As one of the oldest cities in Europe, Belgrade now serves as an unofficial border between Western and Eastern Europe. However, historically, it found itself at the crossroads between Islam and Christianity for centuries as a border between the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. A private tour of Belgrade Fortress and the former Austro-Hungarian outpost of Zemun on the other side of the Danube is the best way to see remnants of this historical juxtaposition as well as two of Belgrade's loveliest sights. During our visit to each, we will walk you through the fascinating and extensive history of the ‘White City’ as in-depth as you’d like us to and also explain the major differences between these two contrasting civilizations which have undoubtedly shaped the face and culture of the Serbian capital.

Starting with Belgrade Fortress, also called Kalemegdan (“kale” meaning “city” and “megdan” meaning “fortress” in Turkish), we will provide local insight not only into Belgrade’s history as a city from antiquity to present day, but the fortification’s function under both Ottoman and Austrian-Hungarian rule. You will get a better understanding of the role Belgrade Fortress has played as the city’s enduring epicenter and its role now as the primary symbol of the city.

We then take a short drive over to the other side of the Danube and visit what’s often touted as “the last outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire” and one of Belgrade’s most attractive neighborhoods, Zemun. Here you will see first-hand the stark contrast between modern Zemun, once part of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire, and modern Belgrade, once part of the Ottoman Empire, along with stunning views of the Sava and Danube rivers.

For a more comprehensive tour of the Serbian capital, you may want to also consider the Belgrade Private City Tour.