Hello everyone, I hope you are all good. Today I will talk about my Belgrade trip in New Year.
With its turbulent, war-torn past, Belgrade is like a phoenix rising from the ashes to become one of today’s hottest European capitals. Belgrade, home to two million people, is a pretty city sitting at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. You’ll want to walk along the river banks, perhaps stopping for a drink or meal at a riverboat that’s been converted to a restaurant before visiting the attractions in Belgrade. The Serbian capital is fast becoming known as a center for international festivals; hosting more than 100 a year, for sure there will be one going on whenever you visit.
We gathered in the square in front of the Serbian National Assembly for the New Year celebrations. Previously this was home to Yugoslavia’s Parliament, and following that state’s breakup, the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro. This building may be the most beautiful and most photogenic building in Belgrade. After the famous Serbian singer, Jelena Karleuša gave a concert, we took lots of photos under the fireworks in front of the building.
Following the day, we took a city tour. First, we went to Belgrade Fortress. In the place where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, Belgrade Fortress used to contain the entire city. Now, it is one of the popular traveling spots in Belgrade. The fortress is remarkably occupying a large chunk of the area. Besides the fortifications, the official fortress area includes a church, a museum and several popular parks. After seeing the historical structures, you can watch the sun go down over Zemun in Kalemegdan. Knez Mihailova, which runs across Stari Grad from the castle to Republic Square, is a pedestrian street and a place where Belgraders can shop and go out. It was named after a Serbian prince. Many historical buildings can be seen along the street, such as the Srpska Kruna Hotel. There are many luxury boutiques and international high street brands such as Sephora and Zara. You can wander the street listening to the street musicians. Moreover, there are many restaurants and bars along the street. We stopped by a nice restaurant and attended a mini-concert by a famous Serbian singer. People danced along to the singer’s songs. It was very nice to listen to Serbian songs with lively rhythms during the meal. ”Na Jednu Noc”; and ”Hajde”; by Tea Tairovic become my favorite Serbian songs 🙂 The Avala Tower, built-in 1965 and destroyed by the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, was rebuilt in 2010, becoming the tallest telecommunications tower in the Balkans. At 206 meters high, it is the fifth tallest structure in Serbia; you can literally see for miles and miles from the observation deck. I could not have time to visit, but Skadarlija is another beautiful place to visit in Belgrade. Skadarlija Street may not be very long, just 400 meters, but it’s the most famous street in Belgrade. Located in the Old Town, it connects Despot Stefan Boulevard with Dusanova Street. The street is lined with vintage buildings. With a bohemian atmosphere, Skadarlija Street is considered Belgrade’s version of Montmartre in Paris. In fact, it was known as the Gypsy quarter in the 19th century. It’s a place where poets gather for Skadarlija Evenings at the house of the late poet Dura Jaksic, and where the Children’s Street Theatre performs circus acts. The restaurants and outdoor cafes welcome diners, including celebrities, from all over.
That’s all for today. Thank you for your time. Have a nice day!
