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5 of the Best Historic Sites in Serbia

At times variously a byzantine, frankish, hungarian, and ottoman kingdom, modern-day serbia is home to a number of wonderful historical sites. here's 5 of the best..

Lucy Davidson

28 sep 2021, @lucejuiceluce.

Continuously occupied since the Palaeolithic Age, modern day Serbia was originally the territory of Slavic migrants in the 6th century. In the time since, it has been recognised as a part of the Byzantine, Frankish, and Hungarian kingdoms. The Serbian Kingdom obtained recognition by the Holy See and Constantinople in 1217, reaching its territorial apex in 1346 as the Serbian Empire. It was then annexed by the Ottomans, with their rule being occasionally interrupted by the Hapsburg Empire. Subsequent Yugoslav wars have seen the territory disputed and re-outlined.

The result is a country with a range of historic sites which reflect its changeable past. We’ve chosen 5 which make for essential viewing when paying a visit.

What are the best Historic Sites in Serbia?

1. Petrovaradin Fortress

Petrovaradin Fortress is a seventeenth century fortified structure in Novi Sad. There has been a fortress on the site since the Bronze Age. The first fortifications on the site of Petrovaradin Fortress were built by the Romans and were later expanded by Cisterian monks in the thirteenth century.

Today, Petrovaradin Fortress is a popular tourist destination and visitors can tour its walls as well as its buildings. One of the most popular aspects is its catacombs, which are believed contain the riches of Serbia’s medieval leaders.

2. Sirmium Imperial Palace

The Sirmium Imperial Palace complex in Serbia contains the remains of a Roman imperial palace which was home to several Roman Emperors, including Constantine I. Built at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth century AD, the complex has now been opened to the public as a museum.

Today the Sirmium Imperial Palace complex is one of the most important Roman sites in Serbia and is a testament to the central role this area played in the middle and late Roman Empire.

3. Serbian Monument to the Unknown Hero

The Serbian Monument to the Unknown Hero (Spomenik Neznanom junaku) was built in memory of the victims of World War One as well as the Balkan Wars. It is located on the former site of the medieval Zrnov fortress.

The unknown hero who was originally buried at the top of the Avala mountain is believed to have been killed by Austrian howitzer missiles in 1915. For several years after the war, only a wooden cross marked the grave. In 1921, momentum built to construct a more dignified commemorative mark, as members of the Allied Forces began erecting monuments across Europe. The national exhumation committee put together in 1923 learned more about the figure but was ultimately unable to confirm his identity.

4. Princess Ljubica's Residence

Located in Belgrade, Princess Ljubica’s Residence is a palace that has been deemed to be a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance. Built between 1829 and 1830, it is one of the most remarkable preserved examples of civil architecture of the era, and is generally regarded to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

It was lived in by Princess consort of Serbia Ljubica Vukomanović, the three stories open to the public demonstrate a mixture of Turkish and European architectural and decoration influences.

5. House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia

The House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is the seat of the National Assembly of Serbia. Located on the historic Nikola Pašić Square in downtown Belgrade, and is a landmark and therefore a popular tourist attraction.

Plans for a national assembly house were drawn up in 1891. Completed between 1936 and 2006, it was the seat of the Parliament of Yugoslavia and Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro. The interior features an intricate neo-baroque style, while the exterior is surrounded by a scenic park which is popular among visitors.

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• Visitor Information
• Exhibitions

WAITING FOR THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION

Nikola Pašić Square 11

In the year that marks its jubilee – the 60th anniversary from the establishment, the Historical Museum of Serbia presents to visitors many of the most valuable items from its collections, with the exhibition “Waiting for the permanent exhibition”. The exhibition was conceived in such a way as to give an insight into certain parts of the future permanent exhibition – although without any pretensions as to including all of its topics. Authors of the exhibition: Dr. Dušica Bojić, Sladjana Bojković and Tijana Jovanović Češka

A BRIEF TOUR THROUGH SERBIA’S PAST

Patrijarha pavla blvd 2, topčider.

“A brief tour through Serbia's Past” takes place in the authentic space of the 19th-century Residence of Prince Miloš Obrenović every Thursday at 4 PM. The tour includes a 1-hour lecture about Serbian history, a 30-minute guided tour through the permanent exhibition at the Residence of Prince Miloš, and a Q&A session afterward, all in the English language. The number of people in attendance is limited, so if you wish to join the tour, or schedule a private group tour (up to 10 people), you must book a place via e-mail address [email protected] or by phone at +381 60 3398 008 (Viber or WhatsApp).

HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF SERBIA

Historical Museum of Serbia Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (last access to the Museum 7 p.m.)

THE RESIDENCE OF PRINCE MILOš

The annex of the Historical Museum of Serbia. Opening hours: April 1 – October 1: Every day except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 1 – April 1: Every day except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SERBIAN HOUSE AT CORFU

Corfu, greece.

Permanent exhibition "Serbs on Corfu 1916- 18", is open to the public from 18 April 2016 in a renovated Serbian house in Corfu.

For its more than half a century of work, the experts at the Museum have collected a large number of objects important for the history of Serbia and the Serbian people and other peoples and cultures on the territory of Serbia. Over 35,000 items have been organized in 23 collections and four funds.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Museum shop

The museum shops at Trg Nikole Pašića and at the Residence of Prince Miloš in Topčider offer a great variety of publications and souvenirs (mugs, metal figures, badges, pendants, magnets, etc.).

Serbian House at Corfu

FROM BIDERMEIER TO MEDIALA – PAINTING OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES IN THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF SERBIA

19 October 2021 - 20 November 2022

The exhibition, authored by Tijana Jovanović Češka, Museum Advisor, will premiere to the public, exclusively from the artistic aspect, selected works of art executed in oil. During the almost 60 years of its existence, through gifts, purchases and commissions, the Museum has enriched its Art Collection, which today consists of about 4,000 different works of art, until now only occasionally presented to the public, as accompanying, illustrative museum material.

THE RETURN OF THE GENERAL – 145TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF RUSSIAN VOLUNTEERS IN SERBIA

24 September – 7 October, 2021

The exhibition “The Return of the General – 145th Anniversary of the Arrival of Russian Volunteers in Serbia”, authored by prof. Dr. Alexei Timofeev, has been organised by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Culture of Russia, the Historical Museum of Serbia, the State History Museum of Russia and the Russian Center for Science and Culture, “Russian House”, in Belgrade.

“THE HOLY NEW MARTYRS OF JASENOVAC IN THE LIGHT OF RESURRECTION”

11, Nikola Pašić Square

22 April - 22. June 2021

The Committee for Jasenovac of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Museum of Genocide Victims and the Historical Museum of Serbia have organized an exhibition entitled "The Holy New Martyrs of Jasenovac in the Light of Resurrection", consisting of works by the nun Marija (Antić), a member of the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Jasenovac, Croatia), in the Diocese of Pakrac and Slavonia.

KINGS AND SAINTS OF SERBIA

Historical Museum of Serbia

7. May - 20. November 2020.

The exhibition "Kings and Saints of Serbia" is dedicated to the most important Serbian medieval dynasty - Nemanjić.

“PRINCESS ELIZABETH – A LONG JOURNEY HOME”

15. september - 14. november 2019.

The exhibition "Princess Elizabeth – A Long Journey Home" is a kind of homage to Princess Elizabeth Karageorgevic.

THE END OF THE GREAT WAR 1917–1918

13 November 2018 - 13 November 2019.

The exhibition “The End of the Great War 1917–1918” is part of the Programme marking the centenary of World War One.

ĐORĐE STANOJEVIĆ – “THE MAN WHO LIT UP SERBIA”

13 January - 1 September 2018

The exhibition is a contemporary multimedia museum project, inspired by the 160th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding scientist.

KARADJORDJE’S MURDER

30 November 2017 - 30 September 2018

The exhibition has been organized on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the death of Karadjordje.

CITIES ON THE MOVE – POST-OTTOMAN

Nikola Pašić square

7. november 2017. - 28. januar 2018.

Cities on the Move is an exhibition that depicts the development of new states that emerged from the remains of the Ottoman Empire, through the photo material taken from the Yugoslav and Turkish daily newspapers.

SERBIA IN 1915–1916 AND THE FRENCH–SERBIAN HOSPITAL IN SEDES, THESSALONIKI

23. december 2016 - 31. october 2017.

The exhibition presents the events during 1915 and 1916, when, after the great victories achieved at the battles of Cer, Drina and Kolubara in 1914, and having proclaimed the liberation and unification of all unliberated Serbian and Slav peoples as her war goal, Serbia was not only faced with the typhus pandemic that spread across the country, but also with the diplomatic pressure from the Allies to give up her war goal, and eventually, from the beginning of October 1915, with a new attack from the numerous and technically superior enemy.

PUNK VISUAL ART PORTRAITS OF THE OBRENOVIĆ DYNASTY

The Residence of prince Miloš

May 13th 2016 - December 31th 2016

Within the frame of a new event, „Museums of Serbia, ten days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.”, organized by Serbia’s national museums, the exhibition „Punk visual art Portraits of the Obrenović Dynasty” was opened on Friday 13 May, in the Residence of Prince Miloš in Topčider.

SAINT SAVA OF SERBIA

Trg Nikole Pašića

July 5th - November 28th 2016

The „Saint Sava of Serbia” exhibition was opened on Tuesday, 5 July 2016 at 12 a.m. at the Historical Museum of Serbia at Trg Nikole Pašića.

BEFORE OR AFTER OR NOW

28 March 2016 - 10 May 2016

The exhibition is open to the public from 28 March 2016 to 10 May 2016 at the Historical Museum of Serbia at Trg Nikole Pašića 11.

HERE AM I, HERE ARE YOU… THE RECOLLECTIONS OF PRINCE MILOŠ

Тhe Residence of Prince Miloš in Topčider

The exhibition is open to the public from 23 September 2015 at the Historical Museum of Serbia at the Residence of Prince Miloš in Topčider.

PUPIN – FROM PHYSICAL TO SPIRITUAL REALITY

September 24th 2015 - the end of 2016

This spacious interactive exhibition dedicated to Mihajlo Pupin of Idvor, the most comprehensive representation of his life and work so far, is open to the public from 25 September 2015 to the end of 2016 at the Historical Museum of Serbia at Trg Nikole Pašića 11.

PERMANENT EXHIBITION IN TOPČIDER

At the Residence of Prince Miloš in Topčider, visitors can see the permanent exhibition „Miloš Obrenović – dynasty, history, myth”, dedicated to the creator of the modern Serbian State, Prince Miloš, and his illustrious role in the liberation from Ottoman rule, as well as to the importance of his successors in the Obrenović dynasty for 19th-century Serbian history.

