City Guides

Facts about Belgrade (Serbia)

History

Belgrade, a city of very tumultuous history, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its history lasts full 7,000 years. The area around two great rivers, the Sava and the Danube has been inhabited as early as palaeolithic period. Remains of human bones and skulls of Neanderthals, found in the stone-pit near Leštane, in a cave in Čukarica and near the Bajloni market, date back to the early Stone Age.

Remains of the late Stone Age culture have been found in Vinča, Žarkovo and in Upper Town, above the Sava and Dunav confluence. It indicates that the area of Belgrade has been continually inhabited and that the intensity of the settling has been getting higher and higher. Many of today's settlements in Belgrade surroundings lie on cultural layers of earlier prehistoric settlements.

Vinča near Belgrade comes among the most important settlements and cultural sites of the prehistoric period. The presence of Illyrians is characteristic for the Bronze Age. The archaeological excavations at Rospi Ćuprija, Upper Town, Karaburma, Zemun and Vinča confirm hypotheses that the Belgrade area has been intensively inhabited and that its population has been engaged in plough agriculture and other supporting economic activities. Necropolises of the Bronze and Metal Ages as well as the evidence of different cultural influences have been discovered at these locations.

• 7000 B.C. First neolithic settlement
• end of I century A.D. The Romans colonize Singidunum
• 91 A.D. Singidunum is a Roman military camp of Flavius' IV legion
• 441 The Huns destroyed Belgrade
• after 450 Singidunum under the rule of the Sarmatians
• c. 470 The Eastern Goths expelled the Sarmatians from the town
• 488 The Gepidaes conquered Singidunum
• 504 The Goths capture the town
• 510 According to the peace treaty, the town went to the Byzantine Empire
• 535 Byzantine emperor Justinian I renews Singidunum
• 584 The Avars conquer and sack the ancient Singidunum
• 592 Byzantine Empire regained the town
• VII century The Avars destroyed and burnt down the town
• c. 630 The Slavs conquered Singidunum
• 827 The Bulgarians take the fortress under control
• 878 First written record of the Slavic name "Beograd"
• 896 Hungarian army attacked Belgrade
• 971 Byzantine Empire conquers Belgrade
• after 976 The town is taken by Emperor Samuel
• 1018 Emperor Basil II destroys Macedonian empire and Belgrade once more went to Byzantine Empire
• 1072 Belgrade was taken by Byzantine Empire
• 1096 Hungarian army destroyed Belgrade, but it remained under Byzantine control
• 1096-1189 Crusaders pass through Belgrade
• 1127 Hungarian king Stefan II destroys Belgrade and uses the stones to build Zemun
• 1154 Byzantine emperor Manuel I destroys Zemun and takes the stones back to rebuild Belgrade
• 1182 Hungary attacked and ransacked Belgrade
• 1185 Byzantine Empire regained Belgrade by diplomatic means
• 1230 Belgrade belongs to Bulgaria
• 1232 Belgrade became part of Hungary
• 1284 Serbian king Dragutin was given Belgrade from Hungarian Crown, and it is the first time Belgrade came under Serbian rule
• 1316 Dragutin's brother Milutin takes Belgrade by military force
• 1319 The Hungarians deprive King Milutin of the rule over Belgrade
• 1382 Enemies of Hungarian Crown, Horvat brothers, conquer Belgrade
• 1386 Hungary regained control over Belgrade
• 1403 Under Despot Stefan Lazarević Belgrade becomes the capital of medieval Serbia
• 1427 The Hungarians take Belgrade from Despot Đurađ Branković
• 1440 Turkey attacked Belgrade, but it remained unconquered, although it was heavily damaged
• 1456 Sultan Mahmud II conducted unsuccessful siege of Belgrade
• 1521 Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent conquers Belgrade
• 1688 Duke Maximilian of Bavaria conquers Belgrade
• 1690 Belgrade falls again under the Turkish rule
• 1717 Prince Eugene of Savoy captures Belgrade
• 1723-1736 Construction of Belgrade fortress by the plans of colonel Nikola Doksat de Mores
• 1739 Belgrade peace treaty, made between Austria and Turkey, giving Belgrade again to the Turks
• 1789 Marshal Gideon Ernst Laudon captures Belgrade
• 1791 Peace treaty of Svishtov gives Belgrade back to the Turks
• 1806 Karađorđe liberates Belgrade town and Belgrade becomes the capital of Serbia again
• 1808 The Great School was established in Belgrade
• 1813 The Turks reconquer Belgrade
• 1815 Miloš Obrenović started the Second Serbian Insurrection
• 1830 Sultan's hatišerif (charter) on Serbian autonomy
• 1831 First printing-house in Belgrade was put into operation
• 1835 First newspaper - "Novine srbske" is published in Belgrade
• 1840 Opening of the first post office in Belgrade
• 1841 Belgrade becomes the capital of the Princedom of Serbia in the first period of rule of Mihailo Obrenović
• 1844 The National Museum was established in Belgrade
