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Belgrade

Belgrade (Serbian: Београд, Beograd) is the capital of the Republic of Serbia and the country's largest city. Belgrade has been re-emerging as a tourist destination in the past years. Often called the party capital of Southeastern Europe, Belgrade is famous for offering numerous entertainment venues, many historical sites, great local food, and warm people. Various styles of architecture are found in the city, and its resurgence in the 21st century as the leading hub in Southeastern Europe makes it a must-see destination. The city has its own spirit, and in it can be found some not only unique features, but also a healthy joie de vivre in its café culture, nightlife and often a Mediterranean touch in its daily life.

Understand
Belgrade, meaning 'White City', has a population of 1.4 million people in the urban area (2022). It lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers.

History
The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. Later, it became the Roman city of Singidunum, and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly at the Belgrade Fortress. During the Middle Ages the town became a Serbian stronghold until the Ottoman invasion. The city changed hands between the Ottoman and the Austrian empires several times until 1878, when Serbia gained its independence and Belgrade became the capital of the new country.

After the First World War, Belgrade became the seat of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (in 1929, the country changed its name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia) until its collapse in 1943. Due to its strategic location, the city has endured more than 115 wars and has been destroyed more than 40 times. This often violent history and outside influence has colored much of Belgrade's evolution, which is evident in its culture and architecture. Often caught between the hammer and anvil of clashing empires, the city has taken on a unique character, reminiscent of both Austrian and Turkish influences, with a unique set of Communist elements thrown in as Yugoslavia was expelled from the Eastern Bloc in 1948 but followed its own brand of communism until Marshal Tito died in 1980.

Climate
Belgrade has a temperate continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters with occasional periods of snowfall. Belgrade experiences all four seasons to their maximums, and those visiting are advised to dress appropriately, and keep an eye on the weather forecast, as the city often experiences sudden gusts of the strong Košava wind, storms, and rainfall, particularly during the summer months.

People
Whilst there isn't much ethnic or cultural diversity in Belgrade compared to other European cities, there are minority communities (largely Roma and Chinese), as well as people from other former Yugoslav republics, such as Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia. There is also a small expat community. Cultural events from around the world, however, are starting to become increasingly common, particularly in the spring and summer months, sponsored by local arts and culture organizations, and by foreign embassies and cultural centers. These attract a good deal of local attention, and help in raising the city's profile as a cultural hotspot.

Belgradians, like most Serbs, are friendly and hospitable people, who will always go out of their way to make guests feel welcome. Whatever the ethnicity, any tourist who comes to Belgrade and treats the locals kindly will see that kindness returned doubled. Most young people speak English well, and usually another foreign language such as German, Russian, or French. As with any destination, it could prove useful to learn some of the local phrases.

Visitor information

 * Go Belgrade,, information from the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade.

By plane

Getting there and away:
 * By bus:
 * Bus 72 runs every 30 mins to Zeleni Venac, close to the inter-city bus station and Republic Square. The fare is RSD 50 (see payment options below). It's a 40-50 min ride into town, zigzagging through the shopping malls of the western burbs. Buses run daily 05:00-23:30. The bus runs from outside Departures, so from Arrivals you need to go upstairs. At Zeleni Venac the stop for the 72 is the furthest uphill, or most easterly, on the main platform with all the fast food outlets.
 * Bus 600 runs every 30-40 mins to Central Train Station (Beograd Centar-Prokop) via Novi Beograd station. The fare is RSD 50.
 * Minibus A1 runs between the airport and Slavija Square, stopping at Fontana (Novi Beograd) and the main bus station. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. The fare is RSD400, pay the driver. The also accept euros, while the amount demanded is only €4 (which by December 2022 doesn't make much sense). The trip takes 30 minutes. This bus also runs at night, with a short break from around 02:00-04:00.

 * By taxi – If you prefer taxis, read the precautions described below. The fare from the airport is fixed - most taxi companies have a price list in multiple languages. The price is around RSD3000 to the center and New Belgrade and RSD4000 to the suburbs, and includes luggage. You can order a taxi by phone or simply go to the designated taxi booth, obtain a slip which has your destination written down and hand the slip to the taxi driver.

By bus

This is the best overland option from western Europe while the railway is being dug up. There are buses at least daily to Budapest (6-7 hours), Sarajevo (7 hours), Sofia (11 hours) and Thessaloniki (10 hours via Niš and Skopje). Buses connect Belgrade to all the main cities of Serbia: some speed along the motorway, others wend and wind through small towns en route, so check: the next departure might not be the quickest option. Quality of coaches is variable. They stop every 3 or 4 hours for a rest break - keep a close watch on your belongings at these stops, and on arrival be intensely suspicious of taxi touts and supposed luggage porters.

Local buses don't use BAS, but the bus stands adjacent south. There are no gates or charges to enter this area.

By train

Routes to Centre station include:
 * Budapest Keleti: 8-9 hours, two daytime trains and one overnight. Departures are around 08:00, 12:00 and 22:00 in both directions (no longer in operation).
 * Change in Budapest from most destinations further west, and from Eastern Europe. But there is one direct train a day from Vienna (12 hr) via Budapest. There's also one from Zürich (23 hr), via Zagreb (7 hr), Ljubljana (9 hr), Villach (12 hr) and Innsbruck (18 hr).
 * Trains from Novi Sad run about twice every hour, taking 36-57 minutes depending on the type of express train. Timetables are available on SrbijaVoz website. Regional train tickets cost RSD393 and Soko non-stop train tickets cost RSD573 (as of July 2024). Be careful that the ticket seller may charge you an extra RSD120 for sitting on the upper deck of the Soko train. The Soko trains are rarely full and train conductors do not check if you're sitting in your assigned seat.

 * An overnight train "Lovcen" runs to and from Bar (11 hours) via Podgorica and offers a car transport service (note that the cars can only be loaded at the Zemun station, which is the terminus station for these trains. The day train "Tara" runs only during the summer season.

Westbound trains also call at on the west bank of the River Sava.

Southbound trains for Thessaloniki, Athens and Istanbul no longer run and probably won't until Belgrade-Niš is upgraded to high-speed rail.

By car
Coming from north or south use the E-75 highway. The Ibarska magistrala (Ibar highway, M-22) approaches from Montenegro and the southwest. From the west (eg Zagreb and Ljubljana) use E-70. There are also major roads from Vršac and Zrenjanin.

Highways have toll stations, which are moderately priced. Serbia's only toll highways are parts of E-70 and E-75, which as A3 goes through the middle of Belgrade. If you're heading for Bulgaria or Greece via Niš, the signs will lead you onto A1 the southern bypass. But except in rush hour, it's just as quick to stay on A3 through the city. A1 is a modern but undivided highway, and you're sure to fetch up behind a slow truckload of watermelons, as heavy goods vehicles are required to use this road and avoid city centre.

By boat
Cruises along the Danube sometimes call at Belgrade, but there are no point-to-point ferries.

By bicycle
Belgrade is on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects the Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea. The route across Serbia is from Budapest via Osijek and Novi Sad to Belgrade, continuing east to Vidin.

By public transport
GSP Beograde (ГСП in Serbian Cyrillic) operates an extensive public transport network of buses, trolleybuses, and trams in the city and its suburbs.

As of 2024 GSP Beograd offers the Beograd +plus app. It allows ticket purchases via sms or credit card and offers basic station timetables.

Google Maps can also be used to find good public transport options. You can use the  Moovit application for public transit navigation, maps, schedules, real-time arrivals just adding first and last stop.

Buses
Buses are the backbone of Belgrade's public transport, and you can get almost anywhere on them. Buses get very full at peak times, and some are full all day, notoriously the 26, 83 and 50. Their quality varies: those around the city centre or serving posh neighbourhoods are usually newer air-conditioned vehicles, e.g. the Polish Solaris Urbino 18. Further out you may encounter some elderly specimens, e.g. the 30-year-old Ikarbus with wooden benches for seats.

There are two main bus terminals for local buses: the intercity main bus station (next to the disused railway station) for the west and southwest suburbs, and Zeleni Venac for the north (Zemun and Batajnica) and some western parts of the city (Banovo Brdo, Žarkovo, Čukarica). It's a steep ten-minute walk from the main bus station to Zeleni Venac, with no bus between.

Trams
There are 11 tram lines in Belgrade. All lines converge in the Slavija-Vukov Spomenik area (except 11 and 13 which go to Novi Beograd from Kalemegdan and Banovo Brdo, respectively).

The most notable line is line nr. 2, which goes around the city centre in a circular route (krug dvojke). Another notable line was the nr. 3, which went through scenic park area of Topčide. As of July 2024, it's out of service.

Several tram lines are served only by new CAF Urbos trams (7 and 12, also 13), while most of the other ones are serviced by old Tatra KT4 and Basel donated trams (some of them more than 50 years old, but in a better state than Tatras, as those trams were left to decay for years during the 1990s and 2000s).

Trolleybuses
Belgrade's trolleybuses have 7 lines serving two main corridors. One corridor is from Studentski trg (near Trg Republike) over Crveni Krst to Konjarnik and Medaković 3. The other is from Zvezdara to Banjica, plied by lines 40 (Banjica-Zvezdara), 41 (Studentski trg - Banjica) and 28 (Studentski trg - Zvezdara). The trolleybuses are mostly newer Belarusian vehicles with a couple of older Soviet ZiUs.

Fares
In May 2023, a new ticketing system (Beograd Plus) was introduced to replace the old one (Bus Plus). It made tickets more affordable than before. In July 2023, Android application Beograd Plus is instroduced, in Serbian and English.

The whole city is divided into two zones, marked as A and B, while zone C represents A and B zones combined. Zone A includes most of the urban city part, while zone B includes smaller towns south of Belgrade that are administratively part of it (Lazarevac, Mladenovac, Obrenovac, Barajevo, Sopot and part of Grocka). Since most tourists never leave the urban part, we will only list Zone A tickets here. For other zones, see website.