SERBIA 1804 – 1903 – THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION AT THE RESIDENCE OF PRINCE MILOŠ

Boulevard of Patriarch Pavle, 2, Topčider

10. June 2021 -

The Permanent Exhibition at the Residence of Prince Miloš in Topčider, which was his official court, seeks to show the struggles for final liberation from centuries-old Ottoman rule, which beginning with the First Serbian Uprising and continuing with the Second, the efforts, trials and adversities of their initiators, Karadjordje Petrovic and Miloš Obrenović, as well as the significance and merits of Miloš’s successors in the Obrenović Dynasty through the second half of the 19th century, when after gaining independence the kingdom was restored and renewed and the modern Serbian state strengthened.

20. April 2023. -

In the year that marks its jubilee – the 60th anniversary from the establishment, the Historical Museum of Serbia presents to visitors many of the most valuable items from its collections, with the exhibition “Waiting for the permanent exhibition”. The exhibition was conceived in such a way as to give an insight into certain parts of the future permanent exhibition – although without any pretensions as to including all of its topics.

THE 10 BEST Serbia Historical & Heritage Tours

Historical & heritage tours in serbia.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Likely to Sell Out
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Northern Serbia: Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad Full-Day Tour from Belgrade

2. From Belgrade: Novi Sad and Karlovci Sremski Tour

3. Treasures of Eastern Serbia private tour

4. Day Tour to Nis, Serbia - Small group

5. Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia

6. From Belgrade: Drina River House, Mokra Gora and Sargan 8 Railroad Tour

7. Belgrade Essentials E-Scooter tour

8. Red Belgrade Communist Tour

9. 2 hours / Sightseeing Boat cruise Drinks Included

10. Eastern Serbia Monasteries and Resava Cave Tour from Belgrade

11. A Crash Course through Serbian History

12. Sarajevo to/from Belgrade UNESCO Transfer Day Tour (Fees Incl.)

13. Private Red Star-Partizan Stadium Tour in Belgrade

14. History and Culture in my Belgrade

15. Belgrade : Private Waking Tour with A Guide ( Private Tour )

16. From Belgrade: Full-Day Historical Danube Tour

17. Tour of the MONASTERIES at Fruška Gora NP and Sremski Karlovci with wine tasting

18. Private Day Tour to Fruska Gora Monasteries, Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad

19. Nis Sightseeing Tour

20. Belgrade Private City Tour

21. Private Skopje Sofia Transfer with City Tour in Nis

22. East Bosnia & West Serbia UNESCO heritage day tour from Sarajevo

23. Kovacica Naive Art Experience - Private Half DayTour from Belgrade

24. Skopje Nis, Serbia - One day tour

25. Half-Day Sightseeing and Walking Tour of Belgrade City

26. 3 Hour Private Walking Tour in Novi Sad City

27. From Belgrade: Golubac fortress & 1h Iron Gate Speed Boat Ride

28. Belgrade Private Grand City Walking Tour

29. UNESCO tour

30. Culture walk: Hooligans Tour - Storm over Belgrade

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Serbia Historical Tours

The Paths of Empires through Serbia. On our historical tours in Serbia, we analyze the most significant events, significant historical figures, artistic highlights, major battles, entire settlements. Various tribes, empires and kingdoms have left their traces. Many great emperors roared through the territory of today's Serbia. 

S.F.R. Yugoslavia - Belgrade Tour

Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Petrovaradin Fortress Tour - underground 'Catacombs' - Expedition Tour Serbia

Danube Fortresses Tour Serbia

Smederevo - Viminacium - Golubac - Đerdap

East Serbia Day Tour

Manasija - Resava Cave - Lisine Waterfalls

Serbia Medieval Tour - Nemanjići

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Belgrade Fortress Tour - Kalemegdan

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Victor Tours

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Serbia extended in 10 days

Get to know Serbia’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage in only ten days, on a well-paced trip, with plenty of time to see everything and  have a complete experience.   From Vojvodina province and the beautiful city of Novi Sad in the north, all the way down to Niš, the birthplace of Constantin The Great in the south, and from Tara National Park in the west to Đerdap National Park and the mighty Danube on the east,  Serbia  is full of majestic attractions waiting to be discovered. It’s all covered with this itinerary. Taste the food, meet the locals, learn about Roman, Serbian, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian heritage, admire UNESCO sites, and enjoy scenic views. By the way, Serbia is a secret… explore it before everyone does.

Arrival at “Nikola Tesla “International Airport.

Regardless of your arrival time on day 1 of the tour, we’ll wait for you at the airport. Our guide will meet you in the arrivals hall with your name on the signboard. In case your flight is delayed, there is no reason to worry. We will monitor your flight, and our guide will meet you accordingly. There are no additional charges for flight delays.

After a short ride of 20 minutes, you’ll be in the city’s center. Check in at the hotel, take the rest of the day to get more familiar with Belgrade, walk around, or follow your guide’s recommendation for dinner.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are arriving in Belgrade a few days before the tour departure, you can book additional nights with us at the same hotel for a surcharge of 40€ (Standard package), 60€ (Superior package), or 80€ (Premium package). Prices are per person, per night, in a double or twin room .  

Overnight: Belgrade

Breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll start with our Belgrade sightseeing tour. Today we’re going to show you almost the most important sights in the city.

We’ll start at the daunting Belgrade Fortress, dramatically perched above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Built between the 1st and 18th centuries, this Fortress witnessed major defensive battles. We’ll check the Victor Monument, the Monument of Gratitude to France, the Zindan Gate, the Chapel of Saint Petka, the Clock Gate, and the Clock Tower.

Once we finish with the Fortress, we will start our panoramic ride through New Belgrade – Belgrade’s largest municipality, with its impressive modern architecture. Here we will see some remarkable buildings, such as the Ex-Central Committee of the Communist Party, Federal Executive Council, also known as the Palace of Federation, Genex Tower or Western Gate of Belgrade, Sava Center, Belgrade Arena, and many more.

After New Belgrade, we’ll reach Zemun, the northern area of Belgrade, characteristic of its Central European appearance, charming quarters, cobblestone streets, and fish restaurants on the Danube river banks. Its curvy cobblestone streets and small houses will give you the impression that Zemun is a melting pot of Mediterranean and Middle European cultures.

After Zemun, we’ll drive through Dedinje, Belgrade’s most luxurious residential area, before we reach the imposing Saint Sava Temple, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.

After the sightseeing tour, time this afternoon on your own. Maybe check out Nikola Tesla’s museum and the National Museum, or wander around the central streets.

In the evening, visit the Old Bohemian Quarter of Skadarlija, frequently compared to Montmartre in Paris, both in appearance and its artistic atmosphere. It’s a perfect opportunity to get more familiar with traditional Serbian cuisine and the famous Belgrade nightlife. (Optional = 25€ per person)

After breakfast, we shall make a trip to the City of Novi Sad. On our way to the second-largest city in Serbia, we shall stop at the nearby town of Sremski Karlovci, the center of Serbian culture in the 18th century. Strolling through this picturesque town’s cobbled streets will lead us to the first Serbian High School, which gave Serbian people several great writers and poets. Along the way, we shall pay a visit to the Old Patriarch’s Court and theological complex – Assembly Church and Theological lyceum. Being in the very heart of the famous wine region, why not visit one of the well-respected wine cellars? We’ll try Bermet wine, the most famous product in the area.

Our next stop is the second-largest fortress on the Danube river – Petrovaradin, one of the most important strategic points in the perpetual war between the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. We shall be introduced to the legends of underground passages before we continue to “Serbian Athens”, as the City of Novi Sad is known.

As we stroll among great cultural institutions and historic buildings, we shall visit the oldest part of Novi Sad, the Zmaj Jovina pedestrian zone. Here we shall get introduced to the rich history of Novi Sad as we see the monument to Svetozar Miletic, the famous Novi Sad Cathedral, Episcopal Church… After our sightseeing, we will enjoy a traditional Serbian three-course lunch in one of the most famous restaurants in the area. (not included). Enjoy your free afternoon and discover Novi Sad independently. Return to Belgrade. Free time.

Overnight: Novi Sad

After breakfast, it’s time to hit the road toward Western Serbia, known for its wild and untouched nature, tasty cuisine, and friendly and hospitable people. Our first stop is a world-famous attraction, “The House on Drina” – an isolated house made of logs on a river stone.

After a photo stop and refreshments, we will continue our trip to the famous Šargan Eight. A unique narrow-gauge railway nowadays serves only for amusement. We will pass and stop at several viewpoints during our ride, from which one can see fabulous views over Mokra Gora. Authentic cars with wooden seats, wood-burning stoves, and characteristic rattling sounds will take us back to 1925 when this railway was put into operation.

The next stop is Wooden Town. The famous director Emir Kusturica (two times Palme d’Or in Cannes winner) decided to build it during the shooting of his film “Life is a Miracle.” He chose to convey ruined wooden chalets from the mountain’s slopes, restore them, and form a new settlement.

After we have fed our eyes and souls with beauty, we will finish our day in Kraljeve Vode, the tourist center of Zlatibor mountain. The region of Zlatibor is famous for its healthy air, folk architecture, native culture and traditions, wealthy and diverse ethnic heritage, widely-renowned culinary specialties, healthy food, and balmy climate. After the check-in, you’ll have free time to enjoy and relax.

Overnight: Zlatibor

Breakfast. Departure from Zlatibor in the morning and transfer to Uvac Special Natural Reserve.

After only one hour of driving, we’ll find ourselves in the pure beauty of Uvac Canyon. For centuries, the Uvac River has been making its way through the mountains, leaving deep meanders and creating caves that attract many tourists. If we’re lucky, we’ll get a chance to see the mighty griffon vulture, whose population in Uvac is the largest in Europe. The bird’s wingspan is about 3 m, and it can weigh up to 11 kg, thus making it the largest bird in Serbia.

We will take a boat trip and follow the river as it twists and turns through the impressive landscape. We’ll not leave the Reserve before taking some fantastic photos from the viewpoints overlooking the canyon.

After this exceptional experience, the tour will return to Zlatibor and visit Sirogojno, a village famous for its ethnological museum and ‘Sirogojno sweaters’ made of raw wool. You will see the Ethnological exposition of the open-air museum known as the Old Village before heading back to the hotel. Free time.

OPTIONAL:  Lunch break (not included in the price) in “Pećinar” restaurant, in the Ljubiš village. This is a very old and well-known restaurant serving exclusively traditional Serbian food. They offer only a few dishes, but they are all homemade, prepared, and served with love. All the pies are made only after your order, and depending on the season, you will get different salads with home-grown seasonal vegetables. Their fresh-squeezed juices are amazing, especially one made of raspberries.

IMPORTANT NOTE 1: If you want to see the viewpoints, there are around 25 minutes of hiking uphill. It’s not recommended for older, overweight, or people with any walking disabilities. Another option is to sit in the boat while the rest of the group returns from the photo session at the viewpoints.

