Belgrade: Fortress, museums and leisure at Savsko jezero

Belgrade’s history can be explored through its many different traces. The Belgrade Fortress stands on a ridge above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It is divided into the Upper Town and Lower Town; Kalemegdan Park is part of the fortress complex. Roman, Serbian, Hungarian, Ottoman and Austrian building styles are visible in the walls. The fortress offers a first glimpse of Belgrade’s architectural history, with several eras represented in one place.

The Fortress and Historic Buildings

Individual buildings bring history to life: the Roman Well was built between 1717 and 1739 and is 60 meters deep. The Great Gunpowder Magazine displays Roman stone monuments, sculptures and grave steles. Check the current exhibition arrangements before your visit. The Dizdar Tower houses the people’s observatory of the “Ruđer Bošković” Astronomical Society; telescopes are available to visitors on the upper platform. Check the current visitor regulations in advance.

To visit the Roman Well, the military bunker, the Great Gunpowder Magazine and the casemates of the Military Museum in the Belgrade Fortress, you must register at least 24 hours before your planned visit, providing the exact number of visitors and the visit time. If you plan to visit these areas, make sure to register in good time as part of your preparations.

Museums, Collections and City History

The museums focus on different subjects. The Ethnographic Museum’s permanent exhibition presents Serbian folk culture from the 19th and 20th centuries. The permanent exhibition at the Nikola Tesla Museum includes photographs, notes, documents and interactive models. Visitors also attend a demonstration of Tesla’s invention models there, including a high-voltage transformer. Check the current demonstration arrangements in advance.

The Vuk and Dositej Museum is housed in the former building of the Great School, which opened as a lyceum in 1808. The Museum of Contemporary Art preserves an extensive collection of 20th-century Yugoslav painting, sculpture and graphic art, divided into three periods. The Museum of Yugoslavia complex comprises the Museum of the 25th of May, the Old Museum, the House of Flowers and a sculpture park; check current access options before visiting.

Individual objects and buildings also offer a glimpse into the city’s cultural history. The Miroslav Gospel dates from around 1190 and is included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. Manak’s House is an example of urban architecture from the old Balkans. The Roman Hall, located in the basement of the Belgrade City Library on Knez Mihailova Street, contains the remains of a Roman gate and a Roman aqueduct. At the restaurants in Skadarlija, you can enjoy traditional specialties, urban traditional folk music and the atmosphere of Belgrade’s former bohemian quarter.

Leisure and Nature

Ada Ciganlija combines a lake, green spaces, paths and sports facilities, making it a popular place for relaxation and leisure activities. Activities at Savsko jezero include swimming, rowing, water polo, pedal boating, fishing, water skiing, bungee jumping and climbing. As individual facilities and providers may change, check what is currently available before planning a specific activity. As of December 8, 2023, Ada Ciganlija belonged to the third category of locally important protected areas.

The plane tree in front of the Konak kneza Miloša offers another glimpse into natural history. It is protected as a natural feature, is around 180 years old and has a circumference of almost 7.5 meters. The three details—its protected status, approximate age and circumference—describe this striking natural monument from different perspectives.

Archaeology and Getting Around

Vinča offers an archaeological focus outside the city center: the site lies about 20 kilometers from central Belgrade and presents life in a Neolithic settlement. A curator from the Belgrade City Museum gives visitors an expert account of life in the settlement. Check the current visiting arrangements in advance. A free guided tour of the 20th century also covers the history and architecture of a turbulent period in Serbia’s development; check dates and availability before making plans.

You can also factor your journey into your planning. Regular bus services connect Belgrade with all parts of Serbia, neighboring countries and most European countries. An extensive railway network links Belgrade with all parts of Europe, with both day and night trains in service. Belgrade is also at the intersection of the E-70 and E-75 European routes. As routes and timetables may change, check the latest information before traveling.

Choose the Right Base

Your travel interests can guide your choice of hotel in Belgrade: the fortress and museums offer architectural, cultural and scientific history; Ada Ciganlija offers relaxation and leisure activities; and Vinča offers archaeological insights outside the city center. Consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay, and factor in the specific connections to your itinerary when planning.

Discover more destinations: Stojnik, Veliko Selo, Vrčin, Surčin, Ugrinovci, Lazarevac, Kaluđerica, Mala Ivanča, Sremčica, Nemenikuće, Beli Potok, Obrenovac, Dobanovci, Vinča, Zuce, Sopot, Meljak, Ovča, Jakovo, Zemun, Vranic, Belgrade, Železnik, Koracica, Babe, Pinosava.

Go to the broader travel overview: Central Serbia.