{Hi everyone! Will start the blogging day on creamylife with an exciting post, but not just a post – it’s a city guide and it’s all about Belgrade!!! I’ve been wanting to write it since forever and over the past weekend I finally put it together! I hope it will help you if you come to Belgrade! xoxo}
Whenever people think of Belgrade, the capital of an European country – Serbia, the first thing that comes to their mind is the NATO bombardment that occurred in 1999 and which damaged this city like never before. The same people remember immediately about Kosovo and they totally ignore the bright side of this place. I’m a tourist in Belgrade, I moved here less than one year ago and to be straight, before coming here I had a vague knowledge about Serbia, I knew things like the communist regime and Slobodan Milosevic. Quite muddy, huh? Fast forward to March 2009, when I visited Belgrade for the first time. That was the moment when I felt what’s this city about, its kind, friendly and very generous people, its hospitality and beauty, but what’s more important its culture, a rich one which left marks visible even nowadays. So through this guide I’ll try to make a sketch of Belgrade for you all by telling you about its cultural spots, shops, restaurants and everything what you can possibly find here.
Belgrade (image source)
Where to SHOP
Belgrade has some big shopping malls where you can find absolutely everything you need: home accessories, clothing, entertainment places and restaurants or fast-foods. These malls are Delta city and Ušće (pronounce Ushche) and if you’re wondering what shops can you find there, I’ll tell you:
Delta city clothing: Bershka, Miss Sixty, Diesel, Gas, Mango, Mexx, Zara, Hilfiger Denim and many others!
Delta city home decor– Coincasa, Living, Sun, moon & stars and more.
Ušće clothing: United colors of Benetton, Calvin Klein, Cortefiel, J. Lo, Lacoste and more.
Ušće home decor – Home Center, Living.
Not to mention that there are fast-restaurants (fast food-restaurants) such as Greek house, Buongiorno, Asia Food, Fish Bar and others to indulge yourself after a shopping tour.
If you happen to be in one of these malls, I guarantee you’ll find what to shop and where to go for a soothing drink or a delicious meal.
Ušće shopping center (picture taken by Ludmila for creamylife)
Besides shopping malls there are other places in Belgrade where you can find plenty of shops. I’m talking about a street in downtown called Knez Mihajlova (Prince Michael street) which is a pedestrian zone and shopping center, protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city. It’s quite nice for pedestrians to have walks there and well, do shopping. In December 2006, Business Week magazine included the street as one of Europe’s notable Christmas shopping sites. You will see here brands such as: Springfield, Nike men/women, Replay, Azzaro, Bata and many others. Another street with plenty of boutiques is Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra (King Aleksandar Boulevard), but besides the boutiques on this street there are many street dealers selling all sorts of goods that are unavailable in official stores.
Azzaro shop in Knez Mihajlova
Also there is Mamut in Belgrade – the biggest distributor of books and magazines (you can find it in Delta city & Ušće).
Few other places to shop for furniture and home accessories:
Kare Beograd – a great place to shop for furniture. You will find there designer pieces of furniture, plenty of colorful accessories and a very friendly stuff. Location: Žorža Klemansoa 19, customer@kare-beograd.rs
Forma Ideale & Conforma – not only you’ll find furniture for decorating your home, they also have a great collection of children furniture and decoration. It’s located on the speedway Belgrade-Niš, tel: +381 11 395 6767, +381 11 3121 304
Kika – being a branch of Kika world, Kika Belgrade is providing furnishing accessories of various types, different prices, so everybody can find what they look for. Its location is Partizanske avijacije 2a, tel. +381 11 2259-211
Merkur – a huge shop where you’ll find indoor as well as outdoor decoration, showrooms and the most beautiful kitchen ware. You will find Merkur on Partizanske avijacije 4 street, tel. +381 11 205 72 11, merkurbg@merkur.eu
SIMPO – if you need modern furniture then this is the right shop! Located on Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 17 (and many other addresses), tel. +381 11 32-30-213
And if you came to Belgrade and would like to take away with you souvenirs, then Serbia souvenirs is what you need! It’s located on Nikolaja Ostrovskog 3, but you can access their site as well for online purchase.
Where to EAT/DRINK
I believe that Belgrade in one of the cities with the best food and the best restaurants. The stuff is very kind, polite and will always try to do their best to make you feel like in heaven. Here are some of the best restaurants & cafes of Belgrade:
Restaurants
1. Kristal, Kolarčeva 1, tel. +381 11 303-82-80, rezervacije@restorankristal.rs
2. Tribeca, Kralja Petra 20, tel. +381 11 328-5656, tribecabeograd@gmail.com
3. Jevrem, Gospodar Jevremova 36, tel. +381 11 328 47 46, office@restoran-jevrem.com
4. Peking (Chinese food), Vuka Karadžica 2, tel. +381 11 2 181 931, kontakt@peking.co.rs
5. Restoran 27, Istarska 27, tel. +381 11 265-18-31,i27@eunet.rs
6. Moon (sushi), Makedonska 30, tel. +381 11 3344-569
7. Zapata (Mexican food), Vojvode Bogdana 13, tel. +381 11 3809 – 207, office@zapata.com
8. Zaplet, Kajmakčalanska 2, tel. +381 11 2404 142
9. Mydan, Kozjačka 3-5, tel. +381 11 369-2974, office@mydancaffe.com
10. Reka, Kej oslobodenja73b, tel. +381 11 2611 625, office@reka.co.rs
on the left is a glimpse at the delicious food you’ll find in Tribeca restaurant (picture by Ludmila for creamylife); on the right is a picture of the restaurant Jevrem (source)
Cafes
1. Santo Domingo, an amazing cafe, with palm trees and lots of cushions – definitely a place to relax and enjoy their live music. Žarka Zrenjanina (Vojvode Šupljikca) 31, tel. +381 64 557-57-97
2. Beo Caffe, five years of existence gave this cafe a great reputation and loyal visitors, Prvomajska 10i, tel. +381 11 3165-208
3. Bizzare Caffe Belgrade – right in the center of Belgrade – an inviting and warm place, Zmaj Jovina 25, tel. +381 11 2639-428
4. Bollywood Caffe is a relaxed and very popular venue. They’re famous with their cocktails – you might want to try them :), Safarikova 11, tel. +381 11 3224 733
5. Costa Coffee – an amazing coffee shop! They have the best Mocha coffee and the most delicious muffins! If you happen to be in Belgrade don’t look for another coffee shop, Costa coffee is what you need! It has many locations , so just visit their site for the one that works best for you.