Important note 2:  In case of bad weather or insufficient water level for the cruise to be conducted, we’ll replace the cruise with a jeep ride to the beautiful viewpoints. 

This day is reserved for the “Valley of the Kings,” where the medieval Serbian state was founded. Our first stop is Studenica Monastery, located in a lovely landscape. Studenica is one of the most valuable and significant monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is the second Serbian monument to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage in 1986.

We will continue with our trip, and our next stop will be Žiča monastery. Žiča has great significance for the history of the Serbian people and their churches. The first archbishop of the autonomous Serbian Church, Saint Sava, here crowned his brother as a king and ordained the bishops of the newly-founded dioceses. We will end the day in Vrnjača Banja (spa ), or in “The Queen of Serbian spas,” as it is often called. Walk around the beautiful park and promenade to end the day in a relaxing and calming manner.

Overnight: Vrnjačka Banja spa

Today, we will visit the birthplace of the famous Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, the city of Niš.

First, we will visit the Niš Fortress, lying on the bank of the Nišava River. It assumed its final shape in 1723 when the Turks built it, facing the end of their reign in this area. We will continue our sightseeing of the most important sights in the city, including the Banovina Building, Niš Liberators Monument at King Milan Square, The Monument of well-known Serbian writer Stevan Sremac, Mediana Archeological Site, and the infamous Skull Tower – the monument unique in the world, erected by the Turks as an example to others of the folly of opposition to their rule.

We will conclude our sightseeing with a visit to Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp, today a museum. The German Gestapo operated the camp and held captured Jews, Serbians, and Romas during the Second World War. We’ll enjoy some of the food that Niš is famous for before we continue our trip to Eastern Serbia and Kladovo. Use this afternoon to relax in the hotel’s pool or walk around and enjoy the beautiful nature.

Overnight: Kladovo

From Kladovo, we continue further through the very east of Serbia, along its border with Romania.

We’ll start our exploration with a boat ride through the famous Iron Gate gorge. We’ll check the Tabula Traiana, a Roman memorial plaque from the Ist century erected to mark the end of road construction. After the boat ride, we will stop at a unique, authentic restaurant with a fantastic view overlooking the Danube to enjoy a traditional lunch made of specialties of the cuisine of Eastern Serbia (not included).

Following this, we will reach our next stop – Lepenski Vir. The early settlement of Lepenski Vir was first uncovered in 1965. The works brought to light sacred architecture and monumental sculptures from one of the oldest Danube cultures, dating back to 7,000-6,000 BC, also marking the beginning of Europe’s civilization. 

Our last stop for the day is the Golubac fortress. This defensive complex was used to defend many kingdoms through the centuries. Golubac is the perfect fairy-tale castle, wonderfully set off by its location in the rugged landscape at the head of Đerdap Gorge. 

There are nine towers in all, each between 20 and 25m high. With the fortress’s interesting position leaning over the Danube, they make Golubac undoubtedly one of the most beautiful castles along the 2850km Danube odyssey from source to the Black Sea.

We’ll arrive in Belgrade in the evening

This is your last day in Serbia, so use it to slowly and leisurely see more of Serbia’s capital. Perhaps you can visit the Zemun neighborhood, the most charming quarter of Belgrade. You’ll love it for its Central European appearance, cobblestone streets, and fish restaurants on the banks of the Danube River.

Another option is to visit some of Belgrade’s most famous museums: the National Museum or Nikola Tesla’s Museum, or maybe the House of Flowers, the Memorial to the late Marshal Tito, leader of Yugoslavia, for over 40 years.

If you are a nature lover, check out some of the jewels of “Green Belgrade,” such as Ada Ciganlija Lake, Košutnjak Forest, or The Botanical Garden.

In the evening, have dinner in some of the restaurants with a view of the Sava and Danube rivers, and say farewell to Serbia.

Breakfast. Free time until your flight. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of services.

IMPORTANT NOTE : If you are departing from Belgrade a few days after the tour end, you can book additional nights with us, at the same hotel, for a surcharge of 40€ (Standard package), 60€ (Superior package), or 80€ (Premium package). Prices are per person, per night, in a double or twin room. If you decide to extend your stay, your departure transfer will still be included.

Prices per person, 01.04. – 29.10.2024.

• Standard package : Nobel Palace ,  Mark ,  Royal Inn ,  Prag , or similar
• Superior package : Belgrade Art , Mercure Excelsior , Moskva , or similar
• Premium package : Metropol Palace , Hyatt Regency , Hilton , or similar
• 1 night with breakfast in a 4* hotel in Novi Sad ( Planeta Inn , Centar , or similar)
• 2 nights with breakfast in a 4* centrally located hotel on Zlatibor ( Central Inn , Iris , Maša , Mir , Mona , or similar)
• 1 night with breakfast in a 4* hotel in Vrnjačka Banja spa ( Slatina ,  Zepter , or similar)
• 1 night with breakfast and dinner in a 4* hotel in Kladovo ( Aquastar  or similar)
• Arrival & departure airport transfers
• Sightseeing per the given itinerary in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle
• Services of English-speaking tour guide throughout
• Tour organization and 24/7 support from a licensed incoming tour operator
• Wine tasting during the trip to Novi Sad
• Arrival and departure flights
• Food & drinks (except for breakfast in the hotels)
• Šargan Eight train ticket: 10€ per person
• Wooden Town entrance fee: 2€ per person
• Uvac Lake boat cruise: 20€ per person
• Sirogojno Ethno Village entrance fee = 2€ per person
• Lepenski Vir museum entrance fee: 4€ per person
• Golubac Fortress entrance fee: 6.5€ per person
• Danube boat cruise: 15€ per person
• combined ticket for Nazi Camp, The Scull Tower, and the Archaeological Hall in Niš = 10€ per person
• City taxes = 1,35€ per person / per night
• Bohemian night in Belgrade = 25€ per person (three-course meal, one drink, and transportation included)
• Child from 0 to 2 years old – FREE of charge.
• Child from 2 to 12 years old, sharing the bed – 50% discount on the price in a double room
• Child from 2 to 12 years old, extra bed – 30% discount on the price in a double room.
• Up to 60 days before the departure date = 100% refund
• 59 days to 46 days before the departure date = 90% refund
• 45 days to 31 days before the departure date = 80% refund
• 30 days to 16 days before the departure date = 70% refund
• 15 days to 8 days before the departure date = 50% refund
• 7 days or less before the departure date = 0% refund
• You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to the booking. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveler. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.
• Gratuities are not included in the price (not mandatory, but common)
• The final choice of hotels will depend on the availability at the moment of your booking. We reserve the right to change the hotel due to availability, but we promise the same category, location, and level of quality
• The minimum number of guests required for the tour to departure is three.
• Tour duration: seven days

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Fully Guided Tours & Trips in Serbia

Find the right fully guided tour for you in Serbia. There are 19 trips to choose from, that range from 4 days in length, up to 17 days. The month with the most departures is May, making it the most popular time to visit Serbia.

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19 fully guided tour packages in serbia with 44 reviews.

• In-depth Cultural
• Sightseeing

Best of Serbia in one week - SMALL GROUP

You should definitely go there. A good balance between guided tours and free time.

Highlights of Serbia in 5 days - SMALL GROUP

Very reliable, friendly - simple, clear correspondence language.

Discover Serbia

It was scary to climb the mountains no guide I was lucky to have somebody in the group to help me down.

Discover Serbia 10 Days / 9 Nights

Belgrade City Break Package (4 days/ 3 nights)

• Christmas & New Year

Private - Discover Serbia

Serbia in 7 Days Private Tour

• Coach / Bus

Serbia Uncovered Superior - 7 days

Year-round Serbia 17 days discovery tour from Belgrade. Beautiful road trip across the largest former Yugoslavia country. Plenty of fascinating history, culture, nature, architecture, and delicious cuisine.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.
• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Serbia 4 Day Private Tour

Year-round Serbia discovery 11 days tour from Mostar. Serbia, rich cultural heritage, medieval fortresses and monasteries; incredible Roman traces, and scenic roads. A true gem.

Private Best of Serbia in one week

Our visit to Serbia was perfect. Our Guide/Driver was Marko and he was excellent, always arrived before meeting timings, very knowledgeable on all aspects of the place we visited and gave us some good advice on local matters. The hotels and food were very good too. Pickup and drop off from the airport were well managed. Overall it was another successful trip arranged by Tour Rader and the operator. William and Mandy Peden

Serbia extended in 10 days - PRIVATE TOUR

Simply amazing! We decided on the 10 Day Private Tour because of the itinerary and the great value in terms of price. High quality of hotels, excellent service, warm welcome, knowledgeable guide, and clockwork transfers. It was really a first class trip. Serbia is incredibly diverse; from central European cityscapes to isolated Serbo-Byzantine monasteries the differences couldn't be greater. We were taken to medieval fortresses and mountain villages, through lush national parks and steep gorges, all with very hearty meals and, of course, the national drink 'rakija' in between. The tour gave us a taste of it all. It was a great introduction to this fascinating and beautiful country.

All seasons Serbia discovery 11 days tour from Sarajevo. Roman traces, medieval monasteries, historical fortresses, beautiful nature, tasty food and scenic roads.

All seasons 9-days Serbia discovery tour from Sarajevo. Serbia, land of ancient monasteries, medieval fortresses, Roman traces, cultural wealth and scenic roads.

What people love about fully guided tours in serbia.

All the guides were excellent. Communication was good, the hotels they chose were great.....overall a wonderful experience and I highly recommend this company.

What an amazing experience!. I enjoyed every minute of it. All tour guides did a fantastic job, they were welcoming, friendly, informative and fun. The sites we saw were just jaw dropping!

I recommend taking this tour to see beautiful Serbia! Discover Serbia is an overview of everything Serbia has to offer. From the beautiful architecture in Belgrade to the historic church’s with fresco paintings from over 500 years ago to the ski slopes by the border of Montenegro. Slobodan was an excellent tour guide and Zorica helped plan the whole trip from A to Z and was also excellent. Overall, the hotel choices and breakfast were also 5 ⭐️! Slobodan gave a really nice overview from all aspects of Serbia. Excellent tour guide. Hyatt Belgrade, Hotel Palisad in Zlatibor with all the meals included were also all around excellent. Zorica helped the planning from Serbia Tour Operator DMC and was very helpful. I highly recommend this tour.

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"Little landlocked Serbia really packs a punch when it comes to adventure and fun and you're sure to have a blast when you visit this amazing country. From the lively bars of Belgrade to the peaceful riverside monasteries, Serbia really has something for everyone."

