What to see in Belgrade: Top 20 places to visit

1. Belgrade Fortress

One of the main attractions of the capital is a huge fort on a hill, which has been destroyed 44 times in 2300 years! From here you can enjoy a great view of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

In addition to numerous sculptures, busts, towers, gates, wells and fountains there are:

• natural history museum
• military museum
• observatory
• zoo
• Ruzica Church with a chandelier made of swords and casings
• Church of St. Petka (Paraskeva) with a spring of healing water
• Monument to the victor(Pobednik), erected in 1928 in honor of the final defeat of the Turks
• military bunker
• casemates, where torture guns are displayed.

Nearby is a landscape park.

Address: Kalemegdan Park.

Opening hours: in summer from 11.00 to 19.00, in winter from 10.00 to 17.00.

Cost: Entrance to the fortress is free, but you will have to pay to see some sights. A single ticket to Nebojša Tower, Clock Tower, Bunker, Gunpowder Depot and Roman Well costs 450 RSD (4 EUR) for adults, 350 RSD (3 EUR) for schoolchildren, students and pensioners.

2. Military Museum

Near the museum, in its free part, military equipment is exhibited: mostly Austro-Hungarian, Turkish, British and German. There is one of the two surviving copies of the Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. F (VK.18.01), used by Germany in World War II, and the Vozilo A, a Yugoslavian licensed copy of the Soviet T-34.

In the building, 2 floors are allocated for the collection. Two halls exhibit the belongings of Josip Broz Tito: uniforms, awards and weapons. There are also expositions devoted to the Serbian-Turkish, World Wars I and II, the NATO military operation against Yugoslavia, a collection of weapons from ancient Greece and Rome to the 20th century, trophies, etc.

Address: Belgrade Fortress.

Opening hours: daily except Monday from 10.00 to 17.00.

Cost: 200 RSD (2 EUR) for adults, 100 RSD (1 EUR) for schoolchildren and students.

3. Zoo

Founded in 1936, the zoo was initially small - only 3 hectares, but it was immediately loved by the citizens and members of the royal family. Now the 7 hectares of land is home to 270 species of animals, reptiles and birds.

You can book a hotel in Belgrade with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

The most famous resident is the oldest living alligator in captivity. The male alligator named Muya was brought here as an adult in 1937 and was the only one who survived World War II, when the zoo was destroyed, and then survived the bombings of 1999.

Also of interest are the albino animals: kangaroos, wolves, lions, tigers and hedgehogs.

Address: Mali Kalemegdan 8, Belgrade Fortress.

Opening hours: daily from 8.00 to 19.30.

Cost: 500 RSD (4 EUR) for adults, 300 RSD (3 EUR) for children 3-15 years old.

4. National Bank Museum

The information center houses the permanent exhibition "Money in Serbia - from the first appearance to the present day" and accompanying temporary exhibitions. There are guided tours in Serbian and English, you can try gold bars for weight, buy old money for your collection or get a free fake with your photo..

Since the exhibition is located in the National Bank building, you are allowed to enter only in closed shoes and pants, and your passport is taken as a deposit for the visit.

Address: Kralja Petra 12.

Opening hours: Monday through Friday from 10.00 to 16.00.

Cost: free of charge.

5. Tesla Museum

Do you want to be electrocuted or fight with Jedi swords from Star Wars? You're in for a treat! The first part of the tour may seem a bit boring - they show a documentary movie and talk about Nikola Tesla's biography. But then you will be taken to the hall with his inventions and experiments will begin, the participant of which can become everyone. There are a lot of visitors - try to get to the front row to see what's going on in detail.

The museum is small, only 3 halls, but unique - it is the world's only collection of Tesla's personal belongings and original documents. The urn with the scientist's ashes is also kept here.

Address: Krunska 51.

Opening hours: guided tours are held every day except Monday from 9.45 to 20.00, starting every hour and lasting 45 minutes.

Cost: 500 RSD (4 EUR), free admission for children under 7 years old.

6. Church of Saint Sava

It was supposed to be the largest Orthodox church in the world with a capacity of up to 10,000 people, but it was never completed, which is why it is often compared to Barcelona's Sagrada Familia.

It resembles a smaller copy of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, only without minarets and with a dome of a different color. Inside everything is modest - concrete walls, bare floor and scaffolding. If you want to see the temple in all its glory, come in the evening when the lights are on.

The address is Karadjordje's Park, Vracar.

7. National Museum

The 400,000-piece collection is based on paintings and prints by Matisse, Picasso, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Kandinsky and other European masters. Recently, a philanthropist who wished to remain anonymous presented the museum with Modigliani's painting "Portrait of a Man".

