Years > 2008 > Host city
Serbia
The 53rd Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Belgrade, capital city of Serbia. See article below and the pages in the orange "More Info" box for all you need to know about your trip to Serbia and the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.
About Belgrade
About Belgrade
Belgrade – the capital of Serbia. It is estimated that there are more than two million people living in Belgrade. It is situated in South-Eastern Europe, on the Balkans Peninsula, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe, an intersection of the roads of Eastern and Western Europe.
Belgrade is the capital of Serbian culture, education, science and economy. As a result of its tumultuous history, Belgrade has for centuries been home to many nationalities, with Serbs of the Orthodox Christian religion making up the majority of the population – about 90%. The official language is Serbian, while visitors from abroad can use English to communicate.
The urban core of Belgrade encompasses the area of 36 square kilometres, and the whole Belgrade’s territory is 322 square kilometres. The perimeter of the suburban area is 419 km. The greatest distance in the North-South direction is 92,98 km, and in the East-West direction is 67,50 km.
The climate in Belgrade is a moderate continental one, with an average daytime temperature of 11.7oC with the hottest months being July and August. There is a characteristic south-eastern and eastern wind called košava.
Belgrade is in the Central European Time (CET) zone (GMT+1 hour). Summer time (GMT+2 hours) lasts from the end of March until the end of October. The official currency is the dinar (RSD). The Serbian area code for international calls is +00 381 and for Belgrade is (0)11.
All the visitors of Belgrade will tell you the same thing: Belgrade has a unique energy, a big heart filled with warmth and ready to host everyone. Belgraders are well-known for their hospitability, life strength and curiosity and sense of humour.
There is probably no other place where you can find such a natural combination of the Oriental passion and European culture. Symbolically located at the confluence of two rivers (the Sava and the Danube), Belgrade has always been between the East and the West, on the way of conquering attacks. That is why it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. That is also a reason why it does not posses a style consistence nor elegance of other European cities. But the spirit of Belgrade is characterised by a unique and unusual life passion, art, sport and rich bohemian life.
It is hard to believe that you will ever be bored in Belgrade. Concerts, music and theatre performances take place every day. Along with many restaurants, cafés, night clubs and casinos, the bohemian street of Skadarlija as well as boat restaurants and cafés on the Danube and the Sava rivers that run through the city centre, are particularly interesting.
There is a rich and diverse cultural and sport life in Belgrade. The capital of Serbia has hosted numerous international sport and cultural manifestations, but it has also been a founder of a number of international manifestations well-known worldwide.
Tourists who want to try local cousine but to also have the richness of the international specialties with the assortment of excellent wines, will be very pleased with the Belgrade restaurants’ offer. There are more than 2,500 national, international, fish and specialised restaurants and cafes at your disposal in Belgrade. The most interesting quarters where you can enjoy gastronomic specialties are: Skadarlija, Kalemgdan, Strahinjica Bana, Zamunski kej, Savski kej, Kej oslobodenja, Kalenic Cubura and Obilicev venac.
Belgrade is the centre of culture and art of Serbia. It is Belgrade where their most notable artists create, where over 9.000 theatrical performances, exhibitions, concerts, performance events, and other artistic programs are presented and where prominent authors in the world of art are hosted. Belgrade is the centre of the highest state and national institutions of culture and art: Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Library of Serbia, the National Museum, the National Theatre and the University of Arts.
Belgrade has precious monuments of spiritual culture, churches, monasteries and places of worship of different confessions.
