Kalemegdan (or the Belgrade Fortress) is a gem of a park directly adjacent to downtown Belgrade. Historically, Kalemegdan, perched on a hill at the confluence of the Dunav (Danube) and Sava Rivers, served as a critical military outpost and fortress. Its position, at the crossroads of the East and the West, has been desired across the centuries, making its history defined by numerous overthrows and conquests. Celts, Slavs, Austrians, and Ottomans all occupied the fortress complex at least once in its varied past. Today Kalemegdan is simply a city park, but it is still a very desirable location for locals and visitors alike. The park’s numerous winding walking paths, shady benches, picturesque fountains, random statues, mammoth historical architecture, and incredible river views are inviting.
As Belgrade’s tourism industry is still in its infancy you won’t find hordes of guided tours traipsing through the park. This definitely has its advantages, as you can experience the park at your own pace without annoying mobs passing you by and blocking the best views. On the other hand, there is so much history to the statues and structures within the park, a simply stroll through will leave you with little understanding of significance of this incredible place. My suggestion is to pick-up a dedicated Belgrade guidebook at anyone of the English bookstores in downtown. Even if you have a Eastern Europe or Serbian guidebook, the Belgrade books provide more detailed information than these overview books (I have all types). I personally recommend the IPS bookstore and guide on Knez Mihailova, but I am sure others are similarly informative.