A trip to Serbia countryside…
… for many means a trip to Belgrade, something that is not accurate, as Serbia’s countryside has beautiful towns, wonderful images and plenty of activities. And what can we say about the excellent food, many hotels, the locals’ warm hospitality and, of course, the reasonable prices that come to “embrace” all of the above. But let’s take things from the top.
The trip to Serbia is a surprise for the visitor, as the Balkan country of seven million residents has a rich history, wonderful culture, while its countryside takes you back in time and enchants you with its simplicity and beauty. Serbia is located in the middle of Europe and works as a significant reference point between North and South.
The National Tourism Organization of Serbia is the main lifeline for tourism in the country. It is responsible for the upturn of tourism during the latest years, as it showcases and promotes the country’s advantages in the best possible way. Its motto “Experience Serbia” is totally justified, as every part of the country is a remarkable experience.
What to do in Serbia countryside / Attractions in Serbia countryside
Belgrade
The capital of Serbia has a different flair compared to the countryside. It grows in a fast pace and looks like a city of western standards, which is wrapped in a sweet medieval veil. It is divided into the new and the old Belgrade. Its charm lies in the old town, where the medieval elements are prevalent, with the picturesque buildings, alleys and cobble-stone walkways coming in full contrast with its people’s modern way of life.
The most important things one should do and see in Belgrade:
Belgrade means “White City” και and it got its name by the white stone with which the fortress was built and “blinded” the visitors with its shine.
1) Stroll down the Walkway
The Knez Mihailova pedestrian street is, probably, the city’s most lively spot! It is about one kilometer long and it is the ideal place for shopping, as it hosts some of the most famous clothing brands. Bookstores, two large malls, tech stores, souvenir shops, as well as many stately buildings are only a few of the things you will see while crossing it. Finally, it is the street that leads to the city’s fortress.
Tip: On our favorite by(walk)way Obilićev Venac you will find many options for coffee and food.
2) Church of Saint Sava
The impressive Church of Saint Sava that is located in the center of Belgrade, is the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans and it is built on the standards of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. It has a beautiful and peaceful interior space, which can host around 7,000 people(!). What makes it one of the most beautiful churches in Europe are the 4 billion tiles, many of which are pure 24k gold, as well as silver.
Tip: Visit it on Sunday morning so you can attend part of its service.
3) Nikola Tesla Museum
The interactive Museum will offer you an hour in the life of the great scientist/inventor Nikola Tesla. Through videos you will learn about his career and achievements, while later on you will have the chance to see in practice how many of his inventions worked… and, of course, take part in them! Finally, in the Nikola Tesla Museum you will find an array of personal items and portraits of the remarkable scientist, who changed our world.
4) Cruise in the Danube River
On all of our trips, we recommend the cruise because it is a way to see different angles of the city through a special lens. Thus, in Belgrade, a cruise along the Danube and Sava rivers is a must. Pick the ideal one for you, both in terms of duration and cost, and enjoy the White City reflecting its beauty on the water!
5) Belgrade Fortress
It is the most emblematic landmark in Belgrade (and possibly all of Serbia). It is located on a nodal point, at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers and it is the city’s gem. Inside its walls, you will have the chance to learn about its rich history, while in the interior you will see the war and military museum, the natural history museum and more. Finally, the view from atop the walls will entrance you..
Tip: Inside the fortress you will find open air basketball courts of Partizan and Red Star Basketball Clubs! It is so cool to play basketball and having the walls towering all around you..
6) Entertainment on Belgrade’s floating river clubs
One of the top to-do things for anyone visiting the capital of Serbia is entertainment on one of the dozens of floating river clubs. The music starts early, and the fun will absolutely carry away even the most hesitant ones. Are you going to miss it?
7) New Belgrade
New Belgrade is located on the other side of river Sava. It is a place with a completely different aesthetic, full of large apartment buildings. It is flat and extremely squared, full of parks, sports arenas and multi-purpose venues for events, activities and concerts. Over there we also find the enormous Palace Of Serbia, the Stark Arena, the Museum of Modern Art and more.
8) Avala Telecommunications Tower
The 205m tall Avala Tower is located just 30 minutes away from the capital of Serbia and it is a must-see attraction. It is the tallest tower in the Balkans and stands on the top of the Avala hill. It offers an unobstructed 360º view, which, on clear days, can make the eye travel over a large part of Serbia.
Tip: There is transportation from Belgrade that can take you to the tower at low cost.
