Belgrade Walking Tour with Prince Michael Street, the Cathedral, & the Fortress

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^$ 154

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Belgrade, Serbia

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3 Hours

Moderate

From (USD)

^$ 154

Prince Michael: Lined with buildings and mansions from the 1870s, Knez Mihailova is Belgrade's main shopping zone, and protected by law as a historic landmark.
St. Michael Cathedral: Completed in 1840 in Neoclassical style with grand Baroque flourishes, the interior is stunningly decorated with gold-plated carvings and painted thrones.
Kalemegdan Fortress: Enter the gates of Belgrade's most famous landmark, see the armaments display at the military museum, and enjoy commanding views of the city.
City sights: See the bohemian Skadarlija Street, the eerie Roman Well, Nebojsa Tower (a cannon tower converted into a dungeon), the Little Rose Church, Victor Monument, and more.

Meeting point

Please make your way to Republic Square, Belgrade city center and meet your guide at the statue of Prince Mihailo III on horseback.

Helpful hints

As in many cities, keep your wallet or purse secured and leave the bling behind. Flat shoes make walking on cobblestones much easier.

Getting around

Plan to walk a mile through Belgrade, with slightly uphill climb. If your mobility is limited, this tour may be too challenging for you to enjoy and maintain the pace of the group. It is not wheelchair accessible.

Activity type

Walking Tour, Cultural, Scenic

Languages

English, Spanish, Italian, French, German

Tour ID

TR-EUR-SRB-BELG-EN-1001

Tour Participation Requirements

Activity Level

This experience is rated moderate. Full participation may require extended periods of walking over even and uneven surfaces, steep terrain and/or water activity in a slight current. There may be steps, inclines, cobblestone surfaces, and extended periods of standing. Participants with physical limitations should take this into account.

Age restrictions

Suitable for all ages.

Belgrade's Knez Mihailova – Prince Michael Street – is a protected complex of historic monuments lined with beautiful mansions from the 1870s.But if the reason for preservation is obvious, the death of the street's namesake isn't.

The famous promenade and commerce center was renamed after the prince following his 1868 assassination, an act that remains a mystery even today. (As absolute monarchs go, he was fairly well-liked. Even, in hindsight, enlightened.)

Deposed by the Turks in 1842 and exiled to Vienna, Michael brought Viennese sophistication to Belgrade when he returned in 1860. He generously donated to cultural institutions oversaw the final withdrawal of Ottoman troops from Serbia in 1867. But all was not well in the palace.

The prince wanted to divorce his wife and marry his younger mistress, Katarina – problematic not only because of the scandal of royal divorce, but because Kat was the daughter of his first cousin, Princess Anka Obrenovic. Cue the angry uproar from clergy, politicians, and the general public as his once-high approval ratings plummeted.

On June 10, 1868, in a park near Michael's country residence, he and Anka were gunned down. Katerina was wounded, but survived.

Suspicion quickly fell on a rival royal family, presumably with the assumption that they aspired to the throne. But it didn't happen, and the case was never solved. Michael's scandals, however, were forgotten, and he was deeply mourned.

You'll see Prince Michael on this tour: He sits regally astride a horse near the National Theater, a few feet from the shops and cafes of the street that bears his name. It's a popular meeting place honoring a prince who regained his popularity the hard way.

Bohemian rhapsody

Skadalija Street, one of the first stops on this tour, was a mecca for poets and artists in the late 19th and early 20th century, and it's still considered the bohemian heart of the city. The neighborhood became popular because it was close to the National Theater and the music halls in what today is the Balkan Cinema. But it wasn't all peace and love. Loud music and frequent fights made the police regular visitors. Check out the impressive mural on the wall at the brewery.

Full refunds issued for cancellations made 7 full days prior to the date and time of requested services. Cancellations made within the 7-day and 72-hour window will receive a 50% refund of purchase total. Purchases are non-refundable inside of 72 hours.