Belgrade is a city full of life with many sights to see. It has a vibrant city centre with many young people, owing to the University of Belgrade. There are various parks and green areas, many cafes and take out eateries, restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets along the Skadarlija, also known as the Bohemian quarter of Belgrade.
Many of the major high street fashion names can be found along the pedestrianised Knez Mihailova in the central city area, together with all and any other shops. It is clean and user friendly with a broad road devoid of vehicle traffic. It leads to the old Belgrade fortress at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.
Picture above. The centre with trams mixing with other traffic can be busy, trams must follow the track whilst the rest do as they please, and then you still have pedestrians. Note the mix of tram cables, electricity cables for traffic lights and whatever else - very eastern Europe from yesteryear, yet lovely.
Many of the major high street fashion names can be found along the pedestrianised Knez Mihailova in the central city area, together with all and any other shops. It is clean and user friendly with a broad road devoid of vehicle traffic. It leads to the old Belgrade fortress at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.
City centre park
Serbian National Assembly
A city centre with trams
Picture above. The centre with trams mixing with other traffic can be busy, trams must follow the track whilst the rest do as they please, and then you still have pedestrians. Note the mix of tram cables, electricity cables for traffic lights and whatever else - very eastern Europe from yesteryear, yet lovely.
The 'old' Hotel Balkan....
.... and the 'new' Metropole Palace hotel.
Old style vehicles ....
.... and a Harley-Davidson
Free drinking water is provided in the main shopping boulevard
From the Belgrade fortress, the confluence of the Sava and the Danube
Picture above. We decided to have lunch on the Skadarlija, a large pedestrianised mall known for dining and imbibing in Belgrade. Honouring the time tested axiom of the traveller i.e., Rome and Romans or Serbia and Serbians, we opted for a Serbian mixed grill with two side salads and bread. Geez, what arrived could have fed four! It was both wonderfully presented in a ceramic dish and tasted just like a proper grill straight off the bbq (braai). It had beef, chicken, sausages, pork, prunes wrapped in bacon and roast style potato's. All imbued with a marvellous smoky flavour and washed down with pivo (Serbian lager). Now how civilised is that?!
The restaurant was situated on the pedestrian mall, had an outside covered veranda where you could watch the very watchable passing parade! Not a rip off either, the bill came to 36Euros (£30) including our tip.
As said before, Serbia is open for tourism! It is different, yet not overly so. You feel like you have travelled, yet not to some outlandish different place. We could easily visit Belgrade again - highly recommended!
And hopefully you do! Once night falls, the electricity of Belgrade is almost tangible in the air-- it's THE place to be. Serbs have a joie de vivre that easily rivals that of the French or the Italians'. But Serbia is also known for its stunning landscapes and beautiful natural surroundings; make sure you venture farther afield (i.e. outside Belgrade) once you decide to visit again. Happy travels!!
ReplyDeleteBelgrade is great city and Serbs are very friendly people !!!
ReplyDeleteSince moving here to Serbia last year from America, I don't ever want to move anyplace else!! I love Serbia :))
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