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Hertz car rental in Belgrade
Sited where the famed Danube meets the Sava, car rental in Belgrade ushers you into a lively and proud city that has found its life and soul in recent years.
You can see its past everywhere – the Communist era buildings blending with the Ottomanechoes - and traces left by thousands of years of former rulers and invaders making it a fascinating place to peel back the layers of history.
Visit Belgrade and you’ll see wonderful museums lifting the lid on that past, as well as new culture and art scenes propelled by the young Serbs who flock here. Make the most of your rental car to see as much of the Serbian capital as possible, whether you’re arriving at the airport or driving from elsewhere in the country.
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Driving in and around Belgrade
With Belgrade a large city and Serbia offering many great places to see only a short drive away, car rental is essential. You’ll be familiar with many of the driving rules from home, but it’s best to acquaint yourself with some local variations before arriving.
You can check out a handy guide to driving in Belgrade and Serbia online – including speed limits and laws. One thing to bear in mind is that it’s compulsory to use dipped headlights during the day, and that in school zones the speed limit often drops to 18mph.
In the center of the city, there are trams that have right of way, and yellow lanes are reserved for public transport. Free parking is rare in the heart of Belgrade, so it’s best to use your hotel’s parking facilities or use a garage or lot. Paid street parking has designated zones. There’s no time limit in blue zones, but red, yellow and green zones have limits of one, two and three hours respectively.
Most of the city lies on the south of the Danube, and the main road running through the center is a vast pan-European highway, the E75 – also labelled as the A1. It cuts from the north-west of the city (leading on to Novi Sad and then Hungary) through to the south-east (going to the third city of Nis and on into Macedonia).
The E70 intersects with the E75 a couple of times inside the city, but is the main east-west route across the center. It leads west to the eastern parts of Croatia, and north-east to Romania.
A quick guide to Belgrade
The remnants of Communist Brutalist architecture, Habsburg follies and more can be found here – and yet Belgrade is a deceptively forward-looking city in spite of the lingering past. The city’s young ensure the nightlife scene is lively, while the Danube winds through the city and is lined with relaxing riverside cafés.
Sink your teeth into Serbia
Serbian history is long, colorful and often dramatic, with invasions by Romans and Turks, a civil war and time as part of the former Yugoslavia. Get an overview with a visit to the Museum of Yugoslav History on Boticeva.
A well-maintained museum with frequent exhibitions, it traces the nation’s history and the legacy of revolutionary president Tito, whose mausoleum and tomb are attached. You’ll find treasures, statues and more, while there are free English-language tours on weekends.
History of a different kind unfolds at the Kalemegdan Citadel, destroyed and rebuilt countless times since it was first built – perhaps as early as the 3rd century BC. Romans, Goths and Huns all established bases here, as well as the Byzantines, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Ottomans and more. As a result, there are both ancient and modern aspects to the citadel and, being free to visit, it’s a huge visitor attraction.
Bohemian Belgrade
Another popular locale is the neighbourhood of Skadarlija, a section of cobbled streets with a truly Bohemian feel. It was home to artists and actors at the start of the 20th century, and today still draws a creative crowd in what is very much Belgrade’s equivalent of Paris’ Montmartre.
There are fountains, street art, souvenir and flower stalls and excellent kafanas – restaurants with a café vibe. Dva Jelena on Skadarska Street dates from 1832 and has always been popular. Dine on Serbian classics while traditional music plays in the huge and sumptuous interior – expect game, local cheese and hearty meat dishes.
Time for Tesla
The pioneering inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla was part Serbian, and his life and legacy are celebrated throughout Belgrade. The airport is named after him, while the brilliant Nikola Tesla Museum holds his ashes and contains interactive displays that are perfect for children – or your inner scientist.
Orthodox oaths
The religious history of Serbia and Belgrade is one of turbulence and tumult, but the Serbian Orthodox tradition has left its mark on the city. Make time to visit the cathedral, constructed in the 19th century and containing important tombs and a fine baroque tower. It sits near the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church, where you can dig into the back story.
More impressive still is the Church of Saint Sava, the second-largest Orthodox church in the world and the largest in the Balkans. It’s rumored to be located where the Ottomans burned the relics of Saint Sava in the 16th century. Construction began in 1935 and was then paused during World War Two, only starting again until 1985. The interior is still under construction, but the exterior is a truly imposing sight.
A city shaped by history, modern day Belgrade is a peaceful place to visit, one where you can dig into the past or enjoy the new city taking shape in front of you. Car rental in Belgrade will allow you to make the most of your visit.
