Serbia Travel Itinerary: 3 Days In Belgrade During EXIT Festival

Before heading into EXIT Festival, my friend Nimbe and I wanted a taste of Serbia itself. Belgrade ended up being the perfect home base for the trip. It gave us good food, chill vibes, and enough exploring to balance out the late nights at EXIT. This itinerary covers how we spent our time in Belgrade around the festival. 

Day 1: Arrival

We landed at Belgrade airport around 4:00 PM. As soon as we got our bags, we downloaded CarGo, which is basically Serbia’s version of Uber or Lyft. It was extremely easy to use for the ride from the airport into the city.

We stayed at Moxy Belgrade because we had Marriott points and already knew and liked the Moxy vibe. Moxy is part of the Marriott family and participates in Marriott Bonvoy, so using points felt like a no brainer. 

When we checked in, they welcomed us with a drink and even had a non-alcoholic option, which I really appreciated after traveling. It was a small touch, but it set the tone for the trip. We dropped off our bags, freshened up, and headed out.

We were craving a michelada, so we searched around and found La Taqueria. It ended up being phenomenal. Fun fact: I love getting a michelada in every new country I visit around the world.

What we ordered:

• Micheladas, obviously
• Flautas de Pollo to share
• A round of tacos

Everything was delicious and the service was great. It was one of those meals where you are jet lagged but happy and you just feel like you made the right call.

After La Taqueria, we walked around the area to get a feel for the city. Eventually we made our way down toward the waterfront, where there are a ton of lively bars and lounges.

One that immediately caught our eye was Cantina de Frida. It was packed, there was a band playing, and the energy just felt right. We went inside and the atmosphere was fun and loud in the best way. Live music plus a full house is always a good sign.

We hung out there for a while, soaked up the vibes, then headed back to the hotel to rest up for a full day of exploring.

Day 2: Belgrade Fortress

We knew we would be heading to EXIT that night, so we used the day to explore Belgrade. We grabbed a rideshare and had CarGo drop us off at a park near Belgrade Fortress. The park itself was really pretty. It had nice viewpoints, some vendors, and monuments scattered around. It felt like a soft introduction before getting into the main fortress area.

From there, we spent most of the day wandering through Belgrade Fortress. Old stone paths, views of the river, little side corners, and open spaces. It is one of those places where you do not necessarily need a strict plan. You just walk, stop where it feels right, and take in the mix of history and city views.

To wrap up our fortress adventure, we stopped for drinks at BOHO Bar, which is inside the fortress complex. It was the perfect way to end that part of the day. Chill ambiance, good drinks, and that “we are really in Serbia right now” feeling.

After the fortress, we were ready for a real meal. My friend Nimbe had found a restaurant called THYME before the trip and it did not disappoint. Honestly, it was one of the standout food moments of Serbia.

What we ordered:

• Octopus to start – really good and nicely cooked
• Pork belly ramen for Nimbe – super flavorful and comforting
• The True Blue Burger for me – I am not exaggerating when I say this burger was to die for

The True Blue Burger had so much flavor that I could not get enough of it. Every bite was perfect. If you are a burger person, I highly recommend putting THYME on your list.

After eating, we walked around some nearby shops, did a little casual browsing, then headed back to the hotel to rest and start getting ready for EXIT night one.

Day 3: Sleep and Serbian Comfort Food

By Day 3, the festival schedule and late nights had fully entered the chat, so we slept most of the day and let our bodies catch up.

When we finally woke up and started functioning, we really wanted to try traditional Serbian food. Instead of randomly picking something, we asked the bartender at the Moxy for a recommendation.

They suggested Lovac, which ended up being only about a five minute walk from our hotel and was exactly what we were hoping for.

The experience at Lovac felt cozy and very local.

What we had:

• A complimentary bread basket that came with around six different types of bread
• The Lovac Platter to start, which had a mix of different traditional meats and was perfect for sharing

By the time we finished the bread and the platter, I was already pretty full, but we still went for main courses. I honestly forgot what I ordered as a main, but I remember it being really good. I was just too full to fully appreciate it. Classic.

After dinner, we walked back to the Moxy, relaxed in the room for a bit, and started getting ready for EXIT day two. Having a slow food focused day followed by a big festival night felt like the right balance.

This Serbia itinerary worked well because it gave us:

• A soft landing in Belgrade with good food and fun bars
• A full day to explore Belgrade Fortress and see a different side of the city
• Time to rest between festival nights instead of trying to pack every hour with activity
• A chance to try both international food and traditional Serbian cuisine

Serbia definitely had a way of surprising us in all the right ways.

If you want the full story of what it’s like inside the festival, you can read my EXIT Festival 2025 recap here: EXIT Festival 2025