Belgrade's Communist Past in 10 Places

The Genex Tower is one of New Belgrades strangest buildings
The Genex Tower is one of New Belgrade's strangest buildings | © Jovana Kuzmanovic / Shutterstock

Despite being the dominant ideology in Serbia for less than half a century, the monolithic shadow of communism still blankets Belgrade and the rest today. Tito and his socialist (well, Titoist) ways left a major architectural legacy in the capital, a collection of structures that make for an interesting peek into a nostalgic past.

Museum of Yugoslavia

What better place to learn of Serbia’s communist past than the museum dedicated to that part of the region’s history? The Museum of Yugoslavia documents the years between the end of World War II and the beginning of the wars of the early ‘90s, singing the praises of what was one of the most impressive societies in Europe.
Josip Broz Tito, ‘Mr. Yugoslav Socialism’ himself, is buried at the House of Flowers behind the museum. His mausoleum is an essential attraction when in town, whether or not you’re looking for all things communist.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Tito’s death hastened the end of Yugoslavia

Palace of Serbia

The word ‘palace’ conjures up images of elegant mansions in the countryside, which is as far away from an accurate description of the Palace of Serbia as you are going to get. A huge concrete structure in New Belgrade, the palace took 12 years to build before its completion in 1959, and still houses various sections of the Serbian government today. Shaped like a giant (an understatement) H, you’ll need to enable panorama mode in order to capture a photo of the massive building.

The Palace of Serbia from a distance

Sava Centar

Far and away the largest congress centre in the country, the Sava Centar is difficult to miss. Just look out for the hulking mass of concrete situated on the banks of the Sava river. Tito demanded its construction after agreeing to host a major European convention, despite not having an appropriate facility. The Centar is in a dire financial state, but still hosts events on a frequent basis.

Hotel Jugoslavija

If you’re looking for a hotel experience closer to that of the 20th century than the 21st, Hotel Jugoslaviija is the place to head. A humongous building on the side of the road heading out to Zemun, the lonely corridors and questionable facilities hark back to a very different time. Still, it was good enough for Queen Elizabeth II, Tina Turner, Neil Armstrong and many others.

The famous Hotel Jugoslavija in Belgrade

Genex Tower

One of our favourite pieces of 20th century architecture in Belgrade, the Genex Tower has gone from being an embarrassing eyesore to one of the most iconic constructions in the city.
Very much a building from outer space, the Western City Gate couldn’t look more like the headquarters of a futuristic villain. The spaceship on top once housed a rotating restaurant, to add to the unusualness.

The Genex Tower is one of New Belgrade’s strangest buildings

BIGZ Building

The construction of the Radisson Hotel next door pulled the plug on it as a beacon of creative life in Belgrade, but the memories remain. The BIGZ building itself also remains, although it is rather difficult to get rid of a massive brutalist construction. Once home to the largest publishing company in the Balkans, the building was taken over by musicians and artists at the turn of the century and became one of the most vibrant parts of the capital.

The BIGZ Building in Belgrade

Dom Sindikata

Once the hottest entertainment venue in the city, Dom Sindikata’s best days are well and truly in the past. It is still a fascinating building however, a fine example of socialist realism in the capital of former socialist Yugoslavia. Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and a host of other stars performed here in its heyday, but all you’ll find now is a bored security guard and a pretty fantastic jazz bar on the top floor.

Blokovi

When you think of communist architecture, the majority of images that flood into the mind are of huge concrete tower blocks. New Belgrade is full of these ‘blocks’, much-maligned plinths of concrete that have made the full transition from regrettable to appreciated in the space of two generations. The city’s largest neighbourhood is full of them, and you could easily spend a day just wandering around the beasts.

The construction of the Blokovi in the late 1970s

Kafana SFRJ

Given the amount of Yugoslav nostalgia in Belgrade, it is surprising there aren’t more cafes harking back to the supposed glory days. Kafana SFRJ (Cafe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, essentially) wears its red star well and truly on its sleeve, with pictures of Tito adorning each and every wall. The drinks are cheap, the service gruff, the coffee bitter and the dream alive.

Republic Square

While not exactly a piece of communist architecture, Republic Square’s position as the heart of the city has always made it a predictable place for protest. This was the case in 1991, when huge protests against Slobodan Milošević broke out. Opposition leader Vuk Drašković famously climbed the Prince Mihailo monument to address the crowd, as the communist dream in what was still Yugoslavia edged closer to its final breath.

Belgrade was the capital of the first Yugoslavia
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article