• 1855 First telegraphic line Belgrade - Aleksinac was established
• 1862 Conflict at Čukur-česma and bombardment of Belgrade town from the fortress under Turkish control led to international decision that the Turks must leave Belgrade
• 1867 In Kalemegdan, the Turkish commander of Belgrade Ali-Riza pasha gives the keys of Belgrade to Knez Mihailo. The Turks finally leave Belgrade
• 1878 The Berlin Congress recognized the independence of Serbia
• 1882 Serbia becomes a kingdom, and Belgrade its capital
• 1883 First telephone lines are installed in Belgrade
• 1884 Railway station and railway bridge over Sava were constructed
• 1892 First water supply network in Belgrade was put into operation
• 1893 Electric lighting was introduced
• 1894 First electric tram was put into operation
• 1903 May coup d'etat - after the assassination of King Aleksandar Obrenović, King Petar I Karađorđević comes to the throne of Serbia
• 1914 The Austrians bombard and capture Belgrade, but in the same year the Serbs liberate it
• 1915 German and Austrian troops under the command of field marshal Mackensen capture Belgrade
• 1918 The Serbs and parts of allied forces liberate Belgrade
• 1918 Belgrade becomes the capital of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
• 1923 Paris - Budapest air line was extended to Belgrade
• 1926 King Aleksandar Karađorđević dissolves the National Assembly on January 6, and imposes dictatorship
• 1927 Belgrade Airport was opened
• 1929 Radio Belgrade started to broadcast
• 1935 First bridge over the Danube - Pančevački most - was put into operation
• 1937 Belgrade Fair was opened
• 1941 Massive protests against Yugoslav joining to the Axis on March 27
  The Germans bomb Belgrade on April 6, and occupy it on April 12
• 1944 The Americans and other allies bomb Belgrade
  On October 20, Belgrade was liberated by the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia with help of Russian Red Army
  The new communist government arrests and liquidates political opponents, and mobilizes Belgrade youth, sending them to the Sremski Front
• 1945 On November 29 in Belgrade the Constitutional Assembly proclaimed the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
  Monarchy was abolished and the communist rule of Josip Broz Tito officially started
• 1946 Nationalization of property of prewar industrialists
• 1948 Due to political differences between Stalinists and Titoists, a large number of people were arrested and sentenced to hard labour
• 1950 The "workers' self-management" was officially introduced upon the property seized from prewar owners
• 1958 Regular TV Belgrade broadcast began
• 1961 The First Conference of Non-aligned Countries was held
• 1967 First BITEF was held
• 1968 Students' protests
• 1969 The "Beograd" palace was built
• 1971 The Gazela bridge and highway through Belgrade were built
  First FEST was held
• 1974 New Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was adopted, later causing a row of negative consequences to the Serbian national issue
• 1977-78 The Conference on European Security and Cooperation took place in Belgrade
• 1979 Annual meetings of the World Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund
• 1980 XXI UNESCO General Assembly
• 1983 UNCTAD Annual Conference
• 1988 First meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the Balkan States
• 1992 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed
  The UN Security Council imposed economic sanctions on FR Yugoslavia on May 30
• 1993 Highest hyperinflation in the history of mankind brought many citizens of Belgrade to the edge of existence
• 1994 New, convertible dinar was introduced
• 1995 Underground railway station "Vukov spomenik" was put into operation
• 1996 Mass citizens' and students' protests against annulment of the results of local elections
• 1997 After half a century, a first noncommunist City government
• 1999 For three months NATO has bombed Yugoslavia, including targets in the center of Belgrade
• 2000 After elections and citizens' protests, Serbia was liberated from the dictatorship of Slobodan Milošević
• 2001 The outer wall of sanctions against the FR of Yugoslavia was lifted
  Serbia got its first democratic government
  Slobodan Milošević was handed over to the Tribunal in The Hague
• 2002 The Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was adopted
• 2003 The Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia Dr Zoran Đinđić was assassinated
  Serbia and Montenegro admitted in the Council of Europe
• 2004 Serbia got its first democratic president
• 2006 Belgrade is once more the capital of the independent state of Serbia
  New Constitution of the Republic of Serbia adopted

Travelling to Belgrade

Belgrade is a crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe, which lead via the Morava-Vardar and Nišava-Marica valleys to the Aegean coast, to Asia Minor and the Middle East.

