Belgrade Travel Forum

Hi,

I've got fed up with the scare-mongering on Eurovision fan forums and thought I'd come and ask here in the hope that any Serbians can provide me with a bit of clarity!

There are rumours circulating that there are Neo-nazi groups who are going to try to cause problems in Belgrade during the Eurovision week, some rumours even going as far as echoing death-threats. I'm also aware of the guarantee of safety that the Serbian President has issued.

I believe that most of these rumours have been started by groups in Serbia that have something to gain from the fear that some people have due to the rumours. However, what is the feeling like in Serbia itself? Have these threats actually been made and what is the feeling of Serbian's towards this?

I'm really looking forward to visiting Belgrade in just under three weeks and will be wary of my safety as with all foreign cities I visit, but it would just be nice to have a local view on the subject.

I just wish people would give Belgrade and Serbia a fair chance to impress Europe, without putting hurdles in your way all the time!

Also, I am due to stay in Hotel Slavija A, which I am led to believe has recently been renovated. Can anyone tell me what this hotel is like now and if the renovations have made much of a difference.

Thanks in advance for any replies you can give,

Colin

Hi, thanks for your reply. The rumours have been on a few Eurovision Yahoo groups from a person stating he is from Serbia. Unfortunately, in these groups, there are too many people who accept things on face value and are up in arms.

Thanks for your reply again and I look forward to visiting your lovely country in a few weeks time!

I'm English and was there in March with my wife and baby daughter.

Had a great time and no problems at all. Everyone was very friendly and I would expect them to be the same around Eurovision.

It gives the Serbs a rare chance to show the rest of Europe what they are really like rather than how the mdeia has portrayed them and be excellent hosts.

Same here. Went in March, Belgrade was fine as were the other towns we visited - the only comment I got was a Serb man said to my Serb friend (in Serbian) "What's up with him? Clinton didn't teach him to speak Serbian?" which as insults go was pretty lame. It actually made us all laugh. So I think you'll be fine. Most Serbs are just happy that foreigners visit Serbia after all the bad press lately. At the end of the day people are pretty much the same the world over I find.

Dear Colin,

I am an Irish-South African who has lived in Belgrade for 3 years. I run the Belgrade Foreign Visitors Club (http://www.belgradefvc.com).

I can assure you that whomever it is making those claims is simply a spiteful anti-Serb propagandist.

Belgrade is one of the safest and most welcoming cities in Europe. Foreigners are treated like royalty, often with preferential and special treatment everywhere they go (rules bent for them, tables found in restaurants etc).

There is virtually no street crime in Belgrade. Muggings are unheard of as are sexual assaults and rapes by strangers.

You will see when you get here that it is a hidden gem in the heart of Europe. A superb party city filled with gorgeous people (men and women, fantastic cheap restaurants, brilliant clubs and most importantly very friendly locals.

If you have any more questions, feel free to pop them onto the forum at the foreign visitors club linked above. Registration is NOT required.

Kind regards,

Jonathan

Be;grade is a very safe city and i've been to alot f cities around Europe, i think you will have no trouble here and it will be an amazing experience for you. Enjoy Eurovison!