Discussion
theboss said:
I’ve spent many nights in Belgrade and got married there 5 years ago… love the place (clearly biased)
What sort of thing are you into? You want bar / club / restaurant ideas? Do you know where you’re staying roughly?
We don't have much time sadly, so any interesting landmarks/architecture worth seeing in the city and then a nice restaurant and maybe a bar afterwards. What sort of thing are you into? You want bar / club / restaurant ideas? Do you know where you’re staying roughly?
Don't know where we're staying yet. Supplier is booking the hotel.
Assuming its late March, the weather can be very variable, I've flown into Belgrade in March to see snow ploughs clearing the runway and other times its been 25C. You won't know what to expect until much nearer the time. A lot of the nightlife in Belgrade is centred around the river (the 'Splavs' or in effect floating nightclubs) which as you may imagine come into their element in the warmer months but I suspect very much that there's still a lot going on there even if its sheltered. Bear in mind they all still smoke like mad indoors.
If its a pleasant evening for a wander and you're directly central its worth having a stroll around the fortress / Kalemegdan park and Skadarlija which is one of the more traditional streets with cuisine to match. I quite like the bars down around Dorcal (turn down Strahinji?a Bana from the end of Skadarlija) but this was pre-Covid so I'm not sure what it looks like now.
If you want something more modern there is a good row of bars along the Eastern bank of the Slava just under the fortress, I've been to Cantida de Freda which is a Tapas bar/restaurant often with live music and would rate it. Lafayette has just come recommended to me which is more cabaret. You would generally need to book a table at these places. There's a load of splavs on the opposite bank of the river so if you ate there came out late and saw that it was all happening across the river you could head over there.
Great place and people, highly underrated IMO. I've had some pretty mental nights out there but unfortunately can't remember many of the details of where we actually ended up
ETA if you are there on business I would expect your supplier might have some entertainment ideas in mind, they are very welcoming people and I'd be surprised if they didn't want to take you out.
If its a pleasant evening for a wander and you're directly central its worth having a stroll around the fortress / Kalemegdan park and Skadarlija which is one of the more traditional streets with cuisine to match. I quite like the bars down around Dorcal (turn down Strahinji?a Bana from the end of Skadarlija) but this was pre-Covid so I'm not sure what it looks like now.
If you want something more modern there is a good row of bars along the Eastern bank of the Slava just under the fortress, I've been to Cantida de Freda which is a Tapas bar/restaurant often with live music and would rate it. Lafayette has just come recommended to me which is more cabaret. You would generally need to book a table at these places. There's a load of splavs on the opposite bank of the river so if you ate there came out late and saw that it was all happening across the river you could head over there.
Great place and people, highly underrated IMO. I've had some pretty mental nights out there but unfortunately can't remember many of the details of where we actually ended up
ETA if you are there on business I would expect your supplier might have some entertainment ideas in mind, they are very welcoming people and I'd be surprised if they didn't want to take you out.
Edited by theboss on Monday 27th February 20:31
MrBig said:
Great info, thank you very much. Interesting point on the weather, I just assumed it would be bloody freezing!
A lot of people assume it's Russian, situated further North/East or confuse it directly with Siberia - when my wife tells people here she's Serbian at least half of them say "ah it gets really cold there doesn't it".Bear in mind it's a Balkan country bordering North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia which we tend to think of as warm places. They obviously get a more continental weather system which usually brings proper cold/snow in the winter, but in the warmer months its more consistent with the Mediterranean. When I was there last August it was mid-high thirties.
I think this winter was quite exceptionally mild across Central and SE Europe though. When I visited last in early November last year, we drove on down to Athens and it was still 27C in both places. I had been in two minds about putting winter tyres on the car (usually mandatory by then) but glad I didn't in the end as the rears would have lasted about 5 minutes at those temps on the M5
One of my best friends passed away less than 24 hours before I was due to fly, so I cancelled. I noticed the eyeroll on your first post regarding Air Serbia. Don't worry, they are a quality airline with a pretty much brand new fleet of aircraft, and excellent pilots. Very good airline to fly with. They are trying to promote Belgrade airport as the regional hub, and have an impressive network these days.
The Fortress at Kalemegdan is probably the thing to do if you've only got one day in Belgrade. Strolling Skadarlija and finding a traditional restaurant there is the nicest way to spend a relaxed evening. You could try the Nikola Tesla Museum if science is your thing. And if you like old buildings and curios, there's a bar called '?' - yes, just a question mark - which purports to be the oldest bar in Belgrade. It's called Znak Pitanja in Serbo-Croat. There aren't many old buildings at all in Belgrade for reasons of it being flattened in wars so often, so this place really stands out.
