Belgrade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belgrade Београд Beograd
Capital city
Град Београд Grad Beograd City of Belgrade
Panorama of Belgrade House of the National Assembly Novi Dvor Avala Tower Belgrade Tower Gardoš Tower Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Church of Saint Sava Belgrade Fortress Monument to the Unknown Hero
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Химна Београду Himna Beogradu "Anthem to Belgrade"
Belgrade in Serbia
Belgrade Location in Serbia Show map of Serbia Belgrade Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Serbia
City	Belgrade
Municipalities	17
Establishment	Prior to 279 B.C. (Singidunum)
Government
• Body	City Assembly of Belgrade
Area
• Capital city	389.12 km2 (150.24 sq mi)
• Urban	1,035 km2 (400 sq mi)
• Metro	3,234.96 km2 (1,249.03 sq mi)
Elevation	117 m (384 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Capital city	1,197,714
• Density	3,078/km2 (7,970/sq mi)
• Urban	1,383,875
• Urban density	1,337/km2 (3,460/sq mi)
• Metro	1,685,563
• Metro density	520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Belgradian (en) Beograđanin (m.) / Beograđanka (f.) (sr)
GDP
• Metro	$34.141 billion (2024)
• Per capita (nominal)	$20.260 (2024)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	11000
Area code	+381(0)11
ISO 3166 code	RS-00
Vehicle registration	BG
International Airport	Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)

Belgrade (pronounced bel-GRAYD) is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It sits where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. This spot is also where the Pannonian Basin (a large plain) and the Balkan Peninsula (a land area in Southeast Europe) connect.

Belgrade is home to over 1.6 million people. It is one of the biggest cities in Southeast Europe and the third largest city along the Danube river.

This city is one of the oldest places in Europe where people have lived continuously. A very old culture, the Vinča culture, grew in the Belgrade area around 6000 BC. Later, Celts settled here and called the city Singidūn. The Romans took over and named it Singidunum.

Over centuries, Belgrade was ruled by many different groups, including the Byzantine Empire, the Bulgarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Hungary. It became the capital of Serbia in 1284 under King Stefan Dragutin. The city was later conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1521. It changed hands many times between the Ottomans and the Habsburg monarchy.

After the Serbian Revolution, Belgrade became Serbia's capital again in 1841. It was the capital of Yugoslavia from 1918 until 2006. Belgrade has been involved in 115 wars and destroyed 44 times because of its important location.

As Serbia's most important city, Belgrade has a special role in the country. It is where the government, ministries, and most large Serbian companies, media, and science groups are located. Belgrade is considered a "Beta-Global City", meaning it's important for the world economy.

The city has many large and famous places. These include the Clinical Centre of Serbia, one of the biggest hospitals in the world. It also has the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches, and the Belgrade Arena, a huge indoor sports and concert venue.

Belgrade has hosted many big international events. These include the first Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 1961 and the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008. It has also hosted major sports events like the FINA World Aquatics Championships in 1973 and the UEFA European Championship in 1976. Belgrade will also host the Expo 2027.

Belgrade's Long History

Ancient Times

Long, long ago, people lived in the Belgrade area. Tools found in Zemun show that nomadic people lived here in the Stone Age.

The first farmers arrived around 6200 BC, part of the Starčevo culture. Later, the more advanced Vinča culture (5500–4500 BC) grew here. The Vinča culture is famous for its large settlements and early use of copper. They even had a form of proto-writing (early writing) before the Sumerians!

Early City Life

Ancient stories and myths mention Belgrade's location. The ridge where the Sava and Danube meet is even linked to the story of Jason and the Argonauts.

Around 279 BC, the Celts took over the area and named the city Singidūn. Later, in the 1st century AD, the Romans conquered it and called it Singidunum. By the 2nd century, it became an important Roman city. A Roman emperor, Jovian, who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, was born in Singidunum. In 395 AD, the city became part of the Byzantine Empire.

