About Belgrade

Belgrade is situated at the place where the Sava joins the Danube. Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe and, beside Athens, the greatest urban whole of the Balkan Peninsula. The oldest archaeological artefacts from Belgrade area date back to the fifth millenium B.C. The members of a Celtic tribe founded Singidunum in the III century B.C., while the first record of the name Belgrade dates back to 878 A.D. During its long and tumultuous history, Belgrade has been conquered by 40 armies, and 38 times it has been raised up from the ashes.

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, having around 1,6 million residents. In the field of traffic and transport, it is a city of the highest importance as a road and railway center, as a port for river and air traffic, and as a telecommunication center. It spreads over 3.6% of the territory of Serbia, and 15.8% of Serbian population lives in this city. Also, 31.2% of all employed workers in Serbia work in Belgrade.

Important economic and agricultural capacities are developed in Belgrade, especially metallurgy, metal-working industry and electronic industry, then commerce and banking. The free trade zone is located in the wider area of Belgrade, Smederevo and Pančevo, on the banks of the Danube river, covering 2,000 sqm of business space. Also, 30% of the national product of Serbia is made in Belgrade.

Belgrade is the capital of Serbian culture, education and science. It has the greatest concentration of institutions of national importance in the field of science and art. There is the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, established in 1886 as the Serbian Royal Academy: the National Library of Serbia, established in 1832; the National Museum, established in 1841 and the National Theatre, established in 1869. The city is also the seat of the Belgrade University, founded in 1808 as the Great School, and the seat of the University of Art.

Belgrade has the status of a separate teritorial unit in Serbia, having its own autonomous city government. Its territory is divided into 17 municipalities, having their own local governmental bodies.

General info

DRIVING LICENSE
International Driving Licenses are recognized throughout Serbia. Car rental companies ask for a valid driving license. For your requests please contact congress secretariat

BANKS AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The currency is the Serbian Dinar (RSD). Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport or the front desk of your hotel. Local banks are open from 08.30 to 17.00 hours from Monday to Friday. On Sundays only duty banks and post offices are open. All banks and post offices have exchange offices, and payphones. There are also private foreign exchange offices throughout the city that operate between 09.00 to 18.00 hrs. The current exchange rate may be checked on the website of the National Bank of Serbia (http://www.nbs.rs)

CREDIT CARDS
All major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted in Serbia by restaurants, hotels, shops and at the Congress Registration Desks. Cash may be taken from ATMs installed in all major malls, bank branch offices and in public places 365 days in a year, 24 hours a day. Cell phone e-cards and Internet cards may also be purchased in some of these places in official offices of local providers and in some street kiosks.

CLIMATE
The climate of Serbia is moderately continental, with localized variations and a gradual change between the seasons. In April is almost the beginning of spring in Serbia. This part of the year is characterized by rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing from16°C to 20°C over the course of the month, exceeding 25°C or dropping below 9°C only one in ten.

ELECTRICITY
The current in Serbia is 220 volts 50Hz. Please contact the reception desk for available converters.

INSURANCE
The meeting organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained or for loss of or damage to property belonging to Congress participants (or their accompanying persons) either during the congress meetings and postcongress activities. Please obtain proper travel and health insurance prior to your trip.

TIPPING
Tipping is not mandatory in Serbia. However, it is customary to add 5-10% in restaurants if you are satisfied with the service

TELEPHONES
Pay phones are available at the conference center as well as in the city. Phone cards are widely available in shops.

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
The international dialing code for Serbia is 381, and the code for Belgrade is 11 National calls: 0 + city code + telephone number International calls: 00 + country code + city code + telephone number

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Police – 192
Fire-fighters – 193
Ambulance – 194
Registry of international calls – 19011
Orthodox religious holidays and customs – 19822

TIME, ELECTRICITY AND WATER
Time Zone
Belgrade and Serbia are located in the Central European time zone region – GMT +1 and/or GMT +2 as of the last week in the third month until the Saturday prior to the last week of the tenth month

ELECTRICITY
As in most cities of Continental Europe, the electricity voltage in Belgrade is 220V. Electrical outlets are standard European.

WATER
Tap water in Belgrade is safe to drink.

Hotels

Crowne Plaza hotel

All participants and entire official programme will be placed in a Crowne Plaza hotel, contemporary 4* property. It is situated in the business center of New Belgrade, 15 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from the main city attractions. Accommodation facilities comprises of 416 modern designed rooms. Added value for delegates: free internet in hotel, swimming pool and Health Club.