Explore Serbia

Explore Serbiahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/serbiaExplore Serbiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/serbia/7-things-to-know-before-visitingTravel writer and Balkans specialist Chris Deliso reveals the best of Serbia – lively festivals, mountain adventures, and how (and where) to eat and drink like a local.2021-05-19T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/serbia/7-things-to-know-before-visitinghttps://www.worldnomads.comI first visited Serbia in 2002, tapping into its vitality and frenetic spirit while on an overland Balkan expedition, and have been returning ever since. The place always strikes you as being in the process of creation. Serbia lives with raucous abandon in cities such as the capital, Belgrade, and sublime second city Novi Sad – but tranquility can be found in mountains and forested areas replete with ski resorts, traditional villages, and medieval monasteries. Although haphazard modernization continues to bring change, the core of the offering remains intact: heartfelt hospitality, down-home cooking, world-class festivals, richly varied cultural life, and verdant nature. <ul> <li><a href="#weather">Best time to go, climate and weather </a></li> <li><a href="#belgrade">Boisterous Belgrade lives up to the hype</a></li> <li><a href="#novi-sad">Check out Novi Sad – Serbia’s cultured second city</a></li> <li><a href="#mountains">Mountains, monasteries, and skiing</a></li> <li><a href="#music"> Don’t miss some of Europe’s wildest music festivals - EXIT and Guča</a></li> <li><a href="#transport">How to get around Serbia</a></li> <li><a href="#dining">Wining and dining, Serbian style</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="weather">1. Best time to go, climate and weather</h2> I recommend visiting in summer, when big events happen, and nightlife migrates outdoors to open-air clubs and splavovi (river barges). Serbia is where the Continental and Mediterranean climates meet; while summers can be torrid, particularly in southern Serbia, it’s more temperate elsewhere. Serbia is well-sprinkled with rain year-round, and snow-filled mountains make it an inexpensive <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/ski-snowboard-travel-insurance">winter sports</a> destination. <h2 id="belgrade">2. Boisterous Belgrade lives up to the hype</h2> <a href="/stories/connection/making-the-dropoff-in-belgrade">Belgrade</a> has managed to cling to its restless, always-under-construction identity, unruffled by the modern demands of travelers flocking to its concerts, sports tournaments, and nightlife. The city comes at you from all angles. I love taking it in on the long stroll from the Trg Republike (Republic Square) over and down the pedestrian street, Knez Mihailova, to the riverfront. Lined by boutiques and impressive structures, with relaxed cafés set on side streets, Knez Mihailova rewards with impromptu concerts (anyone from Andean flute troupes to classical outfits play for the passer-bys’ spare dinari). I pace myself for an evening arrival at Kalemegdan (Belgrade Fortress), overlooking the convergence of the Rivers Sava and Danube – a great spot for sunsets. Here too you can jog, cycle, or match wits with local pensioners at the many chess tables. Belgrade is also home to the world’s second-biggest Orthodox cathedral, the massive Sveti Sava. I like to go to take in the frescoes, light a candle, and soak up the solitude of this immense space of which the Serbian faithful are immensely proud. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/serbia/serbia-belgrade-old-town-getty-1009688434.jpg" alt="Old Town Belgrade, Serbia, seen from the river." /> <figcaption>Belgrade Old Town. Image credit: Getty Images / Vladographer</figcaption></figure> As you’ll quickly discover from visits to places such as former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito’s Mausoleum and the Museum of Nikola Tesla, Serbs are also proud of their famous forerunners (interestingly, neither man was born in Serbia). The Museum of Yugoslavia, the Belgrade city museum, and numerous art galleries are other worthwhile cultural draws. For dinner and drinks, my favorite area is the Old Town’s bohemian magnet for more than a century, the ever-popular Skadarlija district. <h2 id="novi-sad">3. Check out Novi Sad – Serbia’s cultured second city</h2> Less gritty than Belgrade, the capital of the autonomous Vojvodina province (home to 25 ethnic groups and six official languages) was shaped by the former Austro-Hungarian Empire – as the architecture