02 02 03 03 Quick view Travel etiquette Health 04 04 07 07 Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants 08 09 09 Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels istock LH.com/travelguide 01/10
02 Quick view a brief overview The n capital is a mirror of its history, caught between the Austro-Hungarian Empire on one side and the Ottoman Empire on the other. The ruined walls of the citadel bear testament to these imperial ambitions. also bears the scars of the more recent 1990s conflict, but peace has returned to the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, and the city is modernising fast. is a city of tranquil parks, Orthodox churches, lively markets and crowded cafés. Fascinating museums and lavish palaces are scattered around the centre, alongside a series of unfinished churches, whose construction was interrupted by the tumultuous events of the 20th century. General Information Country overview In recent years has emerged as one of Eastern Europe's hottest 'undiscovered' destinations. Geography borders Hungary to the north, Romania to the northeast, Bulgaria to the southeast, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania to the south, Montenegro to the southwest, Bosnia & Herzegovina to the west and Croatia to the northwest. Northern is dominated by the flat, fertile farmland of the Danube and Tisa valleys. The scenery varies from rich Alpine valleys, vast fertile plains and rolling green hills to bare, rocky gorges as much as 1,140m (3,800ft) deep, thick forests and gaunt limestone mountain regions., the capital, lies at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. General knowledge Key facts Population: 7243007 Population Density (per sq km): 93 Capital:. Language n, which uses both Cyrillic and Latin script, Hungarian in the north and some Albanian. Currency The official currency in is the n Dinar. n Dinar (RSD; symbol Дин.) = 100 paras. Notes are in denominations of Дин.5,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Дин.20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two round pins are used. LH.com/travelguide 02/10
03 General business opening hours Mon-Fri 0800-1600. Public holidays Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2019 December 2020 period. Note Holidays falling on Sunday are observed the following Monday. 2019 Nova Godina (New Year s Day): 1 and 2 January 2019 Božić (Orthodox Christmas Day): 7 January 2019 Dan državnosti Srbije (National Day): 15 and 16 February 2019 Veliki Petak/Subota (Orthodox Good Friday/Saturday): 26 and 27 April 2019 Uskrs (Orthodox Easter): 28 and 29 April 2019 Praznik Rada (Labour Day): 1 May 2019 Dan pobede (Victory Day): 9 May 2019 Vidovdan (St Vitus Day): 28 June 2019 Dan primirja u Prvom svetskom ratu (Armistice Day): 11 November 2019 2020 Nova Godina (New Year s Day): 1 and 2 January 2020 Božić (Orthodox Christmas Day): 7 January 2020 Dan državnosti Srbije (National Day): 15 and 16 February 2020 Veliki Petak/Subota (Orthodox Good Friday/Saturday): 17 and 18 April 2020 Uskrs (Orthodox Easter): 19 and 20 April 2020 Praznik Rada (Labour Day): 1 and 2 May 2020 Dan pobede (Victory Day): 9 May 2020 Vidovdan (St Vitus Day): 28 June 2020 Dan primirja u Prvom svetskom ratu (Armistice Day): 11 November 2020 All information subject to change. Travel etiquette How to fit in Social Conventions Avoid taking pictures of military installations and of obvious bomb damage from 1999, which may cause ill feeling. Health Health Food & Drink Mains water is normally chlorinated and, whilst relatively safe to drink, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is readily available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. If in doubt, use common sense and peel, boil or cook food to reduce chances of an upset stomach. 's exchange rate makes it an attractive place to drink and eat out making the risk of a sore head after overindulging all too high! Other Risks Tick-borne encephalitis is present in some rural areas. Precautions such as using LH.com/travelguide 03/10
