Ada Ciganlija, colloquially shortened to Ada, is a river island that has artificially been turned into a peninsula, located in the Sava River’s course through central Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The name can also refer to the adjoining artificial Lake Sava and its beach. To take advantage of its central location, over the past few decades, it was turned into an immensely popular recreational zone, most notable for its beaches and sports facilities, which, during summer seasons, can have over 100,000 visitors daily and up to 300,000 visitors over the weekend.
Owing to this popularity, Ada Ciganlija has been commonly nicknamed “Belgrade’s Sea”
Ada Ciganlija has a unique ecosystem, creating an oasis in the urban area. Most of the peninsula is forested. The original, thick deciduous forest mainly consists of oaks, elms, birches and willows.
The island has been conceptualized as Belgrade’s focal point for mass sporting activity and recreation, such as great for team building activities. So, it features a great number of facilities, which get more numerous every year. They include: tennis courts, bike paths, volleyball courts, beach volleyball courts, soccer fields, skateboarding ramps and rollerskating paths, basketball courts, a paintball field, baseball fields, rugby fields, kayaking facilities, an artificial rock climbing wall, water slides, rowing facilities, diving range, bungee jumping platform, trim trail, fishing facilities, cable skiing facilities, canoeing facilities, water polo courts, pedalos, zip line and a golf course.
Ada Ciganlija has in the past been a host to a number of local and international water sporting events such as competitions in rowing and kayaking. The very first golf course in Serbia has been built on this island in recent years along with a golf club house, a golfing store, golfing school and a practice range. This golf course is also the seat of the first and so far only Serbian golfing association.
