Belgrade's riddle trail: from the horse on Republic Square to the fortress above two rivers
The Belgrade scavenger hunt is a self-guided city game you play on your phone: you walk from landmark to landmark, solve a riddle at each one by looking closely at what is in front of you, and unlock the stories and legends behind it. From the bronze horseman on Republic Square to the warrior on his column above the rivers it is only 29 minutes on foot, 2.1 km with 10 stops, and the riddles and stories stretch the game to about 2 hours, starting at any hour you like.
Highlights include Prince Mihailo's statue on Republic Square, the National Theatre and the National Museum, Captain Miša's Mansion in the university quarter, Meštrović's Monument of Gratitude to France and The Victor high above the Sava and the Danube. The route is short and stays in the centre, ending in Kalemegdan Park at Belgrade Fortress with views over both rivers.
- Durationabout 2 hours
- Walkingabout 29 min · 2.1 km
- Stops10
- LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch
What you uncover between Republic Square and The Victor
A pointing prince, a falcon and an inscription
At each stop the answer is carved, cast or written right there: Prince Mihailo's outstretched hand on Republic Square, the dome of the National Museum, the falcon and sword held by Meštrović's Victor. Reading Cyrillic or knowing Serbian history is never required, only patience and a sharp eye.
Keys, a gospel and a front far to the south
Solve a riddle and the story behind it unlocks: how the Ottoman commander handed over the keys of Belgrade in 1867, why Miroslav's Gospel from the 12th century is the National Museum's great treasure, and what the breakthrough on the Salonika front has to do with a statue above the Sava. If reading on a bright street is a strain, let the audio narration speak the stories while you look at the stone.
Through the university quarter into the park
Google Maps leads you over 2.1 km, about 29 minutes of walking, from the busy square past the faculties of Students' Square and into the shade of Kalemegdan Park. The last stretch runs along the fortress walls to one of the best viewpoints in the city.
Coffee on Knez Mihailova
Stop for a coffee on nearby Knez Mihailova Street or a bench in Studentski Park whenever you like, and the riddles simply wait. Carry on in the evening, or come back the next day.
See the route and attractions →
How it works
- Book online Choose the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
- Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
- Play when you like Start whenever you are ready, walk at your own pace and pause any time. No guide, no fixed schedule.
Who enjoys the Belgrade riddles most
First-time visitors short on time
In about 2 hours you see the square where Belgraders meet, the theatre, the oldest museum in Serbia, the university and the fortress, in an order that makes sense on foot. It is a quick way to get your bearings on day one.
Kids who like keys, swords and walls
A ceremony with the city's keys, a warrior with a falcon and the thick gates of an old fortress turn the walk into an adventure. Children solve best with a parent or teacher in the team, who also keeps an eye out near the fortress walls.
Friends heading for sunset at Kalemegdan
Teams of up to 5, each player on their own phone, can race from Republic Square to The Victor and stay on for the view over the meeting of the Sava and the Danube. It suits groups of friends, colleagues and classes.
Good to know
- Bring a charged smartphone with mobile data; a power bank helps.
- No entry tickets needed: everything happens outside the buildings. Going inside is optional and paid separately.
- Family friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Not suitable for wheelchair users and difficult with strollers.
- Teams of up to 5 work best; bigger groups split into several teams, one ticket per player.
- Every purchase helps support stray cats and dogs in Greece.
The route: Republic Square, the theatre and the museum, Students' Square, Kalemegdan Park and The Victor
10 stops · about 29 min walking · start: Republic Square · finish: The Victor
The hunt starts on Republic Square with the National Theatre and the National Museum of Serbia, then crosses to Students' Square with its university buildings, Captain Miša's Mansion and Studentski Park. From there you head into Kalemegdan Park to the place recalling the handover of the city keys in 1867 and the Monument of Gratitude to France, pass the Royal Gate of Belgrade Fortress and finish at The Victor. The museum and the theatre are puzzled over from the pavement and the fortress from its open paths, so not one stop asks for an entry ticket, and should you rather begin inside Kalemegdan Park, the app moves the start there and lines the other stops up behind it.