In addition to the paintings, you will see a numismatic collection of over 300,000 items: coins and medals from different eras, including those belonging to Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great.

Address: Trg Republike 1a.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - from 10.00 to 18.00, Thursday and Saturday - from 12.00 to 20.00.

Cost: permanent exhibition - 300 RSD (3 EUR), temporary exhibitions - 500 RSD (4 EUR), complex ticket - 600 RSD (5 EUR), for schoolchildren, students and pensioners 50% discount. Every Sunday the permanent exhibition is free of charge.

8. Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Modern Art contains works by Yugoslav and Serbian masters from the early 20th century to the present day: paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and multimedia exhibits, as well as examples of Western art, such as paintings by Andy Warhol and Joan Miró. In all, there are about 35,000 objects. A subdivision of the museum is the salon on Pariska Street, where temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists are held.

The museum building, which resembles the shape of a crystal, is also interesting. It is located near the confluence of the Sava and Danube, on the opposite bank from the fortress.

Address: Ušće 10, blok 15 (museum) and Pariska 14 (salon).

Opening hours: the salon is open every day except Tuesday from 12.00 to 20.00. The museum is closed until September 21 - they are preparing an exhibition of Marina Abramović.

Cost: admission to the salonis free, to the museum - from 300 RSD (3 EUR).

9. Museum of Science and Technology

A great alternative to the Tesla Museum, especially for families with children: more exhibits, less text in a foreign language, tickets are 2 times cheaper. The basis of the permanent exposition is the exhibition "Man and Technology", showing the technical progress in Serbia. Here you will learn about Serbian developments in electrification, how and where steamboats appeared, how to print without printers and what the first home computers looked like.

Children will enjoy the toy collection and the science center on the first floor, where complex phenomena are explained in a playful way. Here you can, for example, feel the effects of centrifugal force, test your sense of balance and experience optical illusions.

Address: Skender begova 51.

Opening hours: daily except Mondays from 10.00 to 20.00.

Cost: 200 RSD (2 EUR), family ticket - 300 RSD (3 EUR), free admission for children under 7 years old.

10. Car Museum

The museum, which grew out of the private collection of Bratislav Petkovic, is located in the historical building of the first public garage in Belgrade, built according to the project of Russian architect Valerije Stashevski in 1929. It housed the cars of the participants of the first international car and motorcycle race, which was held in Belgrade on September 3, 1939.

There are 50 exhibits in the collection, including the Marot Gardon from 1897, the first automobile assembled on the assembly line - the Ford T from 1925 and the sporty Jaguar MK2 from 1963. In addition to cars you will see spare parts, tools, driving licenses from different years, the first Serbian traffic regulations, license plates and thematic books.

Address: Majke Jevrosime 30.

Opening hours: daily from 9.30 to 20.00.

Cost: 200 RSD (2 EUR), free admission for children under 7 years old.

11. Museum of the History of Yugoslavia

Dedicated to the history of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Socialist Yugoslavia, as well as the life of Josip Broz Tito. The collection includes a library, personal belongings, photo archive, Tito's uniform and medals, as well as weapons, equipment, costumes, documents, musical instruments and toys from different eras.

In one of the buildings of the complex, the House of Flowers, the Yugoslav leader and his wife are buried. It is a winter garden, the walls of which are decorated with photos of official ceremonies with Tito and the countries he visited.

Address: Mihaila Mike Jankovića 6.

Opening hours: daily except Monday from 10.00 to 18.00.

Cost: 400 RSD (4 EUR) for adults, 200 RSD (2 EUR) for children over 10 years old and students. Every first Thursday of the month from 16.00 to 18.00, as well as on May 4 and 25 the museum can be visited free of charge.

12. Vespa Museum

Vladan Konstantinovic, a fan of the Vespa brand, has assembled a collection of 40 Italian scooters in the basement of his house, including a rare V12 model from 1949 and a Struzzo VL3 with a cradle from 1956. From time to time, thanks to the members of the Belgrade Vespa Club, new exhibits appear here.

Access to the museum is possible only by prior arrangement with the owner (he speaks English), the number for contact is listed on the website.

Address: Brzakova 2.

13. Yugodom

Did you book a trip to the past? You are invited to the world's first and only museum where you can spend the night - a guesthouse furnished with retro furniture and decor items Made in Yugoslavia. There are three rooms here, which are named after cult films from the second half of the 20th century. Mario Milakovic, the owner of the apartment, spent several years collecting furniture from relatives' attics and flea markets, including sofas, telephones, typewriters, books, magazines, TV sets, dishes and other items needed to bring the idea to life.

