Belgrade with its population of 1,2 billion residents is the largest city in Serbia. Its name in English translates to White city.

The history tracks the first mention of the city in 279 BC, after the Celts conquered it from Thraco-Dacians, naming it Singidūn. The city was governed by Romans, Goths, and Huns. A legend tells that Attila the Hun was buried on the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. Belgrade was first named the capital by the Serbian King Stephen Dragutin (1282-1316).

The city was expanding around the fortress built on the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. In 1453 and 1456, the Ottoman army attempted to seize Belgrade but was defeated and had to retreat. The Ottoman army conquered Belgrade in 1521 and remained such position until 1897. As a strategic location, the city saw destruction many times and was made a long time object of fighting between the Ottomans and Austrians. On the Sava's left bank, Zemun, the Austrian part of the city, was developing and was subsequently merged with Belgrade due to its vast expansion.

In 1841, Belgrade became the capital of Serbia again.

TOP places in Belgrade worth visiting

• Kalemegdan - Belgrade Fortress

Belgrade Fortress is inseparable from the history of the city. Built on the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, it had played an important role since the Ancient times. In the 3^rd century BC, the first fortification-settlement, known as Singidunum, was being built here by the Celts after the conquest of the Dacian and Thracian tribes, and later Romans, for whom the territory served as the frontier with the central Barbarian Europe. In the 5^th century, the Belgrade Fortress was seized by Goths and Huns. According to a legend, Attila the Hun was buried on the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. The most glorious period dates back to the years between 1453 and 1456, when Belgrade was the military frontier of the Kingdom of Hungary and an experienced Hungarian warlord Janos Hunyadi battled from Ottomans invading the Fortress. These victories saved Europe from an Ottoman invasion for 70 years. The Belgrade Fortress of nowadays little resembles the Fortress of the 16^th century prints. The biggest changes were caused by Austrians, shortly wielding power in 1718-1738, who turned the Fortress into a bastion typical to those times, serving already in varied conditions of warfare until the end of the 19^th century. The Fortress was severely damaged during World War I and World War II.

Today Belgrade Fortress is the city's inhabitants' recreation area. The scenery of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers opens from atop alongside with a few tens of kilometres of the plains of the Danube. The area of the Fortress holds a park, neat pathways, plenty of youth, mothers with baby carriages, elderly people having fun. A spectacular exposition of war mechanisms, cannons and tanks is available outside for free. If you have more time, visit the zoo or the main walking street in Belgrade - the Prince Michael Street, where all the action in Belgrade is taking place.

• Belgrade's main walking street - Prince Michael Street

Prince Michael Street, or Knez Mihailova, is the major entertainment zone following from the Square of the Republic to the Belgrade Fortress. Many shops, cafeterias, restaurants are open for clients almost all day night.