Middle Ages and Changing Rulers

In 442, the Huns attacked the area. Then, the Ostrogoths and Gepids took control. In 539, the Byzantines got it back. Around 577, many Slavs settled in the region.

The Avars conquered the area in 582. Later, the Byzantine Empire regained control. The name Belograd (meaning 'White City') first appeared in 878. For about 400 years, the city was a battleground between the Byzantines, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Bulgarian Empire.

In 1284, King Stefan Dragutin of Serbia received Belgrade from Hungary. It became the capital of his kingdom, making him the first Serbian king to rule Belgrade.

After major battles in 1371 and 1389, the Ottoman Empire started taking over Serbian lands. Belgrade became the capital of the Serbian Despotate and grew under Stefan Lazarević. He built a strong castle and walls, helping the city resist the Ottomans for almost 70 years. Many people fleeing Ottoman rule found safety in Belgrade, and its population grew to 40,000-50,000.

In 1427, Belgrade was returned to the Hungarian king. The Ottomans tried to capture it in 1440 and 1456 but failed. In 1456, over 100,000 Ottoman soldiers attacked, but the Christian army, led by John Hunyadi, successfully defended the city. To this day, church bells ring at noon to remember this victory.

Ottoman Rule and Austrian Attacks

Finally, on August 28, 1521, Suleiman the Magnificent captured Belgrade with a huge army. Most of the city was destroyed, and many Christian people were moved to Istanbul.

Belgrade became an important Ottoman city, second only to Constantinople, with over 100,000 people. The Ottomans brought their unique architecture, including many mosques.

In 1594, a Serb rebellion was crushed. As punishment, the Ottomans burned the holy items of Saint Sava on the Vračar plateau. Today, the large Church of Saint Sava stands there to remember this event.

The city was taken by the Austrians three times (1688–1690, 1717–1739, 1789–1791) but was quickly recaptured and destroyed by the Ottomans each time. During these times, many Serbs moved north with the Austrian soldiers into the Habsburg Empire.

Becoming Serbia's Capital Again

In the early 1800s, Belgrade was mostly Muslim. After the First Serbian Uprising, Serbian revolutionaries held the city from 1807 to 1813. During this time, many changes happened, and the city started to become more Serbian. After the Second Serbian Uprising in 1815, Serbia gained some freedom, which was officially recognized in 1830.

In 1841, Prince Mihailo Obrenović moved the capital of the Principality of Serbia from Kragujevac to Belgrade. The city grew and became the center for government, military, and culture. New buildings in European styles like neoclassicism and baroque started to appear.

On April 18, 1867, the Ottoman army left the Belgrade Fortress. This event marked Serbia's real independence. An urban planner, Emilijan Josimović, helped redesign the city with straighter streets and more parks. Belgrade began to look more like a European city.

With full independence in 1878 and becoming the Kingdom of Serbia in 1882, Belgrade grew quickly. Its population reached over 100,000 by 1914. The first movie showings in the Balkans happened in Belgrade in 1896, and the first permanent cinema opened in 1909.

World Wars and Yugoslavia

World War I started on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia. Belgrade was heavily shelled and captured by Austro-Hungarian and German troops. It was finally freed by Serbian and French soldiers on November 1, 1918. The city was badly damaged.

After the war, Belgrade became the capital of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which was later renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. The city grew fast and became very modern. By 1940, its population reached 320,000. Belgrade's first airport opened in 1927, and its first radio station started broadcasting in 1929. New bridges were built over the Danube and Sava rivers.

On April 6, 1941, during World War II, the German air force heavily bombed Belgrade, killing many people. Yugoslavia was then invaded by German and other forces. Belgrade was occupied by the German army. During this time, the Jewish community in Belgrade faced terrible persecution.

The Allies also bombed Belgrade on April 16, 1944. Most of the city remained under German occupation until October 20, 1944, when it was freed by the Red Army and Yugoslav Partisans.

