Economy
Belgrade is the financial, commercial and economic centre of Serbia and one of the principal business hubs of Southeast Europe. It is home to the National Bank of Serbia, the Belgrade Stock Exchange and the headquarters of numerous domestic and international companies. The city has a diversified economy, with major activities in trade, finance, information technology, telecommunications, real estate, transport, logistics, tourism and professional services.
According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, the Belgrade Region generated a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately RSD 4.21 trillion in 2024, accounting for 43.2% of Serbia’s total GDP. GDP per capita reached approximately RSD 2.50 million, around 69% above the national average. These figures demonstrate the capital’s dominant position in the Serbian economy, although they refer to the wider statistical region rather than exclusively to the central urban area. The economy has benefited from investment, the expansion of the services sector and the growth of internationally oriented businesses.
New Belgrade is one of the country’s principal business districts and a major centre for financial services and corporate activity. It offers modern office buildings, business parks, hotels, conference facilities and shopping centres. Among its prominent facilities is the Sava Centar, a major congress and events venue. New Belgrade also hosts a substantial share of the capital’s modern office space. By the end of 2025, the city’s total modern office supply had reached approximately 1.46 million square metres, with New Belgrade accounting for around one million square metres. The market continues to attract domestic and international businesses, particularly in information technology, telecommunications and professional services.
Information technology has become one of Serbia’s most dynamic economic sectors, with Belgrade serving as its principal centre. The city is home to software developers, technology startups, research institutions and international technology companies. Serbia’s ICT exports reached a record €4.13 billion in 2024, an increase of approximately 20% compared with 2023. Although this figure covers the whole country, Belgrade plays a major role in the sector through its concentration of skilled professionals, technology companies and business infrastructure. The city’s technology ecosystem includes established companies and successful startups operating in software development, gaming, financial technology, digital services and artificial intelligence.
Belgrade also remains an important centre for banking, insurance, retail, construction and property development. Large-scale urban projects, including Belgrade Waterfront, have transformed parts of the city and stimulated investment in residential, commercial, hospitality and retail facilities. The capital’s position as Serbia’s main transport and logistics hub further supports its economy, connecting businesses with domestic markets and international trade routes.
Wages have risen considerably in recent years. According to official statistics, the average monthly net salary in the Belgrade Region for July 2026 was RSD 149,577, compared with the national average of RSD 121,346. These figures are annual averages and should not be confused with individual salaries, which vary significantly by industry, occupation and municipality.
Belgrade’s growing international profile is also supported by its tourism, cultural attractions, hospitality industry and expanding conference and events sector. Its combination of a large domestic market, skilled workforce, developing digital economy and extensive business infrastructure continues to make it a major destination for investment in Serbia and the wider region. At the same time, challenges include regional economic disparities, rising property costs, infrastructure pressures and the need to ensure that economic development remains sustainable and benefits a broad section of the population.
Culture
Belgrade is one of Southeast Europe’s major cultural centres, with a vibrant artistic scene shaped by its position at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe. The city combines a rich historical and literary heritage with contemporary visual arts, theatre, music, film and a lively independent cultural scene. It hosts numerous annual international events, including the FEST International Film Festival, the Belgrade International Theatre Festival (BITEF), the Belgrade Summer Festival (BELEF), the Belgrade Music Festival (BEMUS), the Belgrade Jazz Festival and the Belgrade Book Fair. The Belgrade Dance Festival and the Belgrade Early Music Festival also attract performers and audiences from Serbia and abroad. The city’s cultural calendar encompasses classical music, contemporary performance, literature, exhibitions and popular entertainment.
Belgrade has a distinguished literary tradition. Nobel Prize-winning author Ivo Andrić wrote his celebrated novel The Bridge on the Drina, as well as all other novels while living in the city. Other important writers associated with Belgrade and Serbian literature include Branislav Nušić, Miloš Crnjanski, Borislav Pekić, Milorad Pavić and Meša Selimović, but also many others. The city has also been the birthplace or home of internationally recognised artists, including Marina Abramović, one of the leading figures in performance art, and Charles Simic, the acclaimed Serbian-American poet who served as Poet Laureate of the United States.
Belgrade is the principal centre of Serbia’s film industry and has a long history of cinema. FEST, founded in 1971, is one of the city’s best-known international cultural events, presenting a selection of Serbian and international films. The city is also home to the Yugoslav Film Archive, which preserves an extensive collection of films and historical cinema materials. Together with other film festivals, cinemas and independent production companies, these institutions contribute to Belgrade’s continuing importance in regional film culture.
