The capital of Serbia, Belgrade sits at the confluence of the rivers Danube and Sava. Hosting over 100 international festivals a year, Belgrade is gaining prominence on the world travel map. The city has suffered 115 wars and has been destroyed 44 times. With 500 years of Turkish dominance and 50 Communist years in its historic backpack, the city has much to narrate about the years gone by.
All flights to Belgrade land at the city’s only airport, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG), located 18km from the city centre. Discount carriers offer a modest number of flights from Dublin to Belgrade, and low-cost carrier Wizz Air offers non-stop flights from London. Also, there are one-stop flights to Belgrade from Cork and other prominent cities such as Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh.
Whether you wish to spend a weekend in Belgrade or go for a longer city break, consider visiting the Serbian capital from April to October, when the weather is fantastic and many festivals fill the calendar. Book your flight to and hotel in Belgrade in May and you might just be lucky enough to experience Belgrade Museum Night, when the city’s museums, exhibition centres and art galleries are opened to the public for a night, with nightlong events, concerts, fashion shows and exhibitions all over Belgrade.
Summer package holidays in Belgrade let you take part in the city's July and August festivals. The Belgrade Summer Festival promises innovative music, visual arts displays, dance and theatre throughout the city. You could also opt for a flight to and hotel in Belgrade in August or September. In August, enjoy the live music at the free Belgrade Beer Fest hosted at Uš?e on the confluence of Rivers Danube and Sava. In the same month, Belgrade celebrates the Gu?a Trumpet Festival, the largest festival of its kind in the world. The festival is held in Gucha, a village in the Dragacevo district. Some 50 international brass bands perform during this 7-day folk festival. This celebration is followed by the Belgrade Boat Carnival in September, when hundreds of boats parade on the Sava.
In the Serbian capital, every night is a party – the city never sleeps. If you visit in summer, head to one of the splavlovi, floating river clubs moored on the banks of Sava and Danube. In winter, the downtown area comes alive, with the indoor clubs opening their doors to partygoers from late September to early May. Dragstor Play, Brankow Club and Club Stefan Braun are among the most famous winter venues.
For an eventful day, take a bus from downtown to Ada Cicanlija, an artificial island on the Sava, to enjoy adventure sports such as bungee jumping and kayaking. If you like skateboarding, don't miss a trip to Skatepark Usce, reportedly the biggest skateboard park in the Balkans. Winter visitors should head to the famous Serbian ski resort of Kopaonik, a four-hour drive from the city. The resort boasts 75km of slopes suitable for every level of skier or snowboarder.
Belgrade showcases its rich history and vibrant culture through its beautiful attractions. Dating back to 1965, the Avala tower is an important historical landmark. Bombed by NATO in 1999 before being rebuilt in 2010, it is today the tallest telecommunications tower in the Balkans, offering a bird’s eye view of the city. Another such memorial is the Gardos Tower, or Millennium Tower, from 1896.
For history lovers, the Nikola Tesla Museum, dedicated to the Serbian-American inventor, is a must-visit. The National Museum, which preserves Balkan heritage, and the Belgrade Fortress Museum's citadel and lively park are also worth visiting. Another interesting part of the city is Knez Mihailova Street, which is lined with old buildings with a rich Ottoman heritage as well as several bargain shops. There's also Skadarlija Street, the city’s most famous. Located in the Old Town, it's filled with beautiful vintage buildings exuding bohemian ambience.
When in Belgrade, sample komplet lepinja, freshly baked bread best had with pretop, a traditional soup, and kajmak, a milk product. Pastries such as gibanica sa sirom made with mladi sir, or Serbian cottage cheese, are also worth trying. The royal dish, kara?or?eva šnicla, named after the Serbian prince Karadjordje, is a must-eat, too. This delicious veal or pork roll is filled with kajmak stuffing. Also much recommended are sa? dishes, slow-cooked meals comprising pies, burek, ribs and beef – you could spend an entire Belgrade weekend sampling various dishes cooked using this traditional method. Finally, don’t miss sarma, stuffed grape leaf or cabbage leaf rolls.
You can buy some wonderful Serbian souvenirs for your loved ones in Belgrade, such as