Top 14 Free things to do in Belgrade

The capital of Serbia, Belgrade is one of the most enchanting cities in the Balkan Peninsula. From stunning architecture and fabulous cultural sites to a vibrant nightlife scene, you will find a bit of everything in Belgrade.

One of my favorite things about Belgrade is that you can have a good time without having to spend a lot of money. If you are visiting the city on a budget, there are many cool and exciting things to do in Belgrade for free.

Here are my top suggestions for free things to do in Belgrade.

14 Free things to do in Belgrade

I did my best to gather a wide variety of activities and attractions in this list, so you can for sure find something that fits your style.

1. Visit the Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress

Kick off your Belgrade travel itinerary with a visit to Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress. With impressive views of the Sava and Danube rivers, the 4th century BC fortress is a great place to learn about the history of the city. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a dime to enter and wander around the fortress and Kalemegdan Park.

You will have an opportunity to see several attractions within the citadel including the Church of St Petka, the Nebojša Tower, and the tomb of Grand Vizier Silahdar Ali Pasha.

There is also a cool Military Museum worth checking out. If you don’t feel like paying for the entrance ticket to the museum, check out the tanks, armored cars, and other artillery pieces from WW2 that can be found displayed outside the main building.

There are not many European capitals where you can visit the city’s main attraction for free, like in Belgrade.

2. Go for a stroll at Ada Ciganlija

With 7 km of beaches, Ada Ciganlija is one of my favorite areas to visit in Belgrade in summer. Also known as the “Sea of Belgrade”, it is a perfect place to escape the summer heat and cool down. From swimming and water-skiing to kayaking, there are plenty of water activities to enjoy at this picturesque river island surrounded by beautiful oak and elm forests.

Searching for land-based activities? Located southwest of downtown Belgrade, Ada also has basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts for visitors to enjoy. The entrance to this picturesque river island is free of charge.

3. Visit the Saint Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans

Located in the glitzy Vračar neighborhood, Saint Sava (Sveti Sava) is the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkan Peninsula and probably the most important place of worship in Serbia.

It is dedicated to the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Sveti Sava. The temple was built in the Serbian-Byzantine style based on designs of the local architects, Aleksandar Deroko and Bogdan Nestorovic.

Covered in smooth white marble and granite with a 70-meter-high dome, the Saint Sava Temple façade looks absolutely gorgeous. Step inside the temple to find stunning ornate chandeliers, three beautiful altars, a gold-ceilinged crypt, and vibrant frescoes. The temple is huge and can receive approximately 10,000 people at any time.

Visiting the Saint Sava Temple is a must-do if you are looking for free things to do in Belgrade, as it is not only impressive but also very culturally important.

4. Go for a walk at Knez Mihailova Street

One of the best free things to do in Belgrade is to go for a stroll along the pedestrian-only Knez Mihailova Street. Surrounded by lavish 19th-century buildings and houses, it is one of the oldest streets in the city.

With many boutiques and shops such as Zara, Mango, Diesel, and H&M, the most popular pedestrian zone in the capital of Serbia is a great place to go on a shopping spree.

You can walk down Knez Mihajlova and sit at one of the cute cafes and restaurants for a refreshing drink or a light meal while soaking up the lively street ambiance.

5. Visit Tašmajdan Park

Nature lovers visiting Belgrade will definitely want to spend a few hours at the lovely Tašmajdan Park.

Located just a short walk from Trg Republike, this public park is one of the most popular green areas in the city. Here, you will find everything from a playground for the little ones and an open-air theater to a few restaurants and bars.

In addition to greenery, Tašmajdan Park is also home to many historical and cultural attractions including the Church of St. Mark, Tašmajdan Sports Centre, and a small Russian Church. I like the Heart-shaped memorial dedicated to the people who suffered during the bombings in 1999, as well as the cute monuments like the sitting woman, the lying act, and victory.

6. Go for a day trip to Zemun

One of my favorite things to do for free in Belgrade is exploring the region called Zemun, which is the oldest municipality of Belgrade and is incredibly unique.

For this, you will have to venture outside the city gates (transport will cost you but not much – read here how the public transport in Belgrade works). With Austro-Hungarian influence, the architecture in Zemun is completely different from the rest of Belgrade.

Zemun is known for its long boardwalk located on the Danube River, a charming old town with narrow streets and pastel-colored buildings, and the beautiful Zemun Park.

You can snap a photo from the historic Gardos Tower which was built in 1896 to celebrate 1,000 years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and go for a stroll along the river promenade to unwind with a drink and enjoy water views from one of the splavovi.

7. Explore the murals and street art in Belgrade

You don’t have to pay for museum and art gallery tickets to enjoy art in Belgrade. Budget travelers visiting Belgrade will be pleased to hear there is no shortage of fabulous murals and street art in the capital of Serbia. What I like about murals in Belgrade is that each piece has its own unique story and meaning.

Although you will find murals and street art all across the city, the most famous pieces are located in the Savamala neighborhood.