The city played a central role in the Yugoslav new wave music movement of the 1980s. Influential bands such as VIS Idoli, Ekatarina Velika, Šarlo Akrobata and Električni Orgazam emerged from Belgrade and helped reshape the music scene across the former Yugoslavia. Other prominent rock groups associated with the city include Riblja Čorba, Bajaga i Instruktori and Partibrejkers. Belgrade remains an important centre for rock, electronic music, hip-hop and alternative music, with numerous concert venues, clubs and festivals supporting both established performers and emerging artists.
Belgrade’s major cultural institutions include the National Theatre, the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, Atelier 212, Zvezdara Theatre and Theatre on Terazije. The National Theatre presents opera, ballet and drama, while the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre is an important venue for opera, musical theatre and other performing arts. The city is also home to the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the University of Arts and the National Library of Serbia. Its principal museums include the National Museum of Serbia, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Yugoslavia, the Museum of Science and Technology and the Ethnographic Museum. The Belgrade City Library and the University Library Svetozar Marković are also important centres of scholarship and public access to literature.
Belgrade’s cultural life is enriched by a wide range of international cultural institutions and organisations. These include the Spanish Instituto Cervantes, the German Goethe-Institut, the French Institut français, the British Council, the Austrian Cultural Forum, the Italian Istituto Italiano di Cultura and other organisations promoting international cultural exchange. Foreign cultural centres, university programmes and diplomatic initiatives contribute to the city’s connections with artistic and intellectual communities throughout Europe and beyond.
Belgrade also has a significant place in contemporary European popular culture. Following Marija Šerifović’s victory for Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, the city hosted the competition in 2008, bringing performers, delegations and visitors from across Europe. Other major public events, music festivals and cultural gatherings continue to attract international audiences and strengthen Belgrade’s reputation as a destination for cultural tourism.
The city’s cultural heritage is visible throughout its streets, squares, parks and historic districts, where monuments and public sculptures form an important part of the urban landscape. Belgrade’s artistic environment encompasses historic architecture and commemorative monuments as well as contemporary installations, galleries and public art projects. Its combination of historical landmarks, established cultural institutions and evolving creative communities makes it an important cultural centre in the Balkans and a meeting point for diverse artistic traditions.
Museums
The most prominent museum in Belgrade is the National Museum, founded in 1844 and reconstructed from 2003 till June 2018. The museum houses a collection of more than 400,000 exhibits (over 5600 paintings and 8400 drawings and prints, including many foreign masters like Bosch, Juan de Flandes, Titian, Tintoretto, Rubens, Van Dyck, Cézanne, G.B. Tiepolo, Renoir, Monet, Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, Gauguin, Chagall, Van Gogh, Mondrian etc.) and also the famous Miroslav’s Gospel, Monument of Culture of Extreme Importance from the 12th century. The Ethnographic Museum, established in 1901, contains more than 150,000 items showcasing the rural and urban culture of the Balkans, particularly the countries of former Yugoslavia.
The Museum of Contemporary Art was the first contemporary art museum in Yugoslavia and, following its foundation in 1965, has amassed a collection of more than 8,000 works from art produced across the former Yugoslavia. The museum was closed in 2007, but has since been reopened in 2017 to focus on the modern as well as on the Yugoslav art scenes. World class artist Marina Abramovic who was born in Belgrade, had exhibition in Museum of Contemporary Art in 2019. And according New Your Times, that was one most important cultural happenings in the world in 2019. Exhibition was seen from almost 100.000 visitors. Marina Abramovic had stage speech and performance in front of 20.000 people.
The Military Museum, established in 1878 in Kalemegdan, houses a wide range of more than 25,000 military objects dating from the prehistoric to the medieval to the modern eras. Notable items include Turkish and oriental arms, national banners, and Yugoslav Partisan regalia.
The Museum of Aviation in Belgrade located near Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has more than 200 aircraft, of which about 50 are on display, and a few of which are the only surviving examples of their type, such as the Fiat G.50. This museum also displays parts of shot down US and NATO aircraft, such as the F-117 and F-16.