Belgrade lies on the Danube, a waterway connecting Western and Central European countries to the countries of south-eastern and eastern Europe. With the construction of the Đerdap artificial lake and hydroelectric power plant, Belgrade became a river and a dock for river and ocean-going vessels. Its harbour is visited by ships from the Black Sea, and with the opening of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal it became a central point of the most important waterway in Europe, that connects the North Sea, the Atlantic and the Black Sea.

Belgrade railway junction is an intersection where 7 main railway lines carrying international traffic and 5 local lines meet.

The two coach stations (BAS and Lasta) have a total of 80 departure platforms and 20 arrival platforms, with a daily turnover of more than 1,400 coaches.

Nikola Tesla Airport is equipped to handle 5,500,000 passengers annually and is connected via regular routes to 39 destinations worldwide, served both by local carriers and by 18 foreign airlines.

Hotels

*****

• ALEKSANDAR PALAS
• CONTINENTAL HOTEL BEOGRAD
• HYATT REGENCY BELGRADE
• ZLATNIK

****

• ADMIRAL CLUB
• BALKAN
• BEST WESTERN M
• BEST WESTERN ŠUMADIJA
• IN HOTEL BEOGRAD
• HOLIDAY INN
• MAJESTIC
• MOSKVA
• PALACE
• PRESTIGE
• SLAVIJA LUX
• TOWNHOUSE 27

***

• ASTORIA
• ELEGANCE
• KASINA
• LE PETIT PIAF
• METROPOL PALACE
• N
• NACIONAL
• ORAŠAC
• PARK
• POŠTA
• PRAG
• PUTNIK
• REX
• ROYAL
• SKALA
• SPLENDID
• SLODES
• SRBIJA
• UNION

**

• BEOGRAD
• EXCELSIOR
• LAV
• SLAVIJA
• TAŠ
• TRIM

*

• BRISTOL
• CENTRAL
• MIHAJLOVAC

(Inter)national Restaurants

To be honest, Serbian cuisine is international cuisine, as it was created by the influences of many different cultures, intertwining during the course of Serbia's turbulent history. So, don't be surprised at the title of this page.

