Belgrade

The world constructivist capital for 2025.

Nightlife

According to Lonely Planet, Belgrade has the best nightlife in the world.

The population of Belgrade is around 2 million people. Nothing compared to London’s 9 million, yet The Standard recently proclaimed that Belgrade is so fun it makes London look dull. Quite an achievement even if it’s likely somewhat hyperbolic, right? Why can’t we be more like them, they ask. The Guardian writes about Belgrade’s bar/tavern culture, in an article illustratively titled People Dance on Tables!

While we can debate the pros and cons of living in Belgrade, everything you heard about Belgrade’s nightlife is true – and the reality of it is likely even more exuberant!

History

  • Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe with settlements continuously existing here for at least 7000 years.

  • Following the trend of everything being more complicated in the Balkans, Belgrade was known by at least 16 names throughout its history!

  • Europe’s first coffee house was opened in Belgrade in 1522 – and the building is still there.

  • The city of Belgrade has been a battleground for over a hundred different wars and was razed to the ground 44 times, each time it was rebuilt, the city’s architectural landscape changed, creating a veritable stylistic hodgepodge that Belgrade is now.

Food

Kajmak, ajvar, gibanica, sarma, rakija. Perhaps you don’t know what these words mean now, but once you try them, you will never forget them.

Going to Belgrade and not trying out a whole new world of exquisite Balkan food in oversized portions is a crime. Click here to learn about the main Serbian dishes you don’t want to miss.

Some famous folks from Belgrade

Marina Abramović, the grandmother of performance art

Novak Đoković, the GOAT

Ivo Pogorelić, the genius

Charles Simic, the greatest living American poet

Milorad Pavić, the inventor of the postmodern novel

Milutin Milanković, the guy who figured out ice age cycles

Thomas Nagel, the philosopher who doesn’t know what it’s like to be a bat

Attila the Hun, fine he wasn’t born here but is rumored to be buried there

What to see in Belgrade?

Kalemegdan, a large fortress with a park and well-hidden restaurants has layers of Belgrade’s complicated history and great views.

Museum of Contemporary Art is not the first thing tourists go to see, but this is because no one tells them how great the museum is!

Tito’s Mausoleum – while Tito is a popular and controversial figure in the Balkans, his significance as the leader of the partisans and anti-fascist struggle in Yugoslavia is indisputable. Spend an afternoon learning about his life in his elegant mausoleum.

Nikola Tesla Museum – Tesla was Serbian but overall didn’t spend more than a few days of his life in Belgrade. He much preferred his New York hotel room where he could freely talk to birds and aliens alike. However, this great scientist left everything to what will become the fascinating Tesla Museum.

Museum of the Paranormal, because if you haven’t seen something weird, were you really in the Balkans?

Numerous churches such as Ružica, Church of St. Sava – and much much more!