Open the route map ↗
1Republic SquareStart
Belgrade's main square lies where the Ottoman-era Stambol Gate stood until the 1860s. In its centre rides Prince Mihailo Obrenović, a bronze by the Italian sculptor Enrico Pazzi unveiled in 1882, and locals simply arrange to meet at the horse. His outstretched hand is said to point towards the lands still under Ottoman rule at the time.
Read the full story →
2National Theatre
Serbia's National Theatre opened its building on Republic Square in 1869, designed by the architect Aleksandar Bugarski. Rebuilt and enlarged several times since, it is home to drama, opera and ballet. Look at the classical façade with its columns and the statues at the top.
3National Museum of Serbia
Founded in 1844, this is the oldest museum in Serbia. It is housed in a grand building from 1903, built for a state financial institution, and its treasures include Miroslav's Gospel, an illuminated manuscript from the 12th century. Note the dome and the rich decoration of the façade.
4Students' Square (Studentski trg)
Students' Square is the centre of Belgrade's university quarter, surrounded by faculty buildings of the University of Belgrade. Here too stands the Kolarac Endowment, a concert hall and people's university opened in 1932 with money left by the merchant Ilija Milosavljević Kolarac.
5University of Belgrade (Captain Miša's Mansion)
This decorative mansion was built in 1863 for Captain Miša Anastasijević, one of the richest men in Serbia, to a design by the Czech architect Jan Nevole. He gave it for educational use, and it later housed the Great School, forerunner of the university. Today it is the seat of the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade.
6Studentski Park
This small park on Students' Square, between university buildings, is a shady meeting place for students and passers-by. Among the trees stand monuments to two leading Serbian scientists, the botanist Josif Pančić and the geographer Jovan Cvijić.
7Keys Handover Memorial (1867)
This place recalls April 1867, when the Ottoman commander handed the keys of Belgrade to Prince Mihailo Obrenović. With this ceremony the last Ottoman garrison left the city, a decisive step on Serbia's road to full independence, which was recognised internationally in 1878.
8Monument of Gratitude to France
The Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović created this monument, unveiled in Kalemegdan Park in 1930, to thank France for its help to Serbia in the First World War. A female figure representing France strides forward, and the Serbian inscription means: We love France as she loved us.
9Royal Gate
The Royal Gate is one of the gates of Belgrade Fortress, the stronghold above the meeting of the Sava and the Danube. The fortress was destroyed and rebuilt many times by Serbs, Hungarians, Ottomans and Austrians, and its gates and thick walls show layers from different centuries.
10The VictorFinish
The Victor, a bronze figure by Ivan Meštrović, was set up on a tall column in 1928 to mark ten years since the breakthrough on the Salonika front in the First World War. The naked warrior holds a falcon and a sword and looks out over the meeting of the Sava and the Danube. It has become one of the symbols of Belgrade.
Read the full story →
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Joanna– New Zealand –
Collected on GetYourGuide
fun way to find out about Belgrade
Sarah– Switzerland –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Die Rätsel-Reise durch Belgrad war super. Die Rätsel waren alle lösbar, jedoch musste schon ein wenig überlegt werden – was ich super fand. Zudem lernte man einiges von der Stadt kennen, was ich sehr toll fand. Wir macheten die Schnitzeljagd gleich am ersten Tag, wodurch wir schön durch die Stadt geführt wurden und und einen Überblick schaffen konnten. Auch die Pausen haben super funktioniert, man konnte jederzeit wieder weiter machen. Ich würde dies jederzeit wieder buchen!
Addison-Slovenia –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Isabella-Ireland –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Jonathan-UK –
Collected on GetYourGuide
James-Finland –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Savannah-Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Zoey-UK –
Collected on GetYourGuide