Key
(nat.) = predominantly local cuisine, (mus.) = live music

ABC, Ohridska bb, Zemun, tel: 3166-816, 10.00-24.00
AEROKLUB, Uzun-Mirkova 4, tel: 2626-077, 09.00-23.00
ARHIV, Bul. kralja Aleksandra 69, tel: 3230-910, 3237-047, 11.00-24.00 (nat)
AVALA, Ljutice Bogdana 24, tel: 2663-751, 09.00-24.00 (nat)
BALZAK, Strahinjića Bana 13, tel: 3285-906, 10.00-24.00
BEOGRADSKA PANORAMA, Topličin venac 23, tel: 2185-585, 2637-222, 12.00-01.00, (mus. 20.00-01.00)
CLUB JELENA, Generala Šturma 1, tel: 3066-509, 08.00-23.00
ČUBURSKA LIPA, Cara Nikolaja II 7, tel: 2436-637, 11.00-24.00 apart from Sundays (nat, mus. 20.00-24.00)
DAKA, Đure Daničića 4, tel: 3222-068, 11.00-01.00
DAČO, Patrisa Lumumbe 49, tel: 2781-009, 12.00-24.00 apart from Mondays
DEVETKA, Kneza Višeslava 25, tel: 3559-783, 08.00-23.00 (nat)
DELFIN, Kraljice Marije 1, tel: 3376-392, 10.00-23.00 (nat)
DIŠINA KOLIBA, Andre Nikolića 2v, tel: 3691-700, 10.00-24.00 (nat)
DORIAN GRAY, Kralja Petra I 87-99, tel: 2634-151, 08.00-02.00
ĐORĐE, Šekspirova 29, tel: 2660-684, 12.00-24.00 apart from Sundays (mus. 19.30-23.30)
FRANŠ, Bulevar oslobođenja 18a, tel: 2641-944, 09.00-01.00 except Sundays, (nat)
GENTLEMEN, Zahumska 23, tel: 240-1559, 12.00-24.00, except Sundays
GOLF, Kneza Višeslava 23, tel: 3554-348, 08.00-24.00 (nat)
GRADONAČELNIK, Dragoslava Jovanovića 9, tel: 3239-612, 10.00-24.00 (nat, mus)
GRAFIČAR, Vase Pelagića 31, tel: 2650-783, 08.00-23.00 (nat)
GRČKA KRALJICA, Knez Mihailova 51, tel: 638-963, 10.00-24.00 (nat)
HAJDUK, Milana Rakića 48, tel: 241-1659, 09.00-23.00 (nat)
IKAR, Albanske spomenice 10, tel: 767-962, 09.00-23.00 (nat)
INEX, Knez Mihailova 39, tel: 2633-586, 10.00-24.00, except Sundays
JEZERO, Ada Ciganlija bb, tel: 2544-455, 08.00-22.00
KALEMEGDANSKA TERASA, Mali Kalemegdan bb, 328-2727, 12.00-01.00 (nat, mus. 20.30-01.00)
KLUB 011, Dr Milutina Ivkovića 11, tel: 660-751, 10.00-24.00
KLUB OPTIMIST 42, Mileševska 42, tel: 444-3292, 10.00-02.00 (mus. 22.00-02.00)
KLUB BARDOVA, Mitropolita Petra 8, tel: 065-2080-160, 11.00-01.00 (mus)
KLUB KNJIŽEVNIKA, Francuska 7, tel: 627-931, 08.00-01.00 (nat.)
KNEZ, Kneza Sime Mirkovića 10, tel: 635-160, 12.00-24.00, Fri-Sun 12.00-01.00
KOD SRBE, Gospodara Vučića 160, tel: 2412-090, 10.00-22.00 (nat)
KOLARAC, Knez Mihailova 46, tel: 638-972, 08.00-24.00 (nat)
KOLIBA, Ljubice Luković 7a, tel: 753-142, 10.00-23.00 (nat)
KOLING CLUB, Neznanog junaka 33, tel: 3671-892
KONOBA, Prote Mateje 35, tel: 3861-103, 10.00-23.30 except Sundays (nat, mus. 08.30-23.30)
KOŠUTA, Pionirska 32, tel: 2662-969, 11.00-23.00
KOVAČ, Bulevar oslobođenja 221, tel: 2462-343, 09.00-01.00 (nat)
KRISTAL, Kolarčeva 1, tel: 3038-480 (mus)
KUMBARA, Bulevar oslobođenja 36, Beli Potok, tel: 390-6834, 09.00-23.00 (nat)
MADERA, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 43, tel: 323-1332, 10.00-01.00 (mus. 21.00-24.00)
MANJEŽ, Svetozara Markovića 49, tel: 362-1111, 09.00-01.00 (mus. 21.00-01.00)
METROPOLITAN GRILL, Milentija Popovića 7, tel: 301-1140, 12.00-23.00 (mus)
MIHALJOVAC, Požeška 31, tel: 3555-458, 20.00-02.00 (nat, mus. 20.30-02.00)
MILOŠEV KONAK, Topčiderska 1, tel: 2663-146, -07.00-24.00 (mus. 20.00-24.00)
MOVIE BAR, Kolarčeva 6, tel: 262-3818, 09.00-24.00
NA ĆOŠKU, Beogradska 37, tel: 3236-470, 12.00-24.00
NOVI SALAŠ, Majke Jevrosime 19, tel: 334-0530, 09.00-24.00
ODMOR, Bulevar oslobođenja 63, tel: 2436-373, 10.00-23.00 except Sundays, Sat 12.00-23.00 (nat)
OPERA, Obilićev venac 30, tel: 3036-200, 09.00-01.00
ORAČ, Makenzijeva 81, tel: 444-0507, 09.00-24.00 (nat)
OSKAR, Braće Baruh 6, tel: 2184-726, 10.00-23.00, weekends 12.00-20.00
OLIMP, Vjekoslava Kovača 11, tel: 416-041, 10.00-23.00 (nat)
