31st EAA Annual Meeting in Belgrade, Serbia 
3 - 6 September 2025

Welcome to Belgrade!

We are excited and honoured to welcome you to Belgrade for the 31st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), hosted by the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade!

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, with Mediaeval fortification - Kalemegdan as its principal landmark. It has a long history, dating from the first Neolithic settlements to the Middle Ages. The city was known as Singidunum in Roman times and is mentioned in written sources since 878 AD under the Slavic name Beograd ("White City"). In the course of time, it was constantly rebuilt and remodelled. Since it was located at the crossroads between the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, always between the West and the East, it was destroyed and rebuilt almost 40 times. Some would say that Belgrade's ability to quickly rebuild, change and evolve is the most important characteristic of the city.

Over the centuries of transformation, Belgrade has developed its own character, marked by a nuanced mix of tradition and modernity, with both the Latin and Cyrillic scripts in official use in Serbia. The turbulent events of the 1990s took their toll, but the capital has continued to grow and develop ever since. Today it is a safe, vibrant, and youthful city, a university centre, full of welcoming hosts well known for their hospitality. The unusually large number of bars, museums, galleries, and venues, located anywhere between Kalemegdan, old Ottoman residences or buildings inspired by mid-century brutalism, offer a variety of events for all tastes. Whether you prefer the charm of Eastern cuisine, exclusive and refined international dishes, quiet nights by the river, urban art, local artists, green markets, historical sights or nightly happenings, Belgrade will not disappoint.

In the words of Ivo Andrić, Nobel literature prize holder from 1961, who knew how to depict the history of the Balkan countries „This grand city (Belgrade) seems to have always been like this: torn and split, as if it never exists but is perpetually being created, built upon and recovered. On one side it waxes and grows on the other it wanes and deteriorates. Ever in motion and rustle, never calm and never knowing tranquillity or quiet. The city upon two rivers, on the grand clearing, bound by the winds.”

Getting to Belgrade is as easy as it gets - the international airport “Nikola Tesla” is a regional hub, connecting over 120 worldwide destinations during high season, with a no visa regime for European countries. The conference venue is located in the very heart of the city, within its pedestrian zone, a short walk away from numerous monuments, landmarks, and tourist hotspots. As for other captivating archaeological and culture-historical sites throughout Serbia, we will make sure to provide you with tours and excursions to tackle and explore the rich heritage truly representative of the central Balkans.

Nowadays Belgrade is a true European metropolis with a unique charm typical of the Balkans. Instead of imagining, we invite you to discover and experience its local history and enjoy Belgrade’s mesmerising street atmosphere.

Belgrade local organising team and Serbia Convention Bureau