The Nikola Tesla Museum, founded in 1952, preserves the personal items of Nikola Tesla, the inventor after whom the Tesla unit was named. It holds around 160,000 original documents and around 5,700 personal other items including his urn. The last of the major Belgrade museums is the Museum of Vuk and Dositej, which showcases the lives, work and legacy of Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic and Dositej Obradovic, the 19th century reformer of the Serbian literary language and the first Serbian Minister of Education, respectively. Belgrade also houses the Museum of African Art, founded in 1977, which has a large collection of art from West Africa.
With around 95,000 copies of national and international films, the Yugoslav Film Archive is the largest in the region and among the 10 largest archives in the world. The institution also operates the Museum of Yugoslav Film Archive, with movie theatre and exhibition hall. The archive’s long-standing storage problems were finally solved in 2007, when a new modern depository was opened. The Yugoslav Film Archive also exhibits original Charlie Chaplin’s stick and one of the first movies by Auguste and Louis Lumière. The Belgrade City Museum moved into a new building in downtown in 2006. The museum hosts a range of collections covering the history of urban life since prehistory.
The Museum of Yugoslav History has collections from the Yugoslav era. Beside paintings, the most valuable are Moon rocks donated by Apollo 11 crew Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins while visiting Belgrade in 1969 and from mission Apollo 17 donated by Richard Nixon in 1971. Museum also houses Joseph Stalin’s sabre with 260 brilliants and diamonds, donated by Stalin himself. Museum of Science and Technology moved to the building of the first city’s power plant in Dorcol in 2005.
Architecture
Belgrade has wildly varying architecture, from the centre of Zemun, typical of a Central European town, to the more modern architecture and spacious layout of New Belgrade. The oldest architecture is found in Kalemegdan Park. Outside of Kalemegdan, the oldest buildings date only from the 18th century, due to its geographic position and frequent wars and destructions.
The oldest public structure in Belgrade is a nondescript Turkish türbe, while the oldest house is a modest clay house on Dorcol, from late 18th century. Western influence began in the 19th century, when the city completely transformed from an oriental town to the contemporary architecture of the time, with influences from neoclassicism, romanticism, and academic art. Serbian architects took over the development from the foreign builders in the late 19th century, producing the National Theatre, Old Palace, Cathedral Church and later, in the early 20th century, the National Assembly and National Museum, influenced by art nouveau. Elements of Serbo-Byzantine Revival are present in buildings such as House of Vuk’s Foundation, old Post Office in Kosovska street, and sacral architecture, such as St. Mark’s Church (based on the Gracanica monastery), and the Temple of Saint Sava.
In the socialist period, housing was built quickly and cheaply for the huge influx of people fleeing the countryside following World War II, sometimes resulting in the brutalist architecture of the blokovi (“blocks”) of New Belgrade; a socrealism trend briefly ruled, resulting in buildings like the Trade Union Hall. However, in the mid-1950s, modernist trends took over, and still dominate the Belgrade architecture. Belgrade has the second oldest sewer system in Europe.
Tourism
Situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Belgrade has long occupied a strategic position on the routes connecting Central Europe with the Balkans and the East. Its history as a meeting point of cultures, empires and trade routes has helped shape its character as a destination for travelers.
The development of modern hospitality in the Serbian capital dates back to the 19th century. In 1843, Prince Mihailo Obrenović established the hotel Kod jelena (“At the Deer’s”) in the Kosančićev Venac area, widely regarded as the first hotel in Belgrade. As the city developed and became connected to the railway network in 1884, its hospitality industry expanded, with hotels such as Nacional, Grand, Bristol and Srpski Kralj serving an increasing number of visitors. The arrival of the Orient Express further strengthened Belgrade’s position on the European travel map.
Today, Belgrade is one of the leading urban tourist destinations in Southeast Europe, attracting visitors through its historical heritage, cultural institutions, architecture, gastronomy, nightlife and riverside setting. Its principal attractions include the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, Knez Mihailova pedestrian street, Skadarlija, the historic Zemun district, the Royal Complex in Dedinje, Republic Square, Terazije, Nikola Pašić Square, the National Museum of Serbia, the National Theatre, the Church of Saint Sava and the Old Palace. The city also offers a wide range of museums, galleries, monuments, traditional restaurants, cafés, shopping areas and contemporary entertainment venues. The Belgrade Waterfront development has added new promenades, restaurants, shopping facilities and modern architectural landmarks along the Sava River.
