This text is an informative review. Click the link for the full list of apartments in the center of Belgrade that you can book, on our main website.
Had our incredibly kind operators received a dollar every time someone asked them about apartments in the center of Belgrade, they would’ve been quite well off by now. There seems to be a prevalent opinion that an apartment in the center of Belgrade is the best possible accommodation option for short stays in Serbia’s capital.
Nine years of experience in the short term stay business has taught us that the visitor’s expectations and what they actually get are not necessarily in accord. Belgrade is the largest city in the region, but it’s nowhere near to standards of the western European capitals. So it’s not particularly advisable to come with high expectations.
Especially not the into the city center.
This nudged us into making a list of pros and cons for renting apartment in the center of Belgrade. It’s the only and therefore the best list you can stumble upon on the Internet(s). The info-graphic below summarizes the main points, but if you feel like reading more, scroll below.
Center vs Old Town
All of the world’s booking systems and accommodation descriptions use center of a city as a reference point. All commercial, historical and touristy stuff is there.
But
In Belgrade, Old Town, which is considered the very center of the city is exactly what its name purports – an old town.
Most of the apartment buildings in the city center were built at the turn of the century. And we are not talking about the 21st. For those who want to rent apartments for short stay in the center of Belgrade that means
- In some rare cases the sewage system is dilapidated, so the rank smell might start spreading quite unexpectedly
- It’s possible that the apartment building facade is falling apart
- It’s quite possible that the apartment building hasn’t got an elevator
- It is almost certain that the apartment building hasn’t got central heating
Party vs Hustle and Bustle
As much as other parts of Belgrade are developing, the center of fun is really in the city center. It is a fact known by the locals and foreigners alike, and especially among the young adults who come to Belgrade for a good night out (and cheap, by western standards). Dorchol, Sabamala, Beton Hala, Kasina are all just a short walk from each other.
That is not to say that going out is restricted to city center, because the Sava and the Danube Wharf with the echelons of splavs are full around the clock.
It’s just that most of the fun places are easier to get to from the city center.
On the other hand, as much as the people come to the capital to experience the crowd, at times it can become overwhelming. Especially when you couple it with noise which is inherent to any city center. The narrow streets cramped with cars and buses usually result in it being horrendous because not a minute goes by that a pumped up driver lies down on a honk, and it gets even worse if three is n accident or congestion. A pedestrian can hardly hear his own thoughts. The exception are the apartments which face backyards, which happen to be incredibly quiet.
Tourist attractions
Can you imagine being in a city and not visiting its landmarks? Excluding Kabul, Baghdad and Damascus.
National Theater, National Museum, St Sava Temple, Nikola Tesla Museum, Museum of Ethnography, Question Mark Pub and many other important and authentic institutions are all within walking distance if you decide to book an apartment in the very center of Belgrade.
If you want to do some shopping,however, it may be a better idea to cross the river. There are indeed many branded stores in the very center of Belgrade, especially along the pedestrian zone but the full comfort of shopping is really in the shopping malls, which happen to be in New Belgrade. Confluence and Delta and a few others will give you a proper mall experience.
City Transport
Literally all forms of public transport either come into or pass through the city center. Needless to say many of them start their routes in various spots of the very center (Students Square, Zeleni Venac Republic Square and the likes). Buses, trolleys, trams and trains transport ten of thousands of passengers and they all pass the center of Belgrade. So even if your short stay is somehow related to other parts of town, an apartment in the city center is a good choice
…however…
One should bear in mind that public transport in Belgrade is a parallel universe that exists in a wider and somewhat nicer picture of the city. A normal and pleasant experience of taking a ride in public transport is more of an exception than a rule. Crowds, broken ACs and the variety of characters can turn the ride into a rather unpleasant memory. Increasingly there is a great many of public transport ticket inspectors that almost always end up with a verbal and sometimes even with a physical incident.
Distances vs Parking
When you talk about distances, Belgraders are slightly less spoilt than the rest of the region, mostly because they cannot afford cars (a hefty few are struggling to pay for public transport ). If a Belgrader tells you something is near, it may as well be a 15 minute walk. This doesn’t mean that they would be willing to walk the distance themselves.
On the other hand, for those that do arrive by car, center of Belgrade is a bit of a nightmare. Growing numbers of cars and a proverbial lack of parking space make driving around the center a time-waster. And apartments that come with parking in the center are relatively rare.
Multi-culti(?)
In spite of Serbia’s bad boy image during the 1990s Belgrade has actually always been a welcoming city. The city center is packed with foreign tourists and the natives have moved away to more quiet parts of town (New and Central cemetery are among the most popular locations) or abroad. Which is really a world trend.
However, this deprives the tourists of the possibility to get to feel the true spirit of Belgrade –whatever that might be today. Proleće or Brankovina are among the few rare places where you can meet agreeable old-timers who drink their morning coffee while reading Politika, or discuss political matters while drinking god knows which shot of rakija.
And that kind of sums it.
If you consider yourself to be slightly more informed to look for a short term rental in the center of Belgrade, we most cordially invite you check out our offer.