This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
With a history spanning 7,000 years, Belgrade has made a point of showcasing her vibrant and fascinating past through her many museums. The city’s museums will take you on a tour of the Serbian capital and Serbian and European history in general, starting from the prehistoric times all the way up to the former socialist rule that marked the second half of the 20th century.
Aside from the city’s historical museums, Belgrade is also home to some of the finest art museums in this part of Europe, where you can indulge in fabulous works of art that wouldn’t feel out of place at London’s National Gallery or in Berlin’s Gemaldegalerie. So, if you’re looking for things to do in Belgrade, these are all excellent starting points.
What follows is a list of some of the best museums in Belgrade. However, the list of great museums goes on further. Aside from the ones outlined here, we also recommend visiting the Museum of African Art, the Ethnographic Museum, the Railway Museum, The Jewish Historical Museum, and Belgrade City Museum. Other great ways to learn about Serbian history is a visit to one of the royal palaces.
Most museums in Serbia are closed on Mondays.
10:00 – 18:00
National Museum
AddressThe Republic Square
Founded in 1844, the National Museum is the largest and oldest museum in former Yugoslavia with an impressive collection of archaeological, artistic, and numismatic achievements. The works of masters suchs as Picasso, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, and El Greco can be found within its monumental halls, as well as landmark pieces of the most renowned Serbian artists. photo: Luka Banda
website10:00-18:00
Nikola Tesla Museum
Address51 Krunska Street
Nikola Tesla was arguably the most prominent Serbian to ever walk this earth, so having the opportunity to visit a museum dedicated to the fascinating life and work of this scientist is not to be missed. The Nikola Tesla Museum, has been conserving and exhibiting Tesla’s scientific and personal legacy at its Vračar location since 1955, including his models, documents, and drawings. The museum organizes guided tours in English once or twice per day.
website12:00-20:00
Historical Museum of Serbia
Address11 Nikole Pašica Square
The Historical Museum of Serbia, located in the Belgrade city center, boasts a collection of over 35,000 items across different departments. As its name implies, this is the best place in town to take a comprehensive look at the Serbian people’s turbulent past, which often overlaps with that of the rest of Europe, from ancient times to the present. This museum also offers guided tours.
website10:00-17:00
Military Museum
AddressBelgrade Fortress, Kalemegdan
The Military Museum, founded in 1878, has one of the finest locations in Belgrade – Kalemegdan fortress. Although the destruction of the First and Second World War weren’t kind on the museum’s collection, this place still has over 3,000 items that provide a comprehensive look at warfare from ancient to modern times. Outside of the museum, on the Kalemegdan ramparts, there are many tanks, guns and armored vehicles on permanent display as well. You can book a tour in English, and the museum also provides access for the disabled.
website17:00-01:00
The Night of the Museums
Addressmultiple
Every May Serbia hosts the Night of the Museums, a fantastic 8-hour event during which you can visit as many museums as you like for the price of a single ticket (€3). The Night of the Museums typically kicks off at 5pm and until 1 in the morning expect to see swarms of people exploring Belgrade’s finest museums and art collections. This event is also a unique opportunity to visit certain places that aren’t usually open for visitors, such as the Palace of the Federal Executive Council of Yugoslavia, a brutalist-modernist masterpiece which houses several Serbian ministries nowadays, the psychiatric hospital Laza Lazarević, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
website10:00-18:00
Museum of Yugoslavia
Address6 Mihaila Mike Jankovića Street
This museum complex is one of the most intriguing places for foreigners visiting Belgrade, many of whom are fascinated by Yugoslavian history and the presidency of Josip Broz Tito, the communist revolutionary who served as the country’s president until his death in 1980. The complex includes Tito’s resting place, the House of Flowers, where he was laid to rest following the largest state funeral in history. The museum also has a large collection of the former president’s personal belongings, including gifts from foreign dignitaries who maintained warm relations with Tito throughout his presidency. The museum offers free guided tours in English every weekend at 11h. photo: Danilo Mataruga
website10:00-20:00
Museum of Science and Technology
Address51 Skenderbegova Street
The Museum of Science and Technology was founded in 1989 and features a collection of over 10,000 curious artefacts, including bulky computers from the 80s and other tech gadgets. Once you’re done absorbing the evolution of technology, there’s also an interactive children’s section where you can see a cool collection of 20th century toys. If you are planning a group visit, you need to make a reservation seven days beforehand.
website10:00-17:00
Museum of Contemporary Art
AddressUšće, 10. City block 15
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade is the premiere destination for 20th century Serbian and Yugoslavian art. It’s located in Ušće, on the left bank of the Sava river in a building that’s an artwork of its own. The surrounding park is peppered with some of the most important works of 20th century Yugoslav sculpture.
website