Ticket options:

 * 90-minute ticket (50 RSD)
 * 1-day ticket (120 RSD)
 * 7-days ticket (800 RSD)
 * 30-days ticket (2200 RSD)

Tickets can be purchased:

 * using Android application Beograd Plus
 * by sending an SMS from a Serbian mobile phone number
 * in a paper form on a very few places in Belgrade (with a promise that from summer 2023 they will be available for purchase on many more places).

To buy tickets using Android application Beograd Plus, you must install the application, create the account in the application, and enter your credit card number. The application also provides the list and map of nearest stations, with the list of waiting times for every line on a selected station.

To buy tickets by sending and SMS, you need to own a Serbian mobile phone number. You cannot ask someone else to buy a ticket for you by sending SMS from their phone number, because during the ticket control, additional SMS will be sent to that same phone number, and if you cannot present the additional SMS to inspector you will be fined. To buy a ticket, send the following codes by SMS from a Serbian mobile phone number to number 9011:

 * A90 for 90-minute ticket
 * A1 for a 1-day ticket
 * A7 for a 7-day ticket
 * A30 for a 30-day ticket

Mobile operators charge an additional 5% fee to the price of the ticket.

You can buy paper tickets in just a couple of places in Belgrade:

 * Skender Begova 47, Stari Grad
 * Trg Republike Shopping center (Republic square), Stari Grad
 * Knez Mihailova 6 (2nd floor), Stari Grad
 * Deligradska 10, Savski Venac
 * Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 167, Novi Beograd

The ticket is valid starting from the moment of purchase (including the 90-minute one). Tickets don't need to be validated or stamped when entering the vehicle.

Children, pupils and students must also pay for the tickets, unless they have permanent residence in Belgrade.

If a busy bus suddenly empties, it's highly likely because the passengers with no ticket have spotted an inspector getting aboard. Your options, if you don't have a ticket, are: to jump ship with them, to bluster or brazen your way out, or face a 2000 RSD on-the-spot fine.

Minibuses connect the suburbs and are generally faster and more comfortable than regular buses. A single ride costs 150 RSD, paid to the driver. Day tickets and non-personalized cards are not valid on these lines.

Day transport starts at 04:00 and ends at midnight. Night transport is only by bus, with a limited number of lines running every 30-60 minutes. Night transport is free of charge. The night lines are all prefixed N so these rules apply even if the ride started just before midnight, conversely they don't apply to other buses where you were still aboard after midnight.

By train
The suburban railway system is called BG:Voz (BG:Train). One line runs from Batajnica in the west through Zemun and Novi Beograd to Beograd Centar then swings north through Karađorđev Park and Vukov Spomenik to Ovča across the river. The other line runs south from Beograd Center via Rakovica to Resnik. Trains run every 30 minutes, 15 mins in rush hour. Fares are the same as for buses: RSD50 single ride.

Belgrade's metro project is a national joke. It's been talked about since the 1930s, with several great plans put forward, planning teams formed, and funding collaborations announced. Construction on the first line only began in late 2021.

By taxi
Taxis are cheap by European standards, though far more expensive than anywhere else in Serbia. Car:Go is an Uber-like app and you can pay by card in the app. The other apps are Pink Taxi and Yandex Taxi.

You can find the official info about taxis in Belgrade here. Fares are regulated by the government and are 270 RSD to start a ride, 96-125 RSD per km (depending on time of day) and 20 RSD per minute of waiting time.

Taxi scams are common in Belgrade.

It is always best to order taxis via a smartphone app (Car:Go, Pink Taxi or Yandex Taxi), since it will record the licence plates, and the whole ride. Apps will also give you an approximate price that you will need to pay (actual price might be up to 5% different).

Next option is to order taxi by phone, since your order will be saved in the operator's database. However, the information saved in the operator's database are not nearly as clear or as detailed as the one saved by smartphone apps, so that offers less protection for the customer.

Only take a taxi with a roof sign with the city coat of arms and a number, indicating it's a city-regulated radio taxi. Anything else is a private unregulated cab that may charge four times as much. Also, legal taxis must have licence plates ending with TX (e.g. BG-1234-TX).

Insist that the trip be metered; the only exception is if you take a taxi from the airport and buy a voucher with a fixed price. Tips to drivers are welcome but not required and your luggage is included in the metered price.

If you believe that a driver is trying to rip you off, call the operator of his taxi association to check if the price is regular for the specified distance. Afraid of the city inspection, they might call back the driver and bring him to reason. Also, ask for a signed bill indicating date, time, start and end destination, price and driver’s signature. Write down the number on the blue sign on the vehicle roof, as well as the license plate. Report the incident to city inspection and if you are going from or to the airport, also report it to the airport inspection (, taxi@beg.aero). If the driver is aggressive towards you, call the police.

By car
As in most of Europe you must keep to the right side of the road. Driving in Belgrade can be stressful. Avoid rush hours (08:30–9:30, 16:00-18:00). Plan your journey if you are going in to the city core, and expect to have a hard time finding a free parking place on the streets during Friday and Saturday evenings in the center. Garages might be a better choice.

Keep your low beam headlights turned on, during both day and night. Speed limit on the streets of the city is 50 km/h, near schools even less (30 km/h), on the highway is higher (up to 130 km/h). Police is known to wait at places where you might feel comfortable to drive over the limit, but almost never on the highway. Take special care while crossing Branko's bridge, and driving on following streets: Bulevar Mihaila Pupina, Jurija Gagarina, Vladimira Popovića, and other major ones. Keep your seat belts fastened. Other passengers must also do the same, even when sitting on the back seat (if there are seat belts installed).

Allowed level of blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.03%, which is roughly equal to one drink. If you do go by car to drink, consider going back using taxi or Safe driver service,. They will come to pick you up on the small, folding motorcycle, pack it in your trunk, and drive you back home in your car. Their charge is modest, and slightly higher than one-way ride with the taxi (RSD1150 for <10 km, RSD1550 for >10 km etc.). There are some other options such as Safe-Driver Beograd. Belgrade is known for nightlife, so if you find yourself in such a situation, this is a way to arrive home safely.

Yellow lanes are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and private vehicles may not use them. They're marked with a yellow line and on traffic signs. Some only apply during rush hours.

Parking
Best option is to avoid bringing a car into the centre, next best is to use a parking garage. Street parking is difficult. There are four zones, clearly marked:
 * Red Zone is the central spine from Student Square down to Takovska / Milosa Bvds. You may only stay one hour, RSD56. There are few spaces at the best of times, and with the closure of Republic Square and adjacent streets, it's impractical.
 * Yellow Zone has spaces painted orange to avoid confusion with the standard yellow road markings. It cloaks the Red Zone, between George Washington Bvd east and the bus station west, and south just past Slavija Square. Maximum stay is two hours, RSD48 per hour.
 * Green Zone is the rest of city centre, maximum stay 3 hours, RSD41 per hour.
 * Blue Zone beyond has no limit but still charges RSD31 per hr or RSD150 per day. Spaces near main transport routes fill early as commuters park up for the day then take the bus to the office.

Parking charges apply M-F 07:00-21:00 and Sa 07:00-14:00 (in Blue Zone from 08:00). You can pay using a ticket machine, from a parking attendant, at a kiosk or by mobile phone. With a kiosk ticket, write down the parking time and display it inside your windscreen. By phone, text your car's plate number (e.g. BG123AA) to 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green). Every message you send buys you an hour. Five mins before the hour expires, you get a text warning, and the chance to renew if you're eligible to extend your parking for the next hour.

There are several large public garages for extended parking, e.g. there's one with 500 spaces under the old palace, across from the parliament building. They charge about RSD100 per hour.

Parking violations in the centre are swiftly pounced upon. Failure to pay in a marked spot results in a fine. With illegally parked vehicles, the traffic police are obliged to wait 15 minutes for the return of the driver, who'll have to pay a fine of €50. When 15 minutes are up, the car gets towed to one of four designated lots in the city, which you can locate using the online service. At the lot, you will be required to present a valid form of ID and the vehicle registration documents, and pay the fine and towing expenses, €90 in total.

By bicycle
Old Belgrade is pretty hilly and the cycling infrastructure is scarce, so bicycle transport isn't in wide use. However, New Belgrade and Zemun are relatively flat and offer enough space for bikes to be used. Bicycle tracks link Zemun, Dorćol, Ada Ciganlija, New Belgrade and Bežanijska kosa. There is a bike lift on Brankov Bridge operating 365 days and the ride is free of charge. There is also more than 50 bicycle racks around the city.

Riding a bike on the same roads with cars and buses is considered too dangerous, although on smaller streets it can be reasonably safe. Avoid riding on major (multilane) roads. You are not allowed to bring bikes into public transport vehicles.

Bicycle rentals are available mostly at recreational areas like Ada Ciganlija or Zemun quay. Average price is around €1.5/hour and €4/day.

By boat
Small boats connecting Ada Ciganlija to Novi Beograd's Block 70a are the only mode of public transport on rivers. Also, there are several tourist boats which offer day and night cruises along the Sava and Danube.

See
Belgrade city core is not too big. Everything between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova street and Skadarska street is best viewed on foot, and most major sights can be found in Stari Grad (Old Town) district. You might need the bus for sights further out. Many of Belgrade's museums are closed on Monday.

 * There are two churches within the Fortress.
 * There are two churches within the Fortress.
 * There are two churches within the Fortress.

Further out

 * (Велико ратно острво, Veliko ratno ostrvo) is the big triangular river island at the confluence of the Danube and Sava. So near but yet so far: no boats routinely connect it, and it's best admired from the Fortress terrace. It's a wildlife reserve, and attempts at settlement are repeatedly swept away by floods: the most recent was in 2006 so shacks and vegetable patches are starting to re-appear pending the next deluge. The island is often the subject of fanciful projects and development schemes which come to nothing. Wild boar from the island occasionally manage to swim across to the mainland and make their way into town.

 * (Обедска бара), 40 km west of Belgrade, is a large wetland and nature reserve along the north bank of the Sava River.

