BelgradeCapital
Serbia · Country profile
Belgrade is the white city of the Balkans, built on the bluff where the Sava and the Danube meet, a capital that has been destroyed and rebuilt forty times and keeps the scars and the swagger to prove it. The old town, the Kalemegdan fortress and the great riverside parks frame the centre, while the bohemian quarter of Skadarlija and the hip districts of the riverbanks hold the cafes and the nightlife. The city sprawls across the river into New Belgrade, a regular grid of modernist blocks that shows the 20th century planning of the socialist era. Brash, sociable and endlessly debating, Belgrade runs on coffee, sport, music and the long summer evenings on the river barges.
About Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital of Serbia. The city's documented population is around 1,685,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Serbian Dinar (RSD) and Serbian is spoken; the dialling code is +381. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.
Two Rivers, a Fortress and the White City on the Bluff
Belgrade is a big, sociable, river-bound capital whose heart is the old town around the Kalemegdan fortress, where the two rivers meet below the bluff. The city is compact and walkable in its centre, with the bohemian streets, the great boulevards and the riverside promenades holding the action. It is famous for its nightlife — the floating river bars and the late, loud clubs — but the daytime is just as pleasant, with the parks, the museums and the strong coffee culture. Prices are low by European standards and the people are direct, warm and proud. The Danube and the Sava give the city its double riverside life.
Kafana Tables, Floating Bars and the Long Summer Evenings
The long, bright summers are the high season, and the river barges and the rooftop bars make the most of the light; spring and autumn are pleasant and quieter, and winter is cold but festive. The currency is the dinar, and cash is still useful in the smaller places, though cards are common. The fortress at the confluence is the essential walk, with its views over both rivers. The nightlife is the legend but it runs late, so pace the evenings. Concert halls, the national theatre and the festivals of summer need booking ahead in the season, and the bridges of the Danube are at their best lit up after dark.
The Parks, the Pigeons and the Walks of the Paved Squares
The centre is walkable, and the short city bus lines and the tram of the main streets fill the gaps; the bikes and the electric scooters are everywhere along the riverside. Kalemegdan is the great meeting place at sunset, and the staircase down to the river gives the quiet walks. The Balkan food is serious: the grilled cevapi, the thick stews and the salads of the region, washed down with the local plum brandy. The cafes run from the morning into the night, and the espresso drinking is a ceremony of the whole day. Learn a few words of Serbian and the smiles open up fast, and remember that Belgrade time means nothing starts on time.
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- Country
- Serbia
- Population
- 1,685,000
- Coordinates
- 44.8184, 20.3091
- Capital
- Belgrade
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Serbian Dinar (RSD)
- Languages
- Serbian
- Calling code
- +381
- Country code
- RS
Entry requirements for Serbia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Serbia for tourism.
Getting to Belgrade
Airports we list for Belgrade:
Frequently asked questions
Is Belgrade the capital of Serbia?
Yes — Belgrade is the capital of Serbia.
What currency do I need in Belgrade?
The local currency is the Serbian Dinar (RSD). Languages spoken in Serbia include Serbian.
What is the dialling code for Serbia?
The international dialling code for Serbia is +381.
Which airport should I fly into for Belgrade?
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is the airport we list for Belgrade.
Do I need a visa to visit Serbia?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Serbia visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Belgrade? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.