Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and it is probably the anti Instagrammable tourist trip. The city is very under the radar as a tourist destination but being that it is so untouched makes it even better. I have been to Belgrade 3 different times now and i love it every time. My husband is originally from here and he still has family here that we visit. Even if you do not know anybody here or have any connections it is still such a great place to visit that is most likely out of your comfort zone.

Where to stay

Square Nine hotel- Tiffany Trump came to Belgrade and famously stayed in this hotel, so yes it is very nice we really loved staying here.

Zepter Hotel- This hotel is super funky and futuristic. In the rooms they have all of the Zepter products including an acne light for your face.

Hotel Moskva An accidentally Wes Anderson kind of hotel.

Places to Eat and Drink:

Ambar: It is right on the Danube River along with a lot of other great restaurants. There is actually also an Ambar in Washington D.C. which we went to about a month ago! Great small plates and best cheese pie ever.

Franš: This place is an institution in Belgrade! It has a gorgeous outdoor seating area and the inside is just as nice. It reminds me a little of Tavern on The Green in New York but with better food.

Rakia Bar: This is THE place for Rakia in Belgrade! Rakia is a fruit brandy that is strong but delicious and low in calories. My favorite is apricot and raspberry but the quince is also nice.

ŠEŠIR MOJ: Meaning "My Hat" is located in the bohemian area of Skadarlija. Skadarlija is the Montmarte of Belgrade. This restaurant serves classic Serbian food and has a group of musicians come over to serenade you. 

Little Bay: A wonderful little Serbian restaurant with a beautiful interior that resembles an Opera House.

?: Yes, Question Mark Restaurant. This is the oldest restaurant in Belgrade! If you want a really authentic Serbian experience, this is the place! Just be mindful of the smoking.

Klub književnika: AKA The Writer's Club is a beautiful and upscale restaurant. We ate a huge plate of meat here!

Sasa Bar: We found this place our last night and their ricotta gnocchi with beet sauce might have been my favorite dish of the trip!

Mali Kalamegdan: We drank some mulled wine here after a walk in the fortress. A beautiful place to sit outside in the park! When we were sitting here we started to see lanterns floating above our heads! No idea where they were coming from but it was magical.

Skadarlija

Skadarlija is the popular bohemian street in Belgrade. It is known as Belgrade’s own version of Montmartre in Paris. It is only one street but it is a beautiful one and a must see in Belgrade. Here you will find tons of bars and restaurants including Sesor MOJ. In many of the restaurants or bars there will be singers that come over to serenade you, definitely tip them and watch out for the gypsies.

Kalamagden

Kalamegdan is the famous fortress overlooking the Danube river. This is an absolute must see and if you are a Game of Thrones fan this will definitely be up your alley. Take a few hours to walk around here. There is a small but beautiful cathedral hidden away here so be sure to look out for it.

Saint Sava

Saint Sava Temple is the standout landmark in Belgrade. It is the main cathedral for the Serbian Orthodox. They recently just finished restoring the beautiful ceiling and I was able to see it on our last trip. This cathedral is a must see on your trip to Belgrade but I also think that the smaller church called The Church of Saint Sava right next to it is even more beautiful.on the inside.

Other sites and activites

The Nikola Tesla Museum- Nikola Tesla is probably one of the most famous Serbians. Stop by his museum, it is pretty small and won’t take long to walk through.

The Zepter Museum- Zepter not only has a hotel and household products but also owns a a small but beautiful art museum.

Shopping on Knez mihailovia- One of the biggest main streets in Belgrade with tons of shopping and cafes.

Red Umbrellas Alley-An alleyway with an umbrella canopy located on Krajila Petra Street.

New Belgrade- Not as pretty ad old Belgrade but worth a stop, there is a new museum located there.

Cafe culture- Just like many european cities the coffee culture is huge here. There are many nice coffee shops and cafes, but again they do allow smoking!