First Belgrade Marathon took place in 1988 with the participation of local runners only and since then is has been growing in number of participants and improving technical organization and equipment. Nowadays organizers use electronic chips for tracking results, awards and bonuses are getting bigger and more and more sponsors are willing to help the Marathon. Belgrade Marathon is also famous and a charity event, gathering money for Serbian programs of UNICEF.
Today the Marathon has the following disciplines: 5 km; 21,1 km; 42,195 km. New participants can choose so-called “Pleasure race” equaling 5 km that is free for running.
Belgrade Marathon is held in April which is the best month for visiting Serbia and meeting its beauty and sights.
Belgrade Boat Carnival is a one-day traditional city event that promotes Sava and Danube and its mouth along with nautical tourism. Visitors can see decorated boats, water acrobatics, magicians, puppets and so on. Every year in late August the best decorated boat and best carnival costume are awarded. The carnival is organized at Old Belgrade bank of Sava from Brankov Brigde to Sava Bridge accompanied with concerts and DJ-sets.
Guitar Art Festival was firstly held in 2000. Today it is an international and professional event that gathers classic and other guitarists of all ages and with different experience from all over the world. Festival has a contest in categories, workshops, seminars and concerts. It is held in April in Belgrade Cultural Center and I. Kolarac Endowment.
Guitar Art Festival nowadays has the status of one of five biggest and outstanding international festivals of classic guitar play in the world. After six years of successful presentation of the most famous names of guitar world, the tradition goes on.
“Gitar art festival from small musical event of classic guitar and acoustic guitar turned into modern international festival with great variety of program events”. Dragan Kremer
Belgrade, thanks to this festival, has become an important point in the biography of ballet artists, the city in which new and iconic dance pieces are presented and intertwined, in which ballet stars and young artists just announced by the world critics, gladly come every April. The significance of the event on the world map is reflected in current programs, productions that are at the same time performed in the big cities of the world, or events that have premiere significance for the wider region. Discovering contemporary dance through its cutting-edge achievements, Belgrade Dance Festival has quickly gained a large audience. So far almost 200 top pieces were performed, created by the most important choreographers of our time, while each edition is followed by more than 18.000 spectators and 120 accredited journalists from the country and abroad. High standards of the program and the introduction of new dance and theater aesthetics, equally enhance the audience’s expectations and the challenge of creating content. Festival has provided immeasurable support to local professional dancers, teachers, choreographers and young people from all artistic fields, who were brave enough to grasp new opportunities and who were ready for the challenge. Starting up the local dance scene resulted in founding of new companies, private schools, studios and magazines, inclusion of foreign choreographers in local production, but also the presentation of Serbian dancers to the world.
Belgrade Fashion Week established in 1996 was designed having as an example same events in world’s fashion centers. It is held twice a year in October and March. Fashion week focuses on two levels of fashion: local and foreign fashion and designers. The sense of BFW is not only in showing new designs but educating and stimulating of new and independent designers. Project KOLEKTIV held at Fashion Week is gathers more than 80 independent local designers and presents them to world fashion world. Belgrade Fashion Week is also proud to be combining both commercial and artistic aspects of the event, it is also held in the best Belgrade’s hotels, galleries and exclusive spaces.
Belgrade Jazz Festival can be called outstanding among international cultural events in Serbia: it was founded in 1971 and this oldest and most famous Jazz Festival could not be missed by jazz lovers from all over the world. Belgrade Jazz Festival participated in European Jazz Conference and was the only Serbian jazz festival represented, which was the beginning of active participation in Europe Jazz Network.
Every year Belgrade Jazz Festival breaks records of the number of visitors, especially when it comes to young audience: 15 000 guests was the number from the last year, and not every jazz event can be proud of such a number!
Belgrade Music Festival BEMUS was founded in 1969 and is now the oldest and the most important music festival in Serbia. BEMUS is an international musical event where ensembles and soloists present pieces of classic and ethnic music and contemporary music. BEMUS takes place in Sava Center, Ilija Kolarac Endowment and other concert stages in the second part of October.
Belgrade Summer Festival BELEF was founded in 1991 as an international festival of theaters, music and visual arts. BELEF creates interaction of art and visitors and brings up art to everyone. The festival takes place on Belgrade squares and streets, theaters and other stages of the city in July and August.
One more bar that found its place at Dorćol quart at the corner of Dositejeva and Gospodar Jovanova Streets. At daytime this place is perfect for a coffee with friends and business partners, whilst during the night music gets louder and it creates a crowd perfect for great pastime. This place, which is rare for Belgrade, has a professional and serious approach for music choice. Special attention is paid to cocktails; professional barmen have created unique combinations of drinks, that will satisfy most legible guests.
Located at Karađorđeva Street, some meters away from Sava river and famous Beton Hall, Baraka pictures real Belgrade’s spirit. It is famous as a Late Night restaurant, but also the place of top cocktails and rakia that will help you start your night-out. Foreign and local rock and pop music is live performed, dishes are chosen with special attention and served in a refined manner so that real hedonists could enjoy every minute at Baraka. The Bar works both during the workweek when Sava turns into a place perfect for relaxation and on weekends when music gets louder and blood gets warmer. Baraka is the place for those who love Belgrade.