On November 29, 1945, Josip Broz Tito declared the new Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

Modern Belgrade

After World War II, Belgrade grew quickly as the capital of the new Yugoslavia. It became a major industrial center. In 1948, construction of New Belgrade began. The city's first TV station started broadcasting in 1958.

In 1961, Belgrade hosted the first meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of countries that did not side with either the US or the Soviet Union during the Cold War. In 1962, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport was built.

In the 1990s, during the breakup of Yugoslavia, Belgrade saw large protests against the government. In 1999, during the Kosovo War, NATO bombing targeted several buildings in Belgrade, including government offices and the TV station.

After the wars, many refugees settled in Belgrade. In 2000, huge protests in Belgrade led to the change of government.

Recent Developments

Since 2014, a big urban project called Belgrade Waterfront has been underway. It includes new office buildings, luxury apartments, hotels, and a shopping mall. This project is changing the look of the city's riverside.

Belgrade is also seeing fast development in other areas, especially in New Belgrade. Many new apartment and office buildings are being built to support the growing Belgrade IT sector. In 2020, there were about 2000 active construction sites in the city.

Belgrade's Geography

Land and Rivers

Belgrade is about 117 meters (384 feet) above sea level. It is famous for being located where the Danube and Sava rivers meet. The historic heart of Belgrade, Kalemegdan, sits on the right banks of both rivers.

Since the 1800s, the city has grown to the south and east. After World War II, New Belgrade was built on the left bank of the Sava, connecting Belgrade with Zemun. Other smaller communities across the Danube have also joined the city.

Central Belgrade, on the right bank of the Sava, has hills. The highest point in Belgrade proper is Torlak hill at 303 meters (994 feet). South of the city are the mountains of Avala (511 meters/1,677 feet) and Kosmaj (628 meters/2,060 feet). Across the Sava and Danube, the land is mostly flat.

One interesting feature of Belgrade's land is "mass wasting," which means parts of the ground can move or slide. This happens on slopes above the rivers. However, most land movement in Belgrade is caused by construction work and issues with water pipes.

Weather in Belgrade

Belgrade has a climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cool. The average temperature ranges from 1.9°C (35.4°F) in January to 23.8°C (74.8°F) in July.

The city gets about 698 mm (27.5 inches) of rain each year, with late spring being the wettest time. Belgrade gets about 2,020 hours of sunshine per year.

Thunderstorms can happen any time but are more common in spring and summer. Hail is rare. The highest temperature ever recorded in Belgrade was 43.6°C (110.5°F) on July 24, 2007. The lowest was -26.2°C (-15.2°F) on January 10, 1893.

City Government and Divisions

Belgrade is a special area in Serbia with its own government. The City Assembly of Belgrade has 110 members, chosen every four years. A City Council, led by the mayor, manages the city's daily business. It has 14 departments that handle things like traffic and healthcare.

Because Belgrade is so important, the mayor's job is often seen as the third most important in Serbia, after the President and Prime Minister.

As the capital, Belgrade is where all of Serbia's main government bodies are located. This includes the Parliament, the President's office, the Government, and all ministries.

City Parts: Municipalities

The city is divided into 17 municipalities. Some are urban (city-like), and some are suburban (smaller towns around the city). In 2010, they all got equal status, but suburban ones have some special powers for things like construction.

Most municipalities are south of the Danube and Sava rivers, in the Šumadija region. Three are north of the Sava in the Syrmia region. One municipality, Palilula, crosses the Danube, so it's in both the Šumadija and Banat regions.

