I had the opportunity to go to a wedding in Belgrade last weekend. Not somewhere I would have ever thought of visiting, but definitely a place I'd recommend.
The city has a very Eastern Block feel to it - cafe culture, friendly and relaxed, but with an edge of underlying chaos. It's not the most beautiful city, but the old centre, park and walks along the Danube were lovely, and people are exceptionally friendly. Surreal and frightening to imagine NATO bombing the city only 6 years ago.
It's best to go where you can on foot as the traffic is a nightmare (ancient cars breaking down & I suspect the traffic lights haven't been sequenced!). But its so compact and easy going, and there are scores of museums and galleries to see - if you can tear yourself away from the cafes and huge delicious cakes! Plus the barges on the river make for great clubs if you fancy it.
The wedding was lovely - so much more relaxed and fun than the usual British ones. Lots of dancing and chatting... possibly due to the large glass of Serbian rum we were handed on the way in! With lots of British there, it was great to have the two cultures mingling together, and it made me realise how important it was for everyone to have the opportunity to get to know each other, as the couple start their lives together.
Flights go from Heathrow (we did out on Friday, back on Sunday) - and it's cheap as chips out there (70p/pint) so great for a weekend city break. This is a fab hotel right in the heart of Belgrade if you fancy it.
