Belgrade Attractions
Belgrade is both the largest city and the capital of Serbia. About 25 per cent of the country's population lives here. Just like Istanbul has the sea all around the city, Belgrade also has a river. The historical centre of the city is called Stari Grad and the new settlement is called Novi Beograd. Sava River separates these two regions from each other. 
Belgrade is a very beautiful city built at the junction of two rivers. Sava River, which divides the city in two on one side, joins the larger Danube River on the other side just in front of Kale Megdan. Belgrade Fortress, one of the symbols of Belgrade, is located where these two rivers meet. Although Serbia is not a neighbour of Turkey, it is a very close country. Turkish Airlines has two flights to Belgrade every day of the week from Istanbul. Occupancy rates are also very high. Serbian Airlines (AirSerbia) has flights 3 days a week. Pegasus Airlines also has 5 flights a week from Sabiha Gökçen to Belgrade. So there are very frequent flights between the two countries.
Istanbul - Belgrade is 1 hour and 20 minutes by plane. Belgrade is perhaps closer to Istanbul than most of our cities. Do not be surprised by the number of Turkish conversations you will hear here. Belgrade is one of the most popular destinations for Turks for short holidays with its short flight distance, no visa requirement, not being an expensive country, many historical sites and lively social life.
Serbs are Christian Orthodox and the language they speak is Serbian. Turkish citizens can enter this country without a visa. Serbia is a green country. Danube River adds a different beauty to the country. Their currency is Serbian Dinar. 1 Euro is 117 Dinar and 1 USD is 103 Dinar. The minimum wage is around 343.5 Euro. Belgrade is one of the cities in Europe where Turks live the least. Around 300 Turks live in the country and there are 20-30 Turkish companies. This city was conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. Despite the years that have passed, it is still possible to see Ottoman artefacts in the city. Below I present you the list of places to visit in Belgrade. We will increase this list day by day. Belgrade Fortress - Kalemegdan Kalemegdan ranks first in terms of Belgrade attractions. Belgrade Fortress is open to visitors 24 hours a day, every day of the week and entrance is free. It attracts the whole city with its huge park and magnificent view. The large terrace on the river side offers a view of the Sava and Danube rivers and the city. The tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, the Conqueror of the Peloponnese, who served as grand vizier during the reign of Ahmet III, is located in the castle. This tomb is one of the last two remaining Ottoman tombs in Belgrade. The other one is Sheikh Mustafa Mausoleum, located below the castle.
It is also possible to see the fountain of Sokullu Mehmet Pasha inside the castle. The fountain stands as it is, but the fountain of our grand vizier does not flow today. Sokullu Mehmet Pasha was of Serbian origin. He served as grand vizier for 14 years in the Ottoman Empire. Pobednik, the Belgrade Victory Monument in the castle, bears traces of the Turks, not with its appearance but with its story. The monument was erected to commemorate the victory of the Serbs against the Ottoman Empire in the First Balkan War.
Kalemegdan (Castle Square)
- Belgrade Kalemegdan (Castle Square) - Belgrade The park surrounding the castle is called Kale Megdan (Kale Square). This name, formed from the combination of the Turkish words kale and square, dates back to the Ottoman rule. Serbs still call this area called Kale Square as Kalemegdan. In other words, despite the passing years, this touristic area keeps its Turkish name exactly the same. Kale Megdan attracts the whole city with its huge park by the river. You can easily reach Knez Mihailova Street by walking from Belgrade city centre.
Knez Mihailova
Street After Kale Megdan, you should go to Knez Mihaiolova, one of the most popular streets of the city. It would not be unfair to say that this is the most important street of Belgrade. Closed to traffic, it is always very crowded. The street is very lively day and night. There is never a shortage of people on the street. There are many cafes, restaurants and shops. It is also very popular to have a snack in the bistros here. You can compare this street to Istiklal Street in Taksim. Because it is a very colourful and pleasant street, closed to traffic, covered with high buildings on both sides, where everyone is eating out, having a drink, and full of street musicians. This street starts from Belgrade Fortress and continues until Republic Square and it is a 2000 years old street. When you come to Belgrade, this is a place where you can spend time and enjoy yourself.