The Royal Complex in Dedinje, which includes the Royal Palace and the White Palace, is another distinctive attraction, offering visitors an insight into Serbia’s royal history and the heritage of the Karađorđević dynasty. Visits are organised through guided tours, subject to the Royal Complex’s visitor arrangements. Nearby, Topčider and Košutnjak parks provide green spaces for recreation, while Mount Avala, south of the city, offers woodland trails, the Monument to the Unknown Hero and the Avala Tower, whose observation deck provides panoramic views of Belgrade and the surrounding region.
Belgrade’s rivers are central to its tourist appeal. Ada Ciganlija, a peninsula on the Sava with an artificial lake known as Savsko jezero, is one of the capital’s most popular recreational destinations, particularly during the summer. Its beaches, walking and cycling paths, cafés and sports facilities attract residents and visitors alike. The Sava and Danube promenades also provide opportunities for walking, cycling and boat excursions. Great War Island, located at the confluence of the two rivers, is a protected natural area of particular importance for wildlife and birdlife. Together with the city’s parks, forests and other protected natural sites, these areas provide a contrast to the capital’s busy urban centre.
River cruising has become an increasingly important component of Belgrade’s tourism industry. The international passenger terminal welcomes cruise ships travelling along the Danube, connecting the Serbian capital with destinations throughout Central and Southeast Europe. During the 2024 river-cruise season, Belgrade’s international passenger terminal recorded 552 port calls and 78,496 passengers disembarking from cruise ships. Serbia as a whole welcomed 205,788 river-cruise passengers that year, an increase of 12.3% compared with 2023. These figures underline the importance of river tourism to the capital and the wider Danube region.
Tourism has grown significantly in recent years. According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade recorded approximately 3.19 million overnight stays by foreign tourists in 2024, an increase of 8% compared with 2023, making it the country’s leading destination for international visitors by overnight stays. The positive trend continued in 2026: during the first eight months of the year, the wider Belgrade Region registered 1.03 million tourist arrivals and approximately 2.55 million overnight stays, representing increases of 5.6% and 8.2%, respectively, compared with the same period of 2025. Foreign visitors accounted for the majority of overnight stays. These figures refer to the statistical Belgrade Region and should not be confused with figures for the central urban settlement alone.
The capital’s tourist offer is further strengthened by its extensive calendar of cultural events, international conferences, sporting competitions, concerts and festivals. Its restaurants showcase Serbian cuisine alongside international culinary traditions, while its cafés, bars and clubs have helped establish Belgrade’s reputation for a lively nightlife. Business tourism and conference travel also contribute to demand for hotels and other accommodation. The city offers a broad range of accommodation, from luxury international hotels and boutique properties to hostels, guesthouses and private apartments.
Belgrade’s combination of historical landmarks, royal heritage, cultural life, natural surroundings and contemporary urban attractions makes it a destination for both short city breaks and longer visits. Its position on the Danube, growing international connections and continuing investment in tourism infrastructure offer opportunities to strengthen its role as one of the principal travel destinations in the Balkans.
Nightlife
Belgrade has a long-standing reputation for its vibrant nightlife, offering a wide variety of bars, restaurants, live-music venues and nightclubs. Entertainment ranges from traditional Serbian taverns and bohemian restaurants to contemporary cocktail bars, electronic music clubs and large venues hosting local and international performers. The city’s nightlife attracts both local residents and international visitors, and is an important part of its tourism appeal.
One of the city’s best-known nightlife traditions is associated with splavovi — floating bars and clubs moored along the Sava and Danube rivers. These venues became particularly prominent in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, offering music and entertainment in a distinctive riverside setting. Their musical programmes have ranged from Serbian folk and popular music to rock, house and techno. The riverside nightlife scene has evolved over time, however, as venues have opened, relocated or closed in response to changing tastes, urban development and regulations governing the riverbanks.
Belgrade’s nightlife extends well beyond the riverfront. The central districts of Stari Grad, Dorćol and Savamala offer a variety of bars, pubs, cafés and music venues, while the area around Cetinjska Street has developed into a recognised gathering place for alternative music, creative events and independent nightlife. The city also has an established electronic music scene, with clubs and industrial-style venues hosting local and international DJs. Throughout the year, concerts, themed events and music festivals contribute to the diversity of its evening entertainment.
