Belgrade (Serbia) Tourist Attractions: Food, Fitness and Sports

 
If you think of yourself as a food lover, hedonist or a passionate traveler, then you’ve surely heard of Belgrade. Maybe you’ve even visited this wonderful city known for its delicious food, wild nightlife and low cost of living. If not, then Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, should be on your to-do list for sure.

Take a stroll through famous pedestrian streets of Skadarlija and Knez Mihajlova or drink a coffee in some café in the city center, and observe the local Serbians. You’ll hardly find anyone who’s chubby or obese. Almost everyone is good-looking, handsome and fit. The question is how do they do it? Is the food really that healthy or is there a lot of cheap gyms where they work out regularly? The correct answer is both! In this article, you’ll be introduced to some of Belgrade’s best and healthiest restaurants, well-equipped gyms, saunas, spas and much more!
 

Belgrade’s History

 
Belgrade is the biggest city of the Balkans and among the 20 largest in Europe. It has a magnificent history, which includes the archaeological remains of Europe’s oldest Neolithic settlement, the Vinca, dating back to 7000 BC. Throughout the centuries Belgrade was under the rule of different empires, such as Romans, Ottomans, and Austro-Hungarians. This diversity of cultures can also be tasted in Serbian cuisine. The Turkish influence mixed with European recipes helps rank Belgrade as a top gourmet food destination.
 

Belgrade Food and Restaurants

 
As mentioned above, the food in Belgrade is simply amazing. Serbian cuisine is mostly based on meat, so if you are a gym junkie always in search of a few extra grams of protein, Belgrade will be perfect for you. In the Bohemian Street – “Skadarlija“, you´ll find great restaurants and taverns serving traditional Serbian cuisine. You could try Dva Jelena (Two deer) restaurant, which is one of the oldest taverns in Belgrade, established in 1832. However, the other restaurants in Skadarlija such as Dva Šešira, Zlatni Bokal, and Šešir Moj are equally good and affordable. Simply find yourself a table where you feel most comfortable, and enjoy.

On the menu, you’ll notice all kinds of specialities with chicken, turkey, lamb, beef or pork, but when visiting Serbia, the first thing you must try is Ćevapi (pronounced “Chevapee”). This is a traditional grilled dish made of ground meat (usually beef, lamb, pork or mixed) which is mixed with spices and turned into finger-long meat sticks. The ćevapi are then grilled over real wood embers which is probably the most important part of the process. Only true barbecue masters can make ćevapi neither raw nor burnt, but juicy and perfect. Some make ćevapi on an electric BBQ in a frying pan, but this can’t be compared to the real ćevapi grilled over wood embers. However, don’t worry because every tavern and restaurant in the city center will surely serve you authentic traditional ćevapi.

There are many delicious variations such as Ćevapi rolled into bacon or Ćevapi filled with cheese, but these are less healthy. Ćevapi is usually served in a somun (flatbread) with ajvar sauce (traditional Serbian red pepper sauce), kajmak (creamy dairy product widely used in Balkans) and chopped onions.

Contrary to what you may think, ćevapi is not an unhealthy dish if prepared by grilling in a traditional way. There’s no frying, no heated oil, and the meat’s fat drips out while grilling. Thus, you’re served with a lean protein-packed meal.

Vegetarian & Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Even though meat is an almost unavoidable part of meals in Belgrade, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find any vegan or vegetarian option on the menu. Quite the opposite! In Serbia’s Orthodox Christianity there are Christmas and Easter fasts, and in that time Serbs don’t eat meat and dairy products at all. Thus locals have come up with delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes that you should try.

While discussing healthy eats in Belgrade, it is impossible not to mention the restaurant Radost Fina Kuhinjica. This is a unique option, close to the entrance of Kalemegdan fortress. It’s a little hidden away, with a retro designed interior giving a pleasant atmosphere. On the menu, you’ll find a wide range of healthy salads, vegan burgers, raw dishes, soups, hummus, tortillas sandwiches, and even homemade fresh cakes. They also serve gluten-free dishes such as the Vegan burger in Buckwheat pancake or Ramen “Radost” (my personal favorite). Every dish on the menu is properly tagged: raw, vegan, gluten-free, and so on. As for prices, it’s affordable. You can enjoy great food and a cosy atmosphere for not more than 5-8 euros per meal.

Another place to check out is Red Bread restaurant: Perfect for a healthy breakfast or brunch with lots of veggies. They offer delicious vegetarian and vegan options, light healthy dishes, homemade desserts, and fresh fruit juices.

Preparing your own food in Belgrade

If you stay in Belgrade a bit longer, then you probably won’t eat out all the time. Some days you’ll be preparing your own meals, and that’s where the amazing farmer’s markets in Belgrade come extremely handy. In the Serbian language, a farmer’s market is called a “pijaca” which is pronounced similar to the Italian “piazza”. There are quite a few of them, but those closest to the city center are Bajloni pijaca (near Skadarlija street), Kalenic pijaca (near Temple of St. Sava) and Palilula. Here you can find almost everything you need to prepare a perfectly healthy meal at home. Including fresh fruits, vegetables, homemade dairy products, fresh eggs, and meat. Since GMO products are banned in Serbia, the produce here is fresh, healthy and homegrown in villages near Belgrade.
 