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Learn about the history of Belgrade

Our Serbia trips take you through the scenic Bosnian mountains into Belgrade, the ‘White City’, known for its complex and fascinating history. When you explore the city with your Serbia travel guide, you’ll get a unique insider’s look at this diverse history, ranging from the Celtic and Roman periods to the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian era.

Visit the Kalemegdan Fortress

This striking symbol of Belgrade sits on a ridge overlooking two great rivers, and it’s one of the most incredible places to visit in Serbia. With some 115 battles fought here and over 40 reconstructions over the past 16 centuries, you'll discover how the empires rebuilt the fortress so many times, and admire the lovely views from this impressive citadel.

Visit the House of Flowers

We’ll take you to see the final resting place of former Yugoslavian President, Josip Broz Tito, named after the many flowers that covered the tomb until it was closed to the public. Today, it's a peaceful place with lovely views of the city, and your Local Specialist will reveal some interesting stories of Tito and Serbia’s history on your Belgrade trip.

Admire the views from the Avala Tower

Of all the great Serbia attractions, you can’t miss Mount Avala. Surrounded by beautiful parklands, it’s also home to a 671-foot tall telecommunication tower, the tallest in the Balkans. Rebuilt in 2006 after the 1999 NATO bombing, you can learn the history of the tower, admire the incredible architectural details, and take in the stunning views.

Dine at top tennis player Novak Djokovic's restaurant

Want to dive into the Serbian cuisine in one of the best places in Serbia? We’ll take you to dinner at the restaurant of champion tennis player Novak Djokovic. As the first Serbian player to rank number 1, Djokovic and his restaurant are national icons. You'll see the cabinets filled with trophies and if you’re lucky, you might even be served by Novak’s proud mum.

Our top 5 things to do in Serbia

We’ll show you all the best things to do in Serbia including the top Belgrade attractions, from the great Kalemegdan Fortress to the tranquil House of Flowers.

Museum of Nikola Tesla

Famed as ‘the man who invented the twentieth century’, you’ll dive into the world of Nikola Tesla with a Local Specialist at this excellent museum and final resting place of Tesla. Best known for his breakthroughs in electric power, you’ll discover Tesla’s genius inventions, and hear the insider stories and legends of the man behind them.

Serbian National Museum

You can’t miss the Serbian National Museum, the oldest and largest of Belgrade’s museums. First established in 1844, it’s now home to more than 400,000 objects, from artworks to archaeological treasures. Discover medieval artifacts, Yugoslav artworks, and an Italian art collection featuring masterpieces by the likes of Raphael and Titian.

Museum of Yugoslavia

If you’re interested in the history of Yugoslavia, the former country that included today’s Serbia, you’ve got to visit this Belgrade museum. You’ll learn all about the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Socialist Yugoslavia, and you can visit the House of Flowers, the resting place of Josip Broz Tito, in the museum complex.

Best museums in Serbia

Our Serbia holidays take you to the best museums in the country where you’ll discover Serbia’s fascinating history, culture and famous national icons.

Gibanica is Serbia’s mouthwatering take on the Balkan’s favorite pastry dish. It’s similar to a rich layered strudel cake, made with filo pastry and usually stuffed with cottage cheese and eggs. You can also find them filled with spinach, meat or potatoes, and they can be sweet or savory. Whether you eat it as a snack or a festive treat, gibanica is irresistible.

Pljeskavica

This dish may be popular all over the Balkans, but it's the beloved national dish of Serbia. It’s a traditional grilled hamburger and the spiced meat patty is made with a mixture of beef, pork and lamb. Served with onions, tomatoes, avjar (red bell pepper and eggplant relish) or lepinje (pita bread), pljeskavica is the ultimate Serbian comfort food.

Another Balkan favorite, Kajmak is a salty cheese, similar to clotted cream, made from unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk from cows, sheep or goats. In Serbia, you spread it over bread as a tasty appetizer, melt it onto your hamburger patty, or try the fermented version in gibanica pastries. However you eat it, you’re sure to fall in love with kajmak.

Best food in Serbia

Wondering what to eat in Serbia? We’ll show you the best of real Serbian cuisine, from delicious pastries to grilled meats and fresh cheese.

What to pack for Serbia

Serbian phrasebook

Serbian is the official language, so bring along a phrasebook and try using a few common words and phrases. It’s all part of an enriching Serbia travel experience.

Comfortable shoes

You’ll find endless laneways, hillsides and towers that just have to be climbed on your Serbia holidays, so bring a reliable pair of walking shoes.

Rain jacket

There’s always a chance of rain in Serbia, especially if you’re heading on a Belgrade tour in spring. Bring a light rain jacket or a travel umbrella and stay cozy and dry.

Insect repellent

Don’t forget your insect repellent when you travel Serbia. Whether you bring a spray or a cream, make sure it’s a good quality repellent to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Use it to protect yourself from the sun or the cold, or wrap it around your shoulders when entering churches and monasteries - a scarf always comes in handy on a Serbia trip.

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Wander-Lush

See the Best of Northern Serbia: Easy 7-Day Serbia Itinerary

My one-week Serbia itinerary visiting three of the top cities in Northern Serbia plus one national park is ideal for first-time visitors.

From the concrete jungle of gritty Belgrade to the pretty Art Nouveau towns in the north, Serbia is a haven for wine-lovers, electronic music fans, architecture buffs, Yugo-nostalgics and hikers alike.

Admittedly I’m none of those things – but I thoroughly enjoyed trying a little bit of everything when I spent a fortnight travelling around Serbia last winter.

My Serbia itinerary brings sews together the best parts of the country’s north for an easy 7-day tour by bus or train.

Based off the route I followed on my trip around the Balkans, it’s packed with actionable advice – including the best things to do in Serbia, instructions for getting around, and other handy tips.

Are you planning a visit to Serbia? – Don’t miss my in-depth guide to Novi Sad , Serbia’s coolest city. – Check out my Balkans Travel Guide for tips and recommendations for bordering countries. – If you love road tripping, don’t miss my Balkans road trip planner for inspiring routes around Serbia and beyond.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Serbia itinerary essentials

I travelled pretty extensively through all 12 Balkan states and I think Serbia is one of the easiest countries in the region for travellers. The intercity bus system is great and easy to navigate, accommodation options are plentiful, and English is widely spoken, which makes it easy to troubleshoot any logistical issues.

Here are my tips for planning the perfect Serbia itinerary.

Do you need a visa for Serbia?

Serbia’s tourist visa policy is very similar to the Schengen countries (although it is not included in the Schengen Area). Citizens of 96 countries (including Australia, the UK and the US) can visit Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Some nationalities (including some countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa) are required to apply for a visa in advance.

I recommend using iVisa to check if you need a visa and to apply for an expedited visa online .

Where to start your Serbia itinerary

Belgrade (Serbia’s capital city) is the country’s main transport hub and the natural place to start your travels if you’re flying into the country. There are also regular coach bus connections between Belgrade and neighbouring countries: Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Having said that, I don’t necessarily recommend starting your Serbia travels in Belgrade.

Belgrade is quite a polarising city that many people find overwhelming (or underwhelming, depending how you look at it). I wasn’t a huge fan of Belgrade myself, and I think that if I had started my trip there, it probably would have coloured my impression of the whole country.

Instead, I recommend you start your Serbia itinerary in Novi Sad, the second-biggest city, also located in the north. The two are a mere hour-and-a-bit apart, so you can easily transit to Novi Sad by bus after you arrive in the capital. If you’re flying into Belgrade, I recommend pre-organising an airport transfer to take you to the bus station.

Of course this is just my opinion – you could easily flip this itinerary and start with a few days in the capital before continuing north.

If you happen to be entering Serbia overland from Hungary, western Romania or eastern Croatia, you can easily find bus services to either Novi Sad or Subotica. We entered the country from Osijek in Croatia and had Novi Sad as our first stop.

When is the best time to visit Serbia?

Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica are all destinations you can visit at any time of year.

Because of the way our 6-month Balkans itinerary worked out, we ended up in Serbia in March, which was admittedly still a little chilly and grey for our liking. If I had a choice, I would visit Serbia in late springtime as this season seems to have the best weather conditions.

Summer (June to August) is the hottest time of year in Serbia, and temperatures in concrete-heavy Belgrade can be oppressive. On the other hand, summer and early fall is a great time to go hiking in Serbia’s national parks. If you’re interested in food and wine, fall is also great for experiencing the wine harvest .

Getting around Serbia by bus

Serbia’s bus system is one of the best we encountered in the Balkans. Services are plentiful, fares are well-priced, and in our experience, everything runs true to schedule. We travelled around the country (and the entire Balkans region) exclusively by coach bus. Lasta is the most popular and reliable coach company in Serbia.

I suggest using the Polazak website to find bus schedules and fares in English. We always bought our bus tickets from the station a day in advance – especially recommended if it’s summer or a holiday. You also have the option to buy your tickets online using the Polazak website, although extra charges usually apply.

Bus stations in Serbia have a few quirks. Some of the bigger stations charge entry to access the platforms (usually a couple of dollars equivalent in local currency), meaning you have to buy a platform token in addition to your bus ticket.

Coaches always charge extra for any luggage you want to store under the bus. When we travelled in Serbia, the cost was 60 denars (approx. 60 US cents) per piece of luggage. Bags are tagged before being stowed and you have to present your ticket stub to collect them again, so don’t lose it.

Hiring a car in Serbia

Self-driving can be a good option for confident drivers if you want more flexibility in your itinerary. Serbia has some of the best roads in the region and cheap car rentals; however fuel prices and tolls are on the expensive side. Here are more tips for driving in Serbia .

Personally I recommend using Serbia’s bus network – it’s cheap and efficient. If you do decide to self-drive, I suggest using the Discover Cars website to explore your options and find the best price on a rental. They aggregate a good range of manual and auto transmission cars from international hire companies, with the option to pick up a vehicle in either Belgrade or Novi Sad.

Click here to find a rental car in Serbia using Discover Cars.

Where to stay in Serbia

The final piece of the Serbia logistics puzzle is accommodation. Finding a place to stay in Serbia is very easy, especially in the cities. Hostels, guesthouses and boutique hotels are all widely available. Private apartments are also very popular and can be booked either through Airbnb or Booking.com.

We used Airbnb throughout Serbia and had consistently good experiences. As with the rest of the region, Airbnb is a great choice if you want something self-contained and well-priced.

I’ve included specific accommodation recommendations (including links to the places we stayed at) in the itinerary below. 

How much to budget for your trip

Serbia is a very affordable travel destination by European standards. For context, we found prices cheaper than Croatia or Slovenia, but slightly more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.

Belgrade was one of the more expensive Balkan capitals we visited. To keep costs down, I recommend using Airbnb and eating at local restaurants.