A more traditional Serbian nightlife experience can be found in Skadarlija, Belgrade’s historic bohemian quarter. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, its streets and taverns attracted writers, poets, artists and actors. Today, the cobbled Skadarska Street is lined with traditional restaurants, known as kafane, where visitors can enjoy Serbian cuisine and live music, including starogradska muzika (old city music), or traditional urban folk music. Historic establishments such as Tri šešira, Dva jelena and the nearby Znak pitanja tavern are associated with the city’s long-standing hospitality traditions.
Belgrade’s cultural venues also play an important role in its nightlife. The Student Cultural Centre (Studentski kulturni centar, SKC) has a long history as a meeting place for artists, musicians and intellectuals, hosting concerts, exhibitions and discussions. The city’s wider cultural programme includes live performances, theatre, contemporary art events and independent music gatherings, offering alternatives to conventional bars and nightclubs.
Belgrade’s reputation as a party destination received international attention in the late 2000s. In 2008, The Times published an article praising the city’s nightlife, while Lonely Planet’s 2009 guide 1000 Ultimate Experiences placed Belgrade first in its selection of the world’s top ten party cities. Although these rankings are historical rather than current assessments, they helped raise the city’s international profile as a destination for nightlife and entertainment.
Today, Belgrade’s appeal lies in the variety of experiences it offers, from traditional taverns and riverside venues to contemporary clubs, live music and alternative cultural spaces. Its nightlife remains an important feature of the capital’s identity, reflecting both Serbia’s social traditions and the city’s evolving international outlook.
Sport and recreation
Belgrade is the principal centre of sporting life in Serbia, with a long tradition of competitive sport, a large network of sports facilities and a strong record of hosting international competitions. The city has stadiums, indoor arenas, swimming pools, tennis courts, rowing facilities and sports centres serving professional athletes, amateur clubs and recreational participants.
Belgrade has hosted numerous major international sporting events throughout its history. During the 1960s and 1970s, these included the European Athletics Championships in 1962, the first World Aquatics Championships in 1973, the European Football Championship in 1976, the European Basketball Championships in 1961 and 1975, the European Volleyball Championships in 1975 and the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 1978. These events established the city as an important venue for European and international sport.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, Belgrade has continued to attract major competitions across a wide range of disciplines. Events hosted by the city have included EuroBasket 2005, the European Water Polo Championships in 2006, 2016, and 2026, the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2007, the Summer Universiade in 2009, the European Handball Championships in 2012 and the World Women’s Handball Championship in 2013. Belgrade also hosted the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2017 and the EuroLeague Final Four in basketball in 2018.
More recent competitions have further strengthened this tradition. In June 2024, Belgrade hosted the European Aquatics Championships, bringing together competitors from more than 40 countries in swimming, artistic swimming, diving and open-water swimming. In January 2026, the city hosted the Men’s European Water Polo Championship at Belgrade Arena, where Serbia won the continental title by defeating Hungary in the final. Belgrade also hosts international tournaments in boxing, judo, wrestling, mixed martial arts and other sports, while the city’s annual marathon attracts an increasing number of participants from Serbia and abroad.
Football remains one of the most popular sports in Belgrade. The city is home to two of Serbia’s most prominent clubs, Red Star Belgrade (Crvena zvezda) and Partizan Belgrade. Red Star won the European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League, in 1991, while Partizan reached the European Cup final in 1966. Their rivalry, known as the Eternal Derby, is one of the defining features of Serbian football culture and regularly attracts large crowds. Red Star plays at the Rajko Mitić Stadium, popularly known as the Marakana, while Partizan’s home ground is Partizan Stadium. Both clubs have played important roles in Serbian and Yugoslav football history.
Belgrade’s principal indoor sporting venue is Belgrade Arena, a multipurpose complex in New Belgrade used for major basketball, volleyball, handball, tennis and other sporting events, as well as large concerts and international gatherings. The venue hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 and has also staged major basketball and water polo competitions. Other important facilities include Aleksandar Nikolić Hall, associated with the city’s leading basketball clubs, and the 11 April Sports Centre in New Belgrade, which hosts swimming and water polo events. The city also has numerous athletics tracks, football grounds, swimming pools and specialised training centres.
Basketball has a particularly strong following in Belgrade. The city’s clubs, including Partizan and Crvena zvezda, have competed at the highest levels of European basketball, with Partizan winning the European Cup in 1992. Their rivalry attracts substantial public interest, while the city regularly hosts international club and national-team competitions. Belgrade is also an important centre for volleyball, water polo, handball, tennis and combat sports, reflecting Serbia’s wider sporting traditions.
