Guide to Belgrade brutalist architecture

Belgrade, Serbia is not the city that everyone likes. But if you are a fan of brutalist and modernist architecture or if you can appreciate some interesting concrete structures, you are in for a treat.

Belgrade brutalist architecture

Brutalism in Belgrade (or in the former Yugoslavia in general) is different than anywhere else. The whole concept came to the region from the Soviet Union, that Yugoslavia was a close ally with.

But since the Stalin-Tito split 1948 Yugoslavia went its own way and that applied to the architecture too. This is why now you can admire some really amazing Belgrade brutalist architecture when visiting the capital of Serbia.

But you can find some great example of the ex-Yugoslavia school of architecture in other cities in the area too: Skopje, Podgorica, Zagreb, Sarajevo or Ljubljana, just to name a few.

My fascination with brutalist architecture

I don’t know when exactly I developed a strong interest in brutalism and modernism.

The first time I’ve seen the National Library of Kosovo in Pristina my heart started to beat faster – it was so ugly that I just found it beautiful.

Over the years I’ve been looking for the funky or weird concrete buildings just about everywhere I go and let me tell you – Belgrade architecture from the 20th century is among the best examples of brutalism you will ever find!

Every time I visit Belgrade I set off for a quest to find even more brutalism gems around the city.

I spent days searching for them and I know I still haven’t seen everything (that’s why I have a few more trips to Belgrade planned for near future). That’s how many amazing concrete buildings you can find there.

During my recent trip to Belgrade I showed you what I managed to find on my Instastories.

Many of you were interested in Belgrade brutalist architecture and asked me to write a guide with all the locations and tips on visiting the places.

And so here you go – here is my guide on Belgrade brutalism. I hope you will find it useful and will enjoy Belgrade architecture as much as I did!

Belgrade architecture hunt – practical information

But before I start telling you about all the buildings let’s focus on some practical information.

Belgrade brutalism architecture is spread all over the city and distances between the places can be significant.

I used public transport and I can recommend you this way of Belgrade sightseeing. It’s cheap, easy to use and efficient.

Buses and trams can take you everywhere you need really.

I will include the exact bus and tram lines to use next to each location so you won’t have to do this part of research yourself.

You can use Google Maps when checking routes of public transport. It’s best to check it live so you can get accurate departure times. If you need online data for Serbia, check Airalo eSim plans here. I always use Airalo for internet access when traveling and I can definitely recommend it. Use my code “KAMILA1947” to get $3 off your first order!

As of 2025, the public transport in Belgrade is free of charge, also for tourists, so you don’t need to worry about figuring out tickets and how to purchase them.

I think you would need to do at least 2 days in Belgrade to see all the architecture gems listed below as getting between them can take a while.

Otherwise, you can just pick the best one and plan your own Belgrade itinerary focused on 20th-century architecture.

To help you with exploring Belgrade and its architecture gems, you can get the PDF, ad-free version of this article, with the offline map. Just click here.

Belgrade brutalist and modernist architecture – locations

Below you can find 16 best locations with Belgrade brutalism, as well as tips how to get there.

Genex Tower

“Genex Tower” – known also as Western Gates of Belgrade

Built in 1977

Architect Mihajlo Mitrović

Address: Narodnih heroja 43

How to get there: bus no 65 from Zeleni Venats, in the direction of Novo Bezhanisko Cemetery. The bus stop is called “Uprava Tsarine”.

30 storeys residential tower and a 26 storeys office tower, connected on top with a rotary restaurant (that I believe is not working) is a symbol and the most known example of Belgrade brutalist architecture.

The building is impressive, the second-highest in Belgrade, and can be seen from most of the places in the capital (including Kalemegdan fortress).

It was strategically built on the road leading from Belgrade airport to the city, in the shape of the gate, welcoming all people arriving in the capital of Serbia.

On the street level, you will find here random services like a hairdresser and a shady bar. During one of my visits, there was some nice street art around too but recently it was gone.