PASTUV, Paštrovićeva 2, tel: 354-8058, 12.00-23.00
PERPER LUX, Omladinskih brigada 18a, tel: 2606-046, 12.00-24.00
PERPER EXPRESS, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 106, tel: 2144-416, 09.00-24.00 (nat)
PLATO RESTORAN, Vase Čarapića 19, tel: 2635-010, 09.00-01.00, weekends 10.00-02.00 (mus)
PORTO BELLO, Svetog Save 11, tel: 245-8373, 08.00-01.00 except Mondays
PRESS CENTER CLUB, Knez Mihailova 6/III, tel: 2621-661, 09.00-01.00, except Sundays
PROLEĆE, Vuka Karadžića 11, tel: 635-436, 10.00-23.00 (nat)
RACA, Janka Gogića 13, Boleč, tel: 806-3226, 12.00-22.00 (nat)
RADMILOVAC, Smederevski put bb, tel: 341-6140, 09.00-01.00 (mus. Mon-Sun from 21.00)
RUBIN, Kneza Višeslava 29, tel: 3510-987, 10.00-23.00, except Mondays
SAN MARINO, Bulevar despota Stefana 68, tel: 763-333, 09.00-23.00
SENT ANDREJA, Kej oslobođenja 35, tel: 2105-565, 11.00-24.00 (mus)
SIMEX, Bulevar vojvode Mišića 11, tel: 361-4061, 12.00-02.00 (mus)
SINĐELIĆ, Vojislava Ilića 86, tel: 2412-297, 09.00-23.00 (nat)
SLAVA, Svetogorska 2, tel: 3037-267, 12.00-24.00
SKALA, Bežanijska 3, Zemun, tel: 196-605,07.00-01.00
SPORT CAFE, Makedonska 4a, tel: 3243-177, 3141-327, 09.00-01.00
SRPSKA KAFANA, Svetogorska 25, tel: 3247-197,10.00-02.00 (nat)
STARA HERCEGOVINA, Carigradska 36, tel: 324-5856, 09.00-24.00, Sunday 10.00-19.00 (nat)
STARA KAPETANIJA, Kej oslobođenja 8, tel: 3161-965, 10.00-23.00 (mus)
SUNCE, Dečanska 1, tel: 324-8474, 09.00-22.00 except Sundays (nat)
SURI, Nebojšina 41, tel: 344-3725, 11.00-23.00 (nat)
ŠEHER, Andre Nikolića 1, tel: 2651-726, 09.00-23.00 (nat)
TABOR, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 348, tel: 2412-464, 10.00-01.00 except Sundays (mus)
TALIR, Čarli Čaplina 44, tel: 329-2454, 10.00-24.00 (mus. Thursdays)
TANJIR, Francuska 40, tel: 339-1616, 12.00-24.00, except Sundays
TRANDAFILOVIĆ, Makenzijeva 63, tel: 2430-230, 09.00-24.00 (nat)
TRIBECA, Kralja Petra 20, tel: 328-5656, 09.00-02.00
UŠĆE, Ušće bb, tel: 139-692, 09.00-24.00 (mus. Wed-Sun)
VIOLETA KUĆA STARA, Topolska 4, tel: 243-1458, 10.00-24.00
VOJVODINA, Palmira Toljatija 5, tel: 301-8021, 09.00-12.00 except Sundays (nat)
VUK, Vuka Karadžića 12, tel: 2629-761, 10.00-24.00 except Sundays, (nat)
ZAPLET, Kajmakčalanska 2, tel: 2404-142, 09.00-24.00 except Mondays, (nat)
ZLATAR, Preradovićeva 9a, tel: 754-651, 08.00-01.00 (nat, mus)
ZLATNIK, Dobanovačka 95, Zemun, tel: 3166-256, 12.00-23.00
ZLATNI OPANAK, Bul. kralja Aleksandra 119, tel: 3089-645, 08.00-23.00 except Sundays (nat)
ZVEZDARA TEATAR, Milana Rakića 38, tel: 2419-401, 12.00-23.00
ŽABAR, Kej oslobođenja bb, tel: 3191-226, 12.00-23.00 (nat)

Entertainment

Belgrade has a reputation for its nightlife, and with good reason. Unlike in other parts of Europe, there is no day of the week in Belgrade when you cannot have a night out. This is true whatever your age, whatever your lifestyle and however much you want to spend!

You just have to get to know the rhythm of Belgrade's nightlife. Firstly, a night out in Belgrade starts relatively late, not until after 10 or even 11 o'clock in the evening. The only exception is when there is something interesting going on earlier in the evening: the opening of an interesting exhibition, a fashion show or a film or theatre premiere. The prelude to a night out is usually a visit to the cafés concentrated in the following areas: Obilićev venac, Strahinjića Bana, Njegoševa, Skadarlija or another of the popular local spots. The next task is to choose the right place for your night out, depending on your musical taste, age and lifestyle. The choice boils down to two options: a floating river café-club ("splav") or a club.