Do

 * Go bowling, available at:
 * Colosseum Bowling, Dobanovačka 56, Zemun, +381-65/3888-888
 * Usce Shopping Mall Bowling
 * Delta City Shopping Mall
 * Ice skating is available during winter months at:
 * Tašmajdan Sports Center, Čarlija Čaplina 39, +381 11 2766-667, RSD200–300.
 * Pingvin Beostar Gym (Penguin), Jurija Gagarina 78, +381 11 2178-183, RSD 200–250.
 * Mali Pingvin Sport Belgrade (Little Penguin), Deligradska 27
 * Open-air ice skating at square Trg Nikole Pašića, winter months, free of charge
 * The Great War Island  (Veliko ratno ostrvo) is a river island at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, for picnics and bird spotting.
 * Mount Avala is a 511m mountain near Belgrade with the 204-m Avala Tower at the top. Viewing platform is accessible via a lift with great views of Belgrade and parts of Vojvodina and Šumadija. Entrance fee is RSD50 per person. At the top of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, and the motel and a few restaurants. During the descent, turn right, there is a mountain lodge "Čarapića Brest" (Чарапића Брест), with rooms and good restaurant.
 * Visit a splav (literally: raft) – a barge restaurant located along the Sava and Danube rivers. There are two kinds of "splav". Some are restaurants, but most are nightclubs. You can literally club-hop all night long. There is no cover charge to get into any of them. Some ultra popular ones may require that you have an invitation or be on the guest list, but if you tell them that you are a foreigner and that you didn't know they'll usually let you in. Women are not required to be on a guest list. The music played on the barges is highly varied and can include live bands, Serbian folk music, pop, and dance.
 * Delta City Shopping Mall
 * Ice skating is available during winter months at:
 * Tašmajdan Sports Center, Čarlija Čaplina 39, +381 11 2766-667, RSD200–300.
 * Pingvin Beostar Gym (Penguin), Jurija Gagarina 78, +381 11 2178-183, RSD 200–250.
 * Mali Pingvin Sport Belgrade (Little Penguin), Deligradska 27
 * Open-air ice skating at square Trg Nikole Pašića, winter months, free of charge
 * The Great War Island  (Veliko ratno ostrvo) is a river island at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, for picnics and bird spotting.
 * Mount Avala is a 511m mountain near Belgrade with the 204-m Avala Tower at the top. Viewing platform is accessible via a lift with great views of Belgrade and parts of Vojvodina and Šumadija. Entrance fee is RSD50 per person. At the top of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, and the motel and a few restaurants. During the descent, turn right, there is a mountain lodge "Čarapića Brest" (Чарапића Брест), with rooms and good restaurant.
 * Visit a splav (literally: raft) – a barge restaurant located along the Sava and Danube rivers. There are two kinds of "splav". Some are restaurants, but most are nightclubs. You can literally club-hop all night long. There is no cover charge to get into any of them. Some ultra popular ones may require that you have an invitation or be on the guest list, but if you tell them that you are a foreigner and that you didn't know they'll usually let you in. Women are not required to be on a guest list. The music played on the barges is highly varied and can include live bands, Serbian folk music, pop, and dance.

Cinemas
Movies in Serbia are subtitled, not dubbed. Best movie theaters are:

If you prefer theaters in the city core, check also:

Festivals and events

 * Street of Open Heart is a carnival held on 1 January, 12:00 to 23:00, on Makedonska and Svetogorska streets.
 * Guitar Art Festival, March
 * FEST, International Film Festival, March
 * Belgrade Tango Encuentro, April–May
 * Ring Ring, Festival of new and improvised music, May
 * Belgrade Burger Fest, end of May - beginning of June
 * Belgrade Early Music Festival, 18 May–June, no information for 2023, might be canceled
 * Belgrade Beer Festival, June (2023) or August (pre-2023) in Ušće park
 * BITEF Belgrade International Theater Festival, September
 * BEMUS, Belgrade Music Festival, October
 * Belgrade Jazz Festival, October
 * Green Fest International green culture festival, November
 * No Sleep Festival of electronic, house & retro music in November
 * No Sleep Festival of electronic, house & retro music in November

Sports

 * Watch football: Belgrade hosts internationals and has five clubs playing soccer in SuperLiga, the country's top tier.
 * FK Crvena Vezda are better known as Red Star Belgrade. They play at Rajko Mitic Stadium, capacity 55,000, 2 km south of city centre. Serbia's international games are also played here.
 * Partizan Belgrade play at Partizan Stadium, capacity 33,000. It's 1.5 km south of the centre, close to Red Star's stadium.
 * The others are FK Kolubara, FK Čukarički and FK Voždovac. Several other Belgrade teams play in lower tiers.

 * Basketball: Štark Arena and Pionir Hall are the main venues for basketball and other indoor sports.
 * Tennis is played at the Novak Tennis Center (Serbia Open), as well as in Kombank Arena (Davis Cup matches).

Learn
Serbian courses for foreigners are organized in several places including:

 * Concord
 * Institute for Foreign Languages
 * Serbian Language and Culture Workshop

The University of Belgrade admits foreign students, as do various private institutions of higher education.

Buy
For information on the Serbian currency, see Serbia. Menjačnica Mićko (Vuka Karadzica street #4), changes all currencies, including rare ones.

Most stores operate late hours during work days, while on Saturdays they normally close around 15:00 and most of them are not open on Sundays. However, shopping malls are open late every day, including weekends.

Clothes and accessories
Import taxes make clothes and shoes in Serbia very expensive. Many items from common European chains can be found for 20% less in Budapest. Still, Belgrade has many flagship stores, mostly located on Knez Mihailova Street and the Terazije square, or the pedestrian zone, representing assorted high-fashion brands.

Almost all of the major European brands are present, including H&M, Guess, New Yorker, Zara, Bershka, Hugo Boss, Springfield, Stradivarius, Mango, Diesel, Liu Jo, C&A, and Pull & Bear. More expensive clothes & accessories (such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Lanvin, Marni, D&G, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, YSL, Mulberry and many others) can be usually found either at the Kralja Petra street (Dorćol) in Distante Fashion center, as well as in XYZ stores that are located in Ušće Shopping Center and Delta City.

Local department store chains include Artisti and Land.

Local Belgrade designers are present in the Choomich (Belgrade Design District) shopping center.

The biggest bookstores in Belgrade selling beside Serbian also foreign (mostly English) books are in the city center. Vulkan is at the beginning and Plato is at the end of Knez Mihailova street. The shopping malls also have large bookstores. There are also some shops that sell newspapers and magazines in English, German, French, Italian, Russian and other foreign languages.

International newspapers and magazines
Newsstands and bookstores in the city sell foreign newspapers and magazines. These include Delfi, Plato Press (near Studentski trg), Tell Me (next to the Plato store) and Inmedio (three locations - Delta City, Usce Center, Zira Center). Newspapers and magazines can be found in various international languages like English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, German and others.

Shopping malls
Belgrade has 3 shopping malls in the city - Delta City, Stadion and Ušće Shopping Center - and more than 30 smaller shopping centers such as Merkator, Immo Centar, Millenium, Piramida, City Hall, Zira and others.

Eat
For information on Serbian cuisine, see Serbia

Belgrade has hundreds of restaurants specializing in local cuisine and a number of international restaurants. On the whole, prices are cheap compared to Western Europe with main dishes ranging from €5–20 per person.

Without a doubt, the most popular choice of fast food in Belgrade is barbecue (roštilj), and there are dozens of barbecue joints around the city where you can have a Serbian burger for around €2, usually with free toppings included.

Belgradians are famous for enjoying Burek for breakfast, which is a type of pastry, usually filled with feta cheese or meat. As a meat and dairy-free alternative, potato (Cyrillic: 'кромпир') burek can often be found. Most bakeries around the city sell them for a cheap price, around 110 RSD. To enjoy a proper Burek, make sure to drink some yoghurt on the side. Similarly, there are many places specialising in Burek and various Serbian and Bosnian pies, called buregdžinice. For good-tasting Sarajevo pies try Tadić (Cyrillic: Тадић) at Kralja Petra 75.

Traditional restaurants and taverns are called Kafana (Кафана). They often have string orchestras. There are many in Old Town, e.g. along cobbled Skadarska. Fish restaurants are dotted along the banks of the Danube and Sava a little further out.

There are a handful of international restaurants, which can range from moderately priced to very expensive.

Farmer's market
Depending on the season, an amazing assortment of fruit and vegetables can be found in farmer's markets, including watermelons, olives, wild mushrooms, and fresh figs. Take the time to explore the stalls, and compare the quality and prices of the produce. Most produce at the farmer's markets in Belgrade is organic and fresh from the farmers' gardens brought over daily from the villages surrounding the city.

Vegetarian
Regular restaurants and homes may suppose that a vegetarian eats fish. If you don't, tell them bez mesa, bez ribe - without meat, without fish.

Drink
The city tap water is generally safe to drink, although one should be cautious if it's from an old building, as the lead piping is sparsely maintained. Knez Mihailova street and several others have public water fountains, which dispense good quality water. It may look white when first poured from the tap; that's just air bubbles which disappear in a few minutes.

Good domestic beers are Jelen, Lav, MB and Pils. Foreign beers made under license in Serbia include Heineken, Amstel, Tuborg, Stella Artois, and Beck's.

Wines from Serbia and other Balkan countries are good if you pay a little more for quality, the cheap stuff may be disappointing.

The national drink is rakija Serbian brandy. The commonest is plum brandy - šljivovica or slivovitsa; other common varieties are grape, walnut, quince and pear. It can be bought in stores but Serbs insist that home-made rakjia is superior, and they take great pride in their craft. Look out for it at the local farmers markets.

Last but not least, always toast your companions in the proper manner. Look them in the eye whilst clinking glasses, say Živeli! (cheers!) to all present as if you mean it, and take a sip. Repeat as necessary, and enjoy the night out in Belgrade.

Cafés
Coffee is usually served Turkish-style unless you specify otherwise.

The main café scene is along Strahinjića Bana, the thoroughfare four blocks back from Student Square, e.g. Nachos and Duomo both at 66a.

