Want to see the highlights after arriving in Belgrade? Here's a suggested walking tour for first-time visitors to see the most important sights.

1. Republic Square

Start your walk from Republic Square. This is the main plaza in Belgrade, where locals usually meet each other "by the horse" (a statue of Prince Mihailo). On the north sides of the square you will see the photogenic National Museum and National Theater buildings. The National Museum is worth visiting if you have time (or the weather is bad). The ticket costs 300 dinar (free every Sunday) and the ticket includes the password for free WiFi if you need it. The National Theater has some theater shows with English subtitles (look for the word "English" on their website), and operas or ballets don't really need translations.

2. Knez Mikhailova

Walk along Knez Mikhailova, the main pedestrian street. You'll see many shops, some street musicians, and as you get near Kalemegdan fortress, many cafes packed full of people. Before crossing the street to Kalemegdan, you will see Rajiceva mall to your right, which has toilets in the basement and a supermarket if you want water or other refreshments.

3. Kalemegdan

Kalemegdan fortress is not only the largest park in the downtown part of Belgrade, but a VERY large historic reminder of the city's dramatic history. Belgrade sat at the border between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire for many years, and it got passed back and forth between the two powers several times. Much of the fortress that you see today was built by Austro-Hungarian forces when they gained control of the fortress. Make sure to admire The Victor, a statue of a nude man that caused some controversy when it was first installed on Knez Mikhalova (and the pushback against a nude statue caused the statue to be relocated here).

4. Skadarlija

Skadarlija is an old cobblestrone street often called a small Bohemian part of town. There are some nice murals there and many classic restaurants. There are several ways you can go to Skadarlija, but the suggested route is to either take one of the old-style trams from the start of the line here or walk through Dorcol by passing through Student's Park and following the road Simina.

5. Saint Sava Temple

If you want to see a fancy orthodox Cathedral, head over to Saint Sava Temple. You can walk, but hopping on a public a bus might be faster.

6. Yugoslav Ministry of Defence Building

Not far from Saint Sava is this partially destroyed building from the NATO bombing in 1999. Although it is the most famous ruin in Belgrade (much better known than the hidden library that was bombed during WWII by Germans), the building has gained even attention recently as it was purportedly being bought by Jared Kushner to turn into a luxury hotel.

7. Avala tower

If you have a LOT of time in Belgrade, you might consider a trip to Avala Tower. You can get there by public buses, but a taxi or rental car will be much faster. You can enjoy views of all of Belgrade from the observation deck and there are free telescopes to let you see distant objects. Best enjoyed when the air is clean to allow maximum visibility (in other words, winter is not the best time to visit).

Embedded map of walking route coming soon, temporary map here