9) Zemun
The bohemian village of Zemun can be characterized as a suburb of Belgrade, although the reconstruction that has taken place over the last few years has brought it right next to the capital. At its top stands the Millenium Tower, which offers the best view of Belgrade. Strolling down you will pass by the square for a quick coffee or ice-cream, before you go on to the wonderful riverside route, which leads to Belgrade and is about 5km long. Zemun is also very well-known for the great food (fish prevails on the menu) and for its vivid night life.
Tip: A cocktail during sunset, at one of its riverside bars, will enchant you!
10) Food/drink at Skadarlija
It could be characterized as Belgrade’s Ladadika district (in Thessaloniki)! The bohemian Skadarlija or Skadarska neighborhood concentrates a large number of establishments both for drinks and dining. It is paved, quaint and full of life, all days of the week. There you will find quality traditional food, as well as many bars with different styles to enjoy your drink.
Serbia’s Countryside
1) Niš
Niš is the third largest city in Serbia and is crossed by the Nishava river, one of Danube’s tributaries. The city has a Balkan “scent”, and it is one of the oldest cities in Europe, something that is also evident by its archaeological site, Mediana. The low buildings, the impressive fortress, the Obrenovićeva pedestrian street, the large malls and the riverside walks are few of the things one should not miss out on when visiting Niš.
Tip: The city hosts one of the largest jazz festivals in Europe (inside its fortress)!
2) Sremski Karlovci
If you are looking for locations-gems, then Sremski Karlovci is ideal! One of Serbia’s eight wine paths, it will daze you with its quiet and colorfulness. It is the home of the Bermet sweet wine, as it is the only place that preserves its traditional recipe. It also includes quality options for dining or coffee.
Tip: It is just 15 minutes away from Novi Sad.
3) Novi Sad
Novi Sad is Serbia’s second most well-known city, and not in vain. It is about one hour away from Belgrade and makes for the perfect one-day excursion. It could easily win the title of the most colorful city with many parks. The city’s most iconic attraction is the Petrovaradin fortress, which offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city and the Danube River. In the center you will find the colorful Dunavska pedestrian street with the many baroque buildings and the large Svetozar Miletic square. This is the ideal location to enjoy your coffee or grab a quick bite. Novi Sad is a pretty easy city to wander, so much so that you can get to see it in one day.
4) Topola
Topola is one of Serbia’s eight wine routes. The Aleksandrovic winery is the most well-known in town, and apart from the interesting tour of the premises, it also offers the option for wine-tasting, even including food. In the town you will also find the Oplenac park, in which stands prevalent the Church of Saint George / Mausoleum of the Karađorđević family (the royal house of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia).
5) Zlakusa
The small village of Zlakusa became known worldwide for the unique trait of its people creating clay pots by hand! Actually, UNESCO inscribed the village on its list and offered them the distinction of quality assurance. Finally, in Zlakusa you will find hiking trails, as well as the famous Potpeće cave!
Tip: 17 families in the village are involved in the process of traditional pottery, while the pottery demonstrations take place only on appointment.
6) Zlatibor
Zlatibor could easily be characterized as the Dubai of Europe! With incomparable reconstruction pace, Zlatibor is set to become a tourism behemoth. Huge holiday complexes, parks, ponds/fountains in the center of the city, ski slopes, training centers and many more are sprouting around constantly. It is a destination that is also offered as a health, wellness and relaxation trip.
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Tip: Do not miss out on taking a ride on the world’s longest ski-lift, the Zlatibor Gold Gondola, which is 9km long!
7) Vrnjačka Banja
Serbia’s pleasant surprise comes from this small but so beautiful town, on Serbia’s southwestern part. The town of 10,000 residents, year by year, is becoming more well-known for its thermal / healing baths. It also has a lot of parks, which are quite spacious, and a beautiful walkway, which is worth strolling through and staying to enjoy some coffee..
Tip: Here you will find one of the many Love Bridges that exist worldwide. Click here to see where it is located..
8) Mokra Gora
If someone asks us which is the most picturesque place in Serbia, then we would at once show them Mokra Gora! This quaint paradise is located just 5km from the borders with Bosnia & Herzegovina and it became well-known for the route (Line 8) with the old train that crosses a large part of the National Park. The second attraction is the wooden village, which the director Emir Kusturica built for his movie “Life is a miracle”. The village has free entrance for the public and offers unique images, as well as moments of relaxation.
info: The area has been declared as a National Heritage Monument, while according to the World Tourism Organization, it is one of the most beautiful touristic villages in the world!
