Your trip will begin with pick up from your hotel/accommodation in Belgrade. We’ll not stay in the vehicle for a very long time since our first stop is Kalemegdan, the oldest and largest park in the city center and the magnificent Belgrade Fortress. Starting from Leopold’s Gate, we will pass by the remains of the Roman castrum – Singidunum and medieval walls built upon it – Zindan Gate, Despot’s Gate, Jakšića tower, all dating back to the 15th century. We will visit two Orthodox churches placed in this part of the fortress: Chapel of St Petka and Ružica Church ( Virgin Mary Church ). Entering the Upper town ( Gornji grad ), we will see the magnificent sight of two rivers’ confluence: the Sava and the Danube.
We will continue our walk through the Upper town: the Victor monument by world-renowned sculptor Ivan Meštrovic, one of Belgrade’s landmarks, the Roman Well, the King’s gate and the Sava promenade, the Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Clock Gate ( Sahatkapija ), Clock Tower ( Sahatkula ). Passing by Military Museum and through Istanbul’s gate ( Stambol gate ), we will leave the fortress behind us, entering the Kalemegdan park once again. There is a Monument of Gratitude to France by Ivan Meštrovic in the park and many busts, representing the famous Serbian man of letters. Here we’ll enter the vehicle again and continue with our tour.
Continuing with our tour, we’ll have a chance to see New Belgrade’s impressive modern architecture. Built as a new part of the town, after WWII and during the socialist regime, it has many remarkable buildings. Ex-Central Committee of the Communist Party, Federal Executive Council, also known as Palace of Federation, Genex Tower or Western Gate of Belgrade, Sava Center, one of the biggest congress halls in this part of Europe, etc. Even the famous MOMA museum from New York dedicated a special exhibition called “Toward a Concrete Utopia” to New Belgrade’s architecture. New Belgrade will show you this city’s different face, including the buildings architecturally similar to the former Eastern block “brutalist” style, but also modern business buildings built in recent decades. Finally, we will pass by the restaurant “Novak,” owned by the famous tennis player Novak Đoković’s family, and the Belgrade Arena, the most important sports venue in this part of Europe.
After we cross the Gazela Bridge, we’ll head for Dedinje – Belgrade’s most luxurious residential area. Here, we’ll see some of the most beautiful mansions in the city, perfectly nestled in the greenery and serenity of Topčider Hill. Your guide will give you some interesting information about the properties’ history and what was happening with them during the very turbulent 20th century. We’ll see the country’s biggest soccer stadium, “Rajko Mitić Stadium,” the home of Red Star Belgrade. Red Star is the last club from Eastern or Southern Europe that has managed to win the prestigious Champions League. Their biggest competitor, Partizan Belgrade, has a stadium just across a small hill. Their rivalry is lasting for more than 70 years
Coming from Dedinje, we’ll visit the Vračar area, where we can see one of Belgrade’s most prominent landmarks – The Church of St. Sava (also known as St. Sava Temple), one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. The Temple of St Sava has an enormous dome that you can see from all over the city. Size apart, the church is undeniably a highly impressive structure. Construction began in the 1930s, at the site where the occupying Ottoman forces burned the relics of St. Sava (1175-1236) St Sava was the founder and the first archbishop of the independent Serbian Orthodox Church, and Serbians widely recognize him as one of the most important figures in Serbian history. Built in the Serbian-Byzantine style, the church occupies an area of 3500 m² at floor level, with an additional 1500 m² in the three galleries on the first level. At its highest point, the dome is 70 m in height, while the central gilded cross is an additional 12 m high, giving the Cathedral a total height of 82 m. Beneath the floor of the church, there are vaults and the lovely decorated crypt of Saint Sava.
When we finish with the Temple, we’ll enter the vehicle one more time. Through Slavija Square, we will enter Nemanjina Street with almost all state governmental institutions: Government Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Staff of Serbian Army, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance, and the State Court, etc. – all being beautiful examples of Belgrade’s pre-war architecture.
After that, we have a ride through Kralja Milana Street, the city’s artery where some significant buildings are situated, such as the Old and New Royal Palaces. We’ll pass by Nikola Pasic Square, with a monument to the first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. We’ll stop in front of the Parliament Building, where we will take a short break to take pictures. Here we will also see the Old and New Royal Palaces and hear the stories about the two dynasties that ruled Serbia in the 19th and 20th centuries.
After that, we reach Terazije Square with its recognizable 19th century white stone fountain and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city – the Moskva Hotel.
We’ll continue our ride and reach Republic Square, the heart of the capital, where the city’s most prestigious cultural institutions are situated. Here you will hear pieces of information about the most important buildings surrounding the Square: the National Museum and the National Theatre, and a short explanation of why Prince Mihailo is one of the most important figures in Serbia’s modern history. Our tour will end here. Drop off at your hotels.
