Belgrade! A city with an extensive history that was war-torn less than 30 years ago. However, the city has now made a recovery and is an upcoming tourist destination. Here we tell you the best way to spend one day in Belgrade on a budget.
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How to get to Belgrade
Belgrade has an international airport, which makes access easy for international visitors to get to Belgrade.
Alternatively, you can reach Belgrade overland from Timisoara, Budapest, and Sarajevo. As Timisoara was our previous destination, we took a mini-bus directly to Belgrade. At first, we found it difficult to find public transport from Timisoara to Belgrade, as there was little information online.
Finally, we came across a company called GEA Tours. They offer door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. The mini-bus cost just €15 ($16.41) each and picked us up from our hotel in Timisoara, and dropped us off at our hotel in Belgrade.
How to spend one day in Belgrade
Visit one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches
First up on the list of how to spend one day in Belgrade is the famous church of St. Sava. The church of St. Sava is dedicated to one of the most important figures of medieval Serbia; a Serbian prince, monk, and the founder of the Serbian Orthodox church. The location of the church is symbolic as it was built where his remains were burnt in 1595 by the Ottoman Empire.
It’s the largest Serbian Orthodox church, the largest Orthodox place of worship in the Balkans, and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Religious or not, this building should make it to the top of your list of things to do in Belgrade.
Learn how electricity was invented at the Nikola Tesla Museum
A trip to Belgrade isn’t complete without a visit to the Museum of Nikola Tesla. The museum showcases his early life, experiments, inventions, and achievements. The museum also includes an exhibit of some of his possessions, as well as his ashes.
If you decide to visit the Nikola Tesla Museum, be sure to check the schedule ahead of time. Tours are scheduled each hour from 10 am throughout the day with a limit on how many can attend each one. Some are English-speaking tours, others are Serbian; so be sure to plan your trip to avoid disappointment. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before your chosen time slot as it’s first come first serve. The entry fee is 500 dinars ($4.65).
Grab a bite to eat at Republic Square or Skadarska Street
Republic Square is directly in the centre of the city and a great starting point to spend one day in Belgrade. Nearby you will find many bars and eateries, the National Museum, and the national theatre. There’s something for everyone within a short walk in any direction.
Skadarska Street is a cobbled street with mid-range to expensive restaurants on one side of the cobbles, and small cosy pubs and bars on the opposite side. The street is worth a visit, even if you are just strolling through.
Whilst in the area of Skadarska Street and Republic Square, we recommend you try a traditional Balkan dish called ćevapi. Like a doner kebab, it has skewered meat in flatbread with chopped onions, sour cream, kajmak (clotted cream) and ajvar (a chilli condiment). Cevapi is easily one of the best street foods in Europe!
We ate at Drama Cevapi which is located on the corner of Braće Jugovića Street and Dositejeva Street. Even after travelling through several Balkan cities, such as Sarajevo and Dubrovnik, we still think this is the best cevapi ever!
Explore Belgrade’s fortress and wander the largest park in Serbia at Kalemegdan
Kalemegdan Park is the largest park in Serbia and is of great historical significance. There lies Belgrade Fortress which is situated at a perfect strategic point by the Danube and Sava Rivers. Together they are Belgrade’s top tourist attractions, which are free to visit!
Here you can spend the day walking around the park, shopping for souvenirs at the market stalls, and admiring the panoramic view from the wall, overlooking the city. Within the confines of the park, there are some military vehicles and weapon displays as well as a dinosaur exhibition for children.
Pay a visit to Ruzica Church
Whilst you’re exploring the park, make sure to check out Ružica Church, which is very close by. There are plentiful opportunities for photographs! It’s even popular with local newlyweds, who like to take photos in the area around Ružica Church.
Where to stay in Belgrade
Fair and Square Hostel – Fair and Square Hostel is one of the best hostels we have stayed at!! The hostel boasts both dorm rooms and private rooms, making it the perfect place for young solo travellers and couples alike. We stayed in a private room that had a very comfortable bed and a modern bathroom.
