Svetlana from Belgrade
Genex Tower Belgrade
Soft spot for a concrete monster
The sight from the Branko's Bridge to Kalemegdan fortress with Victor statue on top of it and confluence of Sava and Danube below it is sort of a postcard-perfect official "welcome" of the city when one arrives in Belgrade.
Yet, when I am away and thinking about coming back, different pictures pop into my mind. A bit less expected ones. Those are pictures of a grey, 35-floor tall concrete building, known as the Western City Gate, or Genex Tower, located in Novi Beograd (New Belgrade). The pictures of it turning orange as the sunrise reflects in its floor-to-ceiling windows, or turning dark grey, almost black, when it rains. The sunset framed between its two towers. The huge digital clock on the top bridge that would tell us how long we had to wait for evening cartoons on TV.
I very rarely go to this part of the city today, but I can see it every time from a taxi on the way back from the airport. Perhaps because I spent a lot of my childhood roller-skating on its tiled base platform or riding in its elevators up and down just to get those butterflies in the stomach, whenever I am returning to Belgrade it is when I'm passing by this brutalism-style beauty that I hear "You're home!".
Or perhaps beauty just strikes more when we find it in less expected places. And when you think about it, that is the story of Belgrade.
About this spot
Narodnih heroja 41
- 24 hours daily
RSD
no-price
Our Belgrade City Guide
Find your way with 203 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Join as a Spotter?
Loved this Spot? And love your city? Join your local team. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in Belgrade
Vanilica
Straight outta the oven
"Vanilica" in Belgrade doesn't have a vast offer of pastries - it's a small, unassuming, family-run bakery that I just love for the cakes and gibanica...
by
Dušan
Lopušina
Stari šlep
A comfy hideout on the water
"Stari šlep" is the perfect restaurant for the summer days/daze in Belgrade. Its name means 'the old barge' - I'd recommend a fish soup and salad here.
by
Dušan
Lopušina
Radecki Club/restaurant
Village within a city
"Radecki club/restaurant" on Belgrade's Zemun quay: a true local oasis - no espresso here, just plain good old 'domestic' Turkish coffee. Lots to see here.
by
Dušan
Lopušina
Balkan Ekspres restaurant
Train on the hilltop
"Balkan Ekspres restaurant" is in Belgrade's Zemun, a city of its own. This place is worth visiting if only just for the views from inside the train car...
by
Dušan
Lopušina
Museum of Ivo Andric
Hidden Literary Gem
Tucked in Belgrade, this modest and intimate museum preserves Ivo Andric’s life and work, from his typewriter to his Nobel Prize — authentic and deeply personal.
by
Anđa
Savić
Dorćol Platz
Event area for everyone
Dorćol platz is my favorite event venue in Belgrade. It's a meeting place for people into cultural & social change. Always something creative here...
by
Anđa
Savić
Residence of Princess Ljubica
A cup of history
The Residence of Princess Ljubica in Belgrade is one of the few buildings that date to early the 19th c. Discover the bourgeois Serbia of the past!
by
Anđa
Savić
Kutijica
Creative food, out of the box!
The daily menu can, for example, include pumpkin with leek and poppy seeds, Thai curry with dried banana, chutney and raita. Or the good old veggie burger.
by
Dušan
Lopušina
Morava Butcher Shop
Meat concept store
After 40 years of providing the people of Belgrade with the best steaks, "Morava Butcher Shop" is now the first Meat Concept Store in town...
by
Anđa
Savić
Stefan Nemanja Monument
Belgrade's largest
The "Stefan Nemanja Monument" in Belgrade is the city's largest - it always reminds me of The Lord of the Rings...
by
Nedeljko
Ivaniš
Dobra Pljeskavica
Mile's True Pljeskavica
Pljeskavicas are like Serbian burgers, but much bigger and tastier. Mile makes some amazing pljeskavica, some of the best in Belgrade in my opinion...
by
Anđa
Savić
Heading to Belgrade?
203 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 203 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Belgrade
Our team loves Belgrade
Get to know our other Spotters from Belgrade
As featured on:
