It is a beautiful summer morning and sun rays, coming through the curtains of the window, are the first thing you see. You turn to the yellow clock which is on the nightstand and think to yourself: ‘’No alarm today.’’ What a feeling, right? You open the curtains and the sun completely takes over the apartment and you are looking at the sunny city of Belgrade. You turn right and go to the kitchen and make yourself a cup of fresh coffee.
As you are sitting on a comfy grey couch and drinking your coffee, you are thinking of the best ways you can spend such a beautiful day. After you are done with your coffee, you get dressed and step down the stairs and onto the city streets. Right next door is a bakery and you decide to have a freshly made croissant. You are now ready for the day and everything Belgrade has to offer.
You realize that you are a few steps away from the top of Skadarlija Street. This is among the oldest streets of Belgrade and was preserved to give you that late 19th, beginning of the 20th century feel. Skadarlija preserved the ambience of the traditional architecture and is known as the main bohemian quarter of Belgrade, something like Paris’ Montmartre.
After Kalemegdan, Skadarlija is the second most visited tourist attraction in Belgrade. The location of Skadarlija is less than 300 metres north-west of Terazije, central Belgrade. It begins right below the Republic Square and stretches along the short, winding Skadarska Street and is close to the Zetska and Cetinjska street, which has a lot of bars, clubs and art events like poetry reading, exhibitions and live music.
Skadarlija is perhaps the most famous street in Belgrade and is less than 400 meters long and is near the Bajloni open greenmarket and the Mira Trailovic Square, where it extends into the neighbourhood of Dorćol, which is the centre of Belgrade.
The reason Skadarlija is very popular is because of the wide range of things to do, especially at night. In Skadarlija you can visit a jazz bar, a techno club or even listen to the live ‘tambura’ bands, which are similar to the Mariachi, but are playing old typical Serbian music.
The most famous are the Skadarlija restaurants, called ‘kafanas’ which have welcomed a worldwide list of celebrities. It is said that even Alfred Hitchcock ended his diet right in Skadarlija. And the list of famous people that Skadarlija welcomed goes on: Jimi Hendrix, politicians George H. W. Bush, Josip Broz Tito, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, queen Elizabeth II, Margaret Thatcher, actors Burt Lancaster, Gina Lollobrigida, Alain Delon, etc.
Skadarlija brings poets, writers and artists from all over the world together. The house of Djura Jaksic, a famous writer and painter from Serbia, who lived and died in Skadarlija Street, is now the meeting place of other poets and writers, as one simply cannot help but feel inspired while walking through the street of Skadarlija.
And inspired is exactly how you will feel exploring the streets of Belgrade. And after all that exploring you will, what can be better than returning to your ‘Skadarlija Heights’ apartment and just lie down on a comfortable bed? Cover yourself with the blanket and dream of another wonderful day Belgrade has in stored for you.