The National Museum of Serbia stands on Republic Square, the meeting point of the old town, and it is the country's principal museum of art and archaeology. The building was closed for years of restoration and reopened to the public on 28 June 2018, with a gala night that stayed open until the early hours and free entry for the first days. Its collections are arranged in four broad areas, prehistory, antiquity, the Middle Ages and the new age and modern period, and together they trace the story of the region from the earliest settlers to the twentieth century. The prehistoric displays include material linked to Lepenski Vir, the Mesolithic site on the Danube that also features in some day trips, and the art galleries include work by Serbian painters, among them the modernist Sava Šumanović, whose Women Bathing is one of the museum's best-known pictures. A visit gives you a clear overview of Serbian and wider European art, and a counterpoint to the fortress and the churches. Because it faces Republic Square, it is easy to combine with a walk down Knez Mihailova, and with free admission on Sundays and fixed opening hours, it is simple to plan. It is a solid wet-weather or hot-day choice and a good introduction for anyone who wants to understand how Serbian culture fits into its European context.
How to visit
The museum is at Trg Republike 1a. It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Thursday and Saturday from 12:00 to 20:00, and it is closed on Mondays. Admission is free on Sundays, and children under seven and some other groups also enter free.
Tickets for the permanent exhibition cost a few hundred dinars, with separate and combined tickets for temporary exhibitions and for related sites such as the Museum of Vuk and Dositej, and guided options are available. Check the museum's own pages for current prices and hours, since they can change.
What to expect
A large building with galleries arranged by period, starting in prehistory and moving through antiquity and the medieval period to modern painting. Plan on two hours for the permanent exhibition and longer if a temporary show interests you. The museum has no car park of its own, so arrive on foot or by public transport, as bus, trolleybus and minibus lines serve Republic Square. Wear comfortable shoes, as the route through the galleries is long.
Making the most of it
Go on a weekday morning for the quietest rooms, or on a Sunday if you want free entry and do not mind the crowds. Pair it with a coffee on the square and a walk to the fortress along Knez Mihailova, and keep the Nikola Tesla Museum for another day.
If you are short of time, focus on the prehistoric and medieval galleries and the modern painting, which give the best sense of the country. Serious art lovers should allow half a day and check for temporary exhibitions before they go.
A final tip
Because the museum is on Republic Square, it is easy to split the day. See the prehistoric and medieval galleries in the morning, take a break in a cafe on the square, and return for the painting rooms, or the other way round. Check the temporary exhibition programme before you go, since a good show can be the best reason to visit, and think about the combined tickets if you also plan to visit the Museum of Vuk and Dositej.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to the national museum of art and archaeology, with permanent collections from prehistory to modern art.
Best time
Weekday mornings for quiet rooms, or Sunday for free entry; a good option on hot or rainy days.
How long
About two hours for the permanent exhibition.
Tips
Check hours before you go, since they vary by day, and note that the museum is closed on Mondays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art and history lovers who want an overview of Serbian and wider European culture.
- Families
- Fine for older children who enjoy archaeology; younger ones may tire quickly.
- Couples
- A calm indoor hour or two with a coffee on Republic Square to follow.
- Pair with
- A walk along Knez Mihailova and the Belgrade Fortress, or the Nikola Tesla Museum on another day.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
When is the National Museum of Serbia open?+
It is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Thursday and Saturday from 12:00 to 20:00, closed on Mondays. Check the museum's pages for changes.
Is the National Museum free?+
Admission is free on Sundays, and children under seven and some other groups also enter free. Other visitors pay a modest ticket price.
What does the museum show?+
Its collections cover prehistory, antiquity, the Middle Ages and the new age and modern period, including art and archaeology.
Where is the museum?+
It is at Trg Republike 1a on Republic Square, in the heart of the old town. There is no private car park, so arrive on foot or by public transport.
When did the museum reopen?+
It reopened on 28 June 2018 after a full restoration, with a night of free entry.
