I just counted - this is the 4th country I have been living in and I have never moved from Belgrade. It’s nothing, really: my grandmother has lived in 7. What we have here is just an interesting side effect that living in the Balkans has on your passport.
Out of all those countries, one of them has slowly and steadily become a cult favorite: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or just- Yugoslavia. A unique social experiment, the country between two opposing political blocks that offered the best of both worlds: freedoms of the West and the careless safety and comforts of socialism. In the collective mind, it is a sort of Instagram-filtered version of Utopia, so close, yet almost too incredible to ever be real.
For me, a 60s design freak, it is, most of all, the country of inexhaustible aesthetic thrills: from cars, to fashion, to everyday objects. And imagine how much I hyperventilated in Yugodom: an apartment you can rent for your stay in Belgrade where everything is “made in Yugoslavia"- from the furniture, to every little detail, including the authentic movie posters on the walls and mini Yugoslav beauty cabinet exhibited in the bathroom. Basically, the front door is a portal that takes you directly back in time.
This is clearly a case of me envying you for being tourists in my city and having a chance to stay somewhere really interesting. Like, in a country that you’d otherwise never be able to add to your travel list.
Find your way with 200 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
An ice cream machine, one plastic chair next to it, a parasol over it, and a really pleasant person serving ice cream. Opt for a large or small portion.
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What I love most about this place is that they provide sauces of varying levels of spiciness so you can adjust the meal to suit your taste and mood.
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Apart from coffee, Veza offers tasty vegan food, from vegan scrambled eggs to avocado toasts, fried vegetables to an assortment of hummuses and tofu.
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This event happens every last Saturday of the month, and it is organized by the cyclist organization called Streets for Cyclists. Join us for a ride!
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My favorites are black sesame and pistachio, but the options are plentiful. They offer traditional fillings like black bean, as well as fruity options.
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Zaokret serves simple yet flavorful dishes, such as eggs prepared in different styles, oatmeals, and some slightly more exotic choices like shakshuka.
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Košutnjak, a woods 20 minutes from the city center by bus, spreads over more than 300 hectares of land and offers many paths and spots to explore.
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I find this park to be great for a walk, as it is close to the river bank, and you can just continue your walk there, enjoying scenic views of the river.
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The portions are big, the prices reasonable, and options diverse. I recommend the rice noodles with tofu and vegetables in a peanut sauce - very tasty!
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Tucked in a YU-era complex, visit Utočište with its wondeful people, social impact and Sicilian sweets, — an unexpected gem in New Belgrade.
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Savana stands out on Zemun Quay with blues, cold beer, and river views — wooden, laid-back, pet-friendly, and blissfully free of turbo folk music.
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200 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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