You might try to sneak inside the residential part, on the left side when facing the building – I almost did it but for some reason, I chickened out in the very last moment (which even I was surprised about as I love exploring all kind of weird places).

On the right side, I managed to get to the foyer but the security guy told me it’s closed and I can’t take pictures inside. Which is a shame as the place has this nice, old-school look.

The best place to take a picture of Genex Tower is the overpass Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića at Omladinskih brigada street.

Novi Beograd town hall

Built between 1961 – 1971

Architects: Stojan Maksimovic, Branislav Jovin

Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 167

How to get there: buses no 16, 65, 72, 75, 77, 78, 83 (all of them go from the bus stop near Palata Srbije, all but 78 and 83 go from Zeleni Venats). Bus stop: HO Novi Beograd / Archive / Ulaz u Pariske Komune (depending on the bus you take).

SIV 3 office and a police station

(Police Departament/Ministry of Internal Affairs)

Address: Omladinskih brigada broj 1, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia

Built in the late 70-s

How to get there: The building is next to the Novi Beograd town hall so all the same buses go there: no 16, 65, 72, 75, 77, 78, 83 (all of them go from the bus stop near Palata Srbije, all but 78 and 83 go from Zeleni Venats). Bus stop: HO Novi Beograd / Archive / Ulaz u Pariske Komune (depending on the bus you take).

Palace of Serbia

Palace of Serbia (Palata Srbije)

Address: Boulevard Mihaila Pupina 2

Built between 1947-59

Architects: Mihailo Janković, Vladimir Potočnjak(till 52′), Anton Urlih, Zlatko Nojman, Dragica Perak

How to get there: buses no 16, 65, 67, 71, 72, 75, 77, 78, 83 (all but 78 and 83 go from Zeleni Venats; 78 and 83 depart from next to the central bus station). Bus stop: Palata Serbia

The original project was more in the brutalist style, as numerous buildings in the Soviet Union. However, after the Tito-Stalin split the design was changed into modernism.

The building was finished in 1959 and since the opening has been serving as the government office. Today a few cabinet-level ministers have their offices in here.

Palace of Serbia is huge. It is difficult to take a good picture of the building as it simply doesn’t fit in the screen. You can take pictures from each angle and they all will be pretty impressive.

Since it is a functioning office you can go inside, from Monday to Friday in the working hours.

I was always there over the weekend so I only could see the interior on the pictures I found online. Next time I will plan my visit there smarter as the interior looks equally interesting as the outside design.

Novi Beograd

How to get there: Blok 22 and 23 can be reached by trams no 7, 9, 11L, 13 from Ekonomski Faculty (next to the central bus station). Tram stop is Sava Centar for Blok 22 and Blok 23 for Blok 23.

Novi Beograd is a huge residential part of the capital of Serbia, across the Sava river from the center of Belgrade.

The works here started in 1948 and they are still going, however, most of Novi Beograd is built in the brutalist style.

This place is like a huge playground for all the concrete fans! Literally, as there are even concrete playgrounds with slides etc.

Novi Beograd is divided into so-called Blocks. Visiting them all would take too much time, besides not all of them are all that interesting.

I suggest visiting Block 22 and Block 23, that are just across the Sava river and near Sava Centar (more on it later). These two will give you a perfect idea of how Novi Beograd looks like.

Other interesting parts are Block 30 (across the street from Palace of Serbia), Block 28 or Block 61, 62 and 63.

Sava Centar

Sava Centar Congress Centre

Address: Milentija Popovića 9

Built between 1975-79

Architect Stojan Maksimovic

How to get there: trams no 7, 9, 11L, 13 from Ekonomski Faculty (next to the central bus station). Tram stop is Sava Centar. You can also take buses 17,18, 70, 74 or 88 that cross Gazela Bridge.

Sava Centar is the large congress, cultural and business center, the biggest one in former Yugoslavia and one of the biggest ones in Europe.

It was built to host the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit in 1977, however, the whole building was completed two years later.

From the outside, Sava Centar doesn’t look that impressive. But you should definitely go inside and see the interior – it’s amazing, so old-school and a bit futuristic for its times.