Visiting a city park can be exciting, especially when it's as unique as Sava Park in Belgrade. As you explore this modern green space, you’ll notice how it blends nature, culture, and local life. You can stroll along wide paths, relax by peaceful water features, and discover viewpoints that show a different side of the city. You’ll also find that getting around Belgrade is easy. Many visitors rent a car to explore the park and its nearby attractions. This Sava Park travel guide will help you know what to expect and how to make the most of your visit.
Sava Park is a green oasis in the heart of Belgrade, offering a peaceful escape without leaving the city centre. Technically, the park spans about 2.7 hectares (roughly 27,000 square metres), which is around the size of four football fields. Positioned alongside the Sava River in the modern Belgrade Waterfront district, it blends natural scenery with a stunning urban skyline.
Opened around 2019 and 2020, the park was thoughtfully designed for all ages, featuring landscaped paths, wide lawns, and more than 140 trees providing shade. Despite its central location in a busy capital, Sava Park feels calm and refreshing. You’ll find well-kept lawns, flower beds, and winding walking paths ideal for a gentle stroll or a break between sightseeing stops. It is one of the largest green spaces in downtown Belgrade.
The park is part of the Belgrade Waterfront (Beograd na vodi) development. It is surrounded by new residential towers, a huge shopping mall, and a scenic riverside promenade. It's a 15-minute walk from the old town, and it’s free, always open, and perfectly placed for a quick breather after exploring museums, cafés, or shops.
Sava Park is peaceful, but it’s also packed with activities and facilities to keep you entertained. This park was designed as a multifunctional space, meaning there’s something for everyone. Whether you want to exercise, play, or just unwind, the park has you covered. Below, we’ll explore the main things to do in Sava Park:
If you like to stay active, Sava Park has a 700-metre jogging track that circles the park. The track features two parallel lanes for walkers and runners. For team sports, there’s a multifunctional sports field where locals play basketball, mini-football (small-scale football/soccer), and handball throughout the year. This court is a popular spot in the evenings when friends gather for a casual game. When temperatures drop in winter, the sports court is transformed into an ice rink, offering visitors the chance to go ice skating under the open sky. If you visit in winter, you might find the rink full of cheerful skaters.
Sava Park is also ideal for those who just want to relax and unwind. There are expansive grassy areas and well-maintained lawns where you can spread out a blanket and have a picnic. The park has six picnic tables as well, so if you prefer a table for your snacks or lunch, you’ll likely find a spot available. On a pleasant afternoon, you’ll see families and friends chatting on the grass or couples resting on benches in the shade. The park’s landscaping was carefully planned with rest and leisure in mind. Keep an eye out for any outdoor yoga or exercise classes. Sometimes, locals use the open space for group workouts or tai chi in the mornings.
If you’re travelling with children, they will be delighted by the park’s interactive playground. There is a special section of Sava Park dedicated to the youngest visitors, equipped with modern play structures. This playground isn’t just a couple of swings. It’s quite extensive, featuring climbing frames, slides, and a water play area. The waterplay system is a fun feature especially on hot summer days.
It has little water channels and mechanisms where kids can splash, pump water, and play safely. The playground area is well-designed with soft surfaces and is surrounded by benches where parents or guardians can sit and watch. Thanks to these family-friendly facilities, Sava Park is very popular with local families. Don’t be surprised if your child ends up making a new Serbian friend on the see-saw or sandbox.
For a bit of casual fun, Sava Park also offers table tennis (ping pong) tables that anyone can use. If you want a quick game, carry a ping pong paddle and ball in your bag. It’s a great way to strike up a friendly game with a stranger or your travel companions. Additionally, the park frequently hosts seasonal events and community gatherings. For example, in summer, there might be outdoor fitness sessions or small cultural events. It’s worth checking notice boards or local event listings to see if anything is happening during your visit. Even without scheduled events, just people-watching can be enjoyable.
Belgrade has a continental climate, which means hot summers and cold winters. The best time to visit Sava Park depends on what you enjoy, because each season offers a different experience.
Spring is one of the best times in Sava Park. The weather in April and May is usually mild, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 20°C, and flowers blooming, making the grass vividly green. Spring days have plenty of sunshine but not the intense heat of summer. This season also sees fewer tourists in Belgrade. The park has decorative cherry trees and apple trees that blossom beautifully in spring. Spring is ideal if you want to comfortably use the jogging track or have a picnic without summer crowds. Just carry a light jacket for the evenings.
Summer in Belgrade is lively and hot. During June, July, and August, temperatures often reach 30°C+ with bright sunshine. Sava Park in summer is full of life. You’ll see families out with kids playing in the water fountain area, people sunbathing on the grass, and lots of local residents using the park after work hours. The long daylight hours (sunset not until ~8:30 pm in midsummer) mean you can enjoy the park even in the evening when it’s cooler. One thing to note is that at midday, it can be quite hot, so if you visit then, look for shade under the trees or grab a cold drink from the nearby mall.
Many events and festivals in Belgrade take place in the summer. While most of these occur elsewhere, the park occasionally hosts open-air fitness classes or small concerts. If you don’t mind the heat, summer is great for experiencing the park’s energetic atmosphere. Also, early mornings or late afternoons are more comfortable times to enjoy the outdoor activities. You might catch a lovely sunset over the Sava River in the evening.