Republic Square (Trg Republike)
King Mihailo, the one who took Belgrade from the Ottomans. Serbs erected a statue of him in Republic Square (Trg Republik). Trg Republik, located right next to Knez Mihailova, is sort of the centre of Belgrade. Right next to this square you can see the Opera House and the National Museum. This is a very important place for Belgrade residents. Because it is actually a meeting point. It is a meeting point in many ways, both young people meet their lovers here and at the same time it is the most important square of the city, which is the scene of many protests and joyful demonstrations.
Terazije Square (Trg Terazije)
Terazije Square is adjacent to the Republic Square. From this street you can reach the magnificent Parliament Building, Belgrade Municipality and President's Mansion. It is also the starting point of Knez Mihailova. You will definitely pass through here to walk around Belgrade. Moskva Hotel with its smooth and shiny facade made of ceramic tiles is one of the symbols of the city. Founded in 1906, it has hosted many famous names such as Albert Einstein, Alfred Hitchcock, Maxim Gorky, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Brad Pitt.
Nikola Tesla Museum
You can't come to Belgrade and not visit the museum of Nikola Tesla, the electro-physicist who invented the fluorescent lamp, neon lights, the microwave oven and many other things. The entrance fee is 500 Dinars (13 TL). The city centre is within walking distance. You can already walk almost everywhere in Belgrade. Nikola Tesla, of Serbian origin, never lived in Belgrade. The building where the museum is located has nothing to do with Tesla. When Tesla of Serbian origin died in America, the Serbs claimed this world-famous scientist. In the museum, the high frequency transformer developed by Tesla is presented as a visual feast that visitors can participate in.
Cathedral (Church) of St Sava
St Sava Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans, is another important building in Belgrade. Its mosque-like appearance may surprise especially those coming from Turkey. It is located right next to Slavia Square, one of the busiest places in Belgrade. Renovation works are continuing inside the cathedral. 
St Sava (Sveti Sava) Cathedral - Church Belgrade Cathedral - Church of St Sava (Sveti Sava)
Belgrade Bayrakli Mosque There is only one mosque in Belgrade. When Serbia was under Ottoman rule, more than 250 mosques had minarets in Belgrade. Today, there is only one mosque in Belgrade, the Bayraklı Mosque, located near the fortress. Skadarlija (Belgrade's Bohemian neighbourhood) If you get tired of visiting historical sights, you can take a break in Skadarska Street. This was once the bohemian neighbourhood of Belgrade where all writers, journalists, painters and artists used to spend their time. Although it is more touristic today, it should be emphasised that its cafes and restaurants are very successful.
Serbia Cuisine
Now that we've had our evening of sightseeing, it's time for dinner.You've seen Serbian girls, haven't you?They're all too tall and too beautiful.So take a little extra care when you go to dinner. Now we will give a brief information about Serbian traditional cuisine. Especially the cheeses of the northern region, in fact dairy products are famous here. Kajmak (kajmak) made of yoghurt on corn bread and a bean dish called prebranas (prebranac) are actually starters. The beans are first boiled and then baked in the oven.Onion and some spices are served with it. After the starters, it was time for soup. As in our country, you can find tomato, fish and many other soup types, but we still recommend jagnjeća čorba (pronounced as Yagnyeça soup). In Serbian, soup (čorba) is called soup as in Turkish.Jagnjeća is actually a stew.You can also squeeze lemon on it. It is more similar to the Russian understanding of soup than our soups. Plenty of vegetables, plenty of ingredients. Soups of cold places are actually like this. It is quite delicious. Now for the main courses. We recommend you to try Čevapčiči, the famous kebab of Serbia and the Balkans. After the main course, we will also recommend you to have dessert with your coffee.
