The Serbian capital has been open for a decade to international travellers. Of a long and convulse history (since the conflicts here were nothing new), there are remains of Celtic and Roman origin in Belgrade Today, it´s a great place to learn about the culture of the old Yugoslavia. You have to remember that all information is in cyrillic, so a dictionary and checking out this alphabet beforehand wouldn´t be a bad idea.
However, what is there to see in Belgrade? What does it offer to the traveller? Here are five ideas to enjoy the essential things in the Serbian capital.
1.- Belgrade Old Town
You have to walk around the bohemian district of Belgrade, around Skadar, right in the city centre. Its cobbled streets and 19th-century building will delight all art and literature lovers, since some of these corners used to be the areas that poets and writers from yesteryear used to walk around. In this area you can find typical shops with traditional meats and foods. You might also hear the sound of starogradska muzika, the traditional music sounds of local folklore.
2.- Nightlife in Belgrade
For party lovers, we recommend that you go out drinking around the splavovi, literally rafts, boats that are tied to the banks of the Sava and that were converted into clubs or bars. In summer, the fun moves to Ada Ciganlija, an island in the middle of the river with beaches, sports facilities and leisure activities.
3.- Museums in Belgrade
The biggest and most complete museum is the National Museum of Belgrade, which gathers all types of works. It has a good collection with works by international maestros such as Picasso, Renoir, Monet, Tiepolo or Rubens, and also holds medieval manuscripts of great value. Book fans cannot leave without checking out the Miroslav Gospel from the 12th century, written in beautiful cyrillic calligraphy and illustrated according to the canons of Byzantine art.
Contemporary art lovers must go to the aptly named Contemporary Art Museum which has works by outstanding artists such as Warhol or Miró. If you like trains, the Railway Museum will satisfy your needs, located in a beautiful neoclassic building.
4.- Monuments of Belgrade
Even though Belgrade has a long history, its most important buildings ´only´ go back to the mid-19th century. Back then, modernism was the main artistic trend as was neo-gothic style in buildings. The Serbian capital has those trends in, for example, St Michael´s Orthodox Cathedral, with a facade decorated with golden tesserae.
5.- Kalemegdan
A special mention should go to the Belgrade Fortress, located on a hill by the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube. This place appears in the guides as Kalemegdan. Inside you can see the gates, Jaksić Tower and St Petka´s Church, one of the most revered saints in the Balkans. You will be amazed at its 18th-century wall (not Roman as some sources indicate) and you must finish with a walk around the homonymous park.
Candela Vizcaíno
And to top off your trip, you just have to find apartments in Belgrade city and relax as you please.