Tennis has brought international recognition to Belgrade through athletes including Novak Đoković, Ana Ivanović and Jelena Janković, all of whom have achieved major success on the international circuit. Đoković, who won the men’s singles gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is among the most successful players in the history of tennis. Serbia’s victory in the Davis Cup in 2010, secured in the final against France in Belgrade, was another landmark moment for the country’s tennis history.
The Belgrade Marathon, first held in 1988, is one of Serbia’s major annual sporting events. Its programme includes the marathon, half-marathon and shorter races, encouraging participation by elite athletes, recreational runners and the wider public. The 2025 edition attracted approximately 14,000 runners from 74 countries, reflecting the event’s growing international reach. The city also offers extensive opportunities for recreational sport, including cycling, running, rowing and water sports along the Sava and Danube rivers, as well as outdoor activities at Ada Ciganlija, Košutnjak and Avala.
Belgrade was a candidate to host the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games, although neither bid resulted in the city being selected. Nevertheless, its extensive sporting tradition, established venues, enthusiastic audiences and continued hosting of international competitions have secured its place as one of the important sporting centres of Southeast Europe.
Media
Belgrade is Serbia’s principal media centre, hosting the headquarters and major editorial offices of national television and radio broadcasters, newspaper publishers, news agencies, digital media companies and international media organisations. The city plays a central role in the country’s production and distribution of news, entertainment and cultural content.
Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), Serbia’s public service broadcaster, is headquartered in Belgrade and operates national television and radio channels. Major commercial television broadcasters include TV Pink, TV Prva, TV B92 and TV Happy. The city is also home to N1 and Nova, prominent cable television and digital news brands. Studio B, originally established as Belgrade’s city broadcaster, has a long history of reporting on local affairs. Television remains an important source of news and entertainment, while online news portals, social media and streaming platforms have become increasingly influential in the way audiences access information.
Belgrade’s print and digital publishing sector includes several of Serbia’s best-known newspapers. These include Politika, founded in 1904 and one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the Balkans, alongside Blic, Danas, Kurir, Alo! and Večernje novosti. Many established newspapers now operate substantial online editions, reflecting the continuing shift from print to digital news consumption. News agencies, investigative journalism organisations and independent online publications also contribute to the country’s media landscape.
The city is a major centre for radio broadcasting, with stations providing news, music, entertainment and specialist programming. Its media sector also encompasses publishing houses, advertising agencies, production companies and digital content studios. International media groups and regional news organisations maintain offices or editorial operations in Belgrade, reflecting the city’s importance as a source of news about Serbia and the wider Western Balkans.
Digital media have transformed the sector in recent years. News websites, mobile applications, social networks and video platforms are increasingly important channels for information, particularly among younger audiences. According to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s 2026 Digital News Report, online sources have become central to news consumption in Serbia, while television continues to retain a substantial audience. The report also highlights concerns about media pluralism, public trust, political influence and the safety of journalists. These issues form an important part of contemporary discussion about the development of Serbia’s media environment.
Belgrade is also home to a wide range of cultural and specialist publications, including Serbian editions of international lifestyle, fashion, science and entertainment magazines. Alongside traditional publishing, the city has a growing digital media industry covering business, technology, sport, culture and lifestyle. Together, these organisations make Belgrade the focal point of Serbia’s evolving media and communications sector.
Education
Belgrade is Serbia’s principal centre of higher education and scientific research. Its leading institutions include the University of Belgrade, founded in 1808 as the Great School (Velika škola) and formally established as a university in 1905, and the University of Arts in Belgrade, founded in 1957. The University of Belgrade comprises 31 faculties and 11 research institutes, offering programmes across the humanities, social sciences, medicine, natural sciences, engineering and technology. Its historic buildings and academic institutions form an important part of the city’s architectural and cultural heritage. The University of Arts specialises in music, fine arts, applied arts and dramatic arts. Belgrade is also home to numerous private universities and other higher-education institutions, providing a wide range of academic and professional programmes.
