From 1999 to Today: Tracing the Enduring Scars of NATO’s Bombing in Belgrade 25 Years Later

Visit Belgrade’s key bombing sites without the hassle of finding them yourself, and feel free to ask any bold, controversial questions along the way.

Tour in a Glance

What to Expect From the Tour Scars of NATO Bombing in Belgrade in 2023/24

Experience Belgrade’s Turbulent Past: Our tour offers a firsthand look at the NATO bombing of Belgrade in 1999, guided by a local who lived through it. Visit impactful sites, view original photos, and understand the historical context. If you find this topic too difficult or stressful, then we suggest a more easy going Belgrade city tour Belgrade For Beginners Tour.

Highlights

• Private tour ensures focused attention and a better learning experience.

• Personal experience from a local guide offers a unique perspective on the NATO bombing.

• Use of original 1999 photos enhances the storytelling, making history tangible.

• Access actual historical sites, revealing the depth of Belgrade’s wartime experience

Tour Flow

#YourSerbiaHost will pick you up from your address in the city (usual start time 10am) and he’ll take you to the first stop of the tour, RTS – Radio Television of Serbia.

RTS – Radio Television of Serbia

Here you’ll hear the story about the night when 16, mostly young people, got killed during the night shift. There is an original building still standing on the site, unrepaired, as a memorial to this disastrous event.

Ministry of Defense

This is the most common site on various photos related to NATO bombing in Belgrade. The Ministry of Defense is still reminder on the night of 29th of April 1999 when many military objectives were hit. As a consequence of this action one person lost its life and many civilian buildings in the vicinity were damaged.

Central Committee of Communist Party of Yugoslavia

Business center Ušće stands today on the same skeleton of the original construction and with the same appearance of the original building of CK of Communist Party of Yugoslavia. You’ll learn why this building was NATO missile proof back in 1999.

Chinese Embassy

Probably the most controversial bombing site in Belgrade from the ’99 campaign. The Embassy was allegedly bombed as a result of an intelligence mistake, but it’s suspected it had a completely different purpose. Whatever the reasons were, four Chinese citizens died on the night of 7th of May 1999.

Hotel Yugoslavia

The hotel was once the pride of Yugoslavian hospitality industry. Completed in the late 60s it was the biggest and most luxurious hotel in the region. On the same night when the Chinese Embassy was hit, Hotel Yugoslavia was bombed with three missiles in order to eliminate the seat of the paramilitary group. It eliminated one guest of the hotel.

Air Force Command Building

Final spot on the tour is the Command Building of Yugoslavian Air Force at the time. This 1935 edifice represented a pearl of Yugoslavian and Serbian architecture. As a strategic objective it was hit with two missiles on 5th of April 1999.

After the formal itinerary is completed we will take you to one of Zemun’s cafes to summarize impressions (optional). After the tour, you’ll be taken to your drop-off point.

Good to know

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