Best Things to Do and Must See Attractions in Belgrade, Serbia

September 28, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 5251 Views

Belgrade or Beograd is the capital city of Serbia situated at the juncture of rivers Sava & Danube. It used to be the capital of Yugoslavia until the country’s resolution in the year 2006. The city has been part of several civilizations, kingdoms, and empires starting from Vinca culture. It was then occupied by the Celtic Kingdom, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Bulgarian Empire, Frankish Empire, Kingdom of Hungary, and Ottoman Empire. Many of these empires have left monuments that are now places to visit in Belgrade. Exploring architecture is among the best things to do in Belgrade, Serbia. You will see great proponents of individual styles as well as the blend of different styles at Belgrade tourist places. There are also several Belgrade points of interest where entire streets are a lesson in architecture.

At the juncture of the Sava and Danube rivers stands the Belgrade Fortress. It is one of Belgrade’s tourist places which, like the city, evolved with every empire which captured it. A tour of the fortress is like Belgrade travel in the history of conquest. Another major historical thing to see in Belgrade is the Church of St. Sava, which is the second largest orthodox church in the world. Other major historical Belgrade tourist attractions include Gardos Tower, St. Mark’s Church, Princess Ljubica Residence, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Old Palace, New Palace, House of National Assembly of Serbia, and White Palace.

BBC ranked Belgrade among the 5 most creative cities in the world. There are several things to see in Belgrade that express contemporary art at its finest. One of the best places to visit in Belgrade to explore the contemporary and modern art scene is the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art. There are numerous National, European, and International cultural events held at this venue. It is among the top things to do in Belgrade, Serbia. You can also visit Belgrade attractions like U10 and Ciglana brick factory to see independent art events and street art. You would also come across a variety of street art during Belgrade sightseeing. As for pre-modern works of art you should visit the National Museum among Belgrade tourist attractions to see masterpieces by acclaimed artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, Mondrian, Bosch, Titian, Monet, Lautrec, Juan de Flandes, and many more. Another major Belgrade point of interest is the Nikola Tesla Museum. It is dedicated to the famous Serbian scientist and inventor and is growing in popularity among tourist activities in Belgrade. The museum exhibits several personal belongings, documents, and notes of Tesla.

Owing to the cross of two Sava and Danube, there are two river beaches in the city, which are hubs for all cool things to do in Belgrade, Serbia. They are the venue of many beach parties and fun activities in Belgrade. You can even head for boat tours and kayak tours from these beaches, which are among the top things to do in Belgrade. One of these beaches is on Ada Ciganlija island, which is a small patch of nature among places to visit in Belgrade. It is also a great place for hiking and camping. Besides the beaches, people also visit Belgrade for the party boats, which are basically nightclubs on a boat, one of the best things to do in Belgrade at night for party lovers.

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Table of Contents

3 Days Travel Itinerary to Visit Top Tourist Attractions in Belgrade

This section covers all the top things to do in Belgrade in 3 days. The locations have been picked based on their popularity as tourist attractions and their proximity to one another.

Day 1

1. Skadarlija

This vintage village is among the best places to visit in Belgrade. You will need about an hour to explore this neighborhood.

2. Republic Square

This is the main square of Belgrade. The square is surrounded by several interesting buildings, which are also among Belgrade’s tourist attractions. You need about 30 minutes for Republic Square.

I suggest you should go for a Half Day Sightseeing Tour of Old and New Belgrade.

3. National Museum of Serbia

The national museum tells the history and story of Serbia. The museum has several galleries and exhibits sections. You will need more than 2 hours to explore the National Museum of Serbia.

4. Knez Mihailova Street

This is one of the best places to visit in Belgrade for shopping. There are also several tourist attractions to explore on the street. You can stroll the street for an hour or more.

5. Princess Ljubica’s Residence

This royal house is considered a monument of culture of exceptional importance in the city. It also serves as a museum of the history of the city and its rulers of the place. You will need about an hour here.

6. Museum of Contemporary Art

The incredible art gallery is situated in Usce Park and exhibits amazing works of modern and contemporary art. You will need about 2 hours to explore all the exhibits at this museum.

Day 2

1. Nikola Tesla Museum

Tesla is one of the most well-known people to originate from Serbia. This museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nikola Tesla. It is one of the most visited Belgrade tourist attractions. You would need 2 hours to explore this museum dedicated to the scientific and engineering genius of Tesla.

2. Temple of Saint Sava

This church is one of the most beautiful things to see in Belgrade. The domes, architecture, interior, and the environment around create a very unique ambiance. You will need 1 hour to explore this church.

I suggest you should go for a Private City Tour of Belgrade and visit the Church of St. Sava along with other attractions.