• Budget traveller: 20-30 USD/day (hostel, buses, local meals)
• Mid-range: 30-50 USD/day (guesthouse or Airbnb, buses & taxis, restaurant meals)
• All-out: 50-100+ USD/day (boutique hotel, taxis & private transfers, restaurant meals)

We spent roughly 56,000 denars (approx. 570 USD) for two people for two weeks of travel in Serbia, excluding accommodation.

The perfect 7 days in Serbia itinerary

[belgrade] – novi sad – subotica – belgrade – tara national park (mokra gora).

This Serbia itinerary focuses almost exclusively on the north, with more options to continue your travels in the south at the end. True to my travel style, it prioritises culture, history, food and wine over outdoor activities – although there is one national park included.

As I mentioned, we spent two weeks in Serbia and followed this exact itinerary, albeit at a slower pace. I think one week is the perfect amount of time to spend in Serbia if you’re a first-time visitor and you don’t mind moving around at a reasonably face pace.

Days 1 & 2: Start your Serbia itinerary in Novi Sad

Serbia’s second-largest city and capital of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Novi Sad is the perfect introduction to Northern Serbia.

Novi Sad has a classic European feel thanks to its Hapsburg-era architecture and multitude of outdoor cafes. The Danube runs through the heart of the city, giving it notes of Budapest with a distinctly Serbian edge. One of the many must-dos in Novi Sad is to try the locavore restaurants and wineries that make use of local produce.

Roam the pedestrian boulevard in search of your next kafa hit, duck into Danube’s Park for a stroll under the trees, and seek out the pretty walkways and interiors along the main street.

Novi Sad was considered Serbia’s cultural capital up until the early 20th century and was at one time known by the nickname ‘Serbian Athens’ . This legacy lives on in the dozens of literary and music festivals held throughout the year, most famously EXIT Festival , which takes place on the grounds of Petrovaradin Fortress every summer.

In 2021, Novi Sad will take up its position as European Capital of Culture , an accolade that’s sure to cement its reputation as one of the loveliest cities to visit in the Balkans.

I recommend spending a full day in Novi Sad and adding an extra day to your itinerary for a side trip to the town of Sremski Karlovci.

Things to do in Novi Sad

• Saunter down Dunavska Street to Trg Slobode. Novi Sad’s pedestrian mall is lined with beautiful architecture, cute shops and outdoor cafes. The main square, Trg Slobode, is where you can find some of the city’s most spectacular buildings including the Name of Mary Cathedral.
• Eat lunch at Project 72. A locavore feast in one of the city’s most beautiful dining rooms.
• Sunset at Petrovaradin Fortress. Wander across the river to take in the views from Novi Sad’s fortress. There is an outdoor terrace bar perfectly positioned for a sunset view over the river. Arrive early to explore the complex, with its clock tower, draw bridges and stone tunnels.
• Take a day trip to Sremski Karlovci. Northern Serbia’s prettiest town is just 30 minutes from Novi Sad by bus. Discover the Baroque architecture (including the colourful Grammar School) and visit the gorgeous Museum of Beekeeping. There are several small wineries in town that offer tastings (Podrum Bajilo and Winery Mrdjanin are both recommended). A local bus to Sremski Karlovci from Novi Sad costs 300 denars (approx. 3 USD) per person return. 

For more excellent things to do in Novi Sad, read my Novi Sad city guide.

Where to stay in Novi Sad

When we visited Novi Sad, we stayed at this centrally located Airbnb . Nikola, the host, is very kind and helpful, and the location of the self-contained flat can’t be beat.

If you prefer a hotel, these properties are all centrally located and have excellent ratings (9/10 or higher) on Booking.com:

• Budget hostel: City Hostel
• Mid-range hotel: Garni Citi Hotel Veliki
• Boutique hotel: Hotel Fontana

Day 3: Make your way north to Subotica

Subotica is located an hour north of Novi Sad, very close to the Hungarian border. A small, quiet city by any measure, Subotica is full of architectural treasures and stands out as my absolute favourite place in Serbia.

Subotica is normally associated with one thing: Art Nouveau . Along with its sister city Szeged over the border, Subotica boasts some of the most divine examples of this architectural style anywhere in Europe. The most famous of all is the Raichle Palace (pictured at the top of this article and again below), a private residence built in 1904.

Like Novi Sad, Subotica is an outdoor city whose streets beg for long afternoon walks. A day is the perfect amount of time to explore Subotica on foot, with time for a trip to Palic Lake in the late afternoon.

How to get to Subotica from Novi Sad

There are bus departures at least once an hour from Novi Sad’s MAS Central Bus Station to Subotica, starting from 6am and continuing until around 9pm. (Note that Novi Sad has multiple bus stations – be sure to double check in advance.) Travel time to Subotica is just over 60 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

When booked online through Polazak, Tickets cost between 4-7 Euros depending on the service. We paid 7.90 denars (approx. 8 USD) per person for tickets when we travelled. Check times and prices here .

Things to do in Subotica

• Take a self-guided walking tour of Subotica’s architecture. Subotica Tourism has put together several DIY audio tours through the city that you can follow to see the prettiest buildings. We listened to three of the four tracks and really enjoyed the experience. Highlights of the Art Nouveau tour include the Town Hall building on the main square, the National Theatre and of course the Raichle Palace.
• Go inside Subotica Synagogue. If Raichle Palace has the prettiest facade, Subotica Synagogue definitely holds claim to the most impressive interior. This is seriously one of the most evocative buildings I’ve ever been inside (I liken the experience to visiting the Sagrada Familia). Completed in 1902, it’s no longer active but has been expertly restored with help from the World Monuments Fund. The story of Subotica’s Jewish community is wrapped up in the building and is very, very moving – I highly recommend reading up before you go. The synagogue is open from 10am-6pm every day except Monday. Entrance costs 250 denars (approx. 2.50 USD) per person and is worth every cent.

• Eat lunch at Boss Caffe. Located in the courtyard behind Richle Palace, this local favourite features outdoor dining surrounded by flourishes of Art Nouveau. We ate here twice and really enjoyed the food. The menu is huge and well-priced; we paid 1000 denars (approx. 10 USD) for lunch for 2 people.
• Take a side trip to Lake Palic . Just 10km from Subotica (around 20 minutes by local bus), Lake Palic used to be an elite spa retreat. It features yet more beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, most notably the Grand Terrace complex on the shore of the lake (it now houses a cafe), and a handful of villas tucked in the forest beyond. We walked around the lake accompanied by one of the audio tour tracks.

Where to stay in Subotica

We stayed at the cute Apartment Libra in Subotica , a very comfortable, well-positioned flat with a great kitchen. It was very warm and cosy in winter, and our host Ljubomir even picked us up from the bus station when we arrived.

Other options in Subotica:

• Budget hostel: Hostel Put Svile
• Mid-range hotel: Hotel Forum Garni

Days 4 & 5: Continue to the big city, Belgrade

Now that you’ve eased your way into Northern Serbia, it’s time to hit the big city. 

Before visiting, I only ever associated Belgrade (the ‘White City’) with socialism and Yugoslav history, not realising that it’s actually one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe . Yes, it’s mostly grey concrete on the surface, but there are countless layers of Roman, Ottoman and Yugoslavian heritage to peel back, and no shortage of excellent museums and walking tours to help you do it.

For a balanced experience, I recommend dividing your time in Belgrade between the distinctive ‘old’ and ‘new’ (Socialist) parts of the city, located on the eastern and western banks of the river respectively.

How to get to Belgrade from Subotica

There are a dozen coaches to Belgrade from Subotica every day, departing from the bus station near the railway station and terminating at the BAS Central Bus Station in Belgrade. Buses start running in the early morning (around 4am) and continue until 6pm. Travel time is 3-3.5 hours depending on the service.

Tickets cost 8-12 Euros when purchased online. When we travelled, we paid 1,235 denars (approx. 12.70 USD) per person for tickets purchased at the bus station. Check times and fares here .

Things to do in Belgrade

• Visit Kalemegdan Fortress. Belgrade Fortress sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers and affords magnificent views of New Belgrade. Entrance is free.
• Get hands-on at the Nikola Tesla Museum . Serbia holds claim to inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla as their favourite homegrown hero. His museum in Belgrade is fascinating – even (or especially) if you don’t know much about his work. The Tesla Coil Demonstration will make your hair stand up on end. Entrance to the museum costs 500 denars (approx. 5 USD) per person.
• Visit the House of Flowers. This is the final resting place of another historical icon associated with Serbia, albeit for very different reasons. Josip Broz Tito’s mausoleum is an extravagant greenhouse-like atrium surrounded by lovely gardens. The adjacent Museum of the History of Yugoslavia is a huge, fascinating display of Yugoslav history. The whole thing is slightly macabre, but it’s a must-see in Belgrade

• Wander back in time in Zemun. Located behind New Belgrade, Zemun was described to me by a local as ‘a city within a city’, and it certainly feels that way. This was a separate town until it was absorbed into Belgrade in the 1930s, and locals have managed to hold onto that romantic small-town feel. You’ll find a picturesque town square, lively outdoor markets, and more cafes than you can count.
• Summit Avala Tower for a view. This icon of Belgrade’s skyline was famously destroyed during the war and later rebuilt. Today it contains an observation deck and cafe at the top. Access to the tower is via a lovely hiking trail that starts on the outskirts of the city. Entrance costs 300 denars (approx. 3 USD) per person.

Read more: My complete guide to visiting Avala Tower from Belgrade.

• Bike around New Belgrade: The best way to explore New Belgrade, the western half of the city, is by bike. This area is pancake-flat and there are a number of pathways that link monumental concrete buildings such as the Hotel Yugoslavia with Belgrade’s vast commieblocks and pockets of green parkland. We joined a guided cycling tour with local company iBike and loved it.
• Try a slice of Moscow Shnit. Belgrade’s favourite sweet treat is a delicious cake prepared at Hotel Moscow in the city centre. The recipe is a guarded secret, but I can tell you it’s very light and fruity (perfect for enjoying on the outdoor terrace under a blue sky). The hotel and cafe are iconic in Belgrade.

Where to stay in Belgrade

We stayed at the exceptional Downtown Art Deco Studio , located right in the centre of the city. It was one of the best apartments we stayed at anywhere in the Balkans.

Most Belgrade Airbnbs are concentrated around the northern end of the city on the eastern side of the river. This is also where you’ll find most museums and tourist attractions, plus some great restaurants.

I recommend staying in either the Skadarlija or Dorcol (the oldest part of Belgrade) neighbourhoods.

• Budget hostel: Balkan Soul Hostel
• Mid-range hotel: Hotel Rex
• Boutique hotel: Mama Shelter Belgrade or 7 Rooms Suites

Days 6 & 7: Finish on a high in Tara National Park

It’s a bit of a mission to reach central Serbia’s western corner, but it’s more than worth the long bus ride. Tara National Park is the most heavily forested part of the country and is widely considered to be Serbia’s most pristine pocket of nature . Yet relatively few foreign tourists ever make it here.