The second area is Obilićev Venac, running parallel to Knez Mihailova. The best cafés here are Zu Zu's at 21, and Gecko Irish Pub at 17. Further downhill towards the river is the rejuvenated Savamala neighbourhood, with lots of cafés and clubs.

A third area is west of the Sava, on the Danube quay around Hotel Yugoslavia in Zemun. Many of these places are rafts - splavovi.

Bars and nightlife
Belgrade is famous for its bars and clubs and vies with Budapest's techno scene, clubs are open until dawn in many parts of the city and even during weekdays parties can be found

Stay safe
Overall, Belgrade is a pretty safe city, but like anywhere, you should always keep money, mobile phones, travel documents and other valuable personal items in secure places. Pickpocketers are known to operate in public transportation, and other crowded places so never wear a backpack or purse on your back and make sure that you have your wallet in one of your front pockets. If you own a car, it is preferable to have a security system. Traffic laws are usually observed although nervous drivers can change lanes suddenly or make dangerous turns when avoiding traffic during rush hour. So be cautious if you are a pedestrian or riding a bike. The taxi drivers are notorious for swerving in and out of lanes. Pay close attention to the traffic signals as a pedestrian.

Also try to avoid getting into conflicts. If you are staying out late in a bar or a club, there is always a small chance that someone will try to pick a fight especially if you are in a group and a single guy is showing hostility. That is a trap by local thugs looking for a brawl. Just ignore them and walk away no matter what they say or do. The chances that this will happen are very low, but stay alert. Do not try to make fun of the locals in your native language. Almost everyone has at least a basic understanding of English and is familiar with foul words and curses. Generally, common sense is the best way to stay safe in any city in Europe, and in Belgrade.

In Serbia, including Belgrade, violence against the LGBTQ population can occur, and as such LGBTQ travelers should exercise discretion. As a rule, public displays of affection between two people of the same sex are likely to be met with disapproval and sometimes verbal abuse and/or physical violence. There are several gay bars and clubs in the city and they tend to get quite full. Be cautious when arriving at or leaving such clubs. Often there is security personnel guarding the immediate entrance. There are also LGBTQ parties organized periodically by various organizations and at different locations, such as Loud and Queer events, so it is useful to follow LGBTQ guides to Belgrade and keep up with the current hotspots.

Emergencies
In case of an emergency, call 192 (police), 193 (fire) or 194 (ambulance). Always carry the phone number and an address of your embassy with you. In case of injury or illness, the place to go is the Urgentni centar (Emergency center), Pasterova 2 of the Clinical Center of Serbia. Be aware that not all medical facilities have personnel that speak English or other foreign languages. Consult the embassy of your country if possible.

Pharmacies on duty 24/7:

 * Prvi maj, Kralja Milana 9, +381 11 3344-923
 * Sveti Sava, Nemanjina 2, +381 11 2643-170
 * Zemun, Glavna 34, +381 11 2618-582
 * Dom Zdravlja Novi Beograd, Palmira Toljatija 7

Connect
The international telephone code for Serbia is 381. Most cities in Serbia and mobile operators have 2-digit area code. There is only one area code for Belgrade and that is 11. Typical land-line phone number in Belgrade +381-11/xxx-xxxx. Typical mobile phone number is +381-6x/xxx-xxxx. From Serbian land line phone, use 00 prefix for international calls (e.g. 0031-20/xxx-xxxx for Amsterdam, Netherlands), and prefix 0 for calls inside Serbia but outside your area (e.g. 021/xxx-xxxx for Novi Sad, Serbia or 06x/xxx-xxxx for Serbian mobile). If you dial inside the same area, there is no need to use the prefix (just dial xxx-xxxx). From a mobile phone, you always have to dial the area code (011/xxx-xxxx for Belgrade land line phone, 0xx/xxx-xxx(x) for other Serbian land line phones or 06x/xxx-xxxx for Serbian mobile).

Basically all of Serbia is covered with mobile networks of all three operators. It is easy to buy and charge cheap pre-paid numbers at the kiosks around the city. If you use 064, 065 or 066 (MTS), pre-paid number, use *100# to check the credit, for 063, 062 and 069 (Telenor), use *121#, for 061 and 060 (Vip), use *123#.

There is a number of red-colored payphones across the city, operated by telephone cards available at the kiosks.

Free wireless access is available at Student park in Belgrade center and in many restaurants, bars and hotels. Mobile operators offers pre- and post-paid wireless Internet packages.

Pošta Srbije runs the national postal service. Postal office locations can be found on their website.

Stay healthy
Belgrade's climate is generally temperate, so tourist visits are possible at any time of year. However, July and August can be uncomfortably hot, with temperatures reaching 40 °C on several days. Minimize your exposure to the sun on such days to avoid heat exhaustion. On the other hand, January and February are sometimes very cold. When it snows in winter, the streets are covered in sleet the next day, so be careful when walking. The Košava, a notorious Belgrade wind, may give you a cold more quickly than you would expect - take care and dress appropriately.

For runners, a sunrise or sunset run through Kalemegdan is a must-do. Running along the Ada lake in the mornings or evenings is a great experience too. Try to avoid running during the day, as it usually is both hot and very crowded.

There are a lot of stray animals roaming streets, particularly dogs. Whilst it is very rare that they demonstrate outward signs of illness or aggression, err on the side of caution and avoid coming in physical contact. These are nevertheless rarely seen in the city center.

Pharmacies – called 'apoteka' – are found throughout the city center. Look for lit green crosses on building façades. Some, such as the ones in Francuska or Kralja Milana streets, are open 24/7. These will carry a range of prescription medicines, as well as over-the-counter products like pain killers and vitamin supplements.

Cope
There are a few dozens gyms around the city, every neighborhood has at least a few. Prices range (so as quality) €20–80 per month, or a bit less for 12/16 visits.

In case you need to fix your umbrella you may do that in the last remaining umbrella service in town in Visnjiceva 4.

It is difficult to avoid tobacco smoke in restaurants, bars and clubs. However, other enclosed public places, including the malls, are smoke-free. Some hotels allow smoking in parts of the building.

Embassies and other diplomatic missions

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * North Macedonia
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Novi Sad is a fine old city 100 km north of Belgrade, the standout being its Petrovaradin Fortress brooding over the Danube.
 * The town near Novi Sad on the south bank of the Danube is historic Sremski Karlovci, with many museums, churches and galleries.
 * The mountain west of it is Fruška Gora, with monasteries, vineyards and wildlife.
 * South of Belgrade, near the town of Topola in Šumadija region, is Oplenac hill, with the Mausoleum of the Serbian Royal family.
 * A little north of there near Aranđelovac is Orašac, cockpit of the First Serbian Uprising against the Turks.
 * Vršac, 60 km northeast of Belgrade, is a notable wine-growing area.
 * There are spas at Aranđelovac, Mladenovac and Mionica-Valjevo.
 * Viminacium is the extensive remains of the Roman provincial capital of Moesia. It's 80 km southeast of Belgrade near Pozarevac in Podunavlje region.
 * Leave the country by boarding the train Lovcen (433) at 8:20 PM to wake up in Bar (a coastal Montenegrin city) at 7:23 AM (with a border control happening in the middle of the night).

title: Belgrade


text:
Belgrade (Maine)

Belgrade is a city in the Kennebec and Moose River Valleys region of Maine, which is a suburb of Waterville.

Get around
The main method of transportation used is a car. More preferable, a truck with 4x4 drive since many roads are steep and unpaved. Recommend renting a car if traveling without one. For quick travel between lakes, there is a seaplane available for higher stationed out of Great Pond Marina. This can also be a great way to view the lakes and surrounding regions from high up.

See
The Belgrade region of Maine is home to a number of beautiful lakes surrounded by acres of tree cover hills. This area is a perfect example of a quiet New England lake region. All year round the region commands breathtaking postcard views, ideal for any photographer, artist, or hiker.

Do
One of the biggest attractions for individuals who enjoy the outdoors is hunting and fishing. The lakes are host many different kinds of common sport fish including pike, pickerel, bass, lake trout, walleye, and perch. Ice fishing during the winter months is very popular in the area. There is also small game, deer, and wild turkey hunting seasons year round. The local villages contain general stores were hunting and fishing supplies can be purchased.

Sleep
The region contains a number of inns, hotels, and bed and breakfast lodgings. For those individuals who are staying for a week or more, it is definitely worth while to rent one of the many cabins dotted around the lake shores. These cabins, known as "camps," usually come with a lake front picnic area and private dock.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Belgrade (Maine)


text:
Belgrave

Belgrave is a suburb in Yarra Valley, 35 km east of Melbourne.

Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2016 Census, Belgrave had a population of 3,929. Belgrave was first settled by Europeans in 1851; it is only 16 years younger than Melbourne.

It has many animals not found closer to Melbourne, such as black cockatoos, echidnas, wallabies, ringtail possums and bushy tail possums. There are many amazing forest tracks you can walk and places to go to fully see the beauty of the place.

Understand
Belgrave was named after Mount Belgrave, a house which was built by an early settling family, the Bensons. The family was connected with Belgrave Chapel Leeds, Yorkshire, England; the name carried by Mr and Mrs R.G. Benson when they came to Melbourne in 1856. Until the 1900s Belgrave was considered a part of Upper Ferntree Gully and the train station was known as Monbulk from 1900 to 1904.

The village centre started in what is now called Tecoma, where a school was opened in 1901. At the time of World War I, Belgrave had a store, a post office, a sawmill and a dozen or more farmers and nurserymen. By 1920 it had become a small resort area and had 7 guest houses and 4 coffee shops. It also had a lolly shop, a chemist and 2 stores.

Belgrave had a population of around 1,000 in the 1920s and they decided to give the growing settlement new place names: Belgrave Heights and Belgrave South.

Belgrave was promoted as the Queen of the Dandenong Ranges and as 'Belgrave the beautiful'. To its north there was Monbulk Forest (now called Sherbrooke Forest). The popularity of Belgrave continued after the war.