3. Museum of Yugoslavia

This museum is dedicated to the political and cultural history of the socialist nation of Yugoslavia. It also exhibits the life and work of former President Josip Broz Tito, who played a major role in the history of the nation. You will need an hour and a half to explore this museum.

I suggest you should book a Red Belgrade Communist Tour to understand more about the history of the communist era in Serbia.

4. House of Flowers

The House of Flowers is a mausoleum dedicated to Josip Broz Tito and his wife. The former president was of great significance to the nation of Yugoslavia. You can explore the entire place in 30 minutes.

5. Ada Ciganlija

This river island is the center of numerous fun things to do in Belgrade. You can easily spend 2 hours or more here enjoying various activities on this island.

I suggest you should book a Tour of Ada Lake to explore beautiful parts of Ada Lake.

Day 3

1. Belgrade Zoo

This zoo is also known as the Garden of Good Hope. There are more than 1700 animals here belonging to 150 different species. You will need 2 hours to explore the zoo.

2. Ruzica Church

This historic Serbian orthodox church is a part of the Belgrade Fortress. It is one of the most important churches among Belgrade attractions. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church.

3. The Victor Monument

This monument is also known as the Pobednik and sits within the Belgrade Fortress. This is a great place for Belgrade sightseeing as it overlooks the merger of the Sava and Danube rivers. You don’t need more than 15 minutes here.

4. Belgrade Fortress

This fortress has a history going all the way back to the 1st century CE. There are several Belgrade tourist attractions within the fortress itself. You will need at least 2 hours to explore this fortified structure.

I suggest you should book a Belgrade Fortress Underground & Dungeons Tour with Drink.

5. Military Museum

This museum is dedicated to the defense and military history of Serbia as well as Yugoslavia. You will need an hour and a half to explore this museum.

6. Great War Island

The island gets its name from being the ground of several wars throughout the history of the region. Owing to its strategic location, it has seen a lot of bloodsheds and has been crucial to many wars. You will need about an hour to explore this island.

I suggest you can go for a Sunset Sightseeing Cruise with Fruits and Drinks and visit the Great War Island.

If you visit Belgrade for more than 3 days or if you want to add more tourist spots to your itinerary, check out the sections below. We have made an exhaustive list of all the places you can enjoy during Belgrade sightseeing.

Things to do in Belgrade

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Belgrade

Belgrade Fortress
Church of Saint Sava
Nikola Tesla Museum
National Museum in Belgrade
Military Museum
Museum of Yugoslavia
The Victor Monument
St. Mark Orthodox Church
Konak Kneginje Ljubice Museum
House of Flowers Mausoleum
Tasmajdan Church
Museum of Contemporary Art
Ethnographic Museum
Millennium Tower
National Assembly of Republic of Serbia
Old Palace
The White Palace
Aeronautical Museum
Monument to the Unknown Hero
Ruzica Church
Museum of Illusions
Museum of African Art
Royal Palace
Milos Konak House Museum
Historical Museum of Serbia
Holy Archangel Michael Orthodox Church
Bajrakali Mosque
Belgrade City Museum
Museum of Applied Art
Prince Mihailo Monument
Saint Petka Church
Vuk & Dositej Museum
Museum of Science & Technology
Rakovica Monastery
Serbian Orthodox Church Museum
Yugoslav Film Archive
Gallery of Frescos
Museum of Ivo Andric
Vinca Belo Brdo Archeological Site
Museum of Natural History
Zrnov Fortress
Nebojsa Tower
New Palace
Jewish Historical Museum
Palace Albania
Mansion of Misa Anastasijevic
Fenek Monastery
Birth of the Holy Virgin Church
Stajkova Kuca House Museum
Dom Jevrema Grujica House Museum
Jajinci Memorial Park
Car Museum
Gallery of Natural History Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Belgrade

Ada Ciganlija Peninsula
Avala Mountain
Great War Island
Kosutnjak Forest
Lake Ada Ciganlija
Lake Sava
Malo Ratno Ostrvo Island
Ada Medica River
Izletiste Nature Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Belgrade

Kalemegdan Park
Belgrade Zoo
Jevremovac Botanical Garden
Avka Park Hollywoodland
KC Grad Cultural Center
Javni Akvarijum Tropikarijum Aquarium
SKC Cultural Center
Grand Casino Beograde
Floating Nighclubs
U10
Ciglana Abandoned Brick Factory

Shopping in Belgrade

Kalenic Farmer’s Market
Veletrznica Beograd Market
ZLA SHTEK Variety Store
Bajloni Market
Zeleni Venac
Knez Mihajlova Shopping District
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra
Delta City Shopping Center
Big Fashion
TC Rajiceva
Fashion Park
Buvljak Flea Market
Usce Shopping Mall
Mercator Mall
Piramida Mall
Cumic Mall
Banjica Mall
Belgrade Design District
Zira Center
Immo Outlet Center
Indija Outlet Center
Stadion Shopping Center

