24 Hours in Belgrade
Belgrade is so underrated.
Forgotten amongst other trendier European city destinations, it is an absolute raw gem waiting to be discovered.
With its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and vibrant nightlife, the capital of Serbia offers a unique blend of the past and the present that captivates every traveller.
Located at the confluence between the Sava and the Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Balkan peninsula, Belgrade is today a very modern city.
It was once part of the Thracian empire, then conquered by the Romans, fell to the Byzantine, the Bulgarians, the Hungarians, the Ottomans and finally part of Yugoslavia, which was dismembered in 2006.
Belgrade city centre
Belgrade city centre is beautiful and very walkable. We were there in early September and the weather was glorious. The pedestrian streets are lined with buzzing restaurants and cafes, the buildings bring you back in time to a period of opulence and splendour, the people are super welcoming and friendly.
Start your walk from Republic Square, encircled by beautiful buildings like the National Museum and admire the fountain, slowly walking towards the Skadarlija area of the city, the old part.
Skadarlija
Skadarlija is Belgrade’s resemblance to a touristy area, a nineteenth-century bohemian quarter where poets and writers used to gather in coffee shops, alongside old-fashioned Serbian restaurants where street musicians still entertain diners with traditional folk songs.
Stroll along Knez Mihailova, Belgrade’s broad, pedestrianised boulevard that cuts through the old town. Amid the buskers, street sellers and strollers, you can check out the shops or stop for a coffee in one of the many cafes that line up the streets.
If you get hungry, do not look further than Monument Rusky Tsar, a café/restaurant so good we went for breakfast and went back for dinner! They have several vegetarian and vegan options.
By Euro standards, the food is incredibly cheap and we really feasted like kings! The old town is full of traditional Serbian restaurants, where you can get Balkan food such as cevapcici (meat rissoles) and roasted red peppers stuffed with cheese.
Kalemegdan
From there, stroll further towards Kalemegdan, the oldest part of the city with relative fortress.
Linger on, exploring the imposing fortress and stay until sunset, maybe after a drink or two in one of the bars, to admire the sun setting over the ramparts. It is truly a magical end to a busy day.
If you have time, visit the Saint Sava cathedral (open 7am to 8pm, free entrance), and the Tesla museum (open every day 10 am to 8 pm, charges £5), which we did not have time to do.
Belgrade was one of the places we most loved during our 2-weeks Balkan adventure, and it certainly deserves a second visit.
Our next adventure: onwards to explore Romania by train, cheap and cheerful.
Check that out!
