Basic tips about Belgrade, Serbia
What do you think about Belgrade? What about Serbia? Do you associate Serbia to the past conflicts? Ok, the past nobody can change, and life goes on, including for those who had their lives affected by the wars. One thing that has to be clear is that Serbians and all the Balkans are still misunderstood due to past conflicts.
I want to show you the Serbia I saw while I was there for 3 months. It’s safe, people are welcoming and crazy to party! Belgrade is not that big city, then, it’s pretty easy to walk by. Actually, almost all the attractions are in downtown.
Below, some basic tips of what to do in Belgrade — I mean the basic, there are much more things to do in this city! — and get in touch with the Serbian culture.
Kalemegdan: a place where it’s located the Belgrade Fortress, with a wide square where locals go to enjoy the time with family and friends, drink a beer and appreciate the amazing view of the Danube river.
Tito’s Museum: a place to get in touch with the history of Tito, who governed the former Yugoslasvia for 27 years. The place keeps an exposition of documents, clothes, gifts from diplomatic authorities, pictures that resume Tito’s legacies to the country.
Go to a Kafana: a Kafana is a kind of Serbian tavern, with music and drinks. After some drinks, everyone is singing and dancing on the tables, trust me! The best place to party on a Serbian style!
Ada Ciganlja: a wide public space where you can play basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, ride a bike, join the time at cafes and bars, swim in a lake, have a berbecue, have a picnic, read a book in the park, etc. Well, the space is huge and you can do a lot of things there. One of the places I used to go when I was free.
Church of Saint Sava: one of the postcards of Belgrade, the Church of Saint Sava has a monumental visual that impress anyone who walks in front of it. It’s visited daily by the people who follow the Ortodox Christianism, especially on the weekends and on religious celebrations.
Eat at a pekara: a pekara is a kind of fast food and bakery, typical from the Balkans. In Belgrade, you find pekaras open day and night. You have to try pljeskavica (pljeskavitsa), a kind of burger. PS: never tell to Serbians that pljeskavica is a burger!
Try local beers!: Serbian beers are good! In Serbian, beer is “pivo”, if you want to know. What surprised me most in Serbia was the 2l bottles of beers in the supermarkets. And in each region of Serbia, you find local beers!
Rakija: rakija is the most typical drink from the Balkans! It’s present in the daily life in Serbia: celebrations, parties, get togethers, etc. If a Serbian offers you rakija, it means you’re welcome! There are rakijas of all flavors — honey, grape, apricot, plum, etc. When you drink a shot, look at the person who serves you in the eyes and say “jiveli”, which means cheers! PS: an useful phrase in Serbian: “Trebame rakija!”, something like “I need rakija!”
Well people, this is only the most basic! If you want to discover more of Belgrade, I just can advise you stay there a longer time. Hope you enjoy!
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