Belgrade Sport and Outdoor Activities

 
Even though Serbia excels in sports such as basketball, water polo, volleyball, and tennis – football (soccer) is the most popular sport. The love for soccer starts at a very young age when kids go out to play football everywhere they can – in the streets, at the parking lots and even in the meadows. And the passion doesn’t stop when old age arrives. The outdoor free handball courts are mostly used for playing “mini/street football”. In addition, there are indoor futsal courts at a price of 30 euros per one hour of playing.

The second most popular sport in Belgrade is definitely basketball. Serbia is the 2017 World Cup runner-up, only having lost to USA in the finals. You can hear a basketball bounce at every playground, schoolyard and basketball court. There are many free basketball courts in Belgrade and there’s always a space for anyone who wants to join in. Locals love to show their hospitality – you’ll have a great time and meet new friends.

For outdoor activities, go to Ada Ciganlija. It’s a lake outside the city center where locals swim in the summer. Yet it remains lively throughout the year. There are free-of-charge outdoor football, volleyball and basketball courts. You also can rent a tennis court, practice golf or do paintball in the nearby woods (an amazing experience indeed). Then there’s the outdoor gym – great for taking a break from your regular gym routine. Workout in the open air surrounded by the woods, meadows and a lake. Otherwise, rent a bike or rollerblades.

Kalemegdan fortress in the city center is a beautiful historical park with a magnificent view of the Sava and Danube rivers. Take a relaxing walk here, enjoy the sunset and the view from the fortress, or make use of the (paid) tennis courts or basketball area.

Fitness Options and Indoor Activities

In the last few years, more gyms, yoga, and fitness studios are opening every month in Belgrade. This means only one thing – stronger competition and therefore better quality! Here are some of the best price-to-value gyms in the city center:

• Iron Republic Gym – This is a great new gym with a good price-value ratio. The interior is nice and modern; everything is new and offers a wide range of different workout machines, dumbbells, barbells, cardio machines…
  Address:  Bulevar despota Stefana, 68c

• BeoGym Fitness Center – This is one of the oldest fitness centers in Belgrade; it was opened in 1989 and since then they’ve built a reputation not only in Serbia but in Europe as well. Apart from the regular gym, this fitness center offers different kinds of group training such as Pilates, Cross fit, Tae Bo, Kick Box, body sculpt training and even dancing activities such as Zumba, Hip-hop, Salsa and Tango Argentino.
  Address: Francuska, 26

• Axis Fitness – A bit of a small gym in the heart of the city center – a great location. Polite trainers are glad to help: This makes up for the claustrophobic, small space.
  Address: Gospodar Jevremova 17a

• FunFit fitness center – Nice and cozy gym that offers both individual and group training. The modern interior consists of two big rooms, and they also have a massage room. FunFit organizes group training too. Group Pilates, Boxing, and Aerobic are their most visited group programs.
  Address: Kralja Milana 4

• Non-stop fitness– Now this is my personal favorite! This fitness chain has 4 gyms in Belgrade and soon they’ll open their first gym in Novi Sad. One is close to Temple of St. Sava, and the other three are a bit out of the city center. The machines, weights, running tracks, bicycles, and other gym equipment are all brand new and it’s real pleasure to work out here. As you can conclude from its name, these gyms are opened 24h a day, seven days a week. The membership price is rather cheap since the gyms aren’t in the heart of the city center. There’s a great offer of group training such as NSF Power boxing, Hatha Yogam Pilates, Adrenalin spin, NSF Press & Pull, Bad Ass, Boot Camp, Drum & Dance and much more.

Spa and Wellness in Belgrade

One of the best places in Belgrade when it comes to wellness and spa is Limegrove Fitness & Spa located in luxury Metropol Palace Hotel. The value for money here is great since Limegrove has a magnificent gym, 25m indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, ice fountain and massage rooms. It’s one of those places to visit every once in a while for an afternoon of relaxation.

Conclusion

 
Although there is an increasing number of tourists coming to Belgrade each year, they’ve yet to take over the city. Hopefully, Belgrade won’t have the same destiny as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris or Venice where so much revolves around tourism. Belgrade still has that old, traditional feel. You’ll see mostly locals enjoying themselves in the city center pubs and taverns. Plus, they’ll surely buy you a drink – as Belgradians are known for their hospitality towards foreigners.

If you’ve never been to Belgrade, you should plan a visit to try the delicious Serbian cuisine, walk through Old Belgrade and Kalemegdan park, spend a day full of activities on Ada Ciganlija and enjoy a few of the fitness and wellness options. The best part is the prices here are really affordable!

Have you ever been to Belgrade? Comment below if you have any recommendations for travelers, questions or more tourist attractions tips!