The social/ kitchen area has a homely and friendly vibe. Music is played quietly throughout the day. The kitchen is well-equipped, and the staff are very welcoming and will help you with anything you need. The kitchen also has a large TV for you to relax and watch a movie. The social space was also a perfect place to work on our blog.
The hostel is a little out of the centre, but there are shops and transport links within 5 minutes walking distance. Overall, we would fully recommend this hostel for young travellers; solo and couples.
For more prices and deals on properties in Belgrade, CLICK HERE.
Essential resources for travelling in Serbia
Travel Insurance – No matter where you’re travelling to, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered for any accidents or losses. We spent days and weeks searching for insurance, but most insurers would not allow us to take out a policy as we were already abroad. Our personal choice is Safteywing. You can opt for automatic monthly payments, just like a subscription. More importantly, it is available in 180 countries and can be purchased whilst already travelling. There is no cap on the duration of travel.
Visa – Before you travel to any country, make sure to check if you need a visa. iVisa is a fantastic website that is super easy and quick to use. Just type in where you are from. and where you are going. to check if you need a visa. If you do, you can quickly make an application online.
Accommodation – Booking.com is our go-to when looking to pre-book accommodation online. Booking.com tend to almost always have the best rates and a FREE cancellation policy for most properties.
Overland transport – Our go-to website for overland transport is Bookaway. Bookaway offers multiple forms of transport, from buses, mini-vans, trains, and ferries. The routes on offer are extensive and certainly cover most of the backpacker trails. Bookaway works a little like Skyscanner but for overland transport. You will find plenty of transport options from a range of companies. All you simply need to do is book online and receive your ticket by email. The email will contain essential information, such as where the bus leaves from and departure and arrival times.
Tours & Activities – If you want to book tours and activities online, make sure to check out Get Your Guide. Get Your Guide takes the stress out of booking activities abroad. You will also find a range of benefits, such as skip-the-line passes, lunch included in your tours, and so much more.
Travel tips ebook -Before you head off on your adventure, make sure to download our free ebook. It has a whopping 109 budget travel tips to help you make your hard-earned cash go further. Click here to download your FREE ebook.
Are you still in the logistics of planning your trip around the Balkans? Look no further! Check out this post that will help you put together your Balkan trip route.
We hope you enjoyed this post on how to spend one day in Belgrade on the cheap. So, where are you heading next? If you haven’t already decided, let us convince you why Timisoara in Romania should be added to your Europe trip.
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*We were hosted complimentary by Fair and Square Hostel. All opinions are our own, based on our experience.*
I can see why Belgrade is becoming a go to location. It’s beautiful. May have to ads to bucket list. Great write up. Thanks.
Thanks! Let us know if you need any more tips if you decide to go soon 🙂
Wow, I absolutely love walking through the old forts and absorbing the history. What a great trip idea!
Thanks, the old fort is one of the highlights in Belgrade 🙂
What an awesome deal on the transport. I didn’t know that Belgrade had such delish food on offer. Makes me hungry.
Oh yes, the food is delicious. Cevapi is served pretty much all over the Balkans but Serbia did it best 🙂
I had never heard of Belgrade! Not exactly sure where it is based on your post but I obviously have to add it to my list 🙂 looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Belgrade is so rich in history, it’s an interesting place. It’s in Eastern Europe 🙂
is my first time know more about Belgrade. is so fun I love it! all the picture is beautiful and is look like have a lot of the history. (i love history place) Europe is amazing!
Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂 You’re right, Belgrade has so much history. Our fave place had to be the fort and the gardens surrounding it.
After seeing Bosnia a few years ago and loving it, I’ve wanted to return to the area to see Serbia and Romania! Definitely added some of these suggestions to my list for when I make it some day!
Bosnia is one of our fave places! Romania is also very beautiful, we really loved Brasov and the many castles there. Hope you get to go back to that region soon 🙂
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Hello, Thanks a lot for your comment. I am currently using Bluehost and would fully recommend it as it’s very easy to use. I have never used siteground so unfortunately, i am unable to give you any advice on that. Let us know if you have any questions about Bluehost or WordPress.