When in Belgrade
For a city that has been destroyed numerous times over the course of its history, Belgrade has done a good job in maintaining its position as a notable tourist attraction. Large parts of the city suffered badly at the hands of NATO bombs in the late 1990s, leaving the Serbian capital with a unnerving air, despite admirable clean-up attempts, although one with much to enjoy.
The Old Town, known as Stari Grad, is particularly pleasant and well-worth exploring on foot. It is here, on Kneza Sime Markovica, that the Palace of Princess Ljubica is to be found. This palace was built for the wife of Prince Milo? in the early 19th century and is filled with furniture from the period, with the Turkish bath a particular highlight.
The city has a number of good museums. In the centre of the city on Krunska is the Nikola Tesla Museum, which is a fantastic place to go for the science and technology fans among us. Many of Tesla's own inventions are demonstrated for visitors and there are a huge number of interactive displays to have a go at. One of the highlights of a visit is the chance to take part in a space adventure, complete with your own neon sword.
Inside the spectacular looking Kalemegdan Citadel in the Old Town can be found the Military Museum, which offers an exhaustive military history of the former Yugoslavia. Included in the display are trophies such as the remnants of an American stealth jet and weapons of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). NATO bombs and missiles can also be found, as can a number of tanks and guns. The surrounding park of Kalemegdan is beautiful and makes for a wonderful way to unwind after witnessing the horrors of war.
Surcin airport is 11 miles west of the city centre and a JAT bus will take you to the nearby train station, from where there are numerous local trains in to town. Those arriving from nearby countries may find that trains are the easiest option. The central train station can be found on Savski Trg, with regular journeys to a number of neighbouring countries as well as a good domestic service. Buses are also a possibility. The BAS station offers journeys to most parts of the country as well as some foreign trips, with Montenegro especially well served.
Local buses are the easiest way of getting around the city, although trams and trolleybuses serve some of the city's key routes. Tickets can generally be picked up from kiosks on the street. Taxis are everywhere and most are metered, although watch out for unofficial cabs that will charge over the odds.
Visitors arriving between November and March should expect cold, potentially snowy weather. The summer is never blisteringly hot but it is persistent, with late September often seeing warm temperatures.
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Introduction