Food Serbia / What and where to eat in Serbia
Food is a huge and, at the same time, very tasty chapter. The Serbs love meat, and this shows through the endless cold cuts (smoked or not) as well as the dozens of meat-based options that are included in their menus. Prices at restaurants are reasonable, quality is high, and portions are more than satisfying. Do not miss out on trying the Salami Kulen, the Kaymak butter, the traditional minced meat sausages (Ćevapi) and the amazing rotisserie pork/lamb (pečenje). The number one side dish on any table is the red pepper spread (Ajvar), which you can enjoy on hot bread, that every restaurant offers. Finally, for those of you that can handle alcohol and love raki, do not miss the chance to try their local liqueur, which is made from plums (Rakija).
Bella Napoli (Belgrade, Zemun): Bella Napoli is located in Zemun, and it is the best place for beautiful nights with Aperol and pasta/pizza.
Aleksandrovic winery (Topola): The winery, apart from tours, offers the chance for a full meal with delicate flavors, with the vineyards as the background! Of course, each dish is accompanied by the proper wine from their selection.
Restoran 27 (Belgrade): The gourmet escape in Belgrade goes by the name Restoran 27!
Нишлијска механа (Niš): It is a traditional tavern, well hidden in the city center, which offers an array of traditional dishes.
La Scala (Belgrade): A quality Italian restaurant on the capital’s pedestrian street, which will leave you with the best impression, if you would like to take a break from the local cuisine. Try their huge pizza boat!
Villa Bermet (Sremski Karlovci): t this establishment, apart from the traditional Bermet wine, you can also enjoy your coffee or beer, accompanied by one or a few traditional dishes. Do not overdo it because portions are pretty large.
Boskova Voda (Ljubis): It is an excellent option for traditional food, made with amazing ingredients, which will help you understand and taste the authentic Serbian cuisine.
Restoran Pastir (Mačkat): It is a very good place to try the traditional rotisserie pork and lamb (pečenje).
Tri šešira (Belgrade): It is located on the Skadarlija walkway and it makes for a very good option to taste the Serbian cuisine. Do not miss out on ordering their tasty meat soup.
Feniks Cafe (Zlatibor): It is one of the best options for coffee, ice-cream, dessert in Zlatibor. They offer very good quality in all of their beverages and desserts.
Transportation Serbia
Transportation in Serbia is a chapter that will not give you a really hard time. In Belgrade’s old town you can move around on foot, or with the local public transport (buses, tram, taxi). Most points of interest are close and easily accessible. In order to discover the countryside, you will have to rent a car. The main highway (A1) crosses Serbia from north to south and passes through its largest cities. The rest of the network are good country roads. Also, you should be very careful, as Serbs are a bit of aggressive drivers.
Tips Serbia
- Mosquito repellent is the first thing you should pack in your bag, if you visit Belgrade in the period starting from spring until the end of summer. The mosquitos are countless, mainly close to the riverbanks.
- Smoking is allowed in restaurants and cafes, even in indoor areas, which is very unpleasant! On the other hand, there are establishments that prohibit it by their decision.
- On Belgrade’s pedestrian street you will find blue electric vehicles that transport you for free to all the pedestrian streets.
- On central streets, you will almost exclusively see locals, and the food is maintained in good quality.
- The best and most beneficial way for money exchange (Dinars) is to carry cash. Most money exchange agencies are located on Belgrade’s pedestrian street and have similar rates.
- For money withdrawal, banks get an extra commission of 20%!
- The best season to visit Belgrade is late spring to early autumn, while for the countryside it is throughout the whole year.
- Be very careful when walking along Belgrade’s pedestrian street. Thefts are a pretty common occurrence.
- You can reach the Novi Sad castle by car. Otherwise you can leave it at the car park and go up on foot (200 steps).
- The train in Mokra Gora runs the route three times a day and lasts about 2.5-3 hours.
- Your internet data are not valid in Serbia. The best option is to buy a Travel Sim at the airport. Prices are extremely low and vary between 3 – 10€ for 7-15-30 days and from 2GB to Unlimited!
mini Gellery from the trip to Serbia’s countryside
Disclaimer: We visited Serbia as guests of National Tourism Organization of Serbia (TOS), but the opinions, photographs and whatever you read on this article are ours.
