Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. This makes it an important place in the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. Many people live there, and it is one of the biggest cities in Southeast Europe.

Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe that people have lived in for a long time. Thousands of years ago, a group called the Vinča culture lived there. Many different groups have ruled the city over time, such as the Thraco-Dacians, Celts, Romans, Slavs, and others. It has been important for many kingdoms and empires, including Serbia and later Yugoslavia.

Today, Belgrade is very important for Serbia. It is where the government is, and many big companies and schools are located, including the University Clinical Centre of Serbia. The city has many famous buildings, like the big Church of Saint Sava and the large Belgrade Arena. Belgrade has hosted big international events, such as the first meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit and the Eurovision Song Contest. Soon, it will host a big world exhibition called Expo 2027.

History

Main article: History of Belgrade

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Belgrade.

Prehistory

See also: Prehistoric sites in Serbia and Prehistory of Southeastern Europe

Stone tools found in Zemun show that people lived around Belgrade a very long time ago. These tools belong to different groups of people, showing that they lived here between 50,000 and 20,000 years ago. The first farmers to settle in the area lived between 6200 and 5200 BC. After them, another group of farmers arrived, known for their big settlements and early writing.

Antiquity

See also: Serbia in the Roman era

In ancient times, many groups of people lived in the area. Belgrade became an important city when the Romans came. They named it Singidunum. It grew into a big settlement and became very important, finally reaching the highest city class.

Middle Ages

See also: Serbia in the Middle Ages

Over many years, Belgrade was ruled by different groups, including the Huns, Ostrogoths, Gepids, Byzantines, and Slavs. It was part of the Bulgarian Empire and later changed hands between the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Bulgarian Empire. The city was the capital of the Serbian Despotate and flourished under Serbian rulers.

Ottoman rule and Austrian invasions

See also: History of Ottoman Serbia and Ottoman–Habsburg wars

In 1521, the Ottomans took over Belgrade, and it became an important city in their empire. The city was taken by the Habsburgs several times but was always taken back by the Ottomans. During this time, Ottoman architecture and culture arrived in Belgrade.

Principality and Kingdom of Serbia

See also: Principality of Serbia and Kingdom of Serbia

In the early 1800s, Belgrade started to break free from Ottoman rule. It became the capital of the Principality of Serbia and later the Kingdom of Serbia. The city changed a lot in its buildings and planning, moving from Ottoman styles to European ones.

World War I: Austro–German invasion

The First World War brought fighting near Belgrade. The city changed hands several times between different forces. After the war, Belgrade became the capital of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

After the war, Belgrade grew quickly and became more modern. New buildings, airports, and radio stations were constructed. The city's population increased, and it became a more modern place to live.

World War II

During World War II, Belgrade was bombed. The city was occupied and became the center of a government controlled by another country. People fought against this control. After the war, Belgrade became the capital of the new Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.

Socialist Yugoslavia

After the war, Belgrade grew fast as the capital of Yugoslavia. New areas like New Belgrade were built, and the city became a major center for industry and culture. The 1960s brought new modern buildings and international events, making Belgrade a lively city.

Breakup of Yugoslavia

In the 1990s, Belgrade was affected by the breakup of Yugoslavia and the wars that followed. The city saw protests and bombings. After elections in 2000, protests led to changes in the government's leadership.

Recent period

In recent years, Belgrade has seen lots of development and new building projects. The city continues to grow, with new construction and improvements shaping its future.

Geography

Belgrade is the capital city of Serbia. It is where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. The city is about 117 meters above sea level and has both hilly and flat areas. Central Belgrade has hills, and the highest point is Torlak Hill at 303 meters. South of the city are two small mountains, Avala and Kosmaj.

Belgrade has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. Temperatures usually range from about 2°C in January to 24°C in July, with an average of around 13°C year-round. The city gets about 698 mm of rain each year. It often has sunny days and occasional thunderstorms, especially in spring and summer.

Administration

See also: Mayor of Belgrade

Belgrade is its own special area in Serbia, with its own city government. The Belgrade City Assembly has 110 members who are chosen every four years. A smaller City Council, led by the mayor, helps run the city each day. The city has many important government offices, including the National Assembly, the Presidency, and the Government of Serbia.

The city is split into 17 areas called municipalities. These areas used to be divided into city and outer areas, but now they all have the same status. Most of these areas are south of the Danube and Sava rivers, with a few north of them.

See also: Subdivisions of Belgrade

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Belgrade and Demographic history of Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and has many people living there. In 2022, about 1.2 million people lived in the city itself, with even more in the areas around it.

People in Belgrade come from many different backgrounds. Most are Serbs, but there are also smaller groups such as Roma, Yugoslavs, Montenegrins, Russians, Croats, Macedonians, and others. Many people moved to Belgrade for jobs or because they had to leave their homes during hard times in the 1990s. Today, Belgrade still attracts people from around the world.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Belgrade

See also: Belgrade IT sector and Architectural projects in Belgrade

Belgrade is the financial center of Serbia and Southeast Europe. It has many offices and is home to the country’s Central Bank. Lots of people work in the city, and it is very important for Serbia’s economy.