The Fortress at Kalemegdan is probably the thing to do if you've only got one day in Belgrade. Strolling Skadarlija and finding a traditional restaurant there is the nicest way to spend a relaxed evening. You could try the Nikola Tesla Museum if science is your thing. And if you like old buildings and curios, there's a bar called '?' - yes, just a question mark - which purports to be the oldest bar in Belgrade. It's called Znak Pitanja in Serbo-Croat. There aren't many old buildings at all in Belgrade for reasons of it being flattened in wars so often, so this place really stands out.
theboss said:
I'm very sorry to hear that.
Thank you. She was 39 and leaves a husband and two daughters under 10. Still in a state of disbelief.Bannock said:
I noticed the eyeroll on your first post regarding Air Serbia. Don't worry, they are a quality airline with a pretty much brand new fleet of aircraft, and excellent pilots. Very good airline to fly with. They are trying to promote Belgrade airport as the regional hub, and have an impressive network these days.
The Fortress at Kalemegdan is probably the thing to do if you've only got one day in Belgrade. Strolling Skadarlija and finding a traditional restaurant there is the nicest way to spend a relaxed evening. You could try the Nikola Tesla Museum if science is your thing. And if you like old buildings and curios, there's a bar called '?' - yes, just a question mark - which purports to be the oldest bar in Belgrade. It's called Znak Pitanja in Serbo-Croat. There aren't many old buildings at all in Belgrade for reasons of it being flattened in wars so often, so this place really stands out.
Great info, thank you very much.The Fortress at Kalemegdan is probably the thing to do if you've only got one day in Belgrade. Strolling Skadarlija and finding a traditional restaurant there is the nicest way to spend a relaxed evening. You could try the Nikola Tesla Museum if science is your thing. And if you like old buildings and curios, there's a bar called '?' - yes, just a question mark - which purports to be the oldest bar in Belgrade. It's called Znak Pitanja in Serbo-Croat. There aren't many old buildings at all in Belgrade for reasons of it being flattened in wars so often, so this place really stands out.
A teenager is most likely to appreciate the Dorćol and Skadarlija areas of the city, as they have the most lively and Bohemian feel. They're very central, too. If you can find accommodation in Dorćol then do that. It's also near the Danube, where there are brand new river front leisure and shopping developments, and near the Kalemegdan park, which leads on to Knez Mihailova, which is the main shopping, strolling and scoffing ice-cream street in town.
Sadly, I can't recommend any specific hotels or accommodation as I've got my own place there and so never need to avail myself of such facilities!
Sadly, I can't recommend any specific hotels or accommodation as I've got my own place there and so never need to avail myself of such facilities!
If you want a modern, clean hotel right in the centre which isn't too expensive try Mama Shelter which sits on top of a new shopping centre. Good rooftop bar and has teen / young person appeal. I used to rent apartments in Dorcol but this became my central go-to.
Also worth noting BA restarted a Heathrow-Belgrade route in October but are pulling it end of March but I believe resuming it in autumn again. There's some exceptionally cheap fares if your plans fall within those dates. Much preferable to Wizz out of Luton. Air Serbia are usually stupidly expensive. I hope BA's route becomes more permanent.
Also worth noting BA restarted a Heathrow-Belgrade route in October but are pulling it end of March but I believe resuming it in autumn again. There's some exceptionally cheap fares if your plans fall within those dates. Much preferable to Wizz out of Luton. Air Serbia are usually stupidly expensive. I hope BA's route becomes more permanent.
Edited by theboss on Wednesday 24th January 12:03
CivicDuties said:
Very odd for BA to be pulling the route over summer. 
Yeah it is weird. They were fully loaded according to my relatives who flew on it a number of times in the last month. Maybe just a Christmas rush who knows.I was pleased personally when they brought the route on as I find WA a nightmare and have been waiting for somebody else to bring some competition and added capacity to the route.
What made you take a teenager to Belgrade out of interest? It strikes me as something of a left-field choice.
theboss said:
CivicDuties said:
Very odd for BA to be pulling the route over summer.
Yeah it is weird. They were fully loaded according to my relatives who flew on it a number of times in the last month. Maybe just a Christmas rush who knows.I was pleased personally when they brought the route on as I find WA a nightmare and have been waiting for somebody else to bring some competition and added capacity to the route.
What made you take a teenager to Belgrade out of interest? It strikes me as something of a left-field choice.
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