Above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Belgrade Fortress stands on a ridge. It is divided into the Upper and Lower Towns; Kalemegdan Park is also part of the complex. The walls reveal Roman, Serbian, Hungarian, Ottoman and Austrian building styles. The site can therefore be read both as a fortified ensemble and as architectural history within the urban landscape.
The Fortress and Its Historical Traces
The Roman Well was built between 1717 and 1739 and is 60 metres deep. Its construction period and depth make it a tangible example of the fortress’s architectural history. The Great Gunpowder Magazine displays Roman stone monuments, sculptures and grave stelae; check the current exhibition arrangements before your visit. The Pobednik Monument is also part of Belgrade’s history: it was erected in 1928.
To visit the Roman Well, the military bunker, the Great Gunpowder Magazine and the casemates of the Military Museum, you must register at least 24 hours before your planned visit. You must provide the exact number of visitors and the time of your visit. Check the latest information before planning your visit.
Museums Between Folk Culture and Technology
The permanent exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum explores Serbian folk culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Vuk and Dositej Museum is housed in a historic building that once belonged to the Great School, which opened as a lyceum in 1808. Manak’s House is an example of the urban architecture of the old Balkans. Together, these places offer different ways to explore cultural history: through everyday culture, a historic school building and architecture.
At the Nikola Tesla Museum, the permanent exhibition features photographs, notes, documents and interactive models. Visitors take part in demonstrations of Tesla’s invention models, including a high-voltage transformer. Check the current demonstration arrangements in advance. The Museum of Contemporary Art preserves an extensive collection of 20th-century Yugoslav painting, sculpture and graphic art, arranged in three periods.
The Museum of Yugoslavia complex includes the Museum of May 25, the Old Museum, the House of Flowers and a sculpture park. The Miroslav Gospel, held by the National Museum, dates from around 1190 and is listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The range spans museum collections and historic buildings to a medieval manuscript.
Relaxation, City Life and Archaeological Discoveries
Ada Ciganlija brings together a lake, green spaces, paths and sports facilities as a place for relaxation and leisure activities. At Lake Sava, possible activities include swimming, rowing, water polo, pedal boating and fishing; water skiing, bungee jumping and climbing are also listed. Individual facilities and providers may change. The variety of activities gives you an idea of the wide range of leisure options at the lake.
One natural landmark is the plane tree in front of the Konak kneza Miloša. It is protected as a natural monument, is about 180 years old and has a circumference of almost 7.5 metres. At Skadarlija’s restaurants, you can experience traditional specialities, urban traditional folk music and the atmosphere of Belgrade’s former bohemian quarter. Both places combine the city’s history with other aspects of a visit: a protected tree and a culinary and musical tradition.
VinÄŤa also offers a glimpse into the distant past. Exhibits at the archaeological site illustrate life in a Neolithic settlement. A curator from the Museum of the City of Belgrade explains what life there was like to visitors. Check the current arrangements for on-site interpretation in advance.
Getting to Belgrade
Regular bus services connect Belgrade with all parts of Serbia, neighbouring countries and most European countries. An extensive railway network connects the city with all parts of Europe, with daytime and overnight trains in operation. Belgrade is also at the intersection of the European routes E-70 and E-75. As routes and timetables may change, check current connections before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Vranic, Jakovo, Beli Potok, Babe, Obrenovac, Nemenikuće, Dobanovci, Belgrade, Zemun, Železnik, Koracica, Vinča, Zuce, Sopot, Meljak, Ovča, Pinosava, Stojnik, Veliko Selo, Vrčin, Surčin, Ugrinovci, Lazarevac, Kaluđerica, Mala Ivanča, Sremčica.
Back to the main travel overview: Central Serbia.
