Belgrade

The hospitable South European party city

Once the cosmopolitan capital of Tito’s Yugoslavia, then an outcast amongst Europe’s metropolises, the Serbian capital has since acquired a reputation as a party city.

Much is said about Belgrade’s famous nightlife, about the restaurants and bars, its swimming house-clubs such as Klub 20/44, its underground parties and Gypsy bands. There are cool lounge restaurants in which Brazilian music plays, and steamers on which there is dancing. There are Turbofolk and international DJs.

No doubt about it, it is very easy to stay up all night in the Serbian capital. But you shouldn’t miss the other, wide awake side of Belgrade, because you can spend days down by the Sava and the Danube which are just as exciting as nights. Today, Belgrade is a hearty place, a living metropolis in which everyone listens and readily provides information.

Strolling through the venerable but trendy Dorcol quarter, jogging along the Danube or soaking up the sun on the Kalemegdan castle hill are all worthwhile activities. Novi Beograd has high-quality modern architecture to offer, and the streets of Zemun will take you back to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many of the locals claim that Belgrade’s relationship to Serbia is like that of New York to the USA – an urban state of exception, a positive state of chaos. Whilst the largest Belgrade museums remain closed due to lack of money, creative centres are cropping up in other parts of the city.

When sightseeing, you will discover buildings in an Eastern style mixed with imperial buildings from the time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. And in between, totally cool graffiti decorating the cityscape. The people of Belgrade are known as being very friendly and hospitable, helpful and charming. And you can get a good espresso almost everywhere. Belgrade is a city undergoing radical changes.

Combine your dental treatment with an unforgettable stay in a city which is in a perceptible state of flux. There is enough time between dental appointments to explore the city, look at historic monuments, visit parks and museums (Nikola Tesla, etc.) or go shopping in the central pedestrian area.