Savamala

Belgrade, Serbia

A former industrial riverside district turned nightlife and arts hub, gritty and creative. The edgier side of Belgrade's evenings.

Places in Savamala

Homa A sleek, design-led room cooking confident modern plates with a Japanese lean, popular with the city's smart set. A change of register from the kafanas.

Best time to visit: May, June and September for warm weather and the river terraces. Summer nights power the splavovi (river clubs); winters are cold but the kafanas are cosy.
Getting around: Buses and trams cover the city, but the centre and Stari Grad are walkable, if hilly. Ride-hailing and taxis are cheap. The new waterfront and Ada Ciganlija lake are easy add-ons in summer.
Currency: Serbian Dinar (дин)
Language: Serbian. English is widely spoken by younger locals.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: A new-wave Serbian dining scene modernising kafana traditions; a serious craft-cocktail movement; the river splavovi evolving from turbo-folk to techno; and specialty coffee taking hold in Dorćol and Savamala.

Stari Grad (Old Town) — The historic core running from Knez Mihailova to the Kalemegdan fortress, home to the main sights, museums and grand cafés. The city's walkable heart.
Dorćol — An old, increasingly hip quarter of leafy streets, specialty coffee, wine bars and neighbourhood restaurants. Belgrade at its most relaxed and creative.
Skadarlija — The bohemian cobbled quarter of 19th-century kafanas with live folk music and hearty Serbian food. Touristy but genuinely atmospheric.
Sava riverfront (Splavovi) — The floating clubs and bars strung along the rivers, the engine of the city's legendary summer nightlife. Party until sunrise on the water.