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Serbia

Diverse, welcoming and a hell of a lot of fun – everything you never heard about Serbia is true. Best of all, this landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans is still delightfully off the tourist trail. While the feisty Serbian spirit is embodied in Belgrade’s world-class nightlife and Novi Sad’s epic EXIT Festival, look beyond these historic metropolises and you’ll discover a crucible of cultures and unsullied outdoors ripe for exploration.

The art nouveau town of Subotica revels in its Austro-Hungarian heritage, bohemian Niš echoes to the clip-clop of Roma horse carts, and minaret-studded Novi Pazar nudges the most sacred of Serbian Orthodox monasteries. Established wine regions and thermal spas cradled in rolling hills date back to Roman times. On the slopes of Kopaonik, Zlatibor and Stara Planina, ancient traditions coexist with après-ski bling, while super-scenic Tara and Đerdap National Parks brim with hiking, biking, rafting and kayaking opportunities.

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Serbia.

  • Fortress

    Belgrade Fortress

    Some 115 battles have been fought over imposing, impressive Belgrade Fortress (aka Kalemegdan); the citadel was destroyed more than 40 times throughout…

  • Canyon

    Uvac Canyon

    The Uvac River's spectacular meanders are the highlight of the 75-sq-km Uvac nature reserve in southwestern Serbia. The incredibly green river snakes…

  • Monastery

    Studenica Monastery

    One of Serbia's most sacred sites, Unesco-listed Studenica was established in 1196 by the founder of the Serbian empire (and future saint) Stefan Nemanja…

  • Memorial

    Kadinjača Memorial Complex

    Serbia's most grandiose spomenik (Yugoslav-era memorial), Kadinjača commemorates the Partisans from the Workers' Battalion who perished on this spot…

  • Museum

    Memorial Museum '21st October'

    Šumarice Memorial Park is home to a sombre museum that tells the harrowing story of the 1941 massacre of around 3000 Kragujevac civilians during the…

  • Fortress

    Petrovaradin Fortress

    Towering over the river on a 40m-high volcanic slab, this mighty citadel, considered Europe's second-biggest fortress (and one of its best preserved), is…

  • Natural Feature

    Vratna Gates

    The remote Negotin region hides one of the country's more dramatic natural phenomena. Three gigantic stone arches – known as Small Gate (Mala kapija), Big…

  • Museum

    Museum of Yugoslavia

    This must-visit museum houses an invaluable collection of more than 200,000 artefacts representing the fascinating, tumultuous history of Yugoslavia…

  • Archaeological Site

    Lepenski Vir

    What is now Đerdap National Park was once a major centre for Mesolithic- and Neolithic-era fishing communities, a past that has been wonderfully preserved…

  • Monastery

    Crna Reka Monastery

    Secluded 13th-century Crna Reka (meaning 'black river') has a unique setting among Serbian monasteries: it's built into caves, seemingly hanging off a…

  • Museum

    Gallery of Matica Srpska

    First established in Pest (part of modern Budapest) in 1826 and moved to Novi Sad in 1864, this is one of Serbia's most important and long-standing…

  • Tower

    Mt Avala

    Looming over Belgrade and topped with the tallest tower in the Balkans (204.5m), Mt Avala is a city landmark that makes for a pleasant break from the…

  • Museum

    Museum of Contemporary Art

    One of Belgrade's top cultural sights, this recently renovated museum is a treasure trove of 20th-century art from the ex-Yugoslav cultural space. The…

  • Monument

    Marshal Tito's Mausoleum

    A visit to Tito's mausoleum is obligatory. The big man rests in an aptly gigantic tomb in peaceful surrounds. Also on display are thousands of elaborate…

  • Monastery

    Sopoćani Monastery

    Built around 1265 by King Stefan Uroš I (who is buried here), this Unesco-listed monastery was destroyed by the Turks in 1689 and restored in 1926…

  • Cathedral

    Orthodox Cathedral

    Second only in size to Belgrade's St Sava Temple, this huge Orthodox cathedral, completely restored after being destroyed in a fire in 2001, was…

  • Synagogue

    Synagogue

    Subotica's first art nouveau building is the splendid 1902 synagogue designed by Marcell Komor and Deszö Jakab. Its stylised decorations in the form of…

  • Museum

    Museum of Srem

    The regional museum in the town of Sremska Mitrovica has a rich collection spanning prehistoric, Roman and medieval periods. Its undisputed highlight are…

  • Ruins

    Maglič Fortress

    A forlorn guardian of the Ibar valley (20km south of Kraljevo), Maglič is one of Serbia's best-preserved medieval fortifications. Built in the 13th…

  • Museum

    National Museum

    Lack of funding for renovations kept Serbia's National Museum mostly shuttered for 15 years, but its much ballyhooed 2018 reopening has been a great…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Serbia.

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