Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and there is a lot to see in this city. You’ll find museums, pedestrian only streets, the historic fortress perched on top of a hill, and so many churches.
In this post, rather than talking about everything you can do on your visit toyed Belgrade, I’m going to focus specifically on the churches in Belgrade. While you will find more to do in this city beyond churches, there’s just so many to visit and I think it’s good to know what you’re options are, so you can plan an itinerary that is the most interesting to you.
Best Churches in Belgrade, Serbia to Visit
There are no shortage of churches to visit within Belgrade and I’d need a much longer list (and more time) to cover each and every church in the city. So instead, I’ve narrowed it down to five churches. All of these churches are places that I’d consider a worthwhile stop for first time visitors to Belgrade. That said, it’s up to you if you visit one or all of the churches on this list.
Temple of St. Sava
While researching where to go on my visit to Belgrade, I came across a comment that said “If you only visit one place in Belgrade, make it St. Sava”. After visiting the church myself, I have to agree. The Temple of St. Sava is the most impressive church in Belgrade and it is my favorite place that I visited in the city.
The Temple of St. Sava was first constructed in the 1900s, with the interior of the church finally being finished in 2020. So it’s a newer church, but it’s no less spectacular. The gold mosaic covering the interior is stunning and can make your jaw drop.
The church is a bit outside the historic center, but it’s easy enough to reach on foot or by bus. Despite the distance, I still highly recommend that you include a stop at the Temple of St. Sava on your visit to Belgrade.
As a note, I visited the Church of St. Sava first and I think that was a mistake. This church is gorgeous and it’s the most impressive in Belgrade. Unfortunately for me, this meant that all of the rest of the churches that I visited didn’t have as much of a wow factor. They were good, but they just weren’t as impressive as this church. So if you want my advice, visit this church but don’t make it the first church you visit.
St. Mark’s Church
St. Mark’s Church is another beautiful church in Belgrade. While I think that the Temple of St. Sava has a much more stunning interior, I think St. Mark’s Church is also worth a visit. The exterior is gorgeous and I loved strolling through the adjacent park. In fact, I think I enjoyed the exterior more than the interior of St. Mark’s Church.
The Church of St. Mark is older than the Church of St. Sava but it’s still not a very old church. Construction began in the 1800s and the church was finished in 1940.
Inside you’ll find more mosaics of orthodox saints and bible stories. They are nice, but again, I think the Church of St. Sava just has more of a wow factor. That is not to say that St. Mark’s Church isn’t worth a visit, but I’d suggest visiting the Church of St. Mark before you visit St. Sava Church.
Ružica Church
These next two churches are located within the Belgrade Fortress. Since this is an area that I’d recommend you to explore regardless of your interest in churches, it’s really easy to add both of these churches to your sightseeing in Belgrade.
The first of these churches is Ružica Church. It’s the smaller of the two and in my opinion, the least impressive of the two churches. But again, that’s just my opinion. This church does have an interesting history as it was a military church when the fortress was occupied and at one point was used to store gunpowder.
St. Peter’s Chapel
Right nearby Ružica Church is St. Peter’s Chapel. When I first visited on an early morning, there was a service going on, so I couldn’t step inside. I returned on a separate day, later in the day, and was able to step inside to see all of the painted icons across the walls and ceiling. Were they nice? Yes, and honestly I think the interior here is just slightly better than Ružica Church.
The interior, like many churches on this list, is dark, but don’t let that stop you from appreciating the artwork that adorns the walls.
Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel
Lastly, I want to mention the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel. This church has one of my favorite exteriors because of the bell tower. Yes, St. Sava Church and St. Mark’s Church have nice and unique exteriors, but there was something about this bell tower that I found truly beautiful.
Stepping inside you’ll be met not with mosaics, but with paintings of the saints and bible stories. That made it feel a bit different for me since so many of the churches I had visited in Belgrade were decorated with mosaics.
Like every other church on this list, the cathedral is Orthodox and you’ll definitely feel it as you step inside this space. I mention this because when I first looked at this church, I could have sworn I read it was Catholic. Well, I went inside and was very confused. I was wrong and this Cathedral, like every other church on this list, is Orthodox.
Important Notes About Visiting Churches in Belgrade
Every church that I’ve covered on this list is free to visit. Yes, unlike the churches and cathedrals in many other European capitals, you can enter without paying a hefty fee. That’s great news for budget travelers.
Dress modestly. All of the churches on this list are Serbian Orthodox and it’s a good idea to dress more conservatively. While I saw a few men entering these churches in shorts, many churches had signs outside stating that shorts weren’t allowed. My recommendation is to cover your knees and shoulders before entering.
More Things to Do in Belgrade, Serbia
There’s more to Belgrade than just visiting Orthodox Churches. You’ll find plenty of museums, parks, and other attractions to keep you busy. My top picks are exploring Belgrade’s Fortress and the Serbian National Museum.
At Belgrade’s Fortress, you’ll find museums, displays, parks, river views, and so much more. It’s a great place to wander and see what you stumble upon, but you should look into a guided tour if you want to learn more about the history.
Admittedly, I skipped the Serbian National Museum. It’s not because of time, but because I fully admit that I struggle to appreciate art museums. With the exception of a small few museums, I just get very bored. So while I’m not a huge art lover, it’s still a great place to see the work of Serbian artists, as well as other objects that are important to Serbian history.
How Long Do You Need in Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade is a large city, and it’s the biggest in Serbia, but despite that, I think you don’t need a lot of time in Belgrade. I’d give yourself at least one full day in the city, but you should be able to find more museums to visit if you have more time.
I spent five days in Belgrade. My first day was a disoriented, groggy walk around the city since I had just gotten off of an overnight bus from Montenegro. On days 2 and 3, I took day trips that left the city. One day I headed east to the Manasija Monastery and Resava Cave and on the other day I headed west to the Sargan Eight Train and Tara National Park. Then I spent days 4 and 5 slowly exploring churches, relaxing in my hotel, and catching up on this travel blog.
How to Get Around Belgrade Serbia
One of the best things about Belgrade is that public transportation is completely free. So, you don’t have to worry about purchasing tickets, validating tickets, or any of the other headaches that come with transportation in a new city. Just find what bus or tram you need (I used GoogleMaps) and hop on. It’s as simple as that.
Belgrade is also very walkable. I used trams to connect my hotel with the bus and train stations, but otherwise I stuck to exploring the city on foot. Yes I could have saved a little time if I had used public transportation, but I enjoy walking and seeing new cities on foot.
Final Thoughts
I spent an entire morning wandering around Belgrade and stepping into its magnificent churches. I got to see the city on foot and see the beauty that’s tucked away inside. Whether you only visit the Temple of St. Sava or every church on this list, don’t forget to add a stop into some of Belgrade’s Orthodox Churches on your trip to Serbia.
