My visit to Belgrade is one of the most controversial trips I’ve taken in ages. I did also visit Israel this year (more about that later), but no one was as surprised as when I announced I would be visiting Serbia’s capital. Most people I spoke to blatantly asked me what I was planning to see there; as if they were wondering what there is to see there at all. That’s why I compiled this post. In here, you’ll find the six sights I think are definitely worth seeing in the city of Belgrade. There are obviously more sights I liked, but I want you all to get used to the idea of this city’s beauty first. I will also write a blog post about the three different tours I took, in case you’re interested in how to learn more about this misunderstood city. 

Kalemegdan Fortress

Often, if you’re reading a blog post about the city you’ll be reading about Kalemegdan Fortress. This is the place where all the magic happens. The first evening I was in town I decided (a bit hesitantly) to make my way there. A park at night can be scary, but I found the opposite is true here. At least at the time I visited the park was vibrant and alive with young and old Serbs coming to hang out to watch the sunset or to chill.

The park is perfect for sunsets as it has beautiful lookout spots over the Sava and Danube river.

It might seem friendly now, but this fortress is no stranger to conflict. There are museums that still tell the story of its past like the Military museum. I decided to skip all that and enjoy the friendly atmosphere instead.

The only violence you’ll see here nowadays are dogs fighting over balls. It’s a great park to hang out in, and it’s worth checking out if any festivals are hosted in the time you’re there. There was a Medieval fair when I was in town. Is there anything better than seeing people dressed up in courtly dresses and knight costumes? I think not!

Ružica Church

Serbia is a Christian Orthodox country, which means it has plenty of churches in this style. As luck has it, these are my favourite churches in the world. Belgrade has a few gems in that department. The first one is Ružica church which is lit by chandeliers made of weapons. These chandeliers are lighting the beautifully frescoed walls. The church itself is a small chapel tucked into the side of the Kalemegdan fortress. There are two chandeliers here made out of spent bullets, swords, and other armory. This should not really be a surprise as this city and this church in particular has seen a lot of action.

House of Flowers

Another sight worth visiting, albeit a bit farther away from the city centre, is Tito’s final resting place. This place has a lot of resemblance with Che’s final resting place in Santa Clara, Cuba.

It’s a proper shrine to Josip Broz Tito. I didn’t know anything about this guy who accomplished a lot in the history of Yugoslavia. Better yet, I hardly knew anything about Yugoslavia in general. It’s not something we learn in schools in the Netherlands (yet, probably). There’s a lot to learn about him in the different displays in the accompanying museum.

You can tell the grave is an important pilgrimage sight for residents of Serbia. Most people excitedly took photos while holding his statue’s arm. As I try to demonstrate in the photo below.

Belgrade Tesla Museum

Another person I didn’t know anything about before visiting Belgrade was Nikola Tesla. His ashes are kept in a golden sphere inside this museum where he’s surrounded by his work.

He’s famous for the invention of the alternating current and the induction motor, and the Tesla coil. I’ve seen real life tests with most of these inventions, but I won’t attempt to tell you what any of this means or what it does. I’ll leave that to the experts. Even for noobs, the museum is a fun place to visit. If only for the interactive atmosphere. They gave me a light to hold….

Church of Saint Sava

Can you see how cleverly mix things up in order for you not to be overcome by Christian Orhodox churches? Well, here comes another one. Granted, the Church of Saint Sava was under construction when I was there in 2019, but there is an area underneath the main church that you can still visit and which exhibits the most beautiful icons.

Saint Sava is one of the largest Orthodox churches on the planet. Even the exterior is worth a visit though.

Knez Mihailova Street

I’ve never seen a street like Knez Mihailova. Unsurprisingly, the street has been named one of the most beautiful pedestrian zones in South East Europe and it’s easy to see why. It’s all car-free and there are outside terraces everywhere. I’ve seen it compared to the High Street in Edinburgh, and even though that’s one of my favourite cities in the world I don’t think the comparison does Belgrade justice.

I spent an entire day hopping from cafe to cafe, and from shop to shop. If you like shopping or people watching, Knez Mihailova is the place to be.

Where to Stay?

The last sight is a nice conversation bridge to the lovely hotel I stayed at because it’s located at the centre of this pedestrian area. It’s slightly more expensive, but it’s worth it considering the location. The name of the hotel is Capital Hotel Garni. It’s a stone throw away from the city centre with all its restaurants and bars. Perfect if you’re travelling by yourself and you don’t want to venture too far out by yourself in the evening.

What did not make the list?

The first and most monumental item that did not make the list is the Bohemian Quarter called Skadarlija. Sure, I liked the visit there during the walking tour, but I didn’t stay there long enough to get a real impression of the place. I’m sure it’s worth a visit for dinner or lunch, but it’s not as good as the other sights on this list.

I’m sure that Zemun is worth a visit. This area is known as a city within a city. It has been fiercely independent and singular for years. People now flock here to visit the shops and other sights that are within the area. I didn’t have time during my short stay to visit Zemun, but I’m sure I’ll get a chance next time I’m here.

You could travel there by yourself or by tour with for example Get Your Guide.

The Western City Gate of Belgrade is one of those places I would’ve liked to visit because of its futuristic look, but I decided to skip it due to time constraint and the distance.

I also would’ve liked to visit Tito’s Blue Train, but I also decided to skip that due to time constraints. It’s located at a railway depot south of Belgrade.

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What do you think? Would you scoff at the mention of Belgrade after reading this post or would you actually consider to visit it? Have you already been? What did you think about the city?