Beaches in Belgrade

Lido Beach
Ada Ciganlija

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Things to Do in Belgrade

Bike Tour
River Boat Tour
River Kayaking

Sightseeing in Belgrade

Knez Mihailova Street
Republic Square
Terzije Square
Avala Tower
Genex Tower
Topcider Park
Nikola Pasic Square
Ada Bridge
Branko’s Bridge
Gazela Bridge
Karageorge’s Park
Karadordeva Street
Pancevo Bridge
Beogradanka View Point
Pupin’s Bridge
Big Z Building
Most na Adi Bridge
Old Sava Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Belgrade

Restiran Durmitor
Mala Fabrika Ukusa
Little Bay
Restaurant ID
Radost Fina Kuhinjica
Tabor
To je To
Mali Pijac
Manufaktura
Cantina de Frida
Enso
Lavash
Ambar
Klub Knizevnika
Kafana Kalenic
Mezestoran Dvoriste
Frans
Homa Bistrot
Casa Nova
Dzumbus

Where to Stay in Belgrade?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Belgrade. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Belgrade.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Belgrade

How to Reach Belgrade?

By Air

The Nikola Tesla Airport is the only airport for Belgrade travel. It sits about 18 km west from the city center. So you do have to travel to reach the best places to visit in Belgrade. You can direct flight to visit Belgrade from about 50 cities around the world. Though majority of these destinations are from Europe.

Once you reach Nikola Tesla Airport, you can use bus, minibus or taxi to reach Belgrade tourist attractions. You can buy tickets for the bus to visit Belgrade from the airport or on the bus. The buses run at regular intervals between 4 in there morning till midnight. The minibus is more flexible with drop off destination compared to public buses. You can buy the ticket online, but you will have to inform the driver of the desired Belgrade points of interest or hotel you wish to reach. The minibus is only a little costlier than the bus and is way more comfortable option for Belgrade travel. You might have to wait in line if there is rush of visitors. You can enjoy several things to see in Belgrade along the way to your hotel.

Finally you have the option of getting a taxi to visit Belgrade, which is more expensive than the buses. You can get a cab to visit Belgrade tourist attractions right outside the departure gate. Most of taxi companies operating from the airport have a fixed price list which you should refer before getting in a cab. You can also book a taxi for Belgrade sightseeing over the phone.

By Road

There are several international trains to visit Belgrade. You can get direct trains for Belgrade travel from Budapest, Ljubljana, Podgorica, Bar, Montenegro, Skopje, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Timisoara, Vienna and Zagreb. Beware of robbers and con artists on the train. There have been instances of robbers pretending to be guards. They would offer to help you and leave your door open under that pretext. Then they rob you off your belongings once you doze off. This happens only on night trains, but you should still be careful and keep an eye out during the train journey to visit Belgrade. You can always ask to check credentials of the person and refuse any offerings from strangers.

The bus network for Belgrade is run by several buses, Eurolines being the most popular among them. You can get direct buses for top things to do in Belgrade, Serbia from many European cities. Although long journey by bus might get quite uncomfortable so this option is advisable if you are in a nearby country.

If you are driving by yourself to visit Belgrade, you can take route E75, E763, E70, or E80. The route your take, of course, depends on the country or city you are traveling from. You should check out some of the best things to do in Belgrade, Serbia at the outskirts of the city before venturing for tourist attractions within the city. That’s one advantage of road travel. Most of the people visiting the city miss out on these activities in Belgrade.

By Water

You can take a river cruise or a river passenger boat to visit Belgrade from many towns and cities along Danube river. There are also a few tour river cruises which offer combine package of boat ride and a visit to several Belgrade tourist places. Most of these boat rides and river cruises are quite expensive though, it should only be explored as cool things to do in Belgrade, Serbia and not as a means of travel.

Image Reference

Skadarlija – young shanahan / Flickr
Republic Square – Jorge Láscar / Flickr
National Museum of Serbia – craggyisland21 / Flickr
Knez Mihailova Street – Jorge Láscar / Flickr
Princess Ljubica’s Residence – Jorge Láscar / Flickr
Museum of Contemporary Art – Fred Romero / Flickr
Nikola Tesla Museum – Timon91 / Flickr
Temple of Saint Sava – Nuno Cardoso / Flickr
Museum of Yugoslavia – Jorge Láscar / Flickr
House of Flowers – Ferran Cornellà / Wikimedia Commons
Ada Ciganlija – jbdodane / Flickr
Belgrade Zoo – Micki / Wikimedia Commons
Ruzica Church – whltravel / Flickr
The Victor Monument – Patrick M / Flickr
Belgrade Fortress – Branko Radojevic / PixaBay
Military Museum – VasenkaPhotography / Flickr
Great War Island – Nikola Smolenski / Wikimedia Commons