Avala is the green hill that Belgrade looks to when it wants a break from itself. It rises to just over five hundred metres roughly sixteen kilometres south of the centre, covered in forest and threaded with walking paths, and on its summit stands the Avala Tower, a slender lattice mast about 204 metres tall. The original tower, finished in the mid 1960s, was destroyed in the 1999 bombing, and the present structure was rebuilt on the same spot and reopened in 2010. It works as a television and radio mast, but it is also the highest viewing point in the Belgrade area, with viewing platforms high up the structure that give you the whole sprawl of the city, the rivers and, on a clear day, a long sweep of plain and hills beyond. A single-entry ticket is the simplest way to see it. You pay for the tower, ride up, look, and come down in your own time, with no fixed group or schedule, so it fits easily around a day that also takes in the mountain itself. Avala is also home to the Monument to the Unknown Hero, a granite memorial to the dead of the First World War designed by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović and completed before the Second World War, and its stairs, terraces and monumental figures are worth the short walk from the tower car park. This is the quiet counterweight to the fortress and Knez Mihailova. Locals come up at weekends to walk, eat grilled meat at the roadside restaurants and breathe, and the air is noticeably cooler than in the city in summer.
How to visit
The ticket is an entrance pass to the tower, and you get yourself to Avala. A taxi or ride-hailing car from the centre is the easy option and takes a little under half an hour in normal traffic; public buses also serve the mountain but take longer, so check current routes if you prefer them. Tickets for this product are collected at an operator office on Knez Mihailova rather than at the tower, so pick the voucher up on a day you are already in the old town, and read the booking confirmation for the exact redemption instructions before you set out.
The tower is not wheelchair accessible and is not advised for anyone with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
What to expect
The lift takes you to the viewing level in a few minutes and the panorama is the point, so plan on an hour or two in total for the ride, the views and a coffee. Look north to pick out the Belgrade Fortress, the Temple of Saint Sava and the bridges over the Sava, then turn to the south and east for farmland, villages and the line of the hills.
After the tower, walk down to the Monument to the Unknown Hero, which takes about ten to fifteen minutes on a forest path or a short drive, and spend a little time among the trees. Wear shoes with grip and bring a layer, because it is breezy at the top even when the city is warm.
Making the most of it
Go on a clear day, and check the visibility before you leave the city, since haze or low cloud over the rivers makes the climb pointless. Late afternoon is the best light for photographs, and an early start keeps the car park and the summit quiet.
If you have a car or a driver, Avala pairs well with a lunch of grilled meat in the villages at the foot of the mountain. Take cash for the cafes, carry water in summer and keep an eye on the last descent time so you are not caught out after dark.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced visit to a television tower with viewing platforms, set on a forested hill south of Belgrade.
Best time
A clear, dry day, ideally late afternoon for the light; spring and autumn give the best visibility and the most pleasant walking.
How long
One to two hours for the tower, plus the journey from the centre and time on the mountain.
Tips
Collect the voucher in the old town before you go, check the weather and visibility, and bring a layer because it is windy at the top.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want a panoramic view of Belgrade and a green escape without a long journey.
- Families
- Good for older children who enjoy heights and the lift; the forest paths are pleasant for a short walk.
- Couples
- A calm outing with a big view, best timed for late afternoon light and a meal on the way back.
- Pair with
- The Monument to the Unknown Hero on the same mountain, or a grilled-meat lunch in the villages below.
- Time needed
- Allow half a day including travel, or about two hours at the site.
Good questions
How tall is the Avala Tower?+
The tower is about 204 metres tall. It was rebuilt on the site of the original mast, which was destroyed in 1999, and reopened in 2010.
How far is Avala from central Belgrade?+
It is roughly sixteen kilometres south of the centre. A taxi or ride-hailing car takes a little under half an hour in normal traffic.
Where do I collect the ticket?+
The voucher is redeemed at an operator office on Knez Mihailova, not at the tower. Read your booking confirmation for the exact instructions.
Is the Avala Tower suitable for everyone?+
It is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
What else is there to see on Avala?+
The Monument to the Unknown Hero, designed by Ivan Meštrović, stands on the mountain, and there are forest paths and roadside restaurants.
