Belgrade, the ‘White City’ of Eastern Europe and capital city of Serbia, may seem an unlikely Summer party destination, but the people of Belgrade are definitely ready to have some fun and are welcoming tourists from all over the globe to join them.

Once ruled by the Celts, Slavs, Romans, Byzantines and the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires, Belgrade’s architecture, culture and language is a fascinating jigsaw of competing influences. Must-sees include the Belgrade Fortress, mausoleum of Marshal Tito, and the neo-Byzantine Temple of Saint Sava. A city best explored on foot, Belgrade is proud of its royalty and the three palaces in the city, the Old Royal, The White and the New Palace, are popular with tourists.

Temporarily casting off the weight of history on their shoulders, locals are extremely sociable. An island on an artificial lake, the Ada Ciganlija, is a popular place for locals to relax in the summertime. The cobbled streets, such as the bohemian area of Skadarlija are home to endless live music venues, restaurants and cafes and the splavovi of the Danube and Sava host a buzzing nightlife any central European capital would be proud of.