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Belgrade, Serbia

Traditions and customs in Belgrade

5 customs and traditions in Belgrade — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Last updated 2026-08-11

1. Kafana culture

Kafana culture
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · source

Old taverns with live music, rakija and long evenings — the social institution.

2. Rakija

Rakija
Photo: Silverije · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Fruit brandy, plum being standard, homemade being the good stuff, and refusing it being awkward.

3. Slava

Slava
Photo: K · Pexels License · source

Each family's patron saint's day, marked with a specific bread and a household feast.

4. Turbo-folk

Turbo-folk
Photo: Boris Hamer · Pexels License · source

Post-Yugoslav pop-folk, loved and derided in roughly equal measure.

5. Coffee for hours

Coffee for hours
Photo: Aleksandar Cvetanovic · Pexels License · source

One coffee occupies a table for an afternoon, and nobody will hurry you.

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