Serbia

Overview

Serbia ( Serbian : Србија, Srbija ) is a Balkan country in Southeastern Europe . It is at the crossroads of European history, and as such is a mix of cultures, ethnicities and religions. It lies on one of the major land routes from Central Europe to the Near East . It was the dominant component of Yugoslavia , and considered to be its natural successor. Despite having developed as a tourist destination much later than neighbouring Croatia , it is also a varied and beautiful nation, offering a mixed scenery: from the plains of Vojvodina that remind one of the scenes from Dr. Zhivago in winter, to many mountains, lakes, and national parks. During the summer tourists love spending their time in Belgrade , seen as one of the up-and-coming capitals of Europe. In winter, they are attracted to the ski resorts, one of the most popular being Kopaonik . There are also many spa resorts. Serbia has a soulfulness and verve, coupled a gusto for good living, that are rare to find, while its people are some of the most hospitable and welcoming.

Serbs are a warm people and welcoming towards foreigners. Most younger Serbs will speak some English and will be eager to practise it (seniors, however, are more likely to speak German and/or French), so you will be able to find your way around by asking directions. Most tourists come to Serbia in the summer and you can often hear German, Italian, French and English in the streets of Belgrade, while Slovenian tourists pour in for the New Year holidays.

In the north: continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion: moderate continental climate; and to the south: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall.

Sights and landscapes

Novi Sad is another delightful city, with the Petrovaradin Fortress (one of the greatest and best-preserved 18th-century fortresses in Europe) as its main sight. The city also has a number of lovely parks that just ask for a long afternoon stroll or picnic. Sremski Karlovci near Novi Sad has a rich history, numerous monuments, museums, churches, galleries and famous wine cellars. Town of Novi Pazar , your last stop before Kosovo , has a distinct Turkish heritage and a bunch of great monasteries in the surrounding area.

Mokra Gora is a village reconstructed in a traditional style in the popular mountain region of Zlatibor . Very near is the traditional village of Drvengrad , also known as Mećavnik, which the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica built for his film Life is a Miracle . The village of Sirogojno is in the same region, with a nice open air museum and lots of traditional crafts on display. After you see the villages, Zlatibor offers some great ski-resorts, hiking trails and landscapes. Or hop on the Šargan Eight , a narrow-gauge heritage railway running from Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi station (Zlatibor and Tara mountains). When it comes to the number of bridges and tunnels, and the rise of 18 per thousand, Sargan Eight is unique in Europe and a ride on the 8-shaped track is a popular pass time for tourists.

Experiences

Ada Ciganlija is also an excellent place to kick back and relax during summer. It is as locals call it the sea of Belgrade. A lot of sport fields and courts (soccer, basketball, golf, volleyball, etc.) Cafés serving ice cream and beer abound on the banks of this lake-beach park, although at far higher prices (around 30-40%) compared to other places in Belgrade.

A favourite leisure activity in Belgrade is drinking coffee in numerous bars, bistros and cafés (especially in Strahinjića Bana street, which is known locally as Silicon Valley). It is very strange, but most of places are occupied all day long – i.e., within working hours. You should check: Downtown café, Buka bar, Movie bar, Iron café, Biblioteka café, Monza café-boat, Bibis café-boat, and many more; People who are not in the folk and MTV music, and don't like to drink overpriced coffee, should avoid this street. There are coffee bars on almost every corner in Belgrade, which offer more relaxed atmosphere and are designed with more taste that those in Strahinjića Bana street.

Culture and food

Serbian food is a typical Balkan mix of Central European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern dishes. Serbs are very proud of their food, which is heavy on grilled meats and sausages, local cheeses and bread. Serbia is predominantly a meat-loving nation. In all major cities, there are many international restaurants, such as Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Lebanese. In Belgrade you can even find sushi or kosher food.

There are international fast-food franchises such as McDonald's and KFC. On the whole, prices are cheap compared to Western Europe with main dishes ranging from RSD 600 to 2400 per person.

Planning your route

Public transportation is generally not in very good shape outside of Belgrade. Trams and newer buses are exclusive to the capital, while intercity transport and transport within other smaller cities and towns uses older buses or more expensive minibuses. The coverage, however, is still pretty good in other towns as well. The quality of public transport within Belgrade itself is good and has vastly improved lately as most of the bus fleet was replaced by brand new gas powered buses.

The capital itself has around 120 public transport lines which can get you anywhere within the city you might want to go. A majority of these lines are bus lines, but some are trolleybus, tram and minibus lines.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.