6. Splav Monza (café by the Danube River), Kej Oslobođenja bb, tel. +381 11 3190 712
7. Crveni Petao has a big variety of cocktails both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Visit the cafe best in summer, on their terrace to enjoy a good drink, music and stuff. It’s located in Cara Lazara 16 street, tel. +381 11 2620 050.
Costa coffee (image source)
Sightseeing
1. Kalemegdan Fortress. A beautiful place to visit, romantic during the evening and with an interesting history. Not only the fortress is quite attractive, the Kalemegdan park is a huge, peaceful place for a summer afternoon. Located on a hill, the fortress & the park will show you the entire Belgrade and the Danube river from an upper point.
Kalemegdan fortress (source)
2. Skadarlija – a bohemian part of Belgrade. What was once a place of the homes of poets and artists, these days Skadarlija is a cobble-stoned street with the best restaurants and a bohemian atmosphere.
3. Churches. The most beautiful and old churches can be found in Belgrade. Few of them which are my favorites are: St. Sava’s Temple (the most important Orthodox temple in the Balkans), Belgrade Cathedral, St. Mark’s church and others. These are truly artful places with a holly meaning.
St. Sava’s Temple (source)
Museums
Belgrade city museum, Zmaj Jovina 1, tel. +381 11 2638-744, office@mgb.org.rs
National Museum, Trg Republike 1, tel. +381 11 33.060.00, pr@narodnimuzej.rs
Ethnographic museum, Studentski Trg 13, tel. +381 11 328 18 88, etnografski.muzej@nadlanu.com
Nikola Tesla Museum, Krunska 51, tel. +381 11 24 33 886, info@tesla-museum.org
Museum of applied art, Vuka Karadzica 18, tel. +381 11 2626 841, info@mpu.rs
Ivo Andric (Nobel prize winner) Memorial Museum – “The library contains 4,502 bibliographical units, rich collection of photographs, numerous Andrić’s personal holdings, and writer’s study room and the salon, with authentic atmosphere since Andrić’s time.” according to wikipedia, this place is a must-visit! Located on Andricev venac 8.
Nikola Tesla Museum (source)
Outdoor leisure
Ada Ciganlija (or just Ada). An island turned into a peninsula located 4 km (2.5 miles) close to city downtown. Ada is a great park (perfect for BBQ), sports venue (tennis, golf, football fields) and beach – all this just in one place!
Danube Riverside – a bicycle track and walkway by the river, very close to the Dorcol neighborhood in downtown Belgrade. You will find here plenty of cafes and bars by the river, an amazing place to spend time!
Avala Tower (204.5 m or 671 ft), located on Avala mountain, near Belgrade. It was destroyed in NATO bombardment in 1999, it has been renovated ever since and in May 2010 it was officially opened at a ceremony attended by the highest state officials. It is currently the tallest structure in Serbia and the Balkan region.
Avala Tower (source)
Where to STAY
1. Hyatt Regency Belgrade is a modern hotel located on New Belgrade and it’s just 5 min. away form the Belgrade downtown, Milentija Popovica 5, tel. +381 11 301 1234, belgrade.regency@hyatt.com
2. Continental Hotel – a 5 stars hotel, which also has a Health Center and because it’s situated near Hyatt Regency, you’d also need 5 min to the downtown of Belgrade, Milentija Popovica 7B, tel. +381 11 220 4204, reservation@continentalhotelbeograd.com
3. Holiday Inn, a place where modern design meets a classic one, located on Spanskih Boraca 74 street, tel. +381-11-31 00000
4. Moskva, this hotel is considered for over a century the symbol of Belgrade. It has a great location – right in downtown! The street is Terazije square, tel. +381 11 2686 255, info@hotelmoskva.rs
5. Majestic is a four stars hotel, built in the 30’s in a traditional style, bringing to these days the atmosphere of the old Belgrade, its location is close to Knez Mihajlova and to the centre: Obilicev Venac 28, tel. +381 11 3285-777, office@majestic.rs
6. Evropa, a charming and very luxurious hotel with leather sofas and even a spa center – sounds pretty exciting! Located on Terazije 2 (downtown Belgrade), tel. +381 11 36 26 017, office@hotelevropa.rs
hotel Evropa (source)
So that would be it: a brief tour of Belgrade, capital of Serbia, a wonderful place for making friends, spending good quality time and developing yourself culturally. Whatever bad you were thinking about Serbia and particularly Belgrade, I believe you’ll review your opinion after my guide and that you’ll end up wanting to visit this country and in case you do so, I do hope my guide will help you in finding the best hotels, shopping & seeing the best of Belgrade and eating at the best restaurants! I hope you enjoyed! See you in Belgrade!
