Thanks to Serbia’s closeness to Bulgaria, we decided to spend Easter 2019 in Belgrade and Novi Sad. It was my second visit to Serbia, since I had visited in 2010, although it was a lightning trip, just for one day.
Despite not being the most popular tourist destination, it is a city that surprises all those who visit it.
Date of the visit: September 2010, April 2019
As it has happened with other cities, I realised that the city had improved a lot since that first time. This time, the visit was more complete, and below I show my 5 favorite places:
- Kalemegdan Park and Fortress
It is the favorite place to walk for the locals. The park is located at the end of the main street, where it ends. It is full of benches, as well as a large number of statues (something typical in every country of the former Yugoslavia), and our paths lead the visitor directly to the entrance of the fortress.
After crossing a passageway, you reach the moat that exists in all the fortresses, in which the visitor can see elements of war that are exposed, mostly cannons and tanks. This moat is crossed by a bridge that accesses the fortress itself, at an entrance that is located under the clock tower (Сахат кула in Serbian).
Once the wall is crossed, the visitor has before him a beautiful park, in which there is a viewpoint where you can see the impressive view of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. A really beautiful image.
On the right side, part of the fortress can be seen, with the Dizdare tower, which today houses an observatory.
Turning to the left, there is the Pobednik, a monument that represents the victory of Serbia in the First World War, and that on the other hand is one of the most recognizable views of the city.
There is another entrance / way out, where it is possible to reach the park mentioned above. There are some nice gardens on the way.
- Church of Saint Sava
Despite being far from the center, it is an essential visit. Although it can be accessed by public transport, my recommendation is to walk, since it has a great view of the city, in addition to passing through many other places of interest. It takes about 40 minutes from the main street.
It is a new temple (construction began in 1935, and construction is still to be completed), as well as the tallest Orthodox church in the Balkans.
On the day of our visit, you could only access the basement, where you have a crypt containing the remains of the relic of Saint Sava (who was the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church). Its decoration, structure, and lighting reminded me of the crypt of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow that I was able to visit in 2015.
I could not resist making a comparison with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, although, in conclusion, I would like to say that both are different but very beautiful.
- Nikola Tesla Museum
Many will not know the figure of Nikola Tesla. He was a Serbo-Croatian engineer who is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history. Based in the United States, he was in constant competition with Thomas Alva Edison.
Without going deeper into it, only to mention that, today, the electricity production systems, as well as their transportation worldwide are based on the designs of Nikola Tesla electrical machines.
The museum itself is located between the center and the temple of San Sava (only 10 minutes walk from it), and is an ideal place for science lovers, although it is suitable and interesting for all audiences.
It is a stately house, converted into a museum that, although not large (the visit takes approximately 1 hour), has enough information to surprise the visitor.
The visit starts with a video explaining the life of Nikola Tesla, and afterwards, that is the most interesting part, there are several scientific experiments based on his research (the one featuring the Tesla’s Coil is surprising). If you like sciences, you will definitely enjoy.
It is always a nice feeling to take a good memory of something without any expectations. This was exactly what happened to us after visiting this museum.
- Skadarlija
The most bohemian place in the city. Back in the days, it was a different village, however, it was adhered to Belgrade as the city expanded.
It is an old neighborhood with cobbled streets that is a must for the traveler. Composed of old houses, there are many restaurants where the guests can enjoy the live Balkan folk live music, where you can taste the typical Serbian grill as well.
After finishing lunch or dinner, there are also places for nightlife. In a way, it is reminiscent of the famous Montmartre district of Paris or the lesser-known Kapana of Plovdiv.
- Zemun
The favorite area on the other side of the Danube for locals. As was the case with Skadarlija, it is an old town that is currently another district of the city.
The beauty of this place is its walk on the banks of the Danube, called Zemun Quay. If the weather is good, I recommend the visitor to take an unforgettable walk.
There is also an old town that is worth a walk. To finish, an excellent dinner on the banks of the Danube, something that cannot be done every day.
Did you know that…
… There are places where it is yet possible to see destroyed buildings reminiscent from the war?
… beneath the church of Saint Mark’s, there is an actual cave?
… It is said, according to a legend, that Attila’s grave lies at the confluence the Danube and the Sava river, more precisely under the very fortress?
Related Links
Belgrade tourist Information
Nikola Tesla Museum
https://nikolateslamuseum.org/en/
Useful Information
How to get to Zemun?
Bus 84 comes directly from Belgrade city center to Zemun Old Town. It takes about 30-40 minutes. If you have rented a car, there will be no problem to find parking.
What to eat?
Serbia, as well as the other Balkan countries, is famous for the grilled meat. You can find it in a lot of restaurants, especially in Skadarlija.
What to drink?
The Rakia is the most famous spirit from Serbia (again, as well as other Balkan countries). It is produced by distilling a mix of water and fermented fruits. My favourite one is the quince rakia.
Where to stay?
Apartment Downtown Skadarlija. Location and stuff are great.
Map of Locations
Credits
All photos taken using iPhone 5S.