Belgrade, the new Berlin
Barely two or three hours from Barcelona and Madrid and with tickets 'thrown away' in price if they are bought well in advance, Belgrade is postulated as the strongest candidate to be the new ** Berlin **.
With an unbeatable gastronomic route, modern cafes, dream spaces that are already becoming a benchmark in Europe for their style and design, and a clear commitment to street art , the Serbian capital will give much to talk about in the coming years.
Strolling through its streets and enjoying its history, its architecture or its night is something that no traveler should miss. Here we propose a route through the most rogue Belgrade.
Belgrade, the new Berlin
STREET ART AS A WAY OF LIFE
Street art is all the rage, and Belgrade is no exception. For some years, murals and graffiti have taken over the Serbian capital to make it more colourful, nicer and kinder. From the center, specifically from the Republic square going down towards Dorćol , dozens of them can be found.
Those who want to know more can join one of the three-hour tours organized by street-up! Belgrade Street Art Tours for 17 euros. Tours usually go through Dorcol and Savamala , two of the neighborhoods with the most murals.
In the latter there is an urban project that is expected to put an end to some of the most emblematic street works, so, at this point, perhaps the best option is to take the first plane to the Serbian capital to be able to immortalize works that will soon disappear.
The National Museum of Serbia, on Republic Square
In Belgrade Alternative Guide tours are offered for all tastes: street art, trendy cafes and galleries, alternative underground tours etc. They even offer workshops to make your own mural!
The truth is that it is worth giving this type of alternative tour a chance, usually carried out by enthusiastic citizens in love with the city.
The traveler should not be overlooked the graffiti made by supporters of the two football clubs in the city, reason, often, for street fights and confrontations.
Partizan and Red Star have been rivals since the end of World War II. and their fans do not miss an opportunity to make it clear, both on the street and in the stadiums.
Savamala, one of the neighborhoods with the most murals
SPEND YOUR MONEY IN THE BELGRADE DESIGN DISTRICT
Small in size but cozy and full of life and new ideas. That's how he is Belgrade Design District , an old shopping mall that has been converted into the trendy place for designers and creators of the Serbian capital.
Yes ok during the 1990s the shopping center enjoyed a certain popularity in the city, it soon became outdated due to its small size and the proliferation of other, better-equipped centers on the outskirts of Belgrade.
Some time later, it was remodeled and became the epicenter of the city's concept stores. The buildings that surround it, quite poorly preserved, give it a nineties air that travelers will surely appreciate.
In the bookstore ** Makart Store ** you can find true jewels of design in book format and in ** Mascom Store **, the traveler can get lost among vinyl from all eras.
Mokpet Concept Store for dreamy sweatshirts (and at an expensive price, why deny it) or marija handmade to buy unique textile pieces.
lovers of spices you will find a true paradise in Spice Up store and for fans of natural cosmetics and oils **All nut** is your place, with an incredible range of nature-friendly products For all skin types and situations.
Have a coffee in the center of the complex while watching the moderns of the city go by is a pastime that no one should miss out on.
GET LOST IN DORCÓL
Dorćol is, without a doubt, the fashion district: where everyone goes and where everyone wants to live. Its alleys, full of bars with terraces on steep streets, the unexpected graffiti and the tranquility of its parks make this neighborhood the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Belgrade's oldest neighborhood is located touching kalemegdan fortress , one of the obligatory visits for its wonderful views of the Danube and the Sava. The narrow streets, a mixture of history and modernity, will leave the traveler spellbound.
You cannot miss the opportunity to **have a cocktail or a rakjia at the Blaznavac **, one of the trendy bars with one of the best terraces in the city or at the Green Mill Bajloni , also with a dreamy terrace (and menu).
**For cafes, Meduza or Dolcino ** are quiet and simple places to enjoy without the stress of downtown.
Blaznavac, one of the trendy bars
THE BOHEMIA IN SKARDALIJA
If you are looking for bohemia and hedonism in Belgrade, the traveler can't help but stop by Skardalija, at the time an essential meeting point for all the artists of the city and the country , in fact.
Its beautiful **cafés and kafanas (local bistros)** are the perfect place for a dinner washed down with a good wine and some traditional Serbian music. Do not stop looking up: In the old brewery there is a beautiful huge mural.
Skardalija, named after Skadar, one of the main cities of Albania, is full of art galleries and antique shops. At the end of the street is the Šebilj (fountain) and one of the largest markets in the city. Essential.
In addition to all these activities, the traveler cannot miss the most mythical places in Belgrade, such as the Republic Square, the Kalemegdan fortress, the National Museum of Serbia or the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Kalemegdan Fortress
A must visit is the House of Flowers , within the premises of the Yugoslavian History Museum in Dedinje, where the marshal is buried Josip Broz Tito , President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and his wife, Jovanka Broz.
Also from Belgrade you can make day trips to wonderful places like Novi Sad , a city to the north, or to nearby Zemun , just half an hour by bus. Also, the city is full of small art galleries and bookstores in which to have a coffee and enjoy the local press and literature.
Architecture lovers, but also those who want to know a very different face of Belgrade, should not miss a walk around Novi Beograd, half an hour by bus from the city center. The impressive socialist constructions will not leave you indifferent.
The socialist buildings of Novi Beograd
Over there, hives of flats mix with a neighborhood life which has little to envy to the increasingly touristy Belgrade.
And if what you want is a bath, tranquility and reading, remember this name: Ada Ciganlija, an island where the traveler can enjoy the sun and nature , of an endless bike ride and an urban sunset of those that take away the meaning.
Mural 'The Saint of Belgrade', in Karadjordjeva Street