Municipality	Classification	Area (km2)	Population (census 2022)	Population density (per km2)
Barajevo	suburban	213.10	26,431	110
Čukarica	urban	156.99	175,793	1,120
Grocka	suburban	299.55	82,810	276
Lazarevac	suburban	383.51	55,146	144
Mladenovac	suburban	339	48,683	144
Novi Beograd	urban	40.71	209,763	5,153
Obrenovac	suburban	410.14	68,882	168
Palilula	urban	450.59	182,624	405
Rakovica	urban	30.11	104,456	3,469
Savski Venac	urban	14.06	36,699	2,610
Sopot	suburban	270.71	19,126	71
Stari Grad	urban	5.40	44,737	8,285
Surčin	urban	288.47	45,452	158
Voždovac	urban	148.52	174,864	1,177
Vračar	urban	2.87	55,406	19,305
Zemun	urban	149.74	177,908	1,188
Zvezdara	urban	31.49	172,625	5,482
Total		3,234.96	1,681,405	520
Source: Sector for statistics, Belgrade

People of Belgrade

In 2022, the city of Belgrade had a population of 1,197,714 people. If you include nearby urban areas, the population is 1,383,875. The total administrative area of Belgrade has 1,681,405 people.

Belgrade is home to many different ethnic groups from the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans. The largest group is Serbs, making up over 86% of the population. There are also significant numbers of Roma, Yugoslavs, Gorani, Montenegrins, Russians, Croats, Macedonians, and other groups.

Many people have moved to Belgrade from smaller towns and the countryside. Tens of thousands also came as refugees from other parts of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. More recently, many Russians and Ukrainians have moved to Belgrade.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 Chinese people live in Belgrade. Since the mid-1990s, a part of New Belgrade called Block 70 is known as the Chinese quarter. Many people from the Middle East also came to study in the 1970s and 1980s and stayed.

In the past, Belgrade had small communities of Aromanians, Czechs, Greeks, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, Turks, Armenians, and Russian White émigrés. The Jewish community, which was once large, became much smaller after World War II. Belgrade also had a Buddhist temple built in 1929 by Kalmyks who settled there, but most moved away after World War II.

Today, most people in Belgrade belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church. There are also Muslims, Roman Catholics, and Protestants.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1426	50,000	—
1683	100,000	+0.27%
1800	25,000	−1.18%
1834	7,033	−3.66%
1859	18,860	+4.02%
1863	14,760	−5.94%
1866	24,768	+18.83%
1874	27,605	+1.36%
1884	35,483	+2.54%
1890	54,763	+7.50%
1895	59,790	+1.77%
1900	68,481	+2.75%
1905	77,235	+2.44%
1910	82,498	+1.33%
1921	111,739	+2.80%
1931	238,775	+7.89%
1948	397,911	+3.05%
1953	477,982	+3.73%
1961	657,362	+4.06%
1971	899,094	+3.18%
1981	1,087,915	+1.92%
1991	1,133,146	+0.41%
2002	1,119,642	−0.11%
2011	1,166,763	+0.46%
2022	1,197,714	+0.24%
Source: 1426-1683 data; 1800 data; 1834-1931

Settlements	Population
Belgrade	1,197,714
Borča	51,862
Kaluđerica	28,483
Lazarevac	27,635
Obrenovac	25,380
Mladenovac	22,346
Surčin	20,602
Sremčica	19,434
Ugrinovci	11,859
Leštane	10,454
Ripanj	10,084

Belgrade's Economy

Belgrade is the financial heart of Serbia and Southeast Europe. It has a huge amount of office space and is home to the country's Central Bank. Many people work in Belgrade, in over 120,000 companies and 50,000 shops.

In 2019, Belgrade had 31.4% of all employed people in Serbia and produced over 40.4% of the country's total wealth (GDP). The city's wealth in 2023 was estimated at $73 billion USD.

New Belgrade is the main business area and a financial hub for Southeast Europe. It has many hotels, conference centers, and office buildings. Over 1.2 million square meters of land are being built on in New Belgrade.

Belgrade is also a major center for information technology (IT) in Southeast Europe, with over 6,900 IT companies. Microsoft has a development center here, and many global IT companies like Asus, Intel, and Dell have chosen Belgrade for their regional offices. Famous Belgrade IT startups include Nordeus and ComTrade Group.

In December 2021, the average monthly salary in Belgrade was about $946. Most households in the city own a computer, have broadband internet, and pay television. Knez Mihajlova street is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world for renting business space.

