About Belgrade
Belgrade is an ancient city with rich history, situated on two international waterways, the rivers, Sava and Danube. Because of its unique position, unparalleled in Europe, it has often been called „Gateway to the Balkans“. Belgrade is a vibrant city full of flavour and colour: one can feel its history pulsating in every of its 19 municipalities. Life in Belgrade is life on the boundary between two civilizations, at the confluence of two rivers and under the mountain of Avala. At night one can hear Gipsy music, songs of tamburitza players and realize that East has not disappeared, while the West is still not feeling quite at home in the city whose inhabitants are encumbered with the specter of the crossroads.
Visitors who come to Belgrade feel they know everyone here; people are somehow warmer than in other places. Good vibes can be felt everywhere as though everyone has found that magical place for oneself where they can feel good.
The charm of Belgrade is simply irresistible! The best things about Belgrade are its citizens and their spontaneity.
The charm and hospitality of Belgrade has been noticed by every world traveler and travelogue author who has ever visited the city in times gone by, but also by reporters and visitors nowadays. Belgrade’s open heartedness and its willingness to accept every guest with open arms will continue to be one of the major parts of Belgrade’s tourist offer.
Many European, world and Olympic champions walk the streets of Belgrade. It gives us a sense of pride to belong to a small country like Serbia, which is at the same time a major sports power! The main export articles of Serbia are first class basketball players, tennis players, football players, volleyball players, water polo players, field ball players, but also athletes. During the past few years Belgrade has hosted European figure skating championship, European Greco- Roman wrestling championship and European jet-ski championship; World Volleyball League, European table tennis Super League, European shooting championship, European Youth Olympic Festival, and in 2009 the 25th Summer Universiade, the world’s biggest students sports event.
Citizens of Belgrade love challenges. After all, why do you think all those champions started their sports careers here?
Geographic position:
• South Europe, the Balkan peninsula, Western Balkans
• At the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube, between the Pannonia plain (to the north) and the hilly terrain of Central Serbia – Šumadija (to the south)
Geographic coordinate of Belgrade:
• 44049′14” North geographic latitude
• 20027′44” East geographic longitude
• Average elevation 116.75 m
The urban core of Belgrade encompasses an area 2 of 36 km , and the total municipal territory amounts to 322 268 hectars.
Climate:
• moderate continental
• average annual air temperature: 11.70C
• average annual precipitations: 669.5 l/m2
• average atmospheric pressure: 1 001mb
• average relative humidity: 69.5%
Population: 1 732 400 (according to 2005 census)
As a result of its stormy past, many nations have been living in Belgrade for centuries; Christian orthodox Serbs are the majority (90%).
Language: The official language in Serbia is Serbian – one of the south Slavic languages.
Officially the Cyrillic alphabet is in use, but also the Latin alphabet. Both are taught at school. Serbian Cyrillic alphabet has 30 letters – one letter for every sound, which makes it quite unique compared to other alphabets.
Currency: The official currency is dinar (RSD).
Coins in use: 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 dinars.
Banknotes in use: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 dinars.
Currency exchange is performed by all banks and post offices and numerous official exchange offices. The best foreign currency to have is euro (EUR), since citizens of Serbia very often calculate prices in Euros.
