Belgrade through the eyes of a foreign tourist: A view that changes the perspective of the city

I heard a lot about Belgrade before I visited it for the first time. Everyone had their own stories – about its energy, rivers, layers of history that intertwine at every step. But, as usual, it is only when you’re there that all these stories start to make sense.

My visit started on the second floor of Galerija, at the Belgrade 360 Deck Ticketing office. Fortunately, I had already bought my ticket online and didn’t need to wait in the queue. Upon arrival, it became clear that the experience doesn’t begin at the top. It starts much earlier – in the atmosphere, the space, the people stopping at the selfie station, smiling and taking the first shots. There is no rush, just a pleasant anticipation, announcing that you are about to experience something truly special.

From the ticket office, the path leads you to Kula Belgrade and the highest point of the Serbian capital via a footbridge. That crossing has a special charm. It is calm so you can notice the details, and yet interesting enough to hold your attention. On the walls are quotes from famous Serbian writers and poets Momo Kapor and Dušan Vasiljev, which aren’t just decorative pieces. They’re more like a small introduction to the spirit of Belgrade and Serbia. Since they have been translated into English, they are easily understood by tourists, but it is a special feeling to read and hear them in Serbian.

The lifts take only 25 seconds to reach the Belgrade 360 Deck – the place we all came for.

And then, the lift doors open – and suddenly, the entirety of Belgrade is in front of you.

Images, or in this case – the views – really do speak louder than words. The confluence of the Sava and the Danube seems magical, the greenery weaves through the roofs of the old part of the city and the modern high-rises of New Belgrade, and the gaze is constantly looking for another detail. A special impression for me was the St. Sava Temple, which the tour guides told us about. Seeing its magnificent dome from this perspective was a truly special feeling.

Kalemegdan, Avala, the city centre – all places I’d previously visited, I saw from a different angle. And only then did it become clearer to me how layered Belgrade is: it manages to preserve its history while constantly changing, growing and building something new.

At that height, you need some time to get used to the breadth of the view. People move slowly, stop, return to the same places and try to recognise the streets, buildings and directions they came from. Some remain silent, while others share their impressions out loud. And it is really nice to see how everyone finds their own way to experience the city.

Telescopes bring the parts of the city that seem far away closer, so you can more clearly experience the details that you wouldn’t notice with the naked eye. Kaleidoscopes introduce another layer – a view that turns into a story that adds context to familiar points and places. This means a lot for us, tourists who are just getting to know this city.

After the skyline, a brief coffee break follows. The view is still there, but the pace has slowed down. Instead of trying to take in the whole city, you start noticing the details. The souvenir shop offers a selection of items subtly and tastefully inspired by Belgrade, as an extension of the experience that doesn’t end when you leave.

From this height, Belgrade gets a different, completely new perspective. Lines are clearer, relations more understandable, and distance measured differently. The impression that remains is not only related to the view, but to the way the city is perceived afterwards. Descending from the observation deck doesn’t mean the end of the experience. On the contrary, only then does the Belgrade experience reach its fullness. This is a city I will always return to, and Belgrade 360 Deck is a landmark I will always visit. I know that Belgrade is waiting for me with arms wide open.