On days when the apartment is not occupied by guests, it can be visited with a guided tour - for this, contact the owner.

Address: Strahinjića bana 80.

Cost: from 50 EUR per day for two people.

14. Residence of Princess Ljubica

One of the first stone buildings in Belgrade was built for the wife and children of Prince Miloš Obrenović in 1829-1831. In 1980, after reconstruction, it became part of the city museum, where the exhibition "Interiors of Belgrade Houses of the 19th century" was opened. The collection includes paintings by Serbian and Western masters that belonged to the Obrenovic and other noble families, as well as furniture and clothing from those times. Temporary exhibitions are held in the basement - don't miss it.

If, going to the palace, you expect to see gilding, crystal and four-poster beds, here you will be greatly surprised to find yourself in a modest building decorated in different European and oriental styles. You can take free postcards with photos of the interiors as a souvenir.

Address: Kneza Sime Markovića 8.

Opening hours: Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday from 10.00 to 17.00, Friday from 10.00 to 18.00, Sunday from 10.00 to 14.00.

Cost: 200 RSD (2 EUR) for adults, 100 RSD (1 EUR) for schoolchildren, students and pensioners.

15. Zemun district

Once a city and now a part of Belgrade, Zemun attracts with its narrow streets, tiled roofs, old churches and establishments with history. Come for a stroll along the Danube embankment, feed the swans and admire Belgrade from Gardoš Hill. When you're tired, have a beer at the colorful Crveni Rak bar (Beogradska 14) or eat at the fish restaurant Šaran (Kej Oslobođenja 53), considered one of the best in the capital. For lovers of unusual restaurants, we recommend Sač (Rabina Alkalaja 5), located in a building that used to be a synagogue.

16. Ada Ciganlija

If the weather is nice, go to the beach! It is located on a peninsula on the Sava River, where there is everything for recreation: numerous cafes and 50 sports facilities, including a golf course, a soccer field, tennis courts, volleyball and baseball courts. The artificial lake, one of the largest in Europe, is suitable for swimming, kayaking, diving, surfing and water polo. Fans of active beach activities can ride a banana boat or bungee jump into the water.

Address: Ada Ciganlija 2.

17. Blaznavac Bar

Located in the courtyard of the house belonging to a political and military figure named Blaznavac, after whom it was named. In the center of the courtyard is a real carriage, where you can sit comfortably while drinking cocktails. Blaznavac is a disco bar where DJs play, people dance, waiters move around the place dancing. On Friday and Saturday there are so many visitors that they open the corridors connecting the bar with the secret funk club Strogi Septag, where concerts and parties are held in the evenings.

Address: Kneginje Ljubice 18.

Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to 2.00.

18. Drugstore club

Techno-club in the building of a former factory/warehouse/slaughterhouse (opinions are divided). The place is noisy, crowded and loud - it is similar to the legendary Berlin club Berghain, but it is easier to get in, and there is formal face control.

The interior will not amaze you, but the music program is another matter: Drugstore hosts top DJs and is consistently in the ratings of the best clubs in Europe. In summer an open-air venue - Secret Garden. Drugstore.

Address: Bulevar Despota Stefana 115.

Opening hours: Friday and Saturday from 22.00 to 10.00.

Cost: free of charge.

19. Kafana "?"

Historically, kafana in the former Yugoslavia were places where men gathered to drink coffee or something stronger and socialize. In modern kafana you can also eat, but their "specialty" remains "srpska kafa" - strong coffee, the recipe for which has been preserved since the Ottoman Empire.

"?" - is the oldest kafana in Belgrade, operating since 1826. It is the only establishment in Europe that has a punctuation mark instead of a name. It is tasty, colorful, hospitable, and folk music plays in the evenings. The prices are a bit more expensive than in neighboring places, but after all, this is the oldest kafana. It's worth it!

Address: Kralja Petra I 6.

Opening hours: Sunday through Thursday - from 8.00 to midnight, Friday and Saturday - until 2.00.

20. Samo Pivo

The name speaks for itself - keg beer, bottled beer and nothing but beer. There is a specialty Pablo from Kabinet Brewery, as well as about 30 types of Serbian and a large selection of imported craft beers. You can bring your own food or order delivery to the address of the place.

Prices are democratic, the audience is simple, they smoke, but you can escape from the smoke to the open terrace, from which you can see the oldest street of the capital - Balkanska. It is not easy to find the bar - it is hidden in an underground passage.

Address: Balkanska 13.

Opening hours: from Sunday to Thursday - from 12.00 to midnight, on Friday and Saturday - until 1.00.