This capital city housing over 1.3 million residents is a huge and vibrant municipality. Having only gained independence in 2008, the country is young but that doesn’t mean there are limited things to do in Belgrade. Quite the opposite in fact, there are many interesting sites to discover and investigate. Here are 5 free things to do in Belgrade Serbia that are perhaps a little unique and definitely interesting.
Kalenic Green Market
When I first stumbled upon this market, I though it was just your average fruit and veg. I passed by and didn’t think of it again for a few days. Then I got curious one Sunday when I noticed there was a considerable crowd. Off the bus I hopped and entered into a whole big world of trade.
Open seven days a week from 7am to 5pm, Kalenic Pijaca is at first glance a farmers’ market. A huge covered space protects rows and rows of vendors who are selling their delicious seasonal produce. Did you know that Serbia is one of the top three countries in the world exporting raspberries?
Lining the produce area are more permanent fixtures and these are filled with the ready to eat foods, think cured cheeses, bakeries, roast meats and sausages already cooked and ready to take home. I entered one bakery to have a look at the burek, a traditional breakfast pasty here in the Balkans. The server was incredibly friendly asking where I was from and just a delightful human. He proudly posed for a photo and proceeded to give me three big chunks of cheese and spinach burek for free!
Kalenic Everything Else
Now for the world of trade I mentioned earlier. What I mean is that beyond this visible part of Kalenic is a myriad of stalls, tables, tents and simply people setting up blankets on the ground to sell things. There is a huge area that is filled with antiques, collectibles, books, records, so many lovely vintage objects. And another filled with new clothes, furs and yet another with used clothes.
And let’s not forget all of the household goods, lighting, electronics, flowers and plants, you name it, its here. This is one market area in Belgrade where you can spend hours, simply wandering around, poking your nose into treasures and really getting a feel for the people and their everyday lives.
Stefan Nemanja
There is an absolutely gargantuan monument in the city, located right in front of the beautiful old main railway station. This is in honor of Stefan Nemanja who was a medieval Serbian lord and ruler. He donated an extraordinary amount of funding to the churches and monasteries and is considered to be the father of the Serbian Orthodox Church. This monument was constructed in 2021 and sits in the middle of Sava Square. It weighs a whopping eighty tonnes and is 20 metres high, making it the tallest monument in Serbia.
Grounds of the Military Museum
Located in the Lower Town of Belgrade Fortress in Kalemegdan Park, is the Belgrade Military Museum. There is a fee to enter, however surrounding it and free to explore is a huge amount of equipment. Lining the grassy area in front of the clock tower are tanks and armored vehicles from WWII, the Soviet era and German tanks too.
In another section is a huge display of WWI & WWII field artillery including cannons and howitzers. There is even an anti-aircraft missile launcher, torpedoes and a Soviet rocket launcher. If you have any interest in military history, this area is going to be a really cool spot to explore. I have honestly never seen anything quite like it.
NATO Bombing
There are a few sites around the city that were destroyed in the most recent conflicts when the country was still Yugoslavia. One such is the Radio Television of Serbia Headquarters building. A NATO missile hit the building in April of 1999, killing 16 people. The intention by NATO was to disrupt the communications network. But what they ended up hitting was a building filled with make-up artists, security and technicians, not a legitimate military target.
The government has decided to leave this and another building as they are, a reminder of injustice. To honor the victims, a small memorial is placed nearby in Tasmajdan Park.
Ruzica Church
Sometimes called Little Rose Church, it is located in the Lower Town of Belgrade Fortress. It is thought to be the oldest preserved church in the city constructed sometime in the 15th century. Because it is located at the fortress it became the military church. During WWI about 1,000 soldiers were defending the site from the Austrians when they were attacked.
Many of these soldiers were situated in tunnels below the church and nearly all were killed and the church itself demolished. When Ruzica was rebuilt in 1925, the two large chandeliers and three candelabra were constructed using melted metal from military equipment. They are lavishly decorated with old rifles, bullets, shell casings and swords. Have a close look and you can see these chandeliers dripping with bullets.
Belgrade is full of interesting sites, I could expand on the street art scene, the pedestrian shopping zone, the architecture, brutalist gates, on and on it goes. This is a young city, still finding its legs. It can feel raw, gritty, dirty, but the people are vibrant and friendly and totally transform the atmosphere.
