Serbia

Vojvodina vagabonding: slow travel in Serbia’s north

Novi Sad is famous for its energetic EXIT Festival, gregarious groggeries and Danube beach parties. But Serbia’s second city is also the capital of Vojvodina, a rustic region of tranquil nature, mellow villages and a laid-back legacy of big-hearted hospitality. Compact and well-linked by good roads, the quirky highlights of Vojvodina offer a slow-travel treat for those keen on kicking back.

Orthodox monastery and vineyards in Fruška Gora © Nevena Uzurov / Getty Images

Tamara Sheward

Lonely Planet Writer

Ten of Belgrade’s best hidden hangouts

Belgrade is quietly becoming rather well known as a slightly quirky destination whose appeal is evident but tricky to pinpoint precisely. It shouldn’t come as a big surprise, then, that much of the city’s charm remains squirreled away from the main sights and central locations. Here are 10 of the best hidden hangouts to explore during your stay.

Belgrade's Jevremovac Botanical Gardens © Brana Vladisavljevic / Lonely Planet

Ivan Kovanovic

Lonely Planet Writer

Western Serbia’s winter wonderland

On your next trip to Serbia, reset your radars beyond Belgrade to the rising winter adventure scene in the rural west of the country. Every January, celebrities and future filmmakers descend upon the Narnia-like wilderness of the west for Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival, where rakija (plum brandy) fuels action-packed days. Outside Kustendorf, visitors are awakening to a snow-clad region frozen in the nostalgia of a bygone era.

Soaring ski trails and chalets pierce the Zlatibor mountains, which shelter virgin forests, lakes and a heritage steam train chugging through the pages of history. Threaded by traditional culture and cuisine, Serbia’s west is a great escape offering adventure and affordability.