As Serbia’s capital and largest city, Belgrade serves as the nation’s cultural center. Cafes, boutiques and nouveau art galleries have settled in next to historic buildings along the pedestrian boulevards; travelers can time their visits with any of Belgrade’s annual festivals, like the Film Festival (usually in spring) or Beer Festival (August).
Must-See Attractions- Sitting on the banks of the Danube River, the Belgrade Fortress is a relic from the second century, when the city’s entire population was housed within its walls. The area, converted into a park, offers plenty of grassy knolls from which visitors can view the river or take a walking tour of the site.
- Dedicated to the Serbian electrical engineer and inventor, the Nikola Tesla Museum displays thousands of documents, photographs and objects related to Tesla and his work. The museum also houses a large Tesla coil, which they demonstrate during tours, and Tesla’s ashes in a spherical urn.
Best Places To Visit Outside Belgrade- Rising 671 feet out of the trees 20 minutes away from Belgrade is the Avala Tower (Avalski Toranj), first constructed in 1965, then reconstructed and reopened in 2010 after being destroyed by NATO in 1999. It serves as a telecommunications tower as well as tourist attraction; a panoramic lookout as well as restaurant adorn the top of the structure.
- The second-largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad is prized as a historic destination with a decidedly quaint feel. It’s just an hour and a half away from the capital city and features magnificent structures such as the Novi Sad Synagogue, the Petrovaradin Citadel and the Church of Virgin’s Name.