Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and former capital of Yugoslavia, has long been regarded as the gateway between the East and the West. Our tour will guide you through its rich history, starting at Belgrade’s main square, Republic Square, and ending at Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, a unique time capsule of the history of Belgrade, with elements from the Roman Empire, Serbian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman rule.
Tour Creator
Shira is a writer from Amsterdam, where she spent her formative years in the vibrant Jewish Quarter. She holds a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts in Art History, Literature and Performing…Read More Bio »
Belgrade
GPS-directed
Remote Tour Included
2hrs
2km
Avoid the Crowds
Allows you to explore without having to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a large tour group
Created by an exceptional travel writer
Written by a writer (MA) living in Belgrade
GPS Directions
Easy-to-follow GPS directions to get you from one point to the next on your tour
Highlights include:
Republic Square, Belgrade Fortress, Kalemegdan Park
Remote Tour Included
As with all our tours, a remote tour is included that can be enjoyed from home
Itinerary
Essential Belgrade
- Republic Square (Trg Republike) - Belgrade’s central square, which features the Monument to Prince Mihailo, and the National Museum. We will discover the story behind the Monument and learn about who Knez Mihailo was. We will also explore the history and collection of the National Museum, which only recently reopened after having been closed for 15 years.
- Cetinjska - A unique Belgrade spot that is currently one of the epicentres of Belgrade nightlife. Where this spot used to house a large brewery complex, the abandoned brewery and surrounding car park were given new life in 2015 when Belgrade’s favourite bars and cafes from the Savamala area moved there.
- Sebilj Česma - A monument in the bohemian Skadarlija neighbourhood, which is a replica of the famous fountain on Baščaršija Square in Sarajevo. This monument is a gathering place for locals. It was placed here in 1989, as a gift to the city of Belgrade from Sarajevo. Both Rome and Zagreb received a similar replica as a gift from Sarajevo. Just three years later, Sarajevo came under siege during the war, and their own fountain was damaged. This monument is located across from Bajloni Market, one of Belgrade’s largest and most important markets, which is almost 100 years old. The market is named after Ignjat Bajloni, a Czech tanner. We’ll learn about the history of the market and its surrounding architecture.
- Skadarlija - This is the old bohemian quarter of Belgrade. It dates back to the 1830s, and slowly developed into this famous cobbled Belgrade street with bars and typical Balkan café-restaurants with live music known as kafanas, where poets, artists and musicians used to mingle. Today, the street is still a lively hub where you can enjoy classic Serbian cuisine and live music. We will stop in front of the statue of Đura Jakšić, a poet, writer, painter and bohemian who lived and died in Skadarlija and drew a great deal of inspiration from Skadarlija for his artistic work.
- Bajrakli Mosque - Dating back to the 16th century, this is the oldest religious building currently in use in Belgrade. From the 273 mosques built during the Ottoman Empire’s rule over Serbia, this is the only surviving mosque in the city. It was converted into a Roman-Catholic church in the 18th century, and was returned to its initial function as a mosque when Serbia was once again under Ottoman rule.
- Belgrade Fortress, Inner Stambol Gate - Situated on a limestone hill, Belgrade Fortress has been the heart of Belgrade since its foundation. It overlooks the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, the two rivers that run like arteries through Belgrade. The fortress was first built in Roman times, in the 2nd century AD. Since then, it has been destroyed and reconstructed several times by different rulers, including the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the Austro-Hungarians and the Ottomans. The fortress’ Inner Stambol Gate was built by the Austrians between 1718 and 1739. It derives its name from the fact that it was the main gateway on the Constantinople Road. “Stambol” is short for “Istanbul”. The gate is a symbol of suffering for the Serbs under the Ottoman Empire, as Serbian rebels were beheaded here, and their heads impaled on spikes.
- Kalemegdan Park, The Victor Statue - The Victor statue, “Pobednik” in Serbian, is one of Belgrade’s icons. It was built as a commemoration of Serbia’s victory over the Ottomans and Austro-Hungarians during the Balkan Wars and the First World War. The sculpture was erected in 1928, and created by the famous 20th century Yugoslav sculptor Ivan Meštrović (pronounce: “Mesh-tro-vich”), whose sculptures can not only be found all around Belgrade, but all over the world.
- Kalemegdan Park, Monument of Gratitude to France - This monument is a central point in Kalemegdan Park. It was unveiled in 1930, and was created in order to convey Serbia’s gratitude to France for their support during the First World War.
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