Aside from hiking and river sports on the Drina , this area is also brimming with cute villages , history and culture, so there’s something for everyone at any time of year.

How to get to Tara National Park from Belgrade

There are no direct buses from Belgrade to the towns of Mokra Gora or Mitrovac, so you need to transfer through the town of Zlatibor to access the park.

There are a dozen direct buses to Zlatibor leaving Belgrade’s main station from 6.15am onwards. Travel time is around 4 hours , and tickets cost around 13 Euros (or 18 Euros return) when reserved online. Check times and prices here .

Travel time from Zlatibor to Mokra Gora is 30 minutes and can be done either by local bus or taxi.

If you want to avoid a long morning of travel and you have to get back to Belgrade for your flight home anyway, another option is to take a day trip to Tara National Park from Belgrade. This full-day tour includes transfers from Belgrade with a professional driver and a guide to show you all the highlights of the beautiful Drina River Valley.

We did something similar and visited Tara National Park on a day trip from Sarajevo.

Things to do in and around Tara National Park

• Go hiking. There are marked trails all over the park, ranging from short day hikes to multi-day affairs. Most start from Mitrovac where there is a tourist office that can furnish you with maps.
• Photograph the cute Drina River House. A wooden house perched on a stone in the river that marks the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is one of the icons of Tara National Park.
• Admire the frescoes at Raca Monastery. A 13th-century monastery containing a set of important paintings. There are several hiking trails to fresh water springs in the area.
• Visit the weird and wonderful Drvengrad village. Originally built as a film set for the movie Life is a Miracle, this charming model village has become a symbol of Serbia. The film director’s personal collection of vintage cars are scattered amongst the wooden houses and churches. There is a film festival held here every summer.

• Ride the historic Sargan Eight Steam Train. Construction on this narrow-gauge railway started during World War I to link Serbia and Austro-Hungary. Today it’s a scenic railway that runs between the towns of Mokra Gora and Vitasi via tracks that cling to the side of the mountain valley.
• Catch the view from Banjska Stena. It was a sea of fog when we visited Tara National Park’s most famous viewpoint, but I’ve been reassured that the panorama is phenomenal on a clear day!
• Venture to Zlatibor. Serbia’s most popular mountain resort town is located south-east of the National Park, in the shadow of Mount Zlatibor. Here you can find lovely accommodations and more hiking trails.

Where to stay near Tara National Park

The most popular places to stay when visiting Tara National Park are Mitrovac (a good base for hiking) and Mokra Gora . There are some lovely homestyle accommodations in and around the national park – my favourite is this sweet cabin .

See more options in Mokra Gora on Booking.com.

Extend your Serbia itinerary: Other places to visit

If you have more time, you might consider including one or more of these additional destinations to your Serbia itinerary.

Uvac Nature Reserve – add 1-2 days

Located south of Mokra Gora and Tara National Park, this park features biodiverse wetlands and a very picturesque winding river.

To get there, you can take a train to Nova Varos and spend a few nights inside the park, or you can join a day tour from Belgrade .

Nis – add 1-2 days

Serbia’s third-largest city, Nis is located in the country’s south-east, around 230km from Belgrade. It’s accessible by coach from the capital or if you want to add it to the end of your itinerary, you can take a bus from the city of Uzice near Tara National Park.

I didn’t get to visit Nis this time, but I’d love to go back and spend some time exploring the city that traditionally linked Belgrade and Istanbul. (I had no idea Nis was the birthplace of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.)

If you’re planning a visit, I recommend this guide to Nis.

Novi Pazar – add 2-3 days

Also located in southern Serbia, Novi Pazar has always been considered Serbia’s cultural and religious crossroads. It has a long and fascinating history, as evidenced by the many important monuments located in and around the city.

You can learn more about Novi Pazar here.

Onward travel from Serbia

If your flight home is departing from the capital, you can simply loop back to Belgrade from Tara National Park (departing Uzice or Zlatibor) by bus.

If you’re continuing on overland, you can transit west into Bosnia and Herzegovina (first stop: Visegrad) or north-west into Croatia. Another option is to head to Novi Pazar from Tara National Park then continue overland to Montenegro .

Can you cross into Kosovo from Serbia?

If you want to continue your travels in Prishtina and Prizren , you’ll need to read up on the different options for getting to Kosovo to Serbia. There are rules in place that could prevent you from visiting Serbia again in the future, so it’s very important you do your due diligence.

Refer to this detailed guide about crossing into Kosovo legally.

Easy Serbia itinerary: Save it for later

One of the best blogs I have come across online. Everything a traveler should know about a country/place is very well captured and explained. Thanks a lot. More power to you!

Thanks Nabeel for the kind words!

Absolutely very useful blog, am sure this help me plan well for my serbia trip.

Thanks for your comment, Dheepan! Happy travels to Serbia!

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Serbian Heritage Tours

ANCESTRY AND GENEALOGY TOURS IN BELGRADE AND SERBIA

SERBIAN HERITAGE TOURS provides unique and profoundly emotional travel experiences for those eager to know more about their family history and ancestral origins. Knowing where we come from is just as important as being sure of the legacy we bestow to future generations.

Ancestry and genealogy tours in Serbia will give you an insight into your family history and take you to the places where your ancestors once lived.

On our personalized family history tours, you will connect to your roots, discover your ancestral hometown, and enhance your knowledge of your ancestors' lives.

All ancestry tours are private tours and personalized for each family. They are designed and guided by your professional Serbian Heritage Interpreter and official Tour Guide specializing in Demography, Ancestry, and Genealogy. I will research your family history and ancestral origins before beginning your personal and customized ancestry tour in Serbia.

Well prepared and expertly guided ancestry trip makes it possible to step back in time to your ancestral hometown or village - to your roots.

No family story is complete until you had visited your ancestral hometown or village and explored the place where your family lived before they made their emigration journey overseas.

DANUBE SWABIAN HERITAGE AND FAMILY HISTORY TOURS IN SERBIA

The  DANUBE SWABIAN  or DONAUSCHWABEN  colonization refers to the large-scale migration of individuals and families from mostly German-speaking states to the areas of the former Hungarian Kingdom conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century.

At the end of the 17th century, after the Habsburg Empire successfully fought off the Ottomans, it took back the land that the Hungarian Kingdom had lost to the Ottomans. The Habsburg Empire encouraged mostly German-speaking farmers and craftsmen to sail down the Danube and settle on the marshlands of the Danube River Valley and the Pannonian Plain. German farmers drained marshes near the Danube and the Tisza rivers and constructed roads and canals.

The majority of settlers were ethnic Germans speaking various dialects and coming from different principalities like Swabia, Hesse, Palatinate, Baden, Franconia, Bavaria, Austria, and Alsace-Lorraine. 

Besides Germans, there were twelve more ethnicities (Serbs, Jews, French, Slovaks, Romanians, Hungarians, and others).

At the end of the 17th century, thousands of Serbs had fled from the Ottoman Empire, crossed the Danube, and negotiated a privileged status at the Military Frontier formed along the rivers. Their duty was to defend the border with the Ottoman Empire and fight for the Habsburg Empire at far away fronts.

Tens of thousands of colonists came to the Pannonian Plain from the end of the 17th until the 19th century to build new lives. The Danube Swabians grew to more than 500,000 in former Yugoslavia and 350,000 in Serbia. For many generations, they peacefully co-existed with people from different ethnic groups.

However, after World War II, Germans recruited by the Third Reich or local military formations could not return to their homes. Their families were interned in internment camps or sent to faraway mines for compulsory work and only released after several years. Their houses and farmland were left empty and eventually filled with new tenants with different cultural backgrounds when the then Yugoslav state encouraged people from war-devastated parts of the country to move to the fertile plains of Vojvodina and begin new lives.

DANUBE SWABIAN ANCESTRY TOURS IN BANAT, BATSCHKA AND SYRMIA

SERBIAN HERITAGE TOURS  carries out in-depth and comprehensive research of towns and villages in Banat, Batschka, Syrmia, and Slavonia, where the Danube Swabians were colonized more than 200 years ago.

During your personal and customized Danube Swabian Ancestry Tour in Vojvodina, you will hear about the history of Habsburg colonization, your German family roots, your ancestors' traditions, German settler's architecture and remarkable farming achievements.

We will visit your ancestor's villages, their homes, churches they prayed in, schools they attended, and cemeteries they were buried in. You will gain a more in-depth insight into the Danube Swabian way of life, beliefs, and traditions in Banat, Batschka, and Syrmia.

JEWISH ANCESTRY AND FAMILY HISTORY TOURS IN SERBIA

Before World War II, in every town in Serbia and every city or village in Vojvodina, there was a Jewish community. Sometimes it would be only a dozen families, sometimes large communities. There were more than seventy synagogues and praying houses. Some of them were beautiful masterpieces of architecture like Subotica, Novi Sad, or Zrenjanin synagogues. Some were mere modest prayer houses in small villages.

During World War II and the Nazi occupation, most Jews were sent to the concentration camps in former Yugoslavia or abroad and never returned. After the war, those who survived departed from villages to large towns, Israel, the USA, or Latin America. Very few people know how Yugoslavia clandestinely helped Jews from different countries in Western Europe to travel from our small ports in the Adriatic sea to finally reach Israel despite the opposition of the Allied Powers. After the proclamation of the State of Israel, many Yugoslav Jews joined five aliyahs and moved to Israel.

Although thousands of Jews left, many buildings that housed synagogues, societies, schools, factories, homes and cemeteries remained. The memory of numerous Jews who lived in Serbia is kept alive, and there are many monuments dedicated to distinguished members of society.

D uring your personal and customized Jewish Ancestry Tour, we will visit all the places important for your family history, and you will learn more about your forefathers, their lives, and the homes where they lived. You will also hear about Jewish people who settled on the territory of today's Serbia and the Balkans centuries ago.

TESTIMONIALS:

   "I’m very interested in our Donauschwaben heritage. The closest ancestor on my European side of the family to have immigrated to the U.S. was my great grandfather. I have long been most curious about his ancestry and origins. Through lots of online searches and collecting documents, I was able to connect back and find his original name and some of his ancestry. I have generally verified it through genealogy books, but not always through original records (though these books are based on original records, as opposed to relying on online and family tree information that may be based on oral histories).

   Thus, the purpose of my trip to Đakovo and Vučevci was to see where my great grandfather was born and where he enrolled in trade school and to also see the church in Semeljci, which I understand to be the parish to which Vučevci belonged at the time of his birth.

   The visits to Weprowatz and Kernei were because of the ancestors who were among the original Donauschwaben settlers to those towns. Best wishes and good luck to all those who seek to maintain and make connections with their ancestries, heritages, and homelands. I highly recommend a trip back to the homelands for those who have the interest and can make it happen. It was very much worth it for me, and I see many more returns in my future.