04 repellent and wearing long trousers should be taken. Pre-exposure vaccination is not always available. Any ticks found should be carefully removed and medical attention sought. Hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended for trips longer than one month. Avoid contact with animals, as rabies can be found in in. Consider getting vaccinated if you are likely to be in close proximity to animals. Contractual physician of Lufthansa Dr. Stojic, Dejan Aerodrom 59 11000 Tel. +381-69-1365867 Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment. Phone calls & Internet Phone calls & Internet Telephone/Mobile Telephone Dialing code: +381 Telephone There are public payphones in which accept telephone cards rather than cash. These can be bought at any newsagent or post office. Pre-paid Halo telephone cards costing 200-300 dinars allow both local and international calls, whilst a Halo Plus card allows only international calls at a cheaper rate. Mobile Telephone Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Double-check with your phone company as to whether is included as part of Europe for data purposes, as some companies classify it outside of the European zone and will charge higher roaming rates. Coverage is good in the north and in, but can be patchier in the south. Internet Internet cafés can be found in the main urban centres. Most hotels and selfcatering apartments will have Wi-Fi but it may not be wholly reliable. In, free Wi-Fi hotspots can be found within proximity of most Nestle ice-cream stands. You do not have to buy an ice-cream to use their Wi-Fi. Top 10 sights Top 10 sights in Fortress and Kalemegdan Park Set in the sprawling green expanse of Kalemegdan Park, the ruins of the fortress of provide an evocative vantage point to look out over the city. Dotted among the broken walls are cannons and guns from a succession of conflicts. Kalemegdan Park 11000 Tel: (011) 262 0685 Daily 1100-1900 (fortress) www.beogradskatvrdjava.co.rs LH.com/travelguide 04/10
05 Hram Svetog Save The world s largest Orthodox church has a commanding position on the skyline. This towering monument was modelled after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and the final stage of decorating the interior with murals and mosaics continues today. Krušedolska 2A 11000 Tel: 0903 141 414 Open for services www.hramsvetogsave.com Royal Palace The elegant Royal Palace of was constructed in the 1920s for the grandfather of the current king of. Set in ornamental gardens, the palace is even more lavish inside, with ornately painted vaulted ceilings, Ottoman doorways and its own Orthodox chapel. Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karađorđevića 11040 Tel: (011) 263 5622 Tours: Sat-Sun 1100 and 1400 (Apr- Oct) www.royalfamily.org/palaces/the-royalpalace Victor Monument Created by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović in 1929, the Victor Monument, or Pobednik, has pride of place amidst the ruins of the citadel. Topped by a statue of the Victor, the monument commemorates the Serb victories that led to independence from both the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Stari Grad St Mark's Church The graceful church of St Marko was constructed between 1931 and 1940 by Petar and Branko Krstić, both professors of the Faculty of Architecture, to replace an earlier church from 1835. Although the interior is still incomplete, the church treasury contains a series of valuable icons, rescued from the original church. Palilula Daily 0700-1900 www.crkvasvetogmarka.rs Palace of Princess Ljubica The palatial former home of Miloš Obrenović and his wife Ljubica was built in 1829, using modern architectural ideas. Fusing Ottoman, classical and neobaroque elements, the mansion is used as a setting for contemporary exhibitions for the City Museum. LH.com/travelguide 05/10
06 Kneza Sime Markovića 8 11000 Tue-Wed and Fri 1000-1700 Thu 1200-2000 Sat 1100-1700 Sun 1000-1400 www.mgb.org.rs National Museum Set in a grand mansion from 1844, the national history museum s collection has expanded to some 400,000 items over the centuries. Because of extensive renovation works, many displays have been moved to locations around, but themed exhibitions continue in the museum s atrium. 1а Trg republike 104303 Tue-Wed and Fri 1000-1700 Thu and Sat 1200-2000 Sun 1000-1400 en.narodnimuzej.rs Museum of Contemporary Art This museum boasts an impressive collection of artworks, including thoughtprovoking pieces from before and after the breakdown of Yugoslavia. The collection continues across three additional display spaces the Salon at Pariska 14, the Gallery-Legacy of Milica Zorić & Rodoljub Čolaković on Rodoljuba Čolakovića and the Gallery of Petar Dobrović on Kralja Petra 36/IV. The main building is currently under renovation. Ušće 10, blok 15 11070 Tel: (011) 367 6288 Wed-Mon 1200-2000 www.msub.org.rs Stari Dvor The City Assembly of is set in the imposing Stari Dvor, or Old Palace, constructed in 1881 as the official residence of the Obrenović dynasty. The stately neoclassical halls are now used for city functions, but visitors can see the grandeur inside on organised tours. Kralja Milana Street 11000 Tours by arrangement www.beograd.rs Nikola Tesla Museum Dedicated to national hero Nikola Tesla, this intriguing museum is housed in a monumental villa, with displays of memorabilia from across the globe. Some of the most interesting exhibits relate to Tesla s time in the USA, where he worked under Thomas Edison before pioneering the use of alternating electrical currents. 51 Krunska LH.com/travelguide 06/10
