FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN BELGRADE
You can easily get to Belgrade from Finland with direct flights.
Belgrade is home to Serbia’s Nikola Tesla International Airport, 18 km from the city center.
The easiest way to travel from Finland to Belgrade is with Air Serbia’s direct flights from Helsinki. Travel time is about two and a half hours. Round-trip flights cost about 250 euros.
From Nikola Tesla Square you can get to the center of Belgrade by minibus for about five euros or more by taxi. A taxi ride costs about 10 euros when booked in advance, and you should always book a taxi in advance by phone. Airport tourist information can also be requested to order a taxi.
Unfortunately, taxi drivers who attract passengers arriving from the airport without a reservation often charge an overcharge for the ride, and their services should be avoided.
Accommodation in Belgrade
Belgrade’s accommodation offer is not in the Western European class, but the situation is slowly improving. There are limitations to the hotel selection in Belgrade, as many hotels are old and shabby, and the star rating does not necessarily guarantee a standard.
When looking for accommodation, you should look for newer and renovated hotels with the best level of accommodation and especially value for money. Serbia is generally affordable, but hotels are relatively expensive due to low competition. For budget travelers, there are cheap hostels in the city.
As Belgrade is a city where you can often enjoy the late outdoors, accommodation is best viewed from the feel of Old Belgrade. If you don’t care about nightlife and are willing to use public transport or taxis, you can also stay well on the New Belgrade side or in Zemun, where you can stay in idyllic surroundings.
Getting around Belgrade
In Belgrade, the distances are quite long, and the city is not just a walk. The public transport network is functional in itself, but still old. The journey can be folded by buses, trolleys and trams. Trams are the best for getting around, but have shortcomings in network coverage. Many places have to be traveled by either buses or trolleys that travel all over the city.
Bus travel is hampered by the fact that Belgrade suffers from severe traffic congestion that can slow down travel. One-minute timetables are not worth drawing up in Belgrade. Public transport route maps are pretty good, and low-cost tickets can be bought at kiosks. The ticket must be remembered to be stamped immediately after the vehicle has boarded.
ATTRACTIONS IN BELGRADE
St. Sava Cathedral is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
The enchanting park and fortress of Kalemegdan
The best thing about Belgrade is the Kalemegdan fortified park in the center on the banks of the Danube and Sava. Kalemegdan is accessible via Belgrade’s cozy pedestrian center.
Situated on a riverside hill, Kalemegdan is the real heart of Belgrade, with forts for at least 2,000 years. The present walls and forts date mainly from the 17th century.
Locals come to Kalemegdan’s extensive parkland to spend time regardless of the time of day. The park offers many different walls, towers, corridors and other parts of the fortress to explore free of charge. The area also offers a great view of the New Belgrade area, especially at night.
For the most part, Kalemegda Fortress and Park are free, but a small entrance fee is payable to visit the Kalemagdan Military History Museum, which is a great place to visit for anyone interested in military history and equipment.
Spectacular Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Walking Center
Republic Square is the most important area in the center of Belgrade. The square is the city’s main meeting place and is home to many of Belgrade’s most important buildings, such as the National Museum and Theater.
The Republic Square connects to Belgrade’s pedestrian center, which is the pulsating heart of Belgrade. The lively and cozy area is full of cafes, restaurants and shops. The city center also has the best shopping in the city. Compared to the rest of the Balkans, Belgrade offers excellent shopping opportunities, and the price level is also slightly lower than in Finland.
The gigantic Cathedral of St. Sava
St. Sava Cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Belgrade and is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
Construction work on St. Sava Cathedral began as early as the 1930s, but construction work on the interior is still in progress. However, you can also visit indoors.
The white St. Sava Cathedral is surrounded by a large park area with many fountains, among other things. At night, St. Sava Cathedral is one of Belgrade’s most spectacularly illuminated buildings.
Tito’s Mausoleum House of Flowers
The Flower House, or Kuca cveka, located outside the city center, is a memorial area dedicated to the former Yugoslav leader Tito. There are three museum buildings in the huge park area, one of which is the Tito Mausoleum, or House of Flowers. The mausoleum is transported along a carefully marked fairway. Other buildings showcase the history of Yugoslavia.
The name of the area The House of Flowers dates back to the fact that during Yugoslavia the Tus Mausoleum was surrounded by flowers. After the break-up of Yugoslavia, the area was closed, but is now open to the public again. In the same area is also the Museum of Yugoslav History, where a flamboyant video of Tito’s life and achievements is the best thing to visit.
THE BEST OF BELGRAD
Kalemegda Fortress tells of the city’s military history.
Experience these in Belgrade
- Watch the sunset or sunrise in Kalemegdan Park and explore the area’s forts.
- Visit Sava’s floating clubs.
- Visit the park of Sava Cathedral during the night light.
- Enjoy a late dinner on Skadarlija’s park-like restaurant street with folk music playing.
- Visit the Partiza Belgrade football match and the museum next to the stadium.
The best attractions in Belgrade
- Kalemagdan Fortress
- Sava Cathedral
- House of Flowers aka Kuca Cveca
- Skadarlija restaurant block
- Zemun district
- Belgrade Parliament House Savezni Skupstina
- Knez Mihailova Walking Center
- Republic Square Trg Rebuplike
- Nikola Tesla Museum