New Belgrade is a busy place with hotels, meeting halls, and office buildings. You can also find the Belgrade Stock Exchange there. The city is a great place for technology, and many big IT companies have offices here. Belgrade has helped create many famous tech ideas and new businesses over the years.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Belgrade

Belgrade is a creative city with many cultural events like film, theatre, and music festivals. Famous people such as author Ivo Andrić, who wrote The Bridge on the Drina, and artists Charles Simic and Marina Abramović, were born here. The city is home to Serbia’s film industry and important theatres, including the National Theatre and the Yugoslav Drama Theatre.

Belgrade has a rich musical history and is now a center for Serbian hip hop. The city has many museums, libraries, and opera houses, making it a lively cultural center.

Museums

See also: List of museums in Belgrade

Belgrade’s most famous museum is the National Museum, with many artworks including pieces by Van Gogh and Picasso. The Museum of Contemporary Art shows modern artists, and the Belgrade City Museum has items from the city’s past. Other museums include the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of African Art, and the Nikola Tesla Museum, which holds Tesla’s inventions and personal items.

Architecture

See also: List of buildings in Belgrade, List of streets and squares in Belgrade, Bridges of Belgrade, Architectural projects in Belgrade, Religious architecture in Belgrade, and Gates of Belgrade

Belgrade’s architecture is varied, from old Turkish-style buildings in Zemun to modern buildings in New Belgrade. Famous spots include Kalemegdan Fortress, the Church of Saint Sava, and Knez Mihailova Street, the main shopping area. The city also has buildings from the socialist era and modern tall buildings.

Tourism

See also: Tourism in Serbia

Belgrade draws visitors with historic sites such as Skadarlija, the National Museum, and Kalemegdan Fortress. Ada Ciganlija, an artificial lake, is a favorite place for sports and relaxation in summer. The city also offers extreme sports like bungee jumping and water skiing, along with many parks, monuments, and cafes.

Nightlife

Main article: Nightlife in Belgrade

Belgrade is known for its lively nightlife, with many clubs open late. The city’s barges along the Sava and Danube rivers are popular places to meet. Skadarlija, a historic neighborhood, offers traditional Serbian music and restaurants.

Fashion and design

Since 1996, Belgrade has held semiannual fashion weeks showing local and international designers. The city also has major design events like the Mikser Festival and Belgrade Design Week, attracting architects and designers from around the world.

Media

See also: List of media organisations in Belgrade

Belgrade is the main media center in Serbia. It has the national public broadcaster Radio Television Serbia (RTS) and popular commercial channels like RTV Pink and B92. These stations make shows for fun, news, and other programs.

The city has many newspapers, such as Politika, Blic, and Danas. There are also newspapers for sports fans and business people. Belgrade is where Serbian versions of famous magazines like Harper's Bazaar, Elle, and National Geographic are made.

Sport and recreation

See also: List of sporting events in Belgrade

Belgrade has many places where people can play sports and have fun. Ada Ciganlija island is a popular spot, especially in summer. It has a lake, beaches, bars, cafés, restaurants, and places to play sports. Nearby, Košutnjak Park Forest has paths for running and biking, sports areas, and pools.

Belgrade has hosted many big sports events. In the past, it held events like the first World Aquatics Championships and the 1976 European Football Championship. More recently, it has hosted events such as EuroBasket, European Handball and Volleyball Championships, and the European Athletics Indoor Championships. The city is home to Serbia's top football clubs, Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade, and has large venues like the Belgrade Arena. Belgrade has also produced great tennis players and hosts the annual Belgrade Marathon.

Education

Belgrade has two main universities and many schools. The University of Belgrade is the oldest university in Serbia. It has beautiful buildings that are important to the city's history and culture.

The city also has many primary and secondary schools. These schools teach many students and have teachers and staff working in different buildings.

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Belgrade

See also: Trams in Belgrade and Bridges in Belgrade

Belgrade has many ways to get around, like buses, trams, trolleybuses, and the BG Voz train. These help people move around the city and to nearby towns. Tickets can be bought using SMS or paper tickets. Since January 2025, riding public transport in Belgrade is free.

The city is connected by trains and highways to places like Novi Sad, Budapest, and Niš. Belgrade has many bridges over the Danube and Sava rivers, making travel easy. The city has an airport, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, which serves many passengers each year.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Serbia

Belgrade has many friends and partners around the world. Some of these are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." Belgrade is twinned with cities like Coventry in the United Kingdom since 1957, Chicago in the United States since 2005, and Ljubljana in Slovenia since 2010. Other partner cities include Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rabat in Morocco.

The city has also received many honors from other countries. It was given special awards by France, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. In 2006, it was named "City of the Future of Southern Europe" by a magazine.