Ada Ciganlija
Ada Ciganlija is a former river island on the Sava turned into Belgrade's main beach and recreation area — nicknamed "Belgrade's sea" for its lake, swimming and summer crowds.
Ajvar
Ajvar is a relish of roasted, peeled red peppers cooked down with garlic and oil (often with eggplant) until thick and spreadable — Serbia's other essential grilled-meat condiment, always ordered alongside kajmak.
Belgrade Waterfront
Belgrade Waterfront (Beograd na vodi) is a large-scale riverfront redevelopment on the right bank of the Sava, next to the Savamala district, mixing modern residential towers, a mall, promenades and river-facing restaurants.
BG Voz
BG Voz is Belgrade's suburban and commuter rail network — literally "Belgrade train" — free to ride like the rest of the city's public transport, with a new branch under construction to connect it to the airport.
BIE
The BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) is the Paris-based intergovernmental organisation that recognises and oversees official World and Specialised Expos, including Expo 2027 Belgrade.
Burek
Burek is a flaky, coiled pastry of thin filo layers filled with meat, cheese or other fillings — a hugely popular Belgrade breakfast and snack, sold by weight in bakeries.
BusPlus
BusPlus was Belgrade's public-transport smart-card and ticketing system. It has been discontinued — city buses, trams and trolleybuses are now free to ride, with no ticket or card needed.
CarGo
CarGo is a home-grown, Uber-style ride-hailing app that operates in Belgrade — one of the two apps (alongside Yandex Go) that actually work in the city, since neither Uber nor Bolt runs there.
Ćevapi
Ćevapi are small grilled sausages of minced meat — the most iconic Serbian street food and grill dish, served in flatbread (lepinja) with chopped onion and kajmak.
Domaća kafa
Domaća kafa — literally "home coffee" — is Serbia's traditional Turkish-style coffee: finely ground, unfiltered and simmered in a small copper pot called a džezva, then sipped slowly rather than drunk fast.
Gibanica
Gibanica is a layered cheese-and-egg filo pastry, softer and richer than burek — a bakery staple and a celebratory bake that turns up at Serbian family gatherings.
Kafana
A kafana is a traditional Serbian tavern — an unpretentious place for grilled meat, rakija, strong coffee and, often, live music, and it sits at the heart of Belgrade's social life.
Kajmak
Kajmak is a rich, mildly tangy clotted-cream spread skimmed from scalded milk — the defining dairy accompaniment to Serbian grilled meat, bread and pastry, and a fixture on almost every kafana table.
Kalemegdan
Kalemegdan is the large park surrounding the Belgrade Fortress, set on the ridge above the confluence of the Sava and Danube — the city's central green space and most-visited landmark.
Karađorđeva šnicla
Karađorđeva šnicla is a Serbian signature dish: a rolled, breaded and fried veal or pork escalope stuffed with kajmak, usually served with tartar sauce — the rich, restaurant-style order on any Serbian menu.
Knez Mihailova
Knez Mihailova is Belgrade's main pedestrian promenade — a shop- and café-lined street running from Republic Square to Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, and the natural spine of any first visit on foot.
Košava
The košava is a strong, cold, gusty wind that blows across Belgrade from the south-east, most common in the autumn and winter months — a genuine local phenomenon worth knowing about if you're visiting in that season.
Menjačnica
A menjačnica is a licensed currency-exchange office. They are common across Belgrade, usually offer better rates than airports or hotels, and exchange cash quickly with no commission.
Nikola Tesla Airport
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is Serbia's main international gateway, about 18 km west of the city centre near Surčin — named after the Serbian-American inventor and served by free city buses, a paid minibus, taxis and ride-hail apps.
Pekara
A pekara is a Serbian bakery — a counter selling burek and other filo pastries by weight or the slice, often open around the clock, and one of the easiest, cheapest places to eat in Belgrade.
Pljeskavica
Pljeskavica is a large, flat grilled patty of seasoned minced meat — often described as the Serbian burger — served in flatbread or on a plate with traditional toppings.
Rakija
Rakija is a strong fruit brandy that is Serbia's national drink — typically 40% alcohol or higher, distilled from plums, grapes, quinces or other fruit, and offered as a welcome and a toast.
Sarma
Sarma is Serbia's classic stuffed cabbage roll — pickled or fermented cabbage leaves wrapped around minced meat and rice, then slow-cooked for hours, often in a smoky tomato-and-smoked-meat sauce.
Serbian dinar
The Serbian dinar (RSD) is Serbia's official currency and the only legal tender for cash — even though many Belgrade businesses list prices in euros, you pay the dinar equivalent, since the euro itself isn't legal tender here.
Skadarlija
Skadarlija is Belgrade's historic bohemian quarter — a short cobbled street lined with traditional kafanas, long associated with the city's poets, artists and musicians.
Slava
A slava is a Serbian family's annual celebration of its patron saint — an inherited Orthodox Christian tradition marked with a blessed candle, a special bread and a festive meal, and one of the most distinctive customs in Serbian culture.
Šopska salata
Šopska salata is chopped tomato, cucumber, pepper and onion topped with a generous layer of grated white cheese — the ubiquitous fresh salad served across the Balkans and the standard counterpoint to a grill order.
Specialised Expo
A Specialised Expo is a BIE-recognised international exposition built around a single declared theme, lasting up to three months — the category Expo 2027 Belgrade belongs to, distinct from the larger, broader Universal (World) Expos.
Splav
A splav is a floating barge on the Sava or Danube that operates as a bar, club or restaurant — the splavovi are a defining feature of Belgrade's summer nightlife.
Temple of Saint Sava
The Temple of Saint Sava is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, standing in the Vračar district south of central Belgrade — a monumental white-marble landmark with a richly mosaicked interior.
Turbo-folk
Turbo-folk is a Balkan popular-music genre that fuses traditional Serbian and regional folk melodies with electronic, pop and dance production — a genuinely dominant sound in Belgrade's nightlife, especially on the splavovi.