Despite its bloody history, Belgrade has risen like a phoenix from the ashes to become one of the most exciting cities in Europe. Belgrade, Serbia, is a beautiful metropolis of two million people located where the Danube and Sava rivers meet.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Belgrade
Before seeing the sights in Belgrade, take a stroll along the riverbanks and refresh with a drink or meal aboard a riverboat turned into a restaurant. More than a hundred festivals take place annually in Belgrade, and the city is quickly becoming regarded as a hub for worldwide celebrations.
1. Avala Tower
After being bombed down in 1999 by NATO, the Avala Tower, originally constructed in 1965, was reconstructed in 2010 to become the tallest telecommunications tower in the Balkans. The original tower, which featured a lookout platform, served as a symbol of regional pride.
The cost of reconstructing the tower was covered by public donations. Located outside of Belgrade on Avala Mountain. It is the seventh tallest building in Serbia at 206 metres (675 feet) high, and the views from the observation deck are breathtaking.
2. House of Flowers
During World War II, Josip Broz Tito commanded the Yugoslav Partisans and went on to become Yugoslavia’s president. He was a prominent world figure who passed away in 1980; the House of Flowers (sometimes called Tito’s Mausoleum) is where his wife and he are buried.
His mausoleum was once surrounded by flowers, hence the name House of Flowers; however, the flowers have since withered away, and white rocks now stand in their stead. In 1975, a winter garden was constructed for the burial of Tito. Today, visitors to the Museum of Yugoslav History can see the mausoleum there.
3. Gardos Tower
When compared to ancient or mediaeval structures, the Gardos Tower is a mere infant, having been built only in 1896. It rivals the grandeur of structures established hundreds of years ago. Tower of Janos Hunyadin, a Hungarian hero who perished more than 400 years ago on the site of an earlier stronghold, is another name for this structure.
There are still remnants of the original fortress. Located in Zemun, 20 kilometres (13 miles) from Belgrade, this landmark was originally one of five towers constructed by the Hungarians to symbolise 1,000 years of dominance in the region.
4. Nikola Tesla Museum
Nikola Tesla revitalised electricity, inventing the alternating current (AC) system, the electric coil, and other related devices, more than a century ago. These innovations laid the groundwork for the Tesla electric car, which would bear his name several generations later. They also directed visitors to a museum honouring his legacy in the heart of Belgrade.
The museum dedicated to Nikola Tesla houses hundreds of artefacts from his efforts to electrify the planet. Computerized representations of his inventions are on display in the museum’s interactive exhibits.
5. Crkva Svetog Marka
The Cathedral of St. Mark, also known as Crkva Svetog Marka, replaced a wooden church that had stood on the site since 1835. One of the country’s largest churches, it may be found in the Tamajdan park neighbourhood in central Belgrade, not too far from the Parliament building.
There is a mosaic representing the church’s namesake, the Apostle Mark, high above the main entrance. The church’s crypt is where several former rulers are interred, and its icons date back centuries.
6. Knez Mihailova Street
There’s always one in every town that’s just dripping with character, full of old buildings and great deals. This Belgrade thoroughfare is known as Knez Mihailova Street, after the Serbian prince who inspired its naming.
Even while the street’s origins can be traced back to the Ottoman era, it wasn’t until the 19th century that it truly flourished and became home to the city’s elite. It passes beside the 1869-built Srpska Kruna Hotel, the 1870s-era private residences at 46, 48, and 50 Knez Mihailova, and the 1835-built Greca Kraljica coffee shop.
7. Temple of Saint Sava
The dome of the Temple of Saint Sava rises 134 metres (440 feet) into the sky, making it the tallest structure in Belgrade. The gold cross on top of the dome makes it nearly 12 metres (40 feet) in height. Dedicated to the mediaeval Serbian saint who established the Serbian Orthodox Church, this massive structure is the largest Orthodox church still in use today.
Saint Sava is widely believed to be buried there, on the Viacar Plateau. The church, made of white marble and granite, began being built in 1935, but was put on hold during World War II and did not continue until 1985. Even though it’s still in the works at the present time, it’s become one of Belgrade’s top tourist destinations.
8. Ada Ciganlija
Located in the middle of Belgrade, on the Sava River/Lake, is the island cum artificial peninsula of Ada Ciganlija. Ada’s summer population swells to over 100,000 daily thanks to the city’s attractive beaches and abundance of recreational opportunities. Ada’s peninsula, also known as “Belgrade’s Sea,” is home to dense forests and wild animals like deer, rabbits, and fox.
The northernmost section is home to houseboats, popular weekend getaways for locals of Belgrade. Ada Ciganlija is an athlete’s paradise, with its artificial alpine skiing and snowboarding facilities and its dozens of sports facilities for anything from tennis to rugby to rowing.
9. Skadarlija Street
Skadarlija Street is the most well-known thoroughfare in Belgrade despite being only 400 metres (1,340 ft) in length. It links Despot Stefan Boulevard and Dusanova Street in the historic district. Historic structures line both sides of the roadway.
Skadarlija Street, with its bohemian vibe, is often compared to Montmartre in Paris. It was the heart of the city’s Gypsy community in the 19th century.
It is where the Children’s Street Theatre performs its circus acts and where poets assemble for Skadarlija Evenings at the home of the late poet Dura Jaksic. Diners, including local and international celebrities, frequent the area’s restaurants and outdoor cafes.
10. Belgrade Fortress
The confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers has been inhabited by humans since the Neolithic era, likely due to the area’s strategic defensive value. The Celts and Romans came next, constructing a barrier to protect themselves against future invaders like the Huns and the Goths. But, it was a Serbian leader in the 15th century that actually strengthened the defences here.
The fortification is exceptionally well-preserved and still takes up a significant portion of the land. In addition to the walls, the official fortress area also features a chapel, a museum, and a number of well-visited parks.
