Great War Island

Great War Island is an uninhabited river island at the point where the Sava flows into the Danube, inside Belgrade's Zemun municipality. It is triangular and covers 2.11 square kilometres of low, often marshy ground that floods when the Danube rises. Serbia designated the island a protected landscape in 2005, an IUCN Category IV classification given for its outstanding natural features. 1 July–31 August 2026: daily 08:00–19:00 via the seasonal pontoon bridge to Lido Beach. No weekly closure during the published summer season. The Ministry of Defence planned to dismantle the bridge after the end of August; river level may require an earlier interruption.

The protection status exists because of the island's wildlife. Bird surveys have recorded 208 species on Great War Island, 200 of them protected, with 66 species nesting there rather than just passing through. White-tailed eagles established themselves on the island in 2010, and pygmy cormorants and black storks are also resident. Vegetation is dominated by black poplar, ash and willow, the trees that tolerate regular flooding, alongside more than 5,800 oak seedlings that have been planted on the island.

Most visits are a half day: crossing the pontoon bridge, walking or cycling to Lido Beach, and spending time on the beach or the immediate shoreline. Reaching the interior wetlands and the parts of the island where the eagles and cormorants nest takes longer and is better suited to visitors specifically there for birdwatching rather than a beach day, since much of the reserve is marsh rather than open path. Free: the Municipality of Zemun states that the 2026 seasonal pontoon crossing may be used without charge.

Access is seasonal by design: the pontoon bridge that connects the island to Zemunski Kej is a 375-metre military structure put in place only for July, August and September, which is also when Lido Beach operates as a swimming spot. 1 July–31 August 2026: daily 08:00–19:00 via the seasonal pontoon bridge to Lido Beach. Take city bus 82 to its Zemun / Kej oslobođenja terminus. Continue along Zemun Quay to the seasonal pontoon bridge and cross on foot to Lido Beach on Great War Island; the 2026 crossing operated daily from 08:00 to 19:00 through the end of August.

Current fees for crossing the pontoon bridge or for boat access outside the bridge season are not published on the sources this page uses and are not reproduced here. Free: the Municipality of Zemun states that the 2026 seasonal pontoon crossing may be used without charge. The seasonal pontoon bridge accommodates pedestrians and city-service vehicles. Visits beyond Lido continue along the outdoor Health Trail; the official guided-walk notice instructs visitors to wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing. The summer setup at Lido includes drinking water, showers, lifeguards and an on-duty medical team.

During the July-to-September season, the pontoon bridge from Zemunski Kej in Zemun is the direct route onto the island, leading to Lido Beach at the northern tip. Zemun itself is reachable from central Belgrade by tram or bus; the city has no metro. Take city bus 82 to its Zemun / Kej oslobođenja terminus. Continue along Zemun Quay to the seasonal pontoon bridge and cross on foot to Lido Beach on Great War Island; the 2026 crossing operated daily from 08:00 to 19:00 through the end of August.

The island floods regularly and its interior is genuine marsh, not landscaped parkland, so wandering off the tracks near Lido Beach in wet conditions is a real way to get stuck rather than a minor inconvenience. The seasonal pontoon bridge accommodates pedestrians and city-service vehicles. The summer setup at Lido includes drinking water, showers, lifeguards and an on-duty medical team. Pedestrian access depends on the seasonal bridge and the Danube's water level. The protected area is managed by the public utility company JKP Zelenilo-Beograd.

The confluence itself — the visible line where the Sava's water meets the Danube's — is best photographed from the island's western shore or from the fortress side across the water, since Great War Island sits exactly at that junction. Early morning is the strongest time for the resident bird species, particularly the white-tailed eagles, though photographers should keep distance from nests rather than approach for a closer shot, in line with the reserve's protection rules. Pedestrian access depends on the seasonal bridge and the Danube's water level. The protected area is managed by the public utility company JKP Zelenilo-Beograd.