Primary and secondary education is provided through a network of public and private schools, including general secondary schools (gymnasiums), vocational schools, and specialised institutions for music, art and pupils with additional educational needs. According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, at the end of the 2024/2025 school year the Belgrade Region had 179 regular primary schools, attended by approximately 133,860 pupils, and 98 regular secondary schools, with around 59,550 students. These figures refer to the statistical Belgrade Region and may differ from totals compiled specifically for the administrative City of Belgrade.
Belgrade’s extensive educational network, universities and research institutions make it a major academic centre in Serbia and the wider region.
Transportation
Belgrade is the principal transport hub of Serbia, with road, railway, air and river connections linking the capital to other parts of the country and to international destinations. Its public transport network consists primarily of buses, trams, trolleybuses and the BG Voz urban railway. Services are operated by the city’s public transport company, GSP Beograd, and other public and private operators, including suburban and local bus companies. Since 1 January 2025, public transport within the City of Belgrade’s integrated tariff system has been free for passengers. The city continues to modernise its fleet and transport infrastructure.
BG Voz provides suburban and urban railway connections between Belgrade and surrounding districts, complementing the road-based network. The former Beovoz commuter railway system was discontinued in 2013, with services subsequently reorganised under BG Voz and the wider railway network. Belgrade has historically lacked a metro system, but construction of the first phase of Metro Line 1 is announced. The planned network is intended to connect several parts of the city and improve public transport capacity.
Railway services connect Belgrade with destinations throughout Serbia. Belgrade Centre railway station, commonly known as Prokop, is a major railway hub, while Novi Beograd and other stations serve important commuter and intercity routes. High-speed services operate between Belgrade and Novi Sad, with the line extended to Subotica in 2025. The international high-speed connection to Budapest remains subject to the completion of technical and operational arrangements on the Hungarian section.
Belgrade lies at the intersection of major European road routes, including the E-70 and E-75 motorways, which connect Serbia with Central and Southern Europe. The motorway network provides links towards Novi Sad and Subotica in the north, Niš in the south, and Croatia and other western destinations. The Belgrade bypass, designed to divert transit traffic away from the city centre and connect the principal motorway corridors, has opened in stages; the section between Ostružnica and Bubanj Potok has been in operation since June 2023. Further road and bridge projects are intended to improve connections between the city’s different districts.
The Sava and the Danube, which meet in Belgrade, are important for both freight and passenger transport. The Port of Belgrade on the Danube handles commercial river traffic, while the passenger terminal on the Sava serves international river cruise ships. The city’s bridges include Branko’s Bridge, Gazela Bridge, the Ada Bridge and Pupin Bridge, which connects Zemun with the northern bank of the Danube. New bridge and tunnel projects are also planned or under construction to improve cross-river connections and reduce congestion.
Belgrade is served by Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, located near Surčin, approximately 18 kilometres west of the city centre. It is Serbia’s main international airport, providing regular services to destinations across Europe and beyond. The airport handled approximately 8.91 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 6.5 per cent compared with 2024. Road connections, public transport services and airport shuttle buses link the airport with the capital.
The city’s combination of international motorways, railway services, river ports and a major international airport reinforces Belgrade’s role as Serbia’s principal transport and logistics centre.
International cooperation and honours
Belgrade maintains international relationships through sister-city and twinning agreements, cultural cooperation and economic partnerships. These connections reflect the city’s long-standing links with cities across Europe, North America and Asia.
Among Belgrade’s sister and twin cities are:
Coventry, United Kingdom — twinned in 1957.
Chicago, United States — partnership established in 2005.
Ljubljana, Slovenia — partnership established in 2010.
Skopje, North Macedonia — partnership established in 2012.
Shanghai, China — partnership established in 2018.
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina — also maintains a sister-city relationship with Belgrade.
Belgrade has received several significant international decorations in recognition of its history and the sacrifices of its population during periods of war. These include the French Légion d’honneur, conferred on 21 December 1920; the Czechoslovak War Cross, awarded on 8 October 1925; and the Order of Karađorđe’s Star, awarded to the city on 18 May 1939. On 20 October 1974, the 30th anniversary of Belgrade’s liberation from Nazi occupation, the city was awarded the Order of the People’s Hero.
In 2006, Belgrade received international recognition for its investment potential when fDi Magazine, published by the Financial Times group, named it “City of the Future of South-East Central Europe” in its European Cities and Regions of the Future 2006/07 competition. The recognition reflected assessments of the city’s economic potential, operating costs, workforce, transport infrastructure, information and communications technology, quality of life and investment-promotion strategy.