Club Cinema is one of the most famous night clubs in Belgrade that is popular among older generations, 25+. This club hosted concerts of famous Yugoslavian stars of pop and rock scene: Severina, Neverne bebe, Miligram, Nina Badrić, Toni Cetinski, Vlado Georgiev and others. It is obvious that Club Cinema is more into pop/rock styles and high-quality bands. Cinema has performances 5 days per week and is located in the very city center, near Knez Mihail Street and Obilićev Venac quart.
Raft Club Sindikat, favorite place of older urban team, is located at Sava quay, between Old Railway Bridge and Gazela Bridge, and is famous for modern and special design. Here you may see most beautiful girls and handsome men, famous sport, music and business people of the capital, get high quality service and enjoy best live music concerts. Most played music is regional and foreign pop and rock performed by one of the most famous city’s bands. In summer months party lasts up to dawn.
Wonders of Belgrade lie in the uniqueness of its people, as well as in the beautiful river, and the only place among the wonders of our city, a place where people come to change the concept of their life, is a place located right at confluence of Sava and Danube – Shake’n’Shake. It’s not a coincidence that we have prepared this concept carefully and for a long time, because Shake’n’Shake represents first official wave of so called – new age clubbing. What is trending worldwide, Belgrade has it all in only one special place. For those who want to experience the beauty of global trends and satisfy hedonistic urges in a completely different way, our concept provides you all day treatment. Our daytime bar in Oriental style placed on the river is visually adjusted to scene of exotic places from tourist catalogues and fulfills different desires. We paid special attention to our daily themed parties, dedicated to metropolis worldwide, but we also gave you an opportunity to experience your own summer dream.
Raft Club River is located in the most popular Belgrade’s place for summer pastime, at Sava quay, between Old Railway Bridge and Gazela Bridge. Music program is mostly oriented on local music; performances of most popular names of Balkan pop and folk music are quite often at River. One day per week is booked for R’n’B music and this is why River is listed among best club offers of Belgrade. Raft Club is a spacious, well-organized place with sits at the bar or booth, so you will always feel yourself in the center of happening. At River you may enjoy various drinks, starting from the best cocktails to the most exclusive champagne. Professional and polite staff will make your time at this club totally unforgettable.
Near Belgrade Fair Raft Club Lasta, creation of most famous Mladost, Ludost and Brankow clubs, is located. It has been a real must-see for some summers already and is famous both among local and foreign clubbers. Lasta is a combination of the best summer pastime and refined style so beloved by its visitors. In the beginning Lasta was famous for one of the best DJ sets in Belgrade, and nowadays this club fascinates with positive energy of its parties. Day summer party on Sunday noon, famous „Matinee“, has started this trend in the city and now Belgrade is listed among the most serious offers of European cities.
Club Terassa, authentic place firstly for wonderful position at Belgrade’s Fortress, is one of the most popular places for summer night-out. During the day Terassa works as a lounge-bar with marvelous view over the city and relaxing atmosphere. Combination of various cocktails, deep house music and unique dusk over Belgrade will stay in your memory. In night hours Terassa turns into a real night club having as an example most popular summer clubs. Mostly played music is house and often world famous DJs perform in Terassa.
On a winter day in year 2003, one gentleman whose name is now well known, came to Belgrade. His name is Mr. Stefan Braun. He founded a club on a ninth floor of a building in Nemanjina street and welcomed all the people who fancied nightlife and, above all, having a good time. With his professional service and desire to organize pleasant parties, this gentleman’s place became one of the hottest locations of Belgrade’s nightlife. The Club with its urban orientation and modern concept is in the same rank with the world’s greatest nightclubs.
Kasina is located in the center of Belgrade near the hotel with the same name, across the road from Terazije Fountain built in the 19th century. Kasina is a cult place that hosted numerous historical events. Its reputation, haunters and brand Kasina attracted as a beer house which it used to be until now. At night this place transforms into a real oasis of fun and offers you true joy. Every night life music concerts are organized and famous Belgrade’s bands perform so that all the guests could enjoy great choice of beer, favorable prices and good atmosphere.
In the center of Savamala, Belgrade’s creative quart and center of Belgrade’s clubbing Tranzit is located. With its unique concept „3 in 1“ (bar, restaurant and club) in a short period of time it won a name for itself and attracted most legible haunters, marking a location at Belgrade’s map as a must-see for night life. It differs from other places with the same concept by its unique design having as an example New York and London clubs, great chefs and barmen. Music styles vary day by day, but mostly house, deep house, disco, funk are played.
Dragstor Play is a one of the most popular electro music clubs in Europe. It’s located on the river Sava, with a fantastic view of Kalemegdan, so expect a party with a view. Best local (and foreign) DJs are there to make sure you dance all night. Belgrade’s clubbers chose this club as their favorite spot for many reasons: best house DJs in Belgrade, all night dancing, VIP tables as well as premium service. Don’t forget it’s also celebrity’s playground. Dress code: Dress to impress. Club is located near Museum of Contemporary Art, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.