The vibrant and dynamic nightlife in Belgrade achieved international prominence in the early 21st century. The splavovi singular splav are located along both banks of the Sava , with numerous clubs along the shores of Ada Ciganlija , and the right bank of the Danube.
Despite the modern nightlife developed in time into various varieties to appeal to the foreign visitors and younger demographics, Skadarlija , a Bohemian quarter with traditional kafanas still remains one of the most visited Belgrade attractions, second only to the Belgrade Fortress. The city is especially popular in the surrounding region, with numerous weekend-visitors. The growing popularity of Belgrade as fun and entertainment hotspot, especially the "crazy splavovi ", garnered criticism in time.
This typecast promotion made Belgrade's nightlife a focal point for the people searching for low-priced hedonistic, carefree distraction, having a much wider social impact: heavy drinking, drug abuse, crime, prostitution, influence on teenagers and youth and a development of the " reality TV shows influenced splavovi-culture ".
Predecessors of modern nightlife were the kafanas, oriental style bistros. Believed to be the oldest such venue in Europe , it served only Turkish coffee. There are no historical sources to why Belgrade was so important at the time to have such venue so early. The largest, Caravanserai of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha had " chimneys", and some had harem sections.
They especially addressed the problematic "Kod dve bule", notorious favorite place of the "debauched" Baron Franz von der Trenck. Belgrade remained rich in kafanas in this period as there were almost kafanas and meyhanas , so production of alcoholic beverages in the city bloomed to meet the demand.