Climate
The weather in Belgrave is much as would be expected about anywhere in Melbourne; unpredictable. In summer there are days where it's too hot to go outside or do anything (except maybe go to the pool). In winter the days are shorter and darker and rain and hail can be expected (but the lantern parade is on to brighten up the darkest day). A lot of days it will be sunny and rainy on and off, or suddenly become clear on a stormy day.

By plane
Melbourne Airport is approximately 65 km from Belgrave, driving will take around an hour, taking the Belgrave Line train will also take around an hour.

By car
From Melbourne head east along Burwood Hwy.

From Gippsland and Mornington Peninsula head north along Belgrave-Hallam Rd.

By train
Belgrave is the final station on the Belgrave line. Travel from (and to) Melbourne takes approximately 1 hour, however during peak periods many trains run express, resulting in shorter journey times. To use public transport you'll need a Myki card, which costs $6 (or $3 for children/concession) from post offices, milk-bars, petrol stations and train stations. Once you have the Myki card it needs to be topped up with money. An adult fee (for one trip) is approximately $3 (it changes frequently) and a child/concession fee is $1.50. The number of stops doesn't change the cost.

By bus
Adjacent to the Belgrave train station is the major bus terminus for the area with multiple routes servicing the local areas. Most bus routes don't run on Sundays or aren't very frequent.

 * 697 Belgrave - Belgrave South via Belgrave Heights
 * 663 Belgrave - Lilydale via Kallista, The Patch, Monbulk and Mt Evelyn
 * 695 Belgrave - Gembrook
 * 699 Belgrave - Upwey
 * 694 Belgrave - Olinda via Sherbrooke Road
 * 693 Belgrave - Oakleigh via Ferntree Gully and Brandon Park

By car
Renting a car can be useful, consider using Car Next Door (many people rent their used cars out around the Dandenong Ranges). There is plenty of parking and much of the hinterland is accessible by car. Note that the roads can be curvy, hilly, bumpy and hard to drive on if you aren't used to the area.

By bike
Bike rental is possible but only from a bike store in Monbulk (Cog Bikes Australia). There are bike tracks along the railway to get to Tecoma, Upwey and Upper-Ferntree Gully but riding along the roads can be hilly, bumpy and generally hard to ride even if you're used to the area.

Do

Events

Buy
Belgrave has an eclectic mix of small shops as well as a supermarket, post office, bakery and organic shop.

The Arcade
The Belgrave arcade is a small shopping mall where there are lots of little shops.

Splurge
These food stores aren't very much more costly than most of the mid-range, but they feel that way.

Fires
If you're travelling to Belgrave (or anywhere in Victoria) you'll want to make sure you're fire-safe, especially in summer. There are 4 important things to make sure you've done when coming to Belgrave.

 * 1) Check the fire danger rating on the CFA website
 * 2) Check if there's a total fire ban also on the CFA website
 * 3) Check the local weather conditions here
 * 4) If you're staying in Belgrave for a night or more, discuss your leaving early plans (only really for summer or hot seasons)

Roads
Some roads around Belgrave can be hilly, curvy, bumpy or dangerous. It can be especially hard for new drivers to drive on some of the harder roads in the area.

Mobile data and phone lines
Mobile data and phone lines should work in Belgrave but note that Optus based data has a blackout area in Kallista but Telstra should work fine. This only applies to Kallista and not to Belgrave.

Cope

 * Triple R local radio station. Frequency is 102.7FM. Plays lots of local artists' music.
 * Dandenong Ranges News local newspaper for the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley
 * Triple R local radio station. Frequency is 102.7FM. Plays lots of local artists' music.
 * Dandenong Ranges News local newspaper for the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley

Go next

 * Kallista is 4 km away from Belgrave via Monbulk Road just past the roundabout in Belgrave. The 663 bus (Belgrave to Lilydale) passes through Kallista and so does the 694. It has pretty forest tracks, a bird-feeding area and a picnic ground. There are cafes, a pizzeria and a general store. There's also an organics store with lots of fruits, vegetables and other organic produce.
 * Olinda is 9 km from Belgrave. Catching the 694 bus or 688 bus will get you there in around 35 minutes. There are many gardens and picnic grounds. Also, lots of eclectic shops with unique items, and pretty cafes and a bookshop. There's a chocolate factory/cafe, a lolly shop, a playground and an outdoor pool.

title: Belgrave


text:
Beli

Beli is a village in Cres island.

Understand
Beli is one of the oldest settlements on Cres. Organised like an acropolis, 130 m high hill above the northeastern coast of the island, on the site of a prehistoric hill-fort, is a closely-built village with narrow stone-clad streets, and used to play a prominent role in the past.

Get in
From the main road of Cres island there is a 7 km long narrow curvy road leading to Beli, sometimes as narrow as one path. If driving, be prepared for slow traffic and careful maneuvers on the serpentines.

Excursion boats arrive at the port of Beli.

Get around
The port of Beli, the beach and the camping is located at the bottom of the hill of Beli. It can be reached with a few minutes drive (good brakes are essential for this road!) or 10–15 minutes walk.

See
The village has a wonderful setting on the top of the hill. Narrow streets, small houses give it a real Mediterranean feel.

Do
Water sports. Beli has a small beach in the bay, facing east. One can swim, jump from the rocks, snorkel, rent a kayak or SUP. Water shoes recommended.

Zipline, over the bay.

Hiking. There are several hiking routes starting from Beli, some passing by rock sculptures and some labyrinths.

Eat
There are four restaurants in Beli, and all of them at cash only.

 * Restaurant Tramontana on top of the hill, in the Pansion.
 *  Ostarija Beli at the entrance of the old village center, where the road to the beach and camping starts on the left.
 *  Chill & Drink Lanterna on the right side going down to the beach.
 * Pod Beli, the bar at the beach also offers food.

Drink
The bar Pod Beli at the beach offers drinks, food sandwiches and ice-cream until late. And a wonderful sea view.

Sleep
Many rooms and apartments are available for rent: more in the village on the hill-top and a few also next to the beach.
 * Pansion Tramontana. It has a restaurant.

Post
Beli has a post office opening M-F 09:00-12:00. Stamps, phonecards etc.

title: Beli


text:
Belitsa

Belitsa is in the Pirin Macedonia region of Bulgaria.

title: Belitsa


text:
Belitung

Belitung (locally called Belitong, formerly Billiton) is one of the two main islands of the Bangka-Belitung province in Indonesia. While its big brother, Bangka, has developed as an economic center, Belitung generally remains a sleepy island. But you may consider that quiet an advantage for a resort destination which can serve as a weekend getaway from the hectic life in Jakarta, or as an alternative to Bali, if it seems too crowded for you.

Understand
You might not expect it from the island whose tin mines gave their name to Australian mining giant BHP Billiton, but Belitung is one of the nicest islands in Southeast Asia. The island was pretty much asleep, underrated, and was known only for its tin commodity. It ultimately became a recognized destination in 2008, after the movie Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops), which was one of Indonesia's most watched movies, as it portrays the struggling life of some of the island's poor children in a remote school...and the unspoiled beauty of its nature. A few years coming, resorts are being built, beaches are being cleaned, and the island has put itself on the map as a tropical paradise. Unlike the infamous Bali, everything is still laid back. You'll barely find nightclubs, party resorts or any obvious signs of Western culture.

Pristine white sand beaches look out on a turquoise sea filled with great snorkeling and a fantastic display of offshore islands. Check out Tanjung Kelayang and Tanjung Tinggi for world-class beaches without the hustle and bustle now found at beaches of this caliber anywhere else. Natural features include white sand fringed coconut plantations, elaborate granite rock formations and long temporary sand bars as smooth as powdered sugar. Offshore islands are a long swim distance from the beach but colorful local fishing boats will take you on an island tour. The main town, Tanjung Pandan, is on its west side and has adequate facilities for a small town.

Climate
It's best to visit the island during the dry season as is most other places in Indonesia (April-September). The sun shines more often than the rain pours. It is less stormy and as a result, the shallow reefs at the outlying islands are clear enough to be snorkeled in and the waves are less choppy (they sometimes still are, because of prevailing winds) during your island hopping cruise. Make sure to apply sunscreen even though you are not tanning (hopefully, as it is not recommended), because the UV index at the beaches is often horrendous and easily results in sunburns.

Cities
There are two major settlements in Belitung, one on each side of the island:
 * Tanjung Pandan is a city with adequate facilities for its size—there is a museum, a harbor, and a commercial beach
 * Manggar is a town on the east side, one of coffee shops & undisturbed beaches without the giant rocks like its northern counterpart.

Among smaller towns of interest, there is Gantung, located in the interior east. It is where the Laskar Pelangi movie was set.

By plane

There is transportation to towns across the island by taxi, either official or unofficial. Street Taxi (see Get Around) is the only legal taxi company operating throughout the island. They use meters for rides and claims itself as the cheapest option, but it is highly recommended to reserve by calling when or before you arrive. If you stick to unofficial cabs, be sure to haggle furiously or you will be ripped off. A ride to downtown Tanjung Pandan should cost about Rp50,000 in less than half an hour, up to Rp85,000 to other destinations. If you are traveling using a coach provided by your tour or have pre-arranged your transportation, most likely they will be standing by.

By boat
Most visitors arriving by ferry come from the neighboring Bangka Island at Pangkalpinang harbor. The Express Bahari has 3 classes of service for a range between Rp 200,000 and Rp 400,000 and will take 4-5 hours, depending on weather. There is a high risk of cancellation during the rainy season, so plan ahead. It is also possible to get on a ferry from Jakarta, Cirebon or Pontianak (Kalimantan), but might take more than 12 hours.

