Serbia on Foot: Old Towns and Riverfronts

The easiest Serbian walks are urban: short, mostly level routes that link a main square with a fortress or a river. Below are route sheets for the main towns, with distances where known. Money is the dinar (RSD), about 117 to the euro. As a safety note, the US rates Serbia Level 2 for crime and the British government says demonstrations can turn violent at short notice, so avoid crowds and follow the local news.

Route 1: Belgrade centre to the fortress

  • Distance and time: about 2 km, two hours with stops.
  • Start: Republic Square, beside the National Museum and the equestrian statue of Prince Mihailo.
  • Middle: Knez Mihailova, the car-free shopping street with 19th-century facades, buskers and cafes.
  • End: Kalemegdan Park and the Victor monument, where the Sava meets the Danube. Entry to the park is free.
  • Tip: the Church of Saint Sava is in Vračar, about 2.5 km south of this route, so take a bus or tram. City buses, trams and trolleybuses are free, according to the Belgrade tourist organisation .

Route 2: Old Belgrade by the river

Kosančićev Venac is a short climb from the fortress, with cobbles and linden trees. Princess Ljubica’s Residence dates from 1831, and the cathedral next door holds the tombs of Vuk Karadžić and Dositej Obradović. The Question Mark kafana opened in 1823. In Dorćol, the Bajrakli Mosque of about 1575 is the sole historic mosque still standing in the city. For a riverside finish, walk the quay in Zemun, at Kej Oslobođenja, and go up to the Gardoš tower. To add a guide, browse Belgrade walking tours .

Route 3: Novi Sad and Petrovaradin

Start in the old town of Novi Sad and cross the Danube on foot to Petrovaradin Fortress. Guided walks listed on visitnovisad.rs were quoted at about 1,400 RSD for the short Petrovaradin walk and 1,800 RSD for the city walk. From Belgrade, the Soko train reaches Petrovaradin in 34 minutes and Novi Sad in about 36, with fares on srbijavoz.rs .

Route 4: Subotica and Sremski Karlovci

In Subotica, the City Hall, the synagogue and a row of Secession houses fall within one easy loop. The tourist board advertises a free architecture walk, and visitsubotica.rs shows which days it runs. Sremski Karlovci is small enough to see in an hour or two: the Patriarchate and the wine cellars are close together. Cellar opening hours are unconfirmed, so call before you set out.

Route 5: Niš

From Niš Fortress, cross the Nišava river to the centre and head for Kazandžijsko sokače, known as Tinkers’ Alley, which has cafes and kafanas.

Walking tips

  • Wear grippy shoes for cobbled lanes.
  • Cash dinars are needed for bakeries and small cafes, as the euro is not accepted.
  • In active churches shoes stay on, shoulders and knees should be covered, and monks and services should not be photographed without permission.

Read more: sightseeing in Serbia and workshops in Serbia .