Great War Island
Велико ратно острво
An uninhabited nature reserve island at the confluence of two rivers, where wetland forest is home to more than a hundred bird species and a summer pontoon bridge leads to the beach.
Great War Island (Veliko ratno ostrvo) sits at the confluence of the Sava and the Danube, facing Kalemegdan Fortress. Historically it was a strategic prize in the many sieges of Belgrade, hence its name. Today the island is uninhabited and protected as a nature reserve. Its willow and poplar wetland forests shelter many birds, offering a rare wild environment so close to the city centre. In summer a pontoon bridge is set up from the Zemun side, and Lido Beach at the north end of the island opens for swimming and sunbathing. The rest of the year, most people watch the island from the fortress or from the Zemun riverbank. Free. Note: Camping and making fires are prohibited in the reserve. Mosquitoes are plentiful in summer, so do not enter the water outside the swimming area.
Opening hours
During summer pontoon bridge season (approx. Jun–Sep)
Nearby sights
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Military Museum
- Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan)
- Kosančićev Venac
- Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel
- Residence of Princess Ljubica
- Bajrakli Mosque
- Savamala