Get around
Belitung is small enough—about 4/5 the size of Bali—that more or less any point on the island can be reached in under two hours from Tanjung Pandan. As public transportation on the island is hard to find, the only practical way of moving around is by taxi, or by renting a car or motorcycle. A private driver with a good car will ask Rp400,000—Rp600,000 per day. A common and fair deal for a whole weekend, including airport drop-off the last morning, is Rp600,000—Rp800,000. Keep in mind that with that kind of money, a local resident is set for the whole month; overpaying only causes greed. Motorcycle rentals are easier, typically available for Rp80,000 per day + Rp25,000 for the delivery to the airport (petrol not included). Alternatively, a local can take you aboard an ojek (motorcycle taxi) for generally Rp25,000 to the nearest point of attraction.

Talk
All people of Belitung Island have proficiency of Bahasa Indonesia as the lingua franca of the country it rests in, Indonesia. But the local dialect sometimes makes things go complicated yet amusing, with word shortenings and quick speeches, inquire if you need to make yourself clear. A large minority of the population is Chinese Hakka, with a somewhat good grasp of Mandarin. It's not uncommon to see such languages spoken when fellow Chinese descents do meet until a long talk follows, even in a formal situation. English is spoken only within hotels, tourist areas or high school students, even then expect only basic or fair proficiency.

Beaches
The north side of the island has white powdery beaches.

Island hopping
Most of the island-hopping activities are at the northwest side of the island, still with their white beaches. Each island has its own unique rock formations. Even though most islands other than the list below would consist of standalone rocks only (with sand during low tide), it is still a good idea to at least get a picture of this mesmerizing feature. Most boats depart from Tanjung Binga beach.

At low tide, your boat will even take you to a heap of sand (geographically called a shoal, locally called Pulau Pasir) that you can step on and spot starfishes before it's gone back to sea.

Other than beaches
Downtown Tanjung Pandan is quite interesting due to the many Dutch Colonial buildings and shop houses. Most of the governmental buildings are the original Dutch buildings and the old Dutch tin mining housing compound is still kept up. Traditional Bugis fishing craft and an odd assortment of other boats make the wharf and fish market an interesting place, certainly for your nose, to visit.

Cultural Belitung has a rich diversity of people. Check out the cool Malay-style wooden houses that may remind you of the Caribbean or the Bugis traditional raised houses that are half dock to dry fish. A Chinese Buddhist temple is said to be one of the oldest in Indonesia, built by the survivors of an ancient Chinese trading vessel. Balinese transmigrants have a thriving community that carries on Bali's traditions and religion.

At the islands
During the island hopping tour, do not waste the opportunity to enjoy the pristine blue sea! At the beach, climb its monolith stones to your best high. In the water, go for a swim or snorkel above its rich species of reefs and fishes. Further from the island(s), go fishing and you can often get a medium to large-sized fish.

Buy
ATMs from foreign banks are yet to make their way into the island. if you wish to draw some money, get to the ATMs provided by BCA, BRI, or Bank Sumsel Babel, although the latter is highly unlikely to accept any foreign cards. There are no money exchanges as foreign visitors are still scarce and there are no international flights. Exchange all your foreign money into Rupiah at Jakarta before your departure.

The souvenir industry at Belitung is still at its infancy: There are only a handful of specialty shops at the island, while most still blend in with ordinary shops that locals often visit. If you do find one, look for these items:

 * Tektite: Locally known as Batu Satam, the stone is widely used for gems or jewelry. The rock was formed by asteroids falling on tin ground, resulting in its black color and smooth groove.
 * Crackers or Kerupuk: These are not rice crackers. The main ingredient is seafood: a choice of fish, shrimp, or even squid.
 * Terasi: fresh shrimp paste, wrapped with woven leaves.
 * Fish floss: The unique feature compared to other areas' produce is its slight spiciness, thus it is locally called Sambal Lingkong. Perfect accompaniment with rice.
 * Shells: No, you cannot take the shells direct from the beaches. But there are designers that display items that takes shell art to the next level.

Eat
Even if it is a small island, Belitung has its own local delicacy that will delight your palate during your visit:

 * Gangan: A fish soup with curry and pineapple. Perfect to soothe your throat and a zest source of energy
 * Otak-otak Ikan: fish cake, white and chewy, not fried. Usually packed in leaves, with chili sauce as its condiment (bearable spiciness to western standards).
 * Mie Belitung: even Belitung has its own version of noodle dish. It is noodles with sweet gravy of spices and shrimp, topped with cucumbers, tofu, potatoes, and dried shrimp. Complement with gnetum gnemon crackers. In selected stalls, the dish is served on a big leaf to enhance the aroma.

Seafood is common; fish, shrimp, and squid are the main dish at virtually every restaurant, including species you might have never heard of at other areas across the country. The more premium ones will also serve crabs and oysters (sorry, no lobsters!). Vegetables can act as a substitute and most have at least one dish made mostly of this ingredient.

Most eating options consists of wooden or simple stalls with ample seating area and kitchen at its backdoor, which is by far the best bet in terms of hygiene. When dining in open areas though, flies are a nuisance and will try to distract your quiet meal. The cost of a standard meal for a group of four is very low to Jakarta's standard. Typically it will cost you Rp 300,000, assuming rice with three or four platters for communal consumption. Top up your meal with tea or orange juice — not the typical orange, but the white glassy key lime.

If you want a temporary relief from seafood, an increasing number of Western appetites are building up — easy to find at Tanjung Pandan; near to none at other areas but hotels.

Drink
There are no general signs of party and nightlife within the island. Karaoke bars, despite its enticing name as a youth's night resort, actually do not serve alcoholic drinks. A notable exception is the bar at some hotels, such as Mama Mia's at the Kepayang Island cottages, that cater mostly to high-end and foreign tourists.

Do stop by Manggar at the east side for its unbeknownst coffee culture. Warkop (coffee shops) are abundant at every corner and that's where the population meets, for a siesta or a social talk.

Sleep
As the number of visitors dramatically grow, hotels are sprouting all around the region. From the cheap to a presidential suite, you'll never run out of choice! Most hotel options are at Tanjung Pandan, as it is the typical starting point for tourists to explore what Belitung has to offer. Not all hotels appear on your typical booking sites though.

Stay safe
By and large, Belitung is low on crime and natural disasters. The only concern for you might be the weather. Torrential rains during the rainy season (October-March) can result in reduced visibility, road ponding, and choppy sea travel. It is advisable not to travel during this period.

Electricity infrastructure has been developed following the dramatically increasing number of visitors. Blackouts can still happen though, but much spottier than it used to be and usually does not go long for hours.

Although main roads are well-lit, some of the more minor roads are not very well lit and may pass through villages (Kampong or Desa) or rural areas where the locals seem to take a very casual approach to road safety. Drive slow and watch out for erratically piloted motorbikes, pedestrians and livestock. Inside Tanjung Pandan and Manggar, watch out for errors in the road arrows - they may lead you into wrong lanes or into barricades.

Go next

 * Bangka: the neighbor island to the west, Bangka boasts many white sand beaches and a few interesting Chinese temples.

title: Belitung


text:
Belize

Belize offers world-class attractions include exploring the lush jungles with exotic plants and animals, deep sea fishing, swimming, snorkelling and diving in the Caribbean Sea with its attractive reefs and visiting the Mayan ruins. While income levels are still very low and the infrastructure is very basic, Belizeans are very proud and friendly to visitors as the tourist industry grew greatly in the last decade. It is the only country in mainland Central America with English as its official language.

Cities

 * - inland capital
 * - Belize's largest city, on the Caribbean Sea
 * - Large Garifuna town in the south, formerly known as Stann Creek Town
 * - Garifuna village
 * - Beautiful, quiet port town in the South; home to a complex and diverse Amerindian market on the weekends
 * - Known as Cayo to locals, Maya and Hispanic influence near the Guatemala border
 * - Beautiful, quiet port town in the South; home to a complex and diverse Amerindian market on the weekends
 * - Known as Cayo to locals, Maya and Hispanic influence near the Guatemala border
 * - Known as Cayo to locals, Maya and Hispanic influence near the Guatemala border

Other destinations

 * –- large barrier island in the north
 * – smaller barrier island in the north
 * – long peninsula (almost an island) off Stann Creek
 * – a tiny island popular with budget travellers

Understand
Belize, formerly British Honduras, is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the Pacific Ocean (only the Caribbean Sea to its east). With its British colonial history and a long Caribbean coast, it's culturally similar to many of Britain's former West Indian island colonies, with a majority creole or Afro-Caribbean population. But it also includes a large native Mayan population, especially in the north and northwest of the country. As a result, although English is the official language, Spanish is also often spoken. In the south east along the Caribbean coast live the Garifuna (Black Caribs), an Afro-Amerindian culture.

After long journeys starting in what is now the Netherlands in 1790, via Germany, Southern Russia, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, several thousand German-speaking Mennonite Christians arrived in Belize in 1958 after long and detailed discussions with the government regarding specific exemptions and privileges. They are easily recognizable by their speech (somewhat distinctive from modern standard German) and "quaint" dress.

History
Like the neighbouring parts of Guatemala and Mexico, this area was settled for thousands of years by the Maya people. They are still here, an important part of Belize's people and culture. While the Spanish Empire claimed the area in the 16th century, the Spanish made little progress in settling here. The British settled first on the coast and offshore islands for logging. In 1798 British Belizean forces defeated a Spanish attempt to drive them out in the Battle of St. George's Caye, an anniversary still celebrated as a holiday each 10 September.

The colony of British Honduras grew in the 19th century. At first Africans were brought in as slaves, but slavery was abolished here in 1838. Following the abolition of slavery, the British would bring indentured Indian labourers to the colony to supplement the labour pool, and their descendants remain a significant minority to this day. Many refugees from the 19th-century Caste War of Yucatán Peninsula escaped the conflict to settle in Belize, especially the northern section.

The government of Guatemala has long claimed to have inherited the 15th-century Spanish claim to Belize. Although the British were willing to grant independence to British Honduras as early as the mid-1960s, this ongoing dispute played a major role in delaying full Belizean independence until 1981, long after London granted independence to other former colonies in the region. Guatemala refused to recognize an independent Belize at all until 1991, and to this day lays claim to virtually all Belizean territory south of Belize City. The topic remains a sensitive one, particularly in the southern half of Belize.

