Item-Vagabond Negroni

Once you step your foot on Belgrade cobble, you can see that this city and the country have a vibrant history. When I was younger, I really didn’t show any interest in learning more about Serbian history. It wasn’t until my senior year when I really started to pay attention in class. I began exploring museums and historical sites in Serbia thanks to the dedicated efforts of my late history teacher, Katarina Hadži Tešić. She invested considerable time in getting to know each of the students personally and then presented us with historical pieces that she believed we would find interesting. Now going to exhibits is my favorite activity to do in my free time.

I made a list of places and activities in Belgrade. I think it would be a great start for you to learn more about Serbia and all the historical transition this territory went through.

Historical Museum of Serbia

This museum serves as an excellent starting point for learning about some of the most important processes and developments that Serbia underwent in its history. The museum's collection consists of objects that belonged to the founders of the Karadjordjević and Obrenović Dynasties, as well as their heirs. You can also view memorials from the first Serbian states, the Nemanjić Dynasty, the gradual subjugation under Ottoman rule, and the Despotate, which was the last Serbian state, along with the ruling Lazarević and Branković families.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, operating from 12 PM to 8 PM. Tickets are available for purchase at the entrance. Please make sure to bring cash, as their card reader didn't work when I visited. For more information, visit their website: Historical Museum of Serbia

National Museum in Belgrade

This museum is located in the city center and could be visited on the same day as the Historical Museum of Serbia. Its permanent exhibit is chronologically put together from the Paleolithic period to the 20th century. This museum was founded in 1844, and since then, it has had a really turbulent history. Starting as a depo of the past with a total of 79 objects in its collection, the National Museum in Belgrade now has more than 400.000 artifacts. One of my favorite pieces from here is “Coronation of Emperor Dusan” painted by Paja Jovanovic in 1900. This piece was made as an order from the Kingdom of Serbia to participate in the World Exhibit in 1900, where it won a gold medal.

Museum is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10AM - 6PM and Thursday and Saturday from 12PM - 8PM. Tickets can be purchased in person. Every Sunday tickets are free for permanent exhibits. Tickets can be purchased in person. For more information go to their website: National Museum in Belgrade

Museum of Yugoslavia

Amongst Serbs, or even people from EX-YU, this museum is known as Tito’s Museum or House of Flowers. However, this complex consists of House of Flowers, Museum of May 25 (currently in renovation) and The Museum Laboratory. This museum covers periods from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the State of Slovens, Croats, and Serbs, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In The Museums Laboratory, you can see magazines, propaganda posters, clothes and shoes made in Yugoslavia, and items which were part of everyday life. House of Flowers is the resting place of Josip Broz Tito and Jovanka Broz, the President and the First Lady of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Here you can also see the exhibit called “Comrade Tito Had Died.” It covers the period before and after President Tito's death, and also how the nation reacted to Tito's death. After the visit, I recommend going to the gift and coffee shop, where you will find great retro souvenirs and a good cup of coffee. The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10AM to 6PM. Tickets can be purchased in person. For more information visit their website: Museum of Yugoslavia

Beograd ispod Beograda (Belgrade below Belgrade)

Even though I haven’t been to this tour, I heard only great things about it, and I think whoever visits Belgrade should go. The tour is done by Zoran Nikolic every Saturday and Sunday at 15:30h. The tour starts at Kalemegdan with an introduction about Kalemegdan’s history. After that you will be taken to a Roman well, military bunker and Barutana (place where gunpowder was stored after the Austrians conquered Belgrade fortress). This great tour will be wrapped up with bohemian stories, refreshments and wine. Sounds like a great weekend afternoon to me! To reserve your spot visit Beograd ispod Beograda

Photo from Beograd ispod Beograda website

Archeological site next to National Assembly

Here's a suggestion that won't cost you anything, and you'll probably pass by it anyway. The plan to construct an underground garage next to the National Assembly was put on hold when, in March, construction workers discovered remains of historical buildings from 1944. This was just the tip of the iceberg regarding what archaeologists would later uncover. Some of the pieces found include coins from the period of Leopold the Fifth, who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as a Roman tomb from the 3rd century. We still don't know how long this archaeological site will be accessible, so if you're in Belgrade this summer, be sure to check it out and observe the archaeologists at work. The National Assembly is located at Trg Nikole Pašića 13.

Dom Jevrema Grujica

Jevrem Grujic was a Serbian politician, diplomat, and lawyer. Despite his humble beginnings, he managed to achieve significant success in both the legal profession and politics. He pursued law studies at Heidelberg and Sorbonne, and with that knowledge, he was able to amass substantial wealth. Some of the wealth he accumulated is showcased in his house located in Belgrade, although unfortunately, he did not reside there himself; it was inhabited by his son and daughter-in-law, Mable Dunlop Grujic. The current owners of the house organize various activities that allow you to relive that era. I had the pleasure of witnessing a play titled "Two Women, One War," in which Mable Dunlop Grujic converses with Jelena Lozanić about her life in Serbia as an American and her experiences after WWI. Additionally, they offer afternoon tea, embroidery classes, and workshops on crafting jewelry pieces from that time period. This makes for a fantastic pre-dinner activity, providing ample topics to discuss during your dinner.You can purchase tickets online here: Tickets.rs