgrade airport is 22 km away.

• Hotel Astoria [S] - side street just opposite the railway station. Excellent value at €61 a double including private facilities and breakfast. Apartments available. Many thoughtful extras. Bistro restaurant good menu , good value. A short 15 minute walk to the centre of town, uphill along Balkanska Street to Terazije Square.

• Hotel Rex [S], [42]. Very nice business-type hotel close to the train station, with 24 hour reception and friendly english speaking staff. Price around €60.

• Studio APOLLO 011 [S] Suboticka 23, Tel: +381 63 1161982, +381 61 1558752, Email: office@apollo011.in.rs, [43]. Located in pleasant surroundings of Suboticka street, at Belgrade [M] municipality Zvezdara. Studio is only 10 minutes drive from St. Sava’s Dome, Vracar Plato and centre of the city. It is connected with city centre, New Belgrade, Fair and other parts of the city, with bus, trolleybus and tram networks. It is tidy, comfortable and pleasurable place that offers a high category hotel comfort for reasonable price.

• Crystal Hotel Belgrade [S] [M], [44]. Address: Internacionalnih brigada 9, +381 11 7151000, info@crystalhotel.rs. This brand new boutique hotel is located in the old town with a beautiful view of St. Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox church in the world. It has 44 deluxe rooms with high speed Internet, pay-tv and spacious rooftop terrace overlooking entire city is planned for the summer.

• Balkan Hotel [S],[45] [46]. Adress: Prizrenska 2, +381 11 36-36-000. A four-star hotel located in the heart of Belgrade [M], overlooking the Terazije square. Refurbished in 2006., with its modernly equipped rooms and international restaurant Orient Express, Balkan Hotel represents a base for a modern business traveler and a complete comfort for leisure travels.

• Moskva [S], Balkanska 1, +381 11 2686-255, [47]. A landmark building which was remodeled in 2009 and features small but opulent rooms with wi-fi and satellite TV. The staff apparently has been overhauled as well after previous poor reviews on that front. Counts a number of celebrities amongst its guests from its eastern bloc days.

• Aleksandar Palas [S], Kralja Petra 13-15, +381 11 3305-300. A boutique hotel located near the Knez Mihailova pedestrian street and the Kalemegdan [S] fortress.

• Hyatt Regency Belgrade [S] [M], Milentija Popovica 5, +381 11 301 1234, [48]. In New Belgrade some 9 kilometers from the airport.

• Continental Hotel Beograd [S], Vladimira Popovica 10, +381 11 220 4204. Prefix Inter- has now been dropped. Located in New Belgrade [M], and connected thru a passageway with the Sava congress center.

• Admiral Club Beograd [S], Venizelosova 31, +381 11 303 8260. In the oldest part of Belgrade [M] “Dorćol”, near The National Theatre [S] and famous bohemian part “Skadarlija”. In addition to the 17 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, the Hotel has unique “Glass Garden”, parlor and pastry - coffee shop.

• In Hotel Belgrade [S] [M], Bulevar Arsenija Carnojevica 56, +381 11 310 5300, [49]. In New Belgrade and some 9 kilometers from the airport, 4 kilometers from the city centre, 1 kilometer from the Sava Centre, and 200 m from the Belgrade Arena [S].

Private accommodation is another alternative to hotels and hostel in Belgrade [M]. You can find a lot of apartments and flats to rent. For short or long stay. Usualy this apartments are equiped very good, with everything that one apartment should have: TV, Internet, DVD, Music, washing machine, ... linens, towels, iron, hair dryer, ... housekeeping.

Overall, Belgrade [M] is a very safe city, but like anywhere, you should always keep money, mobile phones, travel documents and other valuable personal items in secure places. If you own a car, it is preferable to have a security system. Traffic laws are usually observed, although nervous drivers can change lanes suddenly or make dangerous turns when avoiding traffic during rush hour. The taxi drivers are notorious for swerving in and out of lanes. Pay close attention to the traffic signals as a pedestrian.

Also try to avoid getting into conflicts. If you are staying out late in a bar or a club, there is always a small chance that someone will try to pick a fight. Especially if you are in a group and a single guy is showing hostility. That is a trap by local thugs looking for a brawl. That is not because you are a foreigner, it's just the "law of the streets" - anyone can be the target. Just ignore them and walk away no matter what they say or do. The chances that this will happen are very low, but stay alert. DO NOT try to make fun of the locals in your native language, particularly in English. Almost everyone has at least a basic understanding of it and is familiar with foul words and curses.

In case of an emergency, call 92 (police), 93 (fire) or 94 (ambulance). Always carry the phone number and an address of your embassy with you. In case of injury or illness, the place to go is the Urgentni centar (Emergency center) of the Clinical Center of Serbia. Be aware that not all medical facilities have personnel that speak foreign languages, including English. Consult the embassy of your country, if possible.

In Serbia, including Belgrade [M], violence against gays and lesbians can occur. Gay and lesbian travelers should be discreet. Although it's rare, public displays of affection between two persons of the same sex, particularly men, may be met with verbal abuse, and some cases physical violence. There are several gay bars and clubs all around the city, and they tend to get quite full and fun, but it can occasionally even be unsafe to be seen arriving at or leaving such clubs, although there is always heavy security personnel guarding them. There are quite a few LGBT parties organized periodically by various organizations and at different locations. Avoid football fan crowds at all costs if you think you may be a target because of your appearance, they tend to be extremely violent and homophobic although the government has pushed very hard to control and curb their activity recently. There are several LGBT organizations at your disposal in Belgrade, find them on your internet search engine: Queeria, Gay Serbia, Labris, Gayten, etc.

When it snows in winter, the streets are covered in sleet the next day, so be careful when walking. The Košava [S], a notorious Belgrade [M] wind, may give you a cold more quickly than you would expect, particularly in winter - take care and dress appropriately.

Also be mindful of the high number of stray animals roaming streets, particularly dogs, even in the city center. Whilst it is very rare that they demonstrate outward signs of illness or aggression, err on the side of caution and avoid coming in physical contact.

Pharmacies – called 'apoteka' – are found throughout the city center. Look for lit green crosses on building façades. Some, such as the one in Kralja Milana Str, are open twenty-four hours. These will carry a range of prescription medicines, as well as over-the-counter products like pain killers and vitamin supplements.

• Canada, Kneza Milosa 75 Belgrade [M] 111711 Serbia, ☎ (381-11) 306-3000 (bgrad@international.gc.ca), [50]. Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 16:00.  

• Poland, Kneza Miloša 38 11000 Belgrade [M], ☎ +(381)(11)2065 301 (belgrad.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl), [51].  

• United Kingdom, Resavska 46 11000 Belgrade [M], ☎ +(381)(11)2645 055, [52].  
• United States, Kneza Miloša 50 11000 Belgrade Serbia (The Consular Section is co-located with the rest of the U.S. Embassy Belgrade at 50 Knez Milosa Street. If you are facing the front of the Embassy from Knez Milosa, the entrance to use for consular services is the right hand door, to the right of the American flag. (There is a back entrance to the Embassy on Sarajevska Street, but it is not open to the public.)), ☎ +381 11 361 9344, [53].  

Text content was last edited at 10:42, on 28 May 2010 by Wikitravel user Vidimian. Based on work by Alex, Wikitravel user(s) Modesty Blaise and Cardboardbird, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.