Belize escaped the bloody civil conflicts of the 1980s that engulfed much of Central America, and refugees from the conflict in Guatemala arrived, mostly settling in the west. While Belize has not been immune to the rampant drug crime and grinding poverty of its neighbours, it is a comparatively safe destination in a conflict-prone part of the world. Belize shares particularly close diplomatic and economic ties with both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy as the old agricultural products — sugar, banana, and oranges — have lost ground. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime. In 2006, commercial quantities of oil were discovered in the Spanish Lookout area.

Climate
Tropical, very hot and humid. The dry season typically lasts from February to May and then the rainy season typically lasts through to November. Hurricanes that bring coastal flooding, especially in the south, are prevalent from June to November.

Terrain
The flat coastal plain is swampy with low mountains in the south. The highest point is Victoria Peak at 1,160 m.

Visitor information

 * Tavel Beluze website.

Talk
As a former British colony, the official language of Belize is standard British English, which makes Belize stand out from its Spanish-speaking neighbours.

Spanish, Garifuna (Carib) and the Maya languages/dialects of Kekchi, Mopan and Yucatec are spoken in various parts of the country. Spanish is widely used as the first language in northern and western parts of the country. So-called "kitchen Spanish," an amalgam of Spanish and English, is common on Ambergris Caye. Belizean Creole, which has a certain degree of mutual intelligibility with standard English, is widely spoken as well. Most Belizeans are proficient in English and at least one of these other languages.

Many Belizeans speak a mix of Creole and English among friends, and standard English to foreigners. The strong Caribbean accent may take some getting used to.

Entry requirements
All visitors are required to have sufficient funds, US$75 per day, and documents required for their next destination.

If entering by land from Mexico, you will be charged a fee of M$533 (Mexican pesos) (as of May 2018) by Mexican immigration unless you can show proof that you paid the immigration fee when you entered Mexico. Your FMM tourist card is not enough. If you crossed at a land border, you'll need the actual receipt from when you paid the fee. If you reached Mexico via a commercial flight, you've may have already paid the fee with your airfare, but the border guards here do not care. You might be able to convince them if you have a print-out of an itemized receipt from the airline showing that this specific fee was included.

Visa-free
Nationals who hold passports or refugee documents from all European Union member states, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in addition to passports issued to British Overseas Territories citizens, do not require a visa to visit Belize.

All foreign nationals with a valid US green card or visa for the US or Schengen Area are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Permanent residents and holders of multiple entry visas of the United States may obtain a visa on arrival for a fee of US$50.

Visas
All other travellers not falling into the above categories require a visa prior to travel, which can be obtained in a Belizean or British embassy.

Nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Thailand require clearance in addition to a visa.

Nationals of China (PRC) must pay a repatriation fee of BZ$3,000 on arrival. Nationals of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka must pay a repatriation fee of BZ$1,200 on arrival.

Cruise ship visitors do not need a passport to enter the country.

When leaving country by land, prepare to pay taxes (mandatory BZ$40 or US$20 border fee per person (as of 2022). Overstayers will receive a substantial fine.

By plane

For a cheaper fare, consider flying to Cancun or Mérida and take a bus to Belize city from there.

By car
From Mexico via Chetumal, or on a much rougher road from Guatemala via Melchor de Mencos. The Western Highway connects Melchor Mencos to Belize City via Belmopan, San Ignacio while the Philip Goldson Highway (Northern Highway) connects Belize City to Chetumal in Mexico via Corozal Town and Orange Walk.

By bus
The following companies operate buses from Flores, Guatemala, and from Chetumal, Mexico to Belize City:

The inbound buses can only make drop-off stops between the border crossing and Belize City while the outbound buses can only pick-up passengers going traveling to Mexico or Guatemala. There are additional Belizean bus companies and drivers' unions going north from Belize City to Chetumal that can pick-up and drop off passengers alongside the road with services to Orange Walk and Corozal Town. See "By bus" under get around in the below.

By boat
Several cruise lines call on Belize City. Unfortunately they usually stay only one day, which doesn't allow the opportunity to really see Belize. You can visit one of the Maya ruins, ride an airboat in the salt marshes just outside the city, shop, go to the museum, go to the zoo or take either a short cave rafting trip or go snorkelling, but that's about it. That means about 70% of the things most tourists would like aren't available, not mention the eco-tourism points of interest.

To Puerto Cortés, Honduras, the Gulf Cruza, a small, rickety speed boat (20 people) leaves Placencia each Friday at around 9:30AM (4 hr US$50), going first to Big Creek. It returns to Placencia on Monday. Tickets are sold in the tourist office next to the gas station. Stop by immigration first.

Small speedboats operate on a daily basis between Puerto Barrios in Guatemala to Punta Gorda, cost is around US$20 one way. On Tuesday and Fridays, boats operate from Livingston in Guatemala to Punta Gorda. The ride takes no more than one hour. It's BZ$50.

There's also a BZ$40 departure tax. Foreigners are required to pay departure taxes when leaving Belize via land, air, or water. These fees are only applicable to locals when flying.

Get around
Belize is a fairly small country, and transportation between most destinations is rarely long or tedious.

By plane
Tropic Air and Maya Island Air both have multiple flights daily to various towns around the country and to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. They fly out of both of Belize City's airports, but flights from Belize City Airport are often significantly cheaper than those out of Phillip Goldson International. Domestic flights are generally pretty reasonable priced, and thus popular if your time is limited and budget is not. Flights are operated with planes ranging from 8 to 68 seats. Because of the limited capacity, booking in advance is advisable. For bookings from outside Belize, there is only one airviva internet agent, who can make bookings, take payment (credit/debit cards/PayPal) and then send e-tickets. Some hotels do also offer to make the flight reservation on your behalf.

By bus
Several competing bus lines operate on the main road in the north–south direction from Punta Gorda to Belmopan and Belize City. There are bus stations in the main towns, or simply stand on the side of the highway and wave at an approaching bus. Most buses have a conductor in addition to the driver, who stands by the door and will come to your seat to collect the fare at some point during the trip. Fares run anywhere from BZ$2–25 depending on distance travelled.

Express buses can save up to an hour and a half (depending on the distance of your trip); they do not stop for passengers waiting on the roadside, making only scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs in towns.

Most buses in Belize are retired US school buses (Bluebirds), that have been given a slight makeover, a luggage rack installed, and sometimes a new paint job. They generally aren't too crowded, but you may have to stand occasionally. Some are the older MCI (Motorcoach Industries) buses that once served as a Greyhound bus (or for some other commuter or intercity bus company) in the U.S. The MCI buses are typically used for some Express services or for international trips to Chetumal or chartered buses to Flores.

Children selling snacks and soft drinks often board the buses at stops, and this is an inexpensive way to have a snack if you've exhausted what you've brought along or just want to try some home-made travel foods.

See Belize Bus blog for updates, schedules and/or links to other sites regarding bus travel in Belize. The Belize Bus blog site is constantly updated. Since the break up of the Novelo's monopoly in 2006 the government of Belize has divided the country up with which company to go where from Belize City:
 * The Northern Zone (Belize City - Orange Walk - Corozal - Chetumal)  Not all buses continue to Chetumal from Orange Walk. Others may deviate east or west from the Philip Goldson Highway (Northern Highway) to other surrounding towns. They are: Albion's, Belize Bus Owners Cooperative (BBOC), Cabrera's, Chell's, Frazer, Joshua's, Morales, Tillett's, T-Line and Valencia. Northbound buses depart from Belize City about every half hour from 05:30 to 19:30. Jex and Sons Bus provides bus service between Belize City and Crooked Tree.
 * The Western Zone (Belize City - Belmopan - San Ignacio - Benque Viejo Del Carmen) They are: BBOC, D and E, Guerra's Bus Service, Middleton's, Shaw Bus Service and Westline. Westbound buses depart from Belize City between 05:00 and 21:00. Some may continue west from San Ignacio to the Guatemalan border at Melchor del Mencos but they do not cross into Guatemala. Others may continue north or south from Belmopan, San Ignacio, etc. to reach other towns not on the Western Highway.
 * Southern Zone (Belize City - Belmopan - Dangriga - Placencia - Punta Gorda) Buses to the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts to the south are: James Bus Line, G-Line Service, Ritchie's Bus Service and Usher Bus Line. Buses authorized to operate in the rural areas of the Southern Zone are Chen Bus Line, Yascal Bus Line, Smith Bus Line, Richie Bus Line, Martinez Bus Line, Williams Bus Line, Radiance Ritchie Bus Line, and Polanco Bus Line.

By taxi
Taxis are common and relatively cheap in Belize. Most taxis do not use meters, so be sure to negotiate the price beforehand.

By water taxi
For those wanting a truly Belizean experience, take the water taxis from city to city. The San Pedro Belize Express has the most daily runs and departs from the Brown Sugar Terminal in Belize City at 09:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:30 to San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

Departure from San Pedro Town pier on Black Coral Street next to Wahoo's Bar and Grill and leaves at 07:00, 08:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30 to Caye Caulker and Belize City as well as a last boat to Caye Caulker only at 18:00.

There are boats departing from Caye Caulker to Belize City and San Pedro Town and they leave from the pier in front of the Basket Ball Court. Caye Caulker to Belize City: 07:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and Caye Caulker to San Pedro: 07:00 (connection to Chetumal), 09:45, 11:45, 12:45, 13:45, 15:45, 16:45 and last boat 18:15.

Chetumal Runs are available from Caye Caulker at 07:00 and from San Pedro at 07:30.

Travelling from Chetumal to Belize, the boat leaves the Municipal Pier at 15:30 en route to San Pedro (90 min) and Caye Caulker (120 min).

Rates: Belize City to San Pedro or return: BZ$30 or US$15 (one way), BZ$55 or US$27.50 (round trip). Caye Caulker to San Pedro, Belize City to Caye Caulker: BZ$20 or US$10 (one way), BZ$35 or US$17.50 (round trip).

