Belgrade has a gritty feel (safe with a hard edge) and beyond the compact city center area the city spreads out in different directions. The historical core starts with the Belgrade Fortress than spreads out along the Danube and Sava rivers. Across the Sava is a newer section of Belgrade with modern malls and large parks. Most of the city appears non-descript, however, I was always amazed with the frequency of random historical buildings beyond the Old Town. Hills and a non-grid street layout can make it a little confusing to get around so it's useful to consult Google Maps while you are walking around.
BELGRADE
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NOVI SAD
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HISTORY
Pre 822: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines - most notably Constantine the Great was Serbian
822: "Establishment" of Serbia - Byzantines reconquer in 1000s
1166: Nemanjic Dynasty establishes Serbian Kingdom
1450s: Fall of Constantinople (1453), Siege of Belgrade (1459), Belgrade resisted until 1521
1500s - 1800s: Regional fighting between Ottomans and the Habsburgs - parts of Serbia under Astrian / Hungarian Empire
1804 - 1815: Fight for independence from Ottomans back and forth fixing and occupation continues until 1878
1912 - 1918: Balkan Wars and WWI - Yugoslavia created from uniting former pieces of Austria - Hungarian Empire
WWII: Yugoslavia territories carved up by Axis powers
Post WWII: Pivot to state run communism; conflict between states over role of central government
1989: Slobodan Milosevic comes to power, state nationalism rises
1990s: Balkan Civil Wars - Slovenia and Croatia break off from Yugoslavia; Bosnia and Montenegro follows suit; Kosovo remains disputed territory
Pre 822: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines - most notably Constantine the Great was Serbian
822: "Establishment" of Serbia - Byzantines reconquer in 1000s
1166: Nemanjic Dynasty establishes Serbian Kingdom
1450s: Fall of Constantinople (1453), Siege of Belgrade (1459), Belgrade resisted until 1521
1500s - 1800s: Regional fighting between Ottomans and the Habsburgs - parts of Serbia under Astrian / Hungarian Empire
1804 - 1815: Fight for independence from Ottomans back and forth fixing and occupation continues until 1878
1912 - 1918: Balkan Wars and WWI - Yugoslavia created from uniting former pieces of Austria - Hungarian Empire
WWII: Yugoslavia territories carved up by Axis powers
Post WWII: Pivot to state run communism; conflict between states over role of central government
1989: Slobodan Milosevic comes to power, state nationalism rises
1990s: Balkan Civil Wars - Slovenia and Croatia break off from Yugoslavia; Bosnia and Montenegro follows suit; Kosovo remains disputed territory
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
A ten bed dorm in the city center costs $10 USD. There are hostels near the train / bus station, however, this will mean a fifteen to twenty minute walk for the sites, restaurants, and bars. It's a slightly uphill walk from the train / bus station to the city center area - cabs will quote about 10 EUR or 1,000 LEV, however, a fair price would be closer to 500 LEV. I stayed at the Downtown Central Hostel which was in a convenient location.
FOOD
A beef heavy country. Mini beef kebabs are cooked and stuffed in a pita style bun or served as a giant stuffed hamburger with various spread toppings.
The pizza and kebab shops of Bulgaria have been replaced with pizza and hamburger shops. A slice of pizza cost $1.50, a hamburger $2.50. Jelen seemed to be the most popular / prevalent beer - ~$1.50 a pint.
I took a slightly alternate route and focused on Concept Stores per a blog entry I found at Still in Belgrade.
IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL
Buses are quicker but more expensive than trains with more frequent departures.
Belgrade station has several international departures. I arrived via a night train from Sofia. I rode with a car service, GEA Tours, to Sarajevo.
A ten bed dorm in the city center costs $10 USD. There are hostels near the train / bus station, however, this will mean a fifteen to twenty minute walk for the sites, restaurants, and bars. It's a slightly uphill walk from the train / bus station to the city center area - cabs will quote about 10 EUR or 1,000 LEV, however, a fair price would be closer to 500 LEV. I stayed at the Downtown Central Hostel which was in a convenient location.
FOOD
A beef heavy country. Mini beef kebabs are cooked and stuffed in a pita style bun or served as a giant stuffed hamburger with various spread toppings.
The pizza and kebab shops of Bulgaria have been replaced with pizza and hamburger shops. A slice of pizza cost $1.50, a hamburger $2.50. Jelen seemed to be the most popular / prevalent beer - ~$1.50 a pint.
I took a slightly alternate route and focused on Concept Stores per a blog entry I found at Still in Belgrade.
IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL
Buses are quicker but more expensive than trains with more frequent departures.
Belgrade station has several international departures. I arrived via a night train from Sofia. I rode with a car service, GEA Tours, to Sarajevo.