Belgrade, Serbia

If you are trying to come up with an "underrated" world capital, Belgrade might qualify. It probably takes a big of a back seat to Budapest - just up the Danube in Hungary - in terms of interest to tourists. Still, there's plenty to see here, and the city has quite a bit of energy that mixes well with some good attractions and plenty of history (most of which is unknown to Americans).

The city has been around for 2,600 years or so, which is about as long as any other metropolis. The current population is about 1.7 million. It was the capital of various Serbian national entities over the years. Belgrade picked up attention internationally when it was made the capital of Yugoslavia in 1918, until that country dissolved in 2006.  Want some stats? The count is 115 wars that have taken place here, and the city has been razed 44 times in all. 

It is remembered more recently when it was bombed by NATO forces during the Kosovo War in 1999. Belgrade took some hits during that time, and some of the buildings remain in rubble today. The people either aren't sure what to do with it, or like the idea of having a memorial to that point of history ... or maybe both. 

Belgrade might have been the nicest surprise on our tour of Eastern Europe. The welcome mat, er, sign, is out in front of the Palace of Serbia (which holds several Cabinet agencies) as it waits for your visit.