   I am grateful to many people. And, especially, to my tour guide, Snezana of Serbian Heritage Tours, who put together a very customized and flexible itinerary that allowed me to see all of what I wanted to see in Serbia and Croatia. I hired a driver and a guide through the services of Snezana of Serbian Heritage Tours. She guided me through a two-day private and customized tour of the places I wanted to see. She was both very meticulous and flexible; she made personal contacts with key people she thought would be useful for me to meet and even obtained a few records for me from the archives. She read up and prepared for the sights we would see, to be able to give me more history and context.

   The reception I received from my travels was great. I will, say, though, that when we pulled up into Vučevci (a tiny village where my great grandfather was born) in a shiny vehicle with a chauffeur and private guide. I felt a bit like I was starring in the To Wong Foo. I was metaphorically the working girl from the city pulling up in a convertible into a tiny town. Everyone was staring and wondering what was going on. But nobody was mean or seemed upset. To the contrary, what I saw was overall quite welcoming." Mr. Nicholas S., USA

   "I can't say enough good things about my tour with Snezana. I contacted Snezana so that I could gain a better appreciation of my mother's origins and the German presence in Serbia. Not only did she provide me with an understanding of the history of German settlement, but through her contacts and research, she located and obtained access to the house my mother grew up in and fled during WW 2, my grandmother's family home, the church (now closed) my mother attended, my great grandparents' grave site and so much more!

   Prior to the trip, I sent Snezana some family history so that she could undertake some additional research and she was able to confirm and expand on what I sent her. Without Snezana I would have been able to visit the town my mother lived in but missed out on all the details and context that made our trip so memorable. Although not an intended component of our trip, when Snezana learned that my husband was Jewish she provided us with information about the Jewish community and experiences in the area. And she gives excellent restaurant recommendations - I had the best gnocchi ever in Belgrade!" Mrs. Angela D., Canada

   "Hello Snezana, I would like to thank you again for the insightful tour you have arranged for us in Subotica. I especially appreciate the preparations and research about my family which made the tour much more personal than usual historical city sightseeing. Today, just a few hours after landing in Israel and returning home, I still feel overwhelmed by all the sights and information and I need some time to digest it all. Mrs. Arbal, Israel

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Serbia Inspired | Belgrade Tours | Travel

BELGRADE GRAND CITY TOUR

This guided tour of the highlights of Belgrade is the perfect way to start discovering the city.

NOVI SAD & WINE TASTING TOUR

Discover Serbian "City of Culture" on an 9-hour day trip to Novi Sad and explore one of the largest fortresses in Europe.

GEMS OF EASTERN SERBIA TOUR

Take an unforgettable, full-day tour away from the crowds and noises of the big cities and experience awe-inspiring eastern part of Serbia.

Discover Serbia's most spectacular natural site

Featured Tours

We are striving to make Serbia Inspired Tours one of the greatest travel brands in Serbia.

Belgrade Private Driving & Walking Tour

-available all year round-

If you are visiting Belgrade for the first time this tour is an excellent way to learn its history and see the most important sights of Serbian capital

Belgrade in a Day - Private Grand City Tour

Discover Belgrade's charm as you visit all the major sights in the city on a 6-hour grand city tour. Hear the stories about the city's tumultous past as you stroll along medieval fortress, admire iconic building like the Saint Sava Temple and enjoy panoramic views of Belgrade from Avala and Gardos Tower

Private Belgrade Layover Tour

Want to do something interesting during your layover time in Belgrade? Let us present You the magic of the "White City" on this private layover tour

Northern Serbia: Sremski Karlovci & Novi Sad with Wine Tasting in a Cellar

No visit to Serbia is full, without a visit to Novi Sad - beautiful city well-known for its amazing architecture, delicious food and laid-back atmosphere

Gems of Eastern Serbia Tour

Take an unforgettable, full-day tour away from the crowds and noises of the big cities and experience awe-inspiring eastern part of Serbia!

Blue Danube: Iron Gate National Park Tour with 1-hour speedboat ride along the Danube

SUMMER EDITION (from April to October)

Book your place on a No.1 tour from Belgrade!

Tara National Park & The Drina River Valley

-runs from march to december-.

Delight in the pristine natural environment and experience the magic of Tara National Park and the Drina river valley!

Uvac Nature Reserve Tour

-runs from may to october-.

Discover Serbia’s most spectacular natural site – Uvac Nature Reserve.

Western Serbia: Drina river house & Mokra Gora (Sargan 8 + Drvengrad)

-runs from april to october, explore spectacular nature of west serbia while enjoying a railroad ride of a lifetime, hear the unbelievable story behind drina river house and step into the charming wooden town where the life is a miracle.

East Serbia: Iron Gate National Park Tour

SUMMER AND WINTER EDITION (OPTION WITHOUT SPEEDBOAT RIDE)

Experience all the major attractions within Iron Gate National Park and take the most beautiful pictures of the legendary blue Danube!

Zlatibor Mountain Full-Day Trip

Spend a full day exploring Zlatobor Mountain and Western Serbia

Private Day Trip to Nis & Devil's Town

See all popular landmarks in nis, a city famous for being a birthplace of the greatest roman emperor ever - constantine the great, and admire one of the most attractive natural phenomena within balkans while visiting devil's town..

Jewels of Northern Serbia Private Tour: Palic Lake Subotica & Sombor

-available from march to december-, join us on this amazing private tour to northern serbia. see palic lake, wonder around the most beautiful serbian town - subotica, which looks like a fairy tale city and experience the city of sombor in the unique way by taking a carriage ride around the greenest city in europe, highlights of western serbia, 3 days/2 nights, take this 3 days tour from belgrade and visit all the major attractions in western serbia (tara national  zlatibor and uvac nature reserve).

Explore Serbia in 5 days

5 days/4 nights 

-available all year round- 

Serbia is truly one the world's most beautiful country. It flaunts the most inspiring history and magnificent scenery which you can not find anywhere. 

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Belgrade is a low-budget New York.

Whoever was fortunate enough to wake up in Belgrade this morning can consider that he has achieved quite enough in life for today. Asking for more would be immodest.

Dusko Radovic

Belgrade is becoming the key destination for travelers who seek for something different in a familiar European landscape.

The Sheffield Star’s Profile magazine

…I had found the most beautiful place of antiquity, the overlarge city of Belgrade…

Despot Stefan Lazarevic

its rivers, its sky and its people. Out of these three primeval elements, the unique spirit of Belgrade is born.

Belgrade is a fantastic city, well connected with the world.

Andrzej Wajda

Belgrade is not in Belgrade, because Belgrade, in fact, is not a city-It’s a metaphor, the way of life and the way of seeing things

I came here because I have never been in this region before... In a very short time I have found two things, both important to me: the food is amazing, and the approach to cinema is far more intellectual than in America.

Jack Nicholson

It usually happens that a traveler goes to a famous place expecting a lot, and leaves disappointed and down. This happens with Athens, Rhine, St Peters Church in Rome. But then, I went to Belgrade not expecting anything- the decorations, the sights, not even the joy or anything interesting - and now I am a victim of its seductive charm, and I have to leave it with utmost pain. This is a new feeling: to fall in love with a city

Herbert Vivian

I am particularly impressed by the bright and warm atmosphere of Belgrade

Samuel Beckett

Serbia inspired blog.

• 22. Apr 2019.

Hello Serbia! Best Day Trips from Belgrade (season 2019)

Organized by Serbia Inspired Tours

• 07. Feb 2019.

5 reasons why Serbia should be on your bucket list for 2019

• 07. Nov 2018.

City of Nis

Birthplace of Constantine the Great

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Serbia Tours & Vacations

Glamorous, grungy and full of character - Serbia is Europe put in a blender, shaken and stirred.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Serbia's mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests. You can hike, ski, kayak, or just relax - Intrepid style. If you are looking for history, culture, adventure, or fun, Serbia has it all. The lush, vineyard-layered countryside and crumbling fortresses hint at the Europe of old. The fiery energy of the heaving nightclubs show Serbia's renewed spirit. If you want a taste of something old, something new and pretty much everything in between - Serbia is the spot for you. Trust us; you won't regret it.

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9 ways to get to know a place through multi-active adventures in 2023 

Serbia at a glance

Capital city.

Belgrade (1.2 million)

8.74 million

Serbian Dinar (RSD)

(GMT+01:00) Belgrade, Bratislava, Budapest, Ljubljana, Prague

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)

Learn more about Serbia

Best time to visit serbia.

Generally, Serbia's weather is quite moderate, with a mixture of Central European and Mediterranean conditions providing the potential for fine weather in all seasons. Both summer and winter are prone to occasional days of extreme weather, with occasional dry, hot days in summer and heavy snowfalls from December to April. The majority of rainfall occurs from March to April and from October to November. Despite the temperature occasionally rising above 95 degrees F in the south, cold spells are not uncommon. With this in mind, it's a good idea to be prepared for all temperatures (regardless of the season), and pack a mixture of summer and winter clothes. For nature lovers, spring brings blossoming flowers and warm temperatures, and the countryside is at its greenest during this time. 

As is the case with many other European destinations, Serbia experiences the highest volume of visitors between July and August, so expect crowds around Belgrade and in Novi Sad, especially during the annual EXIT festival in July.

Culture and customs

Serbia’s culture has been shaped by a history of migration, conquest and war. In some ways, the country is still reeling from the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars, though what has clearly emerged is a strong sense of patriotism. A surefire way to offend a local is to lump Serbia with other ex-Yugoslav nations. While what it means to be a Serb is still evolving, for many it means being family-oriented, speaking Serbian and belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Food and drink

Traditional Serbian cuisine is a hearty fusion of Turkish, Mediterranean, Hungarian and Austrian influences, rich in meat, cheese and pastry. Drinking coffee is a national pastime in Serbia, with Turkish-style kafa being the blend of choice. 

Must-try foods in Serbia

• Cevapi   Cevapi is a small grilled sausage, usually served with flatbread, onions and sauces.
• Sarma Similar to Greek dolmades, sarma is a small roll made using ground beef and rice that’s then wrapped in pickled cabbage or grapevine. 
• Burek  Commonly eaten for breakfast along with a drinkable yoghurt, burek is made using thin layers of pastry filled with cheese, spinach or minced meat.

Geography and environment

This largely unspoilt Balkan country is characterized by wide rivers, rugged mountains and stunning lakes. Picturesque Vojvodina flatlands, fertile fields and glacial lakes cover the northern region. South of Belgrade, the terrain becomes more rugged, with the Dinaric Alps to the west and the Balkan Mountains to the east. The Danube River extends across the country, entering from the border with Croatia in the west and exiting through Romania in the east; the eastern portion of the Danube is widely considered the most scenic part of the entire river. Djerdap National Park – home to white cliffs, lush green hills, oak forests and rich biodiversity, is located in this region.