Autumn is another fantastic season to visit. Early autumn in September still has warm days (around 20°C), but the intense summer heat fades. The park becomes quieter again after the peak tourist season. The foliage starts to change colour in late October, so you might see autumn leaves turning golden and red among the park’s trees. Like spring, autumn offers mild temperatures and fewer crowds. You can easily combine a walk through Sava Park with a stroll along the Sava promenade to admire the river.
Winters in Belgrade are cold, with temperatures that can drop to 0°C or below from December to February. Every winter, Sava Park transforms into a “Winter Fairytale” festival ground, filled with holiday lights and activities. The park is decorated with thousands of lanterns and has several magical zones. There’s usually an Ice Kingdom with the ice skating rink, a Christmas market with wooden stalls selling hot drinks and treats, and live music or an open-air cinema. Locals and tourists flock to this event to enjoy the festive atmosphere, sip hot mulled wine (kuvano vino), and celebrate the holidays. If you visit during this time, you’ll experience Belgrade’s biggest holiday market right in Sava Park.
One of the great advantages of Sava Park is how accessible it is. Being centrally located, the park is easy to reach whether you prefer to walk, use public transport, or drive. Let’s go over the options for getting to Sava Park.
If you’re staying in or near Belgrade’s city centre, you can likely walk to Sava Park. For instance, from the Knez Mihailova pedestrian street or Republic Square (Trg Republike) in the old town, it’s only about 1 to 2 kilometres to the park or a 15 to 20 minute walk. You would head down towards the Sava riverfront. The park is adjacent to a mall, which is a huge new shopping centre by the river, so you can use that as a landmark.
Walking is a pleasant option because you might cross through the lively Savamala district, known for its cafes and street art, on the way. The area around the park is pedestrian-friendly and safe. In fact, many of Belgrade’s landmarks are within walking distance of each other, and the city is quite pedestrian-friendly, so walking is a recommended way to explore. Be mindful of traffic when crossing busy streets, such as Karađorđeva. If you are walking in the evening, the route is generally well-lit, especially along the waterfront.
Belgrade has an extensive network of buses, trams, and trolleybuses. Several public transport lines pass near Sava Park and the Belgrade Waterfront area. The nearest major street for transit is Karađorđeva Street. You can take any tram or bus that stops at Karađorđeva or the old Belgrade Main railway station stop. From there, it’s a short stroll into the Waterfront area.
If you rent a car in Belgrade, driving to Sava Park is straightforward. The Belgrade Waterfront development includes new wide roads. One of them is Woodrow Wilson Boulevard, which runs right beside the park. The park does not have its own parking lot, but the adjacent mall has a large parking garage with over a thousand spaces. You can park there. The first three hours are free in the mall garage, and then an hourly rate applies.
Enter the garage from the side facing Gazela Bridge or as signposted, leave your car, and walk straight into the park from the mall’s riverside exit. Additionally, there are some street parking spots available in the area, but they may be limited due to ongoing developments. Using the mall’s car park is the easiest choice.
Sava Park is straightforward to enjoy, but a few practical tips can help you make the most of your visit. Here are some things to know before you go:
Sava Park is free to enter and open to the public. There are no tickets or gates. In fact, the park is open 24/7, meaning you can walk through it at any time of day or night. It’s a public space, so feel free to use it like locals do, whether for a morning run or an evening stroll. That said, the park is best enjoyed during daylight or when events are on.
There are plenty of benches and seating areas throughout the park where you can rest. If you need a restroom or want a snack, the easiest option is the mall right next to the park. Inside, you'll find clean toilets, cafes, and food courts. The park doesn’t have permanent cafes or restaurants, but the mall and the Sava Promenade area have many cafés and restaurants just a short walk away. For drinking water, you may find a water fountain in the park. Public drinking fountains are sometimes available in summer. But for safety, consider carrying a bottle of water, especially on hot days.
In the daytime, a photo of the Belgrade skyline with Kula Belgrade (the tall tower) and the river from the park is a must. During spring, the blossoms and greenery make for colourful pictures, while in autumn, the fall foliage is lovely. In winter, the festive lights and decorations create a magical backdrop for photos. Sunset is also a great time for photos. You can catch the sun setting over the Sava River with the park in the foreground. Don’t forget to also snap a pic at the playground area if you have kids.
In the park, you might see people walking dogs, exercising, or children playing. It’s polite to keep out of the bike lane or jogging track if you’re strolling slowly. If you have a picnic, be sure to use the bins provided for any rubbish. Drinking alcohol openly in parks is not common except at organized events, so it’s better to save that for cafes or bars. However, you can enjoy an ice cream or coffee from a nearby cafe on a park bench. Smoking is still fairly common in Serbia, but it’s courteous not to smoke in the children’s play area. If you bring a pet dog, they should be on a leash, and you should clean up after them.
Sava Park is a place where you can jog, picnic, let the kids play, or just relax and enjoy Belgrade’s river views. Whether you visit in blooming spring, lively summer, colourful autumn, or magical winter, the park always offers something special. It’s central, free, family-friendly, and a great spot to unwind between exploring museums, cafés, and the riverside promenade. If you’re planning a trip to Belgrade, Sava Park is one of those places you shouldn’t miss.
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