From sunbathing at Ada Ciganlija to experiencing Belgrade’s famous nightlife, these are just some of the things to do in Belgrade in summer.
Although you might have been looking for a classic beach holiday, maybe this year you should try something new and visit a city you probably never thought to visit – Belgrade.
The Serbian capital, located where rivers Sava and Danube meet, is a perfect mixture of rich history and modern life waiting to be explored.
The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about the Balkan jewel is probably the nightlife, but there are many more things to do in Belgrade in summer.
1. You Can Still Go To The Beach
Belgrade has beaches too!
Ada Ciganlija, or just Ada, was an island in the Sava river that was artificially turned into a peninsula.
This is a very popular place in the summer when it can reach up to 100,000 daily visitors and even 300,000 on the weekends.
This is the biggest and, according to many people who live here, the most beautiful place where you could spend the hot summer days.
If you are an adrenaline junkee, you can also go to bungee jumping, rock climbing, or water skiing, or play golf, basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, and many other things.
Ada is the perfect place where you can enjoy a nice bike ride with a breathtaking view. Rent a bike and experience Ada in an untraditional way.
If you get tired from all these activities, you can take a rest in one of the many bars and have a refreshing cocktail.
Ada Ciganlija
2. Enjoy a Great View From Kalemegdan
Kalemegdan is Belgrade’s fortress where you can enjoy a pleasant walk while looking at a stunning view of the place where rivers Sava and Danube meet and New Belgrade.
If you’re a history lover, this is the perfect place for you.
The fortress is the oldest urban area of the city and it has witnessed many big historical events, starting from the Roman era and the Byzantine emperors, through the Ottoman empire and the Austrian occupation, and finally, the stormy history of the 20th century.
It consists of the Lower Town, where churches Ruzica and Sveta Petka are located, the Upper Town, where you can admire the statue of the Victor, the Great Kalemegdan Park, where you can check out the Military Museum, and the Little Kalemegdan Park, where the Belgrade Zoo is located.
Belgrade Fortress
3. Taste The Rich Serbian Cuisine At Skadarlija
If you’re a fan of Montmartre in Paris, you’ll definitely enjoy Skadarlija – Belgrade’s bohemian street. It’s located in the Old Town and it’s the second most visited place in the city, after Kalemegdan.
The whole street is filled with kafanas – Balkan traditional restaurants where you can taste national cuisine, mostly grilled meat, with traditional music playing in the background.
Don’t be surprised if someone stays till the morning and sings with the musicians all night long.
Besides the outstanding dishes, you need to try the most popular Serbian drink – rakia.
Skadarlija
4. Escape The City Jungle At Avala Mountain
If you get tired of all the crowded places and warm weather, refresh yourself with a pleasant trip to Avala mountain, located 16km from downtown Belgrade.
This is a traditional picnic place for the citizens of Belgrade, where you can enjoy a great view over Belgrade and Vojvodina.
Aside from the aspiring nature, you can also see the Avala TV Tower, which was destroyed during the 1999 NATO bombing and rebuilt in 2010.
There are also several monuments – the Monument to the Unknown Hero, a mausoleum dedicated to an unknown Serbian soldier from the World War I, the Monument to the Soviet War Veterans, the Memorial Park, and the Monument dedicated to Vasa Carapic – one of the leaders of the First Serbian Uprising.
5. Discover A Town Within The City
Zemun is used to be a separate Austro-Hungarian town and it became part of Belgrade during World War l.
It’s full of houses with Austro-Hungarian architecture and unique coffee places and restaurants that attract many tourists every year.
Here, you can climb the tower Gardosh and enjoy a great view over New Belgrade or travel through time on its narrow streets.
If you want an alternative to Ada Ciganlija, you can also go to Lido, a beach that is located on the Great War Island in Zemun and check out the beautiful sandy beach.
Zemun