To start, I thought it would be helpful to show on a map where Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is:

Belgrade is also famous because it marks the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers:

The Republic Square

Republic Square marks the heart of Belgrade’s city center and we stayed in an apartment a couple blocks away.  This Square is also home to the National Museum and National Theater.

We didn’t have a chance to visit either but below is a picture of the Republic Square:

Below is a close-up of the very iconic statute of Prince Michael.  This monument was erected in the 1880’s to honor the liberation of several cities from Turkish rule.

The Belgrade Fortress

The other place that makes Belgrade easily identifiable is the Belgrade Fortress which sits in the perfect strategic position overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

Interestingly, it has been destroyed and rebuilt countless times by various empires including the Celts, Romans, Turks, and Austro-Hungarians.

Below is the iconic Inner Istanbul Gate and Clock Tower as you enter from the Southeast direction.

Below is the President’s gate as you enter from the West side and in the background is the Pobednik (aka The Victor) monument.

I’m not sure if this is a ‘famous’ gate but I thought the name made it sound important!

The Victor monument is definitely iconic for Belgrade and celebrates Serbia’s victory during the Balkan and First World War.

The Nikola Tesla Museum

Another cool place we visited in Belgrade was the Nikola Tesla Museum.

He had many incredible inventions and patents but the most important in my opinion was how he pioneered Alternating Current to make it’s use more widespread.  He’s basically responsible for every modern day electrical outlet in our homes.

Interestingly, there is a little controversy around who “takes credit” for him because he was Serbian but born in present day Croatia.  I get the sense Serbs and Croats (who notoriously have tension anyways) solved this problem by BOTH taking credit for him!

Below is a pic of the outside of the museum:

Below are two pics from inside the small but worthwhile museum:

Belgrade Architecture

While Belgrade does not have a good reputation for aesthetics, I did find some very beautiful architecture in various places around the city.  Below are some pics to give you a flavor for some beauty in Belgrade.

The Neighborhood Where We Stayed

As mentioned above, we spent our week in Belgrade in an apartment a couple of blocks from the Republic Square.  We were very close to a lot of things.  Since we didn’t have a car, we appreciated the walkability of the city.  We also appreciated the Uber-like cab company called Pink Taxi.

Below is a pic of the street we stayed on during our time in Belgrade.

Below is an example of the wonderful outdoor cafes in Belgrade.  We enjoyed coffee and a pastry while we planned our day each morning.

Also, Skadarlija is an iconic neighborhood in Belgrade with beautiful cobblestone, pedestrian streets.  It was only a few minute walk from our apartment so we went there a few times.  Below is a pic of this cute, Bohemian area.

Favorite Food Finds

No post of mine would be complete without sharing some great food finds in Belgrade.  I introduce you to two of my new favorites…

The first is a fresh, cold salad popular in the Balkans called Šopska salata.  It is basically fresh diced cucumbers and tomatoes topped with feta-like cheese.  We now eat this or some variation of it almost daily and I LOVE it!

Below is a pic of the salad from a restaurant in Skadarlija.

The other new favorite found I discovered in Belgrade and we continue to eat is Ćevapi. 

They are basically finger-shaped sausages eaten inside toasted and buttered bread that looks like a thick pita and topped with cabbage, onions, avjar (more on this topping later – YUM), or whatever else you like on it.

Below is a pic of the sandwich from a quaint takeaway restaurant across from our apartment.