07 Tue-Sun 1000-1800 www.tesla-museum.org Shopping in Shopping in Key Areas Downtown is the focal point of shopping in window shop on the pedestrianised streets around Kneza Mihaila, between Kalemegdan Park and Trg Repulike. Most of the city s malls are west of the Sava River in New. Markets Public green markets are still the mainstay of food shopping for many residents, with abundant fresh fruit and vegetables, alongside interesting local delicacies. The largest and busiest market is Kalenić Pijaca, between Maksima Gorkog and Njegoševa in the south of the city. In the centre, the Zeleni Venac market is good for fresh fruit from n orchards. Shopping Centres Megamalls have come to in a big way, bringing all the expected international brands. For the best selection, head to Ušće Shopping Centre on Bulevar Mihajla Pupina or the Delta City mall on Jurija Gagarina, both west of the centre in New. Restaurants Restaurants in Dining in follows a fairly traditional furrow, with an emphasis on oldfashioned n dishes, but many menus show the clear influence of Greece, Hungary and Turkey.The cheapest dining options are the informal kafana dotted around the centre, where simple meals and cheap drinks are accompanied by live music after dark. Kalemegdanska Terasa A stylish terrace restaurant with a view to die for, set among the battlements of the Citadel. Stari Grad 11000 Price: Expensive Pire Slow food comes with attentive service at this elegant modern European eatery, owned by one of s top fashion designers. Cara Lazara 11 11000 Price: Expensive LH.com/travelguide 07/10
08 Supermarket A concept restaurant in a concept design store, with innovative, often organic, cuisine and rails of clothes to browse between courses. 10 Višnjićeva 11000 Price: Moderate Little Bay Part restaurant, part opera house, Little Bay offers a lively dinner show at a price that won t raise the roof. 9a Dositejeva 11000 Price: Moderate Nightlife Nightlife in Nightlife in has become more restrained since late opening was restricted to 1am, but the city still has its share of clubs, cocktail lounges and boisterous beer halls.the big trend in town is partying on the water, aboard the splavovi (disco rafts) that cruise the Danube and Sava rivers every summer. Federal Association of Globe Trotters Like drinking in the lounge of a hippy aunt, this eccentric speakeasy is the place to come for long drinks and deep conversation. Bul. Despota Stefana 7/-1 11000 Mladost & Ludost Twin bars with designer interiors, DJs and a loyal local following. Karadjordjeva 44 11000 Bar Central Locals flock to this downtown watering hole to sample the latest creations from the trainee mixologists behind the bar. Kralja Petra 59 11000 The Tube LH.com/travelguide 08/10
09 Bringing a Berlin vibe to the centre of, this hedonistic basement club is a temple to electronic dance beats. 21 Simina 11000 Rakia Bar Sample s most famous tipple under the supervision of expert bartenders at this popular shrine to rakia. Dobračina 5 11000 Calendar of events Calendar of events International Film Festival Annual event that screens the work of filmmakers from all over the world. February - March 2019 www.fest.rs Venue: Various cinemas New Year s Eve Free event attracting large crowds of revellers. 31 December 2019 1 January 2020 Venue: Various squares, parks, bars and clubs in Hotels Hotels in International chains are starting to appear in, but the majority of the city s hotels are local affairs. Rooms run the gamut from rustic pensions crammed with chintzy homewaresto modern design hotels full of modernist furniture. The area around railway station is the hub for budget accommodation. Square Nine Hotel Effortlessly stylish, s top hotel offers sleek rooms with marble bathrooms and just a hint of art deco chic. 9 Studentski trg 103933 Category: Expensive LH.com/travelguide 09/10
10 Hyatt Regency A gleaming modern tower, offering angular rooms with starched white sheets and some of the city s best views. Milentija Popovica 5 11070 Category: Expensive Excelsior Hotel The Excelsior scores highly for its smart, refurbished rooms, and handy location by the Parliament. Kneza Milosa 5 11000 Category: Moderate City Hotel Set in a handsome neoclassical building, the City Hotel offers oldfashioned but comfortable rooms just steps from railway station. Savski trg 7 11000 Category: Moderate Downtown Apartments Bane The location is the big drawcard at this tidy apart-hotel in the heart of the city. Nusiceva 16 11103 Category: Budget LH.com/travelguide 10/10