Belgrade's Culture

Belgrade is known as a very creative city. It hosts many international cultural events every year. These include the Film Festival, Theatre Festival, Summer Festival, and the Book Fair. In 2008, Belgrade hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.

Famous authors like Ivo Andrić, who won the Nobel Prize, wrote their works in Belgrade. Many Serbian films are also made here. Belgrade was a big center for new wave music in the 1980s and is now the center of the Serbian hip hop scene.

The city has many theaters, including the National Theatre. The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the National Library of Serbia are also in Belgrade.

Museums to Explore

Belgrade has many interesting museums. The National Museum, founded in 1844, has over 400,000 items, including paintings by famous artists like Titian and Picasso. It also holds the famous Miroslav's Gospel.

The Ethnographic Museum shows the traditional culture of the Balkans. The Museum of Contemporary Art has over 8,000 works of art from the former Yugoslavia.

The Military Museum in Kalemegdan has over 25,000 military objects from ancient times to today. The Museum of Aviation in Belgrade near the airport has over 200 aircraft, including rare ones.

The Nikola Tesla Museum keeps the personal items of the famous inventor Nikola Tesla. It has about 160,000 documents and 5,700 personal items, including his urn. The Museum of Vuk and Dositej tells the story of important Serbian reformers. Belgrade also has a Museum of African Art.

The Yugoslav Film Archive is one of the largest film archives in the world, with about 95,000 films. It even has Charlie Chaplin's stick and early films by the Lumière brothers. The Belgrade City Museum covers the city's history from ancient times. The Museum of Yugoslavia has collections from the Yugoslav era, including Moon rocks given by the Apollo 11 crew.

Belgrade's Buildings

Belgrade's buildings show many different styles. The center of Zemun looks like a Central European town, while New Belgrade has more modern, spacious designs.

The oldest buildings outside the Kalemegdan Park are from the 18th century. This is because the city was often destroyed in wars. In the 19th century, Belgrade changed from an Eastern-style town to a European one, with influences from neoclassicism and romanticism. Serbian architects designed important buildings like the National Theatre and the National Museum.

In the socialist period, many buildings were built quickly and cheaply, like the large apartment blocks in New Belgrade. Belgrade has the second oldest sewer system in Europe. The Clinical Centre of Serbia is a huge hospital complex with about 50 buildings and 3,150 beds.

Visiting Belgrade

Belgrade has always been a popular stop for travelers. The first hotel in Belgrade, Kod jelena, was built in 1843. As more people visited, new and luxurious hotels opened.

The city's historic areas are top attractions. These include Skadarlija (a bohemian neighborhood), the National Museum of Serbia, the Kalemegdan Fortress, and Knez Mihailova Street. There are also many parks, monuments, and cafes. The Monument to the Unknown Hero and Avala Tower on Avala mountain offer great views.

The Dedinje Royal Compound, with its former royal palaces, is open to visitors and holds many valuable artworks. Nearby is Josip Broz Tito's mausoleum, The House of Flowers.

Ada Ciganlija is a former island on the Sava River that is now a popular sports and recreation area. It has 7 km (4.3 miles) of beaches and facilities for many sports. In summer, 200,000 to 300,000 people visit daily. You can also try bungee jumping or water skiing here.

Belgrade has 16 islands on its rivers. The Great War Island, where the Sava meets the Danube, is a protected nature area with lots of wildlife. There are also 37 protected natural sites in the city.

Tourism in Belgrade is growing fast, with nearly a million tourists visiting in 2016. Many arrive by river cruisers. Belgrade is also a stop on the "Danube Bike Trail" and the "Sultans Trail" hiking path.

Nightlife and Fun

Belgrade is famous for its lively nightlife. Many clubs stay open until dawn, especially the unique floating clubs called splavs on the Sava and Danube rivers. People from neighboring countries often visit Belgrade for its friendly atmosphere, many clubs, and affordable drinks.