By car
Compared to most Central American countries, driving in Belize is relatively safe. There is not much traffic, and the four major highways are all in good condition. Unfortunately, almost every road off the four major highways is unpaved so a 4-wheel drive vehicle is advisable. It is best not to drive late at night because there is almost no lighting, road signs are poor, and the last stretch is almost certain to be on an unpaved road (you risk breaking an axle on an unseen, but immense, pothole!) You won't need a map because there are few roads and it is hard to get lost.

Rental rates often include insurance so you usually don't need to buy insurance separately. If you plan on using a rental car to visit Tikal in Guatemala, you should plan ahead and you must rent from Crystal Auto Rental because no other company will let you take your car out of Belize. Belize insurance is not valid in Guatemala so check with your credit card or car insurance company to see if they'll cover you for a trip into Guatemala.

Highways

 * The Northern Highway (aka Phillip Goldson Highway) goes from Corozal on the Belize-Mexico border to Belize City via Orange Walk. This is the highway you'll use for the international airport, Altun Ha, and the Lamanai.
 * Western Highway (aka George Price Highway) stretches from Belize City, via Belmopan and the Cayo District, to the border with the Guatemalan state of Peten at Benque. Along the way are the Belize Zoo (mile 29), the Hummingbird Highway (mile 47), Belmopan, and San Ignacio (mile 68). Major sights along this route include the adventure itineraries in the Cayo District, Mayan ruins at Xunantunich and access to the road to Caracol, and, from the Guatemalan border, the ruins at TIkal. To get to the Western Highway from the airport, go north on the Northern Highway, make a left at Burrell Boom, and follow the road for 19 km to the Western Highway at Hattieville.
 * Hummingbird Highway goes from Belmopan to Dangriga connecting the Western Highway to the Southern Highway. You'll use this highway to get from Cayo, Belize City or the North to the Southern part of Belize. An alternative, slightly shorter, Coastal Highway takes you from Belize City to the Southern Highway but is a mess that is best avoided!
 * Southern Highway runs from Dangriga (the Hummingbird Highway) to Punta Gorda, with a section heading to the southern border with Guatemala. Along the way are the coastal towns of Hopkins and Placencia.

See

 * The world heritage listed Belize Barrier Reef stretching along the whole coast of Belize.

Zip-lining
Soar over Belize's rain forest by taking a zip-line tour. These tours usually begin with a short hike up to the first base where a tutorial is given on how to safely use your equipment.
 * Prices range US$65-100 and tours are run by two companies, Jaguar Paw, and Back-A-Bush tours.

Sport fishing
Sport fishing in Belize is second to none. The bonefish is the premier fly fishing game fish in the world and it can be found in the grass shallows through Belize. It's pound for pound perhaps the strongest animal in salt water.

Scuba diving and snorkelling
The snorkelling and scuba diving is world-class and there are many exceptional dive sites to be found in Belize. One of the best ways to explore Belize waters is by chartering a yacht to make the most of your available dive time.

For those with a smaller budget, snorkelling and driving excursions can be found along the beaches of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The most common excursions will take you to Hol Chan marine reserve and to Shark Ray Alley. These trips usually cost about US$35 and include snorkel gear. Be mindful of an additional BZ$10 charged to foreigners as a park tax. This money goes toward the upkeep, and protection of the reef. Diving excursions are also offered to the Blue Hole, but expect to pay a lot more for the privilege.

Cave exploration
The Cayo district is characterised by limestone hills underlain by a network of underground rivers, caves and sink holes. The caves are magnificent, with huge caverns and tight passages, underground waterfalls and dazzling arrays of mineral-encrusted stalactites and stalagmites. This underground world was sacred to the ancient Maya and many artefacts from decorated pots to human remains are still intact in the caves. It is dangerous (and illegal) to enter the caves without a licensed guide. Most guides are trained in the geology and mythology of the caves and in modern first aid and cave rescue techniques.

The Sleeping Giant and Caves Branch are operated by the same owner. They operate up to 16 tours every day. The Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM caves have the highest number of tourists visiting a tourist destination in Central America. Also known as the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre, this river cave has pristine remnants of some Mayan human sacrifices. It is a surreal experience complete with beautiful cave formations an underground river and Mayan collectibles. No wonder the Mayans called it the Xibalba or the dark underworld.

Buy
The currency of Belize is the dollar (ISO code BZD), divided into 100 cents.

The Belizean dollar — sometimes written as "BZ$" or just as a dollar sign: "$" — has been fixed to the US dollar (USD) at a 2:1 ratio since 1978 (i.e. BZ$2 = US$1).

Because of this consistent exchange rate, US dollars are widely accepted, but you should be careful to clarify which "dollars" you're talking about when negotiating prices. It's often better to assume Belize dollars because many merchants will jump on your uncertainty and attempt to double their price by saying, "No, in US dollars". Change can also be given in US dollars or a combination of US and Belizean dollar bills and coins. Belize dollars come in denominations of BZ$2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Coins in Belize are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents and B$1. The 25-cents coin is often called a shilling.

 * Three banks' ATMs in Belize accept Mastercard: the Belize Bank, Scotiabank, and Atlantic Bank.
 * Atlantic Bank offers free cash withdrawals with Visa. Source: #Nomadic Backpacker

Eat

 * The primary meal found virtually everywhere is red beans, clean rice, and chicken.
 * Most chicken in the country is prepared and served on the bone.
 * Rice and beans is a mixed dish with some spices and usually coconut milk added to make a sweet and hot staple of the Belizean diet. Beans and rice is white cooked rice with a side of stewed pinto beans.
 * Citrus plantations are numerous, so fresh oranges and grapefruits are abundant. Pineapples, papayas, bananas and plantains are also grown and sold in roadside markets.
 * A famous hot sauce in Belize is Marie Sharp's made from the very spicy local habanero pepper. It comes in a variety of flavours (mild, hot, extremely hot).
 * That odd looking salsa on your table is really ceviche. Ceviche -also spelled as cebiche or seviche- is a citrus-marinated seafood dish. The Belizeans use fresh raw conch and vegetables.
 * Papusas are maize pancakes with different toppings sold in stalls on the streets in San Pedro town. It is the cheapest option if you want to eat on a budget.

Eating in San Pedro can be expensive if you eat at the tourist restaurants; however if you find the local places, meals can be very inexpensive and very tasty.

Drink
Belikin is the national beer and comes in four varieties: Premium, Beer, Stout, and Lighthouse Lager. Guinness Stout is also available in Belize but it's also brewed by the Belikin Brewing Co. All are sold in returnable bottles, so make sure you are aware of the deposit if you are taking your beverages to go.

One Barrel Rum is the locally distilled molasses-tasting rum and Traveller's Liquors' distillery is on the Northern Highway about 6 miles from Belize City with a gift shop and hospitality bar. You can purchase rum in a variety of colours and sizes, up to a 70-gallon cask.

Both are widely available around the country. But if you also like wine there is cashew wine (which is very popular in Belize), ginger wine, sorrel wine and blackberry wine.

Learn
There are great opportunities for scuba diving off of Belize atolls. Check out reefci for some very interesting 1 week adventures that are both informative conservation education as well as great scuba diving. If you want to learn about Belize's history the Museum of Belize, House of Culture, and of course, travelling and discovering are recommended.

Stay safe
Belize City is the most dangerous area in Belize, although it's very easy to be safe there. Remain in the tourist zone that runs just north of the marina to the southern extension to the east of the main canal. There are plenty of khaki tourist police monitoring the area and, should you have a problem, feel free to approach them. Just exercise common sense and do not go wandering around alone after dark. Stay near tourist areas or other commercial zones. The south side of Belize City is beautiful as well as dangerous. Otherwise, Belize City is a great place to go if you want to eat, learn, or shop.

Other areas of Belize are generally safe, but like any other place in the world, one should always have some skepticism when dealing with strangers. Most are genuinely helpful, but it never hurts to be cautious.

By law, the government can deny LGBT travellers entry to to Belize. There are also no legal protections in place for victims of anti-gay discrimination.

Stay healthy
Belize is a relatively healthy country. Bottled water is a must in most areas. And, unless you eat only at ultra-touristic restaurants, travellers' diarrhea will probably strike at some point; be prepared with over-the-counter medication and prescription antibiotics.

The US Centers for Disease Control list all of Belize except Belize City as a malaria risk area, and recommends the antimalarial drug chloroquine. Dengue fever is also a risk in Belize. Other drugs may also be recommended in certain circumstances - consult a qualified professional specialist.

Insect/mosquito bites should be prevented with appropriate clothing, repellents and insecticides, and bed nets if sleeping in non-air-con/unscreened rooms.

The sun, as anywhere else in the tropics, is very intense. Wear a long-sleeve shirt, a hat, and sunglasses, and apply high-SPF sunscreen regularly. If you are spending significant time on boats or in water, such as fishing or snorkeling, take extra precautions: covered shoes (not sandals), swim shirt/rash guard, neck gaiter, and sun gloves.

Many places in Belize are very hot and humid, and dehydration is a risk. An expat suggests to drink as much water as you want, and then drink that much again.

The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is 2.5% or one in every forty adults, this is notably higher than in most of Europe or Anglo-America and also quite a bit higher than in other parts of Central America like Nicaragua or Costa Rica.

Respect
Belizeans are some of the most socially relaxed people in the world, especially if you venture inland away from the tourist islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The pace of life is generally slower in Belize, so it's good practice to begin any social interaction, even to ask a quick question, with eye contact and a genuinely pleasant greeting. Most rural Belizeans enjoy casual conversation and you could easily find yourself chatting for a few hours.

The Maya communities can be a little more reserved at times. As always, a little respect and politeness will carry you through.

Connect
Payphones are the most common public phones and accept pre-purchased phone cards.

Internet cafés can be found in larger tourist areas, but are infrequent in rural areas.

The government used to prohibit allow Skype and forced tourists to call out of the country using the government-owned phone company. The main telephone company, Belize Telemedia Limited, has removed blocks from all voice-over-internet-protocol services. Applications such as Skype and Vonage are now able to work within the country and may be a cheaper than landline or cellular connection.

title: Belize