Expect to see numerous unique murals by both foreign and domestic artists in this part of Belgrade. I should also mention how some of the world’s most famous street artists have their work on display right here in the capital of Serbia.

8. Go to Avala for the best views of Belgrade

No list of the best free things to do in Belgrade would be complete without mentioning this iconic landmark in Belgrade. For the most amazing panoramic views of the city of Belgrade, make your way to Avala.

In addition to the epic views, this mountain peak is a great place to have a picnic and reconnect with nature.

The site is also home to one of the most important monuments in Belgrade, the monument to the Unknown Hero. This monumental complex pays tribute to all those brave people who gave their lives during WW2.

9. Visit the bohemian street of Skadarlija

Welcome to Skadarlija, one of the most famous bohemian streets in all of Serbia. Only 400- meters long, this picturesque pedestrian street in the center of Belgrade dates back to the late 19th and early 20th century.

The pedestrian street is lined with shops, cafes, and traditional kafanas serving authentic Serbia cuisine. Don’t be surprised to see street performers and musicians in Skadarlija. If you wish to enjoy local brandy (rakija), try local food delicacies, and listen to traditional Serbian music, you’ve come to the right place.

Skadarlija is a bit too touristy for me as a local, but it is definitely a place worth checking out if you are visiting Belgrade for the first time.

10. Enjoy the nightlife at Cetijnska Street

Located just a 2-minute walk from Skadarlija, Cetinjska Street is known for its vibrant nightlife with a bunch of cool restaurants, bars, and fast food joints worth checking out.

It definitely attracts a much different crowd than Skadarlija. While the iconic cobblestone street of Skadarlija is a place to get to know the traditional part of Serbia, Cetinjska has more of that Berlin alternative vibe.

Once an old parking lot, the area is nowadays a party hub. Expect to find everything from vinyl shops and small burger/rib joints to laid-back cafes and live music venues. The good news is that most of the nightclubs and venues don’t have an entrance fee.

11. Open Markets in Belgrade

Visiting the local food markets in Belgrade is definitely one of the best things you can do in Belgrade for free.

Get up early in the morning to check out some of the best open food markets in Belgrade. These places are typically packed with local vendors from nearby villages selling everything from fresh veggies and fruits to cheeses, meats, and fish. Some of the vendors will let you taste their products for free. I recommend trying the local cheese kajmak.

My favorite market in Belgrade is called Kalenic Pijaca. It is located in the area of Vracar and has the widest selection of fish, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. Some of the other popular open farmers markets in Belgrade include Palilula Market, Zeleni Venac, and Pijaca “Blok 44”.

Read also: Best areas to stay in Belgrade

12. Check out Hotel Jugoslavija & Hotel Moskva

If you are into socialist architecture, a visit to these two unique hotels in Belgrade is simply a must.

Hotel Yugoslavia was one of the most glamorous places to stay in Belgrade. A list of former guests is truly impressive and includes Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, and Queen Elizabeth II.

There is also the legendary Hotel Moskva which is situated in a Russian palace built in the early 1900s. An interesting fact is that originally, the hotel only had around 40 rooms. It was owned by the Russian Empire and later by the Gestapo.

After the war, the hotel was nationalized and privatized again in the early 2000s. The list of important guests at Hotel Moskva is also very impressive and includes people like Robert De Niro, Albert Einstein, Indira Gandhi, and many others.

13. Visit the Old Belgrade Train Station

Although trains no longer leave from this spot, the Old Belgrade Train Station is a great place to visit for free while staying in Belgrade. Situated inside a charming 19th-century building, this train station is a cultural monument of great importance.

The architecture of this place is stunning. Hopefully, one day, the building will be converted into a museum. If you are planning to visit Belgrade by train nowadays, go to the New Belgrade Center Station or Prokop Train Station.

Want to go on a day trip to Novi Sad from Belgrade? The new fast train can take you from Belgrade to Novi Sad in 35 minutes.

Check out our Novi Sad guide

14. Visit St Mark’s Church

Last on my list of the best free things to do in Belgrade is the impressive St Mark’s Church. One of the largest churches in Serbia, this Neo-Byzantine structure is known for its marble frame, the tomb of Emperor Dušan, and the painting of the Last Supper composed by a local painter called Đuro Radulović.

Located in the Tašmajdan Park in Belgrade, Crkva Svetog Marka is 62 meters long and 45 meters wide. It has three impressive altars, as well as one of the richest collections of Serbian 18th and 19th-century icons. The park surrounding the church is worth a stroll.

To sum it all up, budget-conscious travelers visiting Belgrade will be delighted to hear that the capital of Serbia is home to numerous free attractions. You can have a great time in Belgrade without spending too much, which is amazing.

More about visiting Belgrade

Here are a few other guides about Belgrade that can help you plan your trip.

Other guides for traveling through Serbia

Organizing your trip

To help you plan your trip to Serbia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:

Flights: Get affordable flights to Serbia on Skyscanner.com.
Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use VisitorsCoverage whenever we are traveling abroad.
Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.