Ada Ciganlija – Belgrade’s beach

(June 18 2009)
By Vesna Glisic
If you visit Belgrade during Summer, don’t be afraid of the heat: Belgrade has really a great beach on the river Sava, near mouth to the Danube River – Ada Ciganlija. This forest peninsula converted into city park is the most visited sightseeing and watering place during the summertime.
Sava’s river lake is surrounded with 7 km long beaches. The lake is 4,2km long and about 200m wide, with a depth about 4-6 meters. Water is really nice and clean. There are so many ways to have fun during the summer: swimming, paddling, playing football or basketball, riding bicycle or just walk around through a nice forest. There are about 50 different stadiums for sports, like Golf, handball, football, baseball, volley-ball.
For those who like fishing, there is a lake Ada safari, 6 km long with rare types of fish- true challenge for passionate fishermen.
During the summer, there are many cultural events on Ada. Because of its beauty, famous Serbian writer Branislav Nušić called Ada the „Water flower“. During the decades, Ada was interesting for artists and adventurists especially because of its beauty and nature. Along the beach, there are restaurants, caffe-bars and raft restaurants where you can rest and have a nice meal.
If you like to enjoy in a forest, you can rent a bicycle and ride around the lake 8 km (there is a special bike tour around Sava’s Lake) through beautiful oak and elm forest. In case you are really brave and like adrenalin adventures, you can take a bungy jump!
Swimming season starts on June 15th and ends in the middle of September. During the Summertime, about 300.000 visitors visit Ada daily.
Along the beach, there are life-guard teams caring about swimmers (and non-swimmers, too).
For the youngest, there are so many playgrounds. If you want to see the whole peninsula, you can take a sightseeing tour on the little train which runs around lake.
When night comes, restaurants and night clubs on Ada open their doors, offering entertainment till dawn – live gipsy music, country music, classical rock, karaoke parties, disco sounds, good food and drink, people of all ages eager to meet new friends and have fun, there is a litle bit for everyone.
No matter if you like a beach, riding bicycle, walking around through the forest park, or if you just want to feel the atmosphere of Ada’s nights, you must visit Ada Ciganlija when in Belgrade. After that, you will understand why Ada Ciganlija is called „Belgrade’s Sea Shore“.