Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city lies on two international waterways, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube in north central Serbia, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula.

History of Belgrade

Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a known history spanning some 7000 turbulent years.

Vinča was a prehistoric settlement on the very banks of the Danube and traces of a prehistoric human material culture (Neolithic plastic art) have been found. Ancient sources mention the oldest known name for Belgrade - Singidunum.

During the 6th century, the Slavs, taking advantage of the weaknesses in the border defences of the Byzantine Empire, crossed the Danube in great numbers and settled in this area. The town, built of stone, which emerged above the river, was called the White City (Beli grad).

Climate 

The climate of Belgrade is a moderate continental one, with four seasons. The annual mean air temperature is 11.70C.

Population and Language

The population of Belgrade is about 1,800.000.
The official language is Serbian. The Cyrillic alphabet is used officially, with Latin script also very commonly used as both alphabets are taught in schools.
The languages and alphabets of ethnic minorities are officially used in those areas where they reside. Visitors from abroad are advised to use English, while German, French and Russian are less widely used.

Currency 

The official currency is the dinar (RSD).
Currency can be exchanged in all banks and post offices, as well as in the many authorised exchange offices.
The best foreign currency to bring is the Euro (EUR) as the people of Serbia very often quote prices in Euros, in parallel to dinars.

Culture and Entertainment

We have numerous recommendations covering the cultural life of Belgrade.
You can visit some of the forty or so Belgrade Museums.
Don't miss the art exhibitions in Belgrade's fifty or so galleries.
Spend a pleasant evening in one of Belgrade's twenty or so theatres during the theatre season.
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!
The rafts (splavovi) on the banks of the Sava and Danube provide all-night entertainment accompanied by every imaginable musical rhythm - from folk music to home-grown pop, rock 'n' roll and techno.
The clubs are mostly in the old part of town and vary greatly in terms of their interior decoration, atmosphere, prices and entrance policies.

Fresh Food Markets

Fresh food markets are vivid and picturesque centres of the city life. What makes Belgrade markets special is that the food there is in some cases organic and also, in most cases, sold by the very peasants who planted the harvest. Besides fruit and vegetables which are of exquisite taste, also cheese, kajmak and other dairy products are sold here. You can buy jars of homemade ajvar (red pepper relish), fruit jams, bottles of juice and rakija (pear, plum or apricot brandy). There are stands with honey and bee products, everything from propolis to royal jelly, all high-quality organic stuff, very reasonably priced.

Shopping 

Take a walk through the streets of Belgrade and enjoy looking into the beautiful shop-fronts, where you can see and feel the harmony between the old and the conservative and contemporary fashion trends. From the old craftsmen's workshops and the large fresh produce markets, to the luxury boutiques and modern shopping centres, shopping in Belgrade is a real treat.