Top 5 Belgrade bars

1. the federal association of globe trotters.

Although its name may suggest otherwise, many travelers miss out on the delights of this uber-trendy spot. While an inconspicuous location and total lack of signage keep this carefree bar off the map, those curious enough to step off the street will find an eclectic and exotic decor that borrows from just about every culture on earth. Add a laidback vibe and some lip smacking cocktails and you can see why locals and tourists fall in love with this place time and time again. If Intrepid owned a bar, this is what it would look like.

2. Blaznavak Cafe

You have to wonder whether Petrovic Blaznavak - a former Serbian defense minister - could have imagined that his former house would become one of Belgrade’s hippest bars, 150 years after it was first built. But that's exactly what makes Blaznavak Cafe particularly charming - it’s a perfect place to meet, drink, eat and discuss, in the classical surrounds of a Serbian house filled with technicolor graffiti. Need we say more?

3. Mr Steven Brown

Their website proclaims 'it doesn’t matter who Steven Brown is', but we reckon he must know how to party. With guests such as Gerard Butler, Novak Djokovic and Michael Madsen spotted in the midst of this super club, it's certainly not for the faint of heart or weak of wallet. But then again, the city views and all-night awesomeness might just make it a worthy end to any Belgrade pub crawl.

4. Sunset Bar

If someone told you that they spent a day in Belgrade lazing under the shade of an umbrella and sipping cocktails on the beach, you could probably be forgiven for thinking they had gone insane. But before you check them into the asylum, head down to the banks of the Danube on one of Serbia's glorious summer days. Not only will you find bronzed bodies splashing in the cool waters, but some of the city's best bars are set up along the shoreline - ready to welcome you with a fruit cocktail or delicious ice-cream sundae. According to one of the most popular of these bars, the aptly named Sunset Bar, 'your pleasure and good time are our mission'. Mission accomplished!

For those that like their cosmopolitans served with a side of contemplation, Plato’s Jazz Club is situated in the esteemed Philosophy Department of Belgrade University. A former meeting point during the student protest of the 90s, the debonair setting is absolutely charming, even if the drinks are a little pricey. Be careful though, emerging from Plato’s shadowy jazzy cave and into the daylight may change your perception (of bars) forever - or at least have you raving about 'the truth' to your friends for years to come.

Shopping malls and stores selling international designers are increasingly popping up in Serbia’s larger cities, but local markets (pijaca) – where most Serbs still prefer to buy their fruit and vegetables – remain the best place to get a proper feel of the local culture. Most markets feature both flea market sections and fresh produce sections, so you can shop local culinary specialties – like ajvar (a capsicum-based relish) and homemade rakija – as well as antiques and other memorabilia. 

Knez Mihailova is a lively pedestrian mall in the heart of Belgrade. Vendors selling artisan crafts and traditional items like opanci (traditional shoes with the toe curled back), Serbian embroidery and ceramics, can be found at the top end of the street. Department stores, boutiques and coffee shops are also located here.

Serbia is a cash country. Though payment by debit and credit card is becoming increasingly common, most places still only accept cash. Shops in larger cities tend to open from 9 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. In smaller cities, they tend to close at 5 pm instead. Most shops do not open on Sunday.

Festivals and events in Serbia

This popular festival originated as a student-led resistance to the Milosevic regime. It has grown into a multi-day, multi-genre festival that draws some of the biggest names in music to the stunning Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad each July.

Guca Trumpet Festival

Think a festival dedicated to trumpets sounds like a dull school recital? Think again. This rowdy celebration of Balkan brass music, which takes place every August, is Serbia’s wildest party. 

Belgrade Boat Carnival

Decorated boats parade through Belgrade’s two rivers (the Danube and Sava Rivers) while spectators take in riverside entertainment and tasty street food at this annual July celebration.

Nis Burek Days Festival

Though popular throughout the Balkans, the city of Nis claims to be the inventor of this flaky cheese pie. Every September, the city commemorates Nis’ culinary contribution by feasting on variations of savory burek. 

Serbia travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to visit Serbia?

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more information.

Is tipping customary in Serbia?

Tipping isn’t customary in Serbia, but feel free to leave restaurants, drivers or service workers a small tip if the service has been particularly good. It’s always appreciated.

What is the internet access like in Serbia?

The Internet can be accessed in internet cafes in Belgrade, as well as at some larger hotels, but is limited in rural and remote areas.

Can I use my mobile phone while in Serbia?

Roaming agreements exist with major mobile phone companies. Check with your service provider for more information.

What are the toilets like in Serbia?

Western-style flushable toilets are the norm in larger cities. In rural areas, squat toilets are more common.

What will it cost for a…?

Cup of coffee in a cafe = 40 RSD Beer in a bar or restaurant = 140 RSD Basic, takeaway lunch = 285 RSD Dinner in an inexpensive restaurant = 700 RSD

Can I drink the tap water in Serbia?

Tap water is considered safe to drink in Serbia, however, some may get an upset stomach from the different mineral content.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Serbia?

Credit cards are accepted by most large hotels and retailers, but are less commonly accepted at markets and smaller cafes and hotels. It’s a good idea to carry enough cash for smaller purchases in case credit cards are not an option.

What is ATM access like in Serbia?

ATMs are widely available in larger cities but are less common in small villages and rural areas. Make sure you have enough cash before leaving urban areas.

What public holidays are celebrated in Serbia?

• 1 Jan: New Year’s Day
• 2-3 Jan: New Year’s Holiday
• 7 Jan: Julian Orthodox Christmas
• 15-16 Feb: Statehood Day
• 14 Apr: Orthodox Good Friday
• 17 Apr: Orthodox Easter Monday
• 1 May: May Day
• 2 May: May Day Holiday
• 11 Nov: Armistice Day  

For a current list of public holidays in Serbia go to:  https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/europe/Serbia/public-holidays/

Is Serbia a safe destination for LGBTQI-travelers?

Discretion is strongly advised for LGBTQI travelers. Serbia is a country where same-sex marriage is not legally recognized and random acts of violence continue to occur against those thought to be gay. Belgrade’s Pride Parade has been marred by riots and has been cancelled several times because of the threat of violence.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting  Equaldex  or  ILGA  before you travel.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Is Serbia accessible for travelers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely  accessible , regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

Tailored Tours Serbia – Private Tours, City Tours, Day Trips

Belgrade city tour – phoenix on the confluence.

Learn about the city which managed to rise from the ashes so many times during its turbulent history. Allow us to tell you a fascinating story of the Serbian capital!

Novi Sad Tour – Treasures of the Pannonian Plain

Home to many different ethnic groups and the best of Serbian and Hungarian traditions, Vojvodina represents one of the finest examples of harmonious coexistence and tolerance in the Balkan Peninsula.

Oplenac Tour – Central Serbia’s royal heritage

Experience the Šumadija region, the heart of Old Serbia resting proudly on its fertile hills. Travel back in time and learn about the creation of the modern Serbian state!

Eastern Serbia Tour – Medieval mythical journey

Embrace the untouched nature and remarkable history of Eastern Serbia. Uncover countless mysteries in this fairy tale land still authentic and not overrun by mass tourism.

The Danube River Tour – History’s reflection in water

Follow the flow of the mighty river and reveal the archaeological remains of one of mankind’s earliest civilizations. Take a step into Danube’s magnificent “Iron Gates”!

Vinča, Smederevo, Viminacium – Amazing time travel

Discover different pieces of mankind’s captivating historical puzzle by taking a journey from the Neolithic, Roman and Medieval period up to present days. Prepare yourself for the unknown!

Western Serbia – Zlatibor and Mokra Gora (2 days)

Mountains of Western Serbia are calling you to come and enjoy natural wonders, healthy fresh water, unpolluted clean air and traditional hospitality.

Western Serbia – Tara, Zlatibor and Mokra Gora (3 days)

The secret hidden in an inseparable trinity of natural beauties, pure water and fresh unpolluted air on the tray of well know traditional hospitality

Tailored Tours Serbia

We are a small company highly specialized in providing custom-made private tours in Serbia. Every tour created by Tailored Tours Serbia is a unique experience of its own with an option of being tailored specifically according to your needs and interests. Our vision is making just the right mix of modern, historical, local and authentic so you can discover what genuine Serbia is all about!

Recommendations And Reviews

Miroslav made our holiday in Serbia so easy. He took us for very detailed yet all-rounded tours, giving us the golden opportunity to see the most important places with respect to Serbia’s history. I would highly recommend such tours under the guidance of Miroslav, which are hereby executed with total professionalism.

Many thanks once again.

Johann DeBono

We had a great tour with Miroslav. Our visit to Belgrade was unexpected but we made the best of it. Miroslav was an excellent tour guide as far explaining the history of the city and showing us the main sites of Belgrade. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Belgrade, the culture, and what the main attractions were. As Yugoslavs, we were aware of a lot of the background of our former capital city, however with this tour we learned a lot more. We learned about the begging of the city and it’s most recent history. We would recommend Tailored Tours Serbia to any foreign or domestic tourist touring Serbia. Very knowledgeable, professional and friendly.

Adnan Pilipović

Given our time constraints, we chose to do a customized but very nice tour of Zemun, New Belgrade and of course Belgrade, learned a lot about the history of the region, country and cities.

Ivar Marcus Berntz

Best tour guide! If you are in Belgrade and don’t go on a tour with Miroslav, you are missing out!

Eugene O’Hanlon

Frances and I toured from Belgrade to Novi Sad with Miroslav and we had a great time. Saw great sites and learnt some of Serbia’s complex history. Highly recommended.

Miroslav was very knowledgeable and approachable. His explanations were clear and detailed. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Serbia

You will be happy with Miroslav. He is a very talented tour guide.

Uğur Kıvanç Ergüney

Excellent tour to Novi Sad. Excellent, informative guide who understands the history of the area and is able to explain it. Highly recommend!

Andrea Noles

Miroslav did a great job! We loved our Zemun and Belgrade tour by car. He managed to present a brief history of this part of world to people from Brazil and Australia.

Natasa Glavovic

Had a half day tour of Belgrade. Excellent English, safe driving, patient with two bored kids. It was a pleasure. Thank you Miroslav !

Ionuţ Cuţui

I had the pleasure to tour with Miroslav and was extremely pleased with his service and would highly recommend him to all visitors to Belgrade. Miroslav is a very nice and honest person, very accommodating and highly knowledgeable of the Serbian history and the city. Being Serbian myself who grew up in Australia he has given me a newfound appreciation of the people, culture and country. Thank you so much Miroslav

Sanja Popovic

Email: [email protected]

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