Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beograd_SaTKC.jpg
Author: Bobik


Belgrade is the capital and biggest city in Serbia. The city is also the most populous city in southeastern Europe. It covers 359.96 sq km (139 sq mi) and has a population of 1.2 million people (2011 estimate), within a 3,222 sq km (1,244 sq mi) metropolitan area that has 1.7 million inhabitants.

Belgrade observes the Central Europe Time. It is an hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1) and two hours during Daylight Saving Time of summer. The phone area code here is +381-11.

Knez Mihailova pedestrian street, Belgrade
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KnezMihailova_ped.jpg
Author: Λατίνος

Belgrade is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, at an elevation of 116.75 m (383 ft). Belgrade's Old Town is right where the two rivers meet, while New Belgrade is on the left bank of the Sava River. The highest point in the city is Torlak Hill, at 303 m (994 ft).

Belgrade experiences a climate that is a cross between oceanic, humid continental and humid subtropical. Its warmest months are July and August, when the average high temperature goes up to 27.3°C (81.1°F). Coldest month is January, when the temperature drops to -2.3°C (27.9°F). June is the wettest month, with 90.4 mm (3.56 in) of precipitation. You can expect some snow from December to February.

Belgrade Cathedral Church from Kalemegdan Fortress
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vue_depuis_Forteresse_Kalemegdan.jpg
Author: Raphaëlle MARTIN


Human habitation in the Belgrade area goes back to Neolithic times. Archeologists have uncovered the Starčevo and Vinča cultures which appeared in the Balkans some 7,000 years ago. The Scordisci people, a Celtic tribe, settled in the Belgrade area in the 4th century BC. They in turn were replaced by the Romans from 34 BC. The city, then known as Singidunum, was incorporated into the Roman Empire. When the empire split into two in AD 395, Singidunum passed to the Byzantium Empire.

The name Belgrade first appeared in AD 878, as Beligrad. Its geographical location at the center of the Balkans made it a battleground for powerful neighbors, with the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary and the First Bulgarian Empire all waging war among one another in the area.

Cathedral of Saint Sava, Belgrade
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hram_svetog_Save.JPG
Author: PetarM


Belgrade was captured by the Ottomans under Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in 1521. With its population of well over 100,000, Belgrade was the second biggest Ottoman city in Europe after Constantinople. During the Ottoman's long rule over Belgrade, it was attacked and occupied by Austrian forces three times, in 1688-1690, 1717-1739 and 1789-1791. Each time the Ottomans recaptured the city and razed it down.

When the Principality of Serbia became independent in 1878, Belgrade became its capital. The assissination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo sparked the First World War, with much of the fighting happening in Belgrade, which was greatly devastated. After the war, it was proclaimed the capital of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later to be renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.

St Mark's Church, Belgrade
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crkva_Svetog_Marka_u_Beogradu.jpg
Author: Dcabrilo


In the Second World War Belgrade was invaded by the Nazis and added into the Independent State of Croatia. During this period, the Jews in Belgrade suffered from genocide. The city itself underwent two rounds of bombardment, the first by the invading Axis powers and the second by the Alies, each time killing thousands. It was eventually liberated by the Red Army in 1944. The following year Belgrade became the capital of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, and in 1963, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The collapse of the Soviet Union brought liberty as well as chaos across Central and Eastern Europe. In 1991, mass demonstration erupted in Belgrade against Slobodan Milošević. Further demonstrations and unrest took place in 1996, 1997 and 2000 before Milošević was ousted. After a decade of turbulence, the city of Belgrade is finally at peace again, and gradually redeveloping itself.

An old house in downtown Zemun, Belgrade
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zemun_old_house.jpg
Author: Lumen roma

Visiting Belgrade, Serbia

The Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is the gateway to the city. It is located 12 km to the west of downtown Belgrade. Arriving here, you can take the E7 minibus to Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard in downtown Belgrade. The fare is 120 dinars, payable on board. Alternatively, public bus 72 goes to Zeleni Venac in downtown Belgrade and costs 100 dinar for the 50-minute trip.

If you opt to take the taxi, avoid touts at the arrival hall. Book your taxi from the dispatch officers wearing yellow vests. Your fare to most places within Belgrade should be around 1500 dinars. There have been cases of taxi drivers ripping off passengers, saying the taxi voucher is good for only one passenger. Take a different taxi if you do not agree with the driver.

Trolleybus in Belgrade
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%C4%9Blehrad,_Kolar%C4%8Deva,_trolejbus_II.jpg
Author: Aktron

Exploring Belgrade

The public transport of Belgrade comprises buses, trolleybuses and trams. They all use the same tickets which can be purchased from kiosks in the city or direct from the driver. Note that buying from the driver will be twice the price.

Places of Interest in Belgrade, Serbia

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