Avala Tower

The basics

Avala Tower is not a common stop on Belgrade-focused sightseeing tours. However, private sightseeing tours occasionally swing by, while cycling and hiking tours make the most of the surrounding hillside and stop for the view. You'll spend about 15 minutes at the tower’s windowed observation deck, but plan for about an hour to follow the walking trails. If you start at the bottom of the tower’s hill, add an hour of walking up and down.

Things to know before you go

• While technically open-air, the observation deck does have full-length windows.

• A café in the tower provides a place to sit and enjoy the view.

• Below the tower, there is a playground, several small kiosks, and a restaurant.

• A larger, second parking lot sits by the Monument to the Unknown Hero.

How to get there

Avala Tower is located south of Belgrade, past the small town of Beli Potok. Take Belgrade public transport to Slavija Square and board the No. 401 bus at the Birčaninova bus stop. It will take you to the base of the hill below Avala Tower, and from there, it’s a roughly 30-minute walk up. Driving is quicker and allows you to park by the tower and avoid the uphill walk.

When to get there

You can access the Avala Tower's observation deck daily during regular business hours. Opening hours extend in the warmer months of the year, from April to October. The surrounding hillside is best enjoyed when the weather is comfortable for nature walks and hiking, so the best time to go is generally before and after summer in May, June, and September.

Other things to see at Mount Avala

Besides the towering needle of Avala Tower and walking trails through the local woods, there are several other sights to see on Mount Avala. Visitors will find several war memorials not far from the tower, including the immense Monument to the Unknown Hero and the smaller Monument to Soviet War Veterans down the hill. Elsewhere, a small memorial park celebrates Vasa Čarapić, a local revolutionary and military leader.