4 days in belgrade, serbia
I traveled to Belgrade during April 2023 with really no expectations. I usually do a ton of research before every trip, but this time I let the city take me by surprise. It turned out to be one the best major cities I’ve been to!
where to stay in belgrade
Staying near the main attractions in Belgrade is ideal, however, you can pretty much stay anywhere as the entire city is very walkable. I stayed near the Republic Square as there were lots of hotel options available and the area has a ton of things to do. In the map below, Republic Square is the marked pin, with Kalemegdan park located to the left and my favorite neighborhood (Dorcol) located above.
what i ate in belgrade (vegetarian)
Something I always struggle with while traveling is finding good vegetarian food. Although Serbia is a big meat eater city, I was pleasently surprised with the vege options available.
Bloom Cafe: the BEST cappacino I had while in Europe (including Croatia). Bloom is a vegetarian cafe that specialized in fresh ingredients. I got an avocado toast and cappacino and they were both delicious. Bloom is located above the Studenski park and to the left of the Kalemegdan park. There was a wait though as the spot can get pretty busy - so definitely plan ahead.
Mama Shelter: This one was the most surprising to me. I’ve been to the Mama Shelter in LA which was pretty pricey - but the one in Belgrade was way more affordable and the food was also a lot better. I went there twice - one to catch the sunset and another time to have dinner. I got the vege burger here and it was the best burger I had in Europe. I usually don’t get vege burgers in the United States - but the ones in Europe are made with REAL ingredients (lentils, black beans, soy etc), so they’re very filling without making me feel sick.
Balkan Baklava: Not a vegetarian restaurant callout specifically, but a star nonetheless. I’m a HUGE fan of baklava, and Balkan Baklava was the only place that came close to the ones I’ve eaten in Istanbul. The shopkeeper was a really sweet Turkish man who even gave out some samples for free!
Comunale Caffè e Cucina: The most expensive meal in Belgrade BECAUSE it’s a Michelin. A great place to treat yourself to a delicious meal without breaking the bank. The pizzas, bread, and wine were all great!
VISIT KALEMEGDAN PARK
Situated in the heart of Belgrade, Kalemegdan Park is a beautiful attraction for both locals and tourists. There’s a ton of stuff to do in the park - my favorite was the FREE history museum. You can find the famous Belgrade fortress in this park as well, along with cafes, archery, and shops. Walking around the park and taking it easy was great. There’s also some pretty great views of the city.
VISIT SainT SAVA CHURCH
The Saint Sava church is a Serbian Orthodox Church situtated in the Vračar neighborhood of Serbia. When I walked into the St. Sava church, it reminded me a lot of the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. The interior of the church is built from gold mosaics - be sure to head downstairs as well!
WALK THE STREETS OF BELGRADE
Belgrade is extremely walkable, so my favorite thing I did was walking around the city and exploring the different neighborhoods. The city has its own unique identity, so it was amazing exploring on foot and seeing the quirkiness of it all.
