Belgrade Serbia Travel Guide
Belgrade means “White City” and is the capital of Serbia in South-Eastern Europe.
Belgrade’s long and diverse history can be seen through its varying architecture with grand building lining the streets and wide boulevards to wander along.
One of Europe’s least visited cities capital Belgrade offers an interesting history, great food and warm people and is well worth putting on your list of places to visit.
Getting Around Belgrade
Belgrade has an extensive network of buses, trams, and trolleycars that cover the city and suburbs.
For timetables you can download the APP
To travel on public trans[port you will need a Busplus card which can be purchased at kiosks and are topped up as needed. There are two types of Busplus cards;
- Paper card for 40 RSD (plus credit for rides). These last for one use only . They are used for one-day tickets, three-day tickets and five-day tickets. This is probably the best option for tourists.
- Plastic card for 250 RSD (plus credit for rides) valid for 3 years. They can be used for all types of fares.
You will need to validate the ticket when you get on the bus for each ride you take.
Mini Buses
Mini buses are 150RSD and paid directly to the driver.
Taxi
Taxis are cheap and plentiful in Belgrade and we found them to be efficient and clean. There are Taxi scams in Belgrade so either order a taxi via the phone or if hailing one on the street ensure they are displaying the city coat of arms and a number on the roof sign indicating they are an officail taxi.
Belgrade Public Transport Map
Weather
Festivals
- BITEF, Belgrade International Theater Festival, mid-September
- BEMUS, Belgrade Music Festival, mid-October
- Belgrade Jazz Festival, around October
- Belgrade Tango Festival, around November
- mid-December, festival of traditional Serbian distilled alcoholic beverage
- Street of Open Heart, mini carnival held on 1 January, starting at noon, on streets of Makedonska and Svetogorska
- Guitar Art Festival, mid-February
- International Wine Fair, around February, Belgrade Fair
- Belgrade Tango Encuentro, around April
- Festival of new and improvised music – around May
- FERAM, Belgrade Early Music Festival, mid-June
- Belgrade Light Music Festival, around June/July
- Summertime Jazz Festival, around July
- Belgrade Summer Festival, around July–August
- Belgrade Beer Festival, around August
- GREEN FEST International green culture festival , around October-November
Packing List
Clothing
1 pair jeans – I know they are heavy and take ages to dry but I wear them constantly and find them comfortable
1 pair black travel type pants – Black pants are little smarter than jeans so good if going somewhere a little dressier. Mine is the lightweight fabric in the style of jean,
2 x pair of shorts. 1 denim and one lightweight travel fabric
2 x singlets – good for layering and sleeping in
4 x short sleeve cotton shirts, lightweight and breathable
1 x long sleeve sloppy joe.
1 x zip-up shell jacket
1 x lightweight raincoat – packable version that packs down into a small bag.
5 x socks
5 x underpants
2 x bras
Shoes
1 x pair walking or hiking shoes.
1 x pair slip on flats
1 x pair flip flops (great for hostel showers)
Toiletries
Shampoo & Conditioner
Bar of Soap
Deodorant
Razor
Tweezers
Brush / Comb
Hair Ties
Electronics
1 x Earbud headphones.Light and small,
1 x IPad
1 x 6S iPhone
Charging leads for above
2 x USB
1 x power bank
1 x Cable organiser which keeps everything tidy
1 x 14” laptop – we run a business so this is essential for us.
Photography
1 x GoPro Hero 5
2 x Spare GoPro Batteries
1 x Canon DSLR with 1 x 8-16mm wide angle lense & 1 x 17 – 50mm lense.
Spare micro SD Cards
Other Stuff
1 x padlock
1 x headlight or torch
1 x Swiss knife
1 x medical kit
Ziplock bags
Kalemegdan - Belgrade Fortress.
Kalemegdan – Belgrade Fortress.
The Kalemegdan – Belgrade fortress was once a military fortification protecting the city from attacking armies approaching from the rivers.
Still surrounded by impressive walls today the fortress is Belgrades central park with pretty gardens, walking trails, cafes, a musuem, observatory and places to sit and watch the world go by.
There are stunning views of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and beyond across the Serbian countryside.
A statue of Pobednik one of the symbols of Belgrade stands proudly gazing at the view.
Get to the Fortress: Walk from the end of the Knez Mihailova street across the road to the fortress or take tram number 2 from the railway station and disembark at the 4th stop (Kalemdag).
Nikola Tesla Museum
Nikola Tesla Museum
Nikola Tesla made significant contributions to the development of electric engineering, pioneering alternating current , radio and AC motors , among other numerous inventions. 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 who can help you understand the sometimes-complicated science and put on a show of some of his inventions.
Entrance fee for the guided tour in English is RSD 500, entrance for children up to 7 years old is free.
If planning to visit in the high summer get there early as only 60 people can enter the museum at a time and queues are long.
Open: Tuesday–Sunday: 10AM–8PM.
Knez Mihalova street
Knez Mihalova Street
Knez Mihalova Street is the main pedestrianised walking street of Belgrade. Full of shops, cafes and restaurants it is good for both shopping and eating.
Bombed Buildings From 1999 War
Bombed Building From 1999 War
In 1999 NATO bombed Belgrade for 78 night in a row causing catastrophic damage. Today two bombed building that were once the Federal Ministry of Defence remain as both a memorial to those who died and a reminder of the horror of war.