The SKC (Student Cultural Centre) is a popular spot for alternative cultural events, including concerts and art shows. For a more traditional Serbian experience, visit Skadarlija, the old bohemian neighborhood. Its streets are full of traditional restaurants called kafanas, some dating back to the 19th century. One of the oldest is the Znak pitanja ('?').

The Times newspaper has called Belgrade's nightlife the best in Europe. In the Lonely Planet 1000 Ultimate Experiences Guide, Belgrade was ranked the number one party city in the world.

Sports and Recreation

Belgrade has about a thousand sports facilities, ready for all kinds of events. Ada Ciganlija island is a key spot for recreation, with its lake and beaches. Košutnjak Park Forest also offers trails and sports facilities.

Belgrade has hosted many major international sports events. These include the first World Aquatics Championships in 1973, the European Football Championship in 1976, and the European Basketball Championships several times. More recently, it hosted the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2017 and the basketball EuroLeague Final Four in 2018 and 2022.

The city is home to Serbia's two biggest football clubs, Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade. Red Star won the UEFA Champions League in 1991. Their matches are known as the "Eternal Derby."

The Belgrade Arena is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe, used for big sports events and concerts. It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Belgrade has also produced world-class tennis players like Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Janković, and Novak Djokovic. The Serbian national tennis team won the Davis Cup in Belgrade in 2010.

The Belgrade Marathon is held every year.

Media in Belgrade

Belgrade is the most important media center in Serbia. It is home to the main offices of the national TV and radio broadcaster, Radio Television Serbia (RTS). Other popular TV stations include RTV Pink and B92, which also has a radio station and a popular website.

Newspapers published in Belgrade include Politika, Blic, and Danas. There are also sports newspapers and an economic daily. Many international magazines have Serbian editions based in Belgrade.

Learning in Belgrade

Belgrade has two state universities and several private colleges. The University of Belgrade, founded in 1808, is the oldest university in Serbia. It has nearly 90,000 students, making it one of Europe's largest. Many of its buildings are important parts of Belgrade's architecture.

The city also has 195 primary schools and 85 secondary schools. These schools teach about 230,000 students.

Getting Around Belgrade

Belgrade has a large public transport system. It includes buses (over 100 urban lines and 300 suburban lines), trams (12 lines), and trolleybuses (8 lines). There is also an S-train network called BG Voz with six lines. Tickets can be bought by SMS or paper tickets.

Belgrade is one of the last large European capitals without a full metro or subway system. However, the Belgrade Metro is currently being built and will have two lines. The first line is expected to open by August 2028.

The new Belgrade Centre railway station is the main hub for trains. A new high-speed rail line connects Belgrade with Novi Sad, and it is being extended to Subotica and Budapest.

The city is located on major European transport routes. Motorways connect Belgrade to Novi Sad and Budapest to the north, Niš to the south, and Zagreb to the west.

Belgrade has 11 bridges, including Branko's Bridge, Ada Bridge, and Gazela Bridge, which connect the city center to New Belgrade.

The Port of Belgrade on the Danube River allows goods to be transported by river. The city is also served by Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, located 12 km (7.5 miles) west of the city center. In 2019, over 6 million passengers used the airport.

Belgrade's Global Connections

Sister Cities

Belgrade has "sister city" relationships with several cities around the world:

• Coventry, UK (since 1957)
• Chicago, US (since 2005)
• Ljubljana, Slovenia (since 2010)
• Skopje, North Macedonia (since 2012)
• Caruaru, Brazil (since 2010)
• Shanghai, China (since 2018)
• Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 2020)

Partner Cities

Belgrade also has other friendship and cooperation agreements with many cities:

Belgrade has received many awards for its bravery during World War I and World War II. These include the French Légion d'honneur and the Yugoslavian Order of the People's Hero. In 2006, Foreign Direct Investment magazine named Belgrade the "City of the Future of Southern Europe."

See also

In Spanish: Belgrado para niños