and local traditions attest. A further distinction came with Novi Sad’s being named European Capital of Culture for 2021. I enjoy visiting this laid-back city in summer, for its coffee shops and the &Scaron;trand – a long stretch of sandy beach smack on the Danube lined with food, drink, and entertainment ranging from water sports to live music. Each July, the grand Petrovaradin Fortress overlooking the river hosts the major EXIT Festival (see below). In other seasons, Novi Sad is quieter, but its student population keeps its many cafés and bars livelier than expected for a city of just 289,000. <h2 id="mountains">4. Mountains, monasteries, and skiing</h2> From Novi Sad, make the 13mi (22km) drive south to Fru&scaron;ka Gora, Serbia’s oldest national park. Hike or cycle on clearly marked trails through linden, oak, and beech forests, in gentle mountains bursting with wildflowers and weird fungi. You’ll hear songbirds warbling along with the bells from some of Serbia’s most historic Orthodox monasteries, clustered around the adjoining villages. These include Novo Hopovo, a fortress-like 16th-century structure located 12.4mi (20km) south of Novi Sad. Its enormous church is painted in vivid, wall-to-wall frescoes. (Seeing all 16 Fru&scaron;ka Gora monasteries requires a car and three to four days). <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/serbia/serbia-monastery-fruska-gora-getty-1315621159.jpg" alt="Monastery Grgeteg, Fruska Gora National Park, Serbia. " /> <figcaption>Grgeteg Monastery, one of many in Fru&scaron;ka Gora National Park. Image credit: Getty Images / SStajic</figcaption></figure> Serbia’s best ski resort is Kopaonik in the &Scaron;umadija region, 172mi (277km) southwest of Belgrade. With a peak elevation of 6,617ft (2,017m) and 25 runs covering 47mi (75km), Kopaonik is great for all levels – and with entertainments ranging from bowling, tennis, and shopping to restaurants, après-ski, and a winter music festival, even non-skiers will love it. Further west in &Scaron;umadija is the smaller but also very popular Tornik Ski Resort on Mt. Zlatibor, where slopes reach 4,890ft (1,490m), comprising 4.3mi (7km) of trails. Also visit &Scaron;umadija in summer to <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hike</a> Tara National Park, and explore the region’s traditional villages. <h2 id="music">5. Don’t miss some of Europe’s wildest music festivals - EXIT and Guča</h2> Note: These festivals are currently scheduled to go ahead in 2021. Be aware that the risks of catching COVID-19 are increased in large crowds (even outdoors). I love Serbia’s passion for its music and sports events (the latter of which have certainly benefited from Serbian athletes’ international sporting dominance in recent years). Since 2002, the biggest music development has been the <a href="https://www.exitfest.org/en/">EXIT Festival</a>, which mixes world-famous DJs, bands, and avant-garde newcomers each July in Novi Sad’s Petrovaradin Fortress. EXIT draws worldwide crowds and is good especially for fans of electronic music and hip-hop. An even wilder musical experience awaits in tiny Guča, near Čačak, 100m (161km) south of Belgrade. For more than 60 years, each August has seen this town of 2,000 souls transformed into a chaotic, one-week street party plying some 600,000 guests with cheap beer, wine, and grills. The <a href="https://www.guca-festival.com/">Guča Trumpet Festival</a> pays homage to Serbia’s raucous tradition of Gypsy Brass Band music. Local and international bands compete in a frenetic and sweaty all-day, all-night competition – feel free to join in with spontaneous street dancing as the trumpets (that impressed Miles Davis himself) blare on. It’s best to book ahead if you want to stay in local houses, though camping is allowed too. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/serbia/serbia-trumpet-festival-getty-830973060.jpg" alt="A brass band plays at the traditional trumet festival in Guča, Serbia." /> <figcaption>A brass band at the Guča Trumpet Festival. Image credit: Getty Images / Jack Taylor/Stringer </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="transport">6. How to get around</h2> Wherever and however you get around in Serbia, the most spectacularly improbable things will come at you. Once when driving on a narrow, forested road in Ra&scaron;ka in the west, the apparition of an elder caped cyclist emerged miraculously from a midnight blizzard. Another time, while rumbling through South Serbia on the splendidly antiquated Yugoslav-era train, I spied a Nazi pillbox crumbling on a hillside, left over from the WWII German occupation. The railway has been somewhat modernized from Belgrade north to Budapest in Hungary. Still, buses remain a quicker option, and car rental can be useful. Serbian cities are eminently walkable. Due to Belgrade’s lack of a metro, the urban railway (BG Voz) is the only component of public transit going partly underground. It’s part of the larger Bus Plus system that connects all areas of Belgrade. Street kiosks sell (and top up) Bus Plus cards on a pay-as-you-go basis, with one ride in the central Zone 1 costing 89RSD (US $0.92). Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport has international flights, while Ni&scaron; Constantine the Great airport has somewhat fewer. <h2 id="dining">7. Wining and dining, Serbian style</h2> Leskovac in South Serbia claims supremacy over the national barbeque cuisine (Ro&scaron;tilj), hosting a five-day festival each September called Ro&scaron;tiljada, where massed grill stands compete to cook up (in typically grandiose Serbian style) the world’s biggest pljieskavica (a hamburger, often stuffed with cheese or bacon), among other national delicacies. I prefer getting my Ro&scaron;tilj fix in the nearby, rough-and-tumble city of Ni&scaron;. A time-honored tradition in Serbia is to spend hours in a Kafana (restaurant-tavern, where live ethnic music is sometimes performed), toasting friends with shots of rakija (a strong Balkan brandy) – there’s nothing better than feasting on grilled pork ribs slathered with kajmak (clotted cream), washed down with a good Serbian beer on a lazy Sunday afternoon. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/serbia/serbia-kafana-getty-1225366149.jpg" alt="Belgrade's oldest kafana, a traditional restaurant-tavern." /> <figcaption>A venerable Kafana in Belgrade. Image credit: Getty Images / nedomacki </figcaption></figure> Vegetarians need not fret, however, as Serbia grows great veg for salads, plus the beloved red-pepper dip, Ajvar. Serbia’s also a leading exporter of raspberries (malina) – find them fresh in the countryside, particularly &Scaron;umadija. I prefer sampling Serbian wines locally, rather than in cities. In fall, head for the heartland of Central Serbia, where annual events (including concerts and grape-stomping) are held 143mi (231km) south of Belgrade in Aleksandrovac, seat of the historic winemaking Župa region. During the rowdy harvest festival (berba), the town fountain itself spouts wine. Wineries here hold tastings in honor of indigenous varietals like the Prokupac red and the Tamjanika Muscat.Getty Images / Drablenkov 11018337486 Getty Images A female hiker stands overlooking a lake and green, wooded hills in Tara National Park, Serbia.

Making the Drop-off in Belgrade | Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/making-the-dropoff-in-belgradeMaking the Drop-off in Belgrade | Travel StoryThu, 27 Dec 2018 19:40:10 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/making-the-dropoff-in-belgradehttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/serbia/how-i-almost-fell-for-the-belgrade-taxi-scamOur Travel Safety Expert, Phil Sylvester, took a trip to Belgrade, where he very quickly learned why you should always check the color of the taxi before hopping in.2017-02-13T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/serbia/how-i-almost-fell-for-the-belgrade-taxi-scamhttps://www.worldnomads.comSo here I am in Belgrade – an exciting mix of old and not-so-modern. Huh? On one side of the river is Old Belgrade (dating back to the 3rd century) and on the other side is a 1970’s style model Soviet city, with wide boulevards (for the tanks), tower blocks in squares and brutalist architecture - courtesy of Yugoslavia’s dictator Tito.  I’m eager to explore, but I’m the “safety guy” so I stop at the reception desk to ask a few questions. “Any districts I shouldn’t go to? And how bad’s the petty crime around here?” It turns out there’s nothing for me to worry about, except for the unlicensed taxis. “Do not take the taxi with the plain white sign on top, sir.” Fast-forward to three nights later and a group of us are leaving a restaurant on the Belgrade waterfront. There are five of us, so we split up into two taxis. I’m already in the back of the cab, siting in the middle seat when my friend says, “Hey Phil, these are white taxis!” but it’s too late, the doors are shut and the driver is moving. He’s also turned the music up to ear-splitting volume so I shout, “Turn the music down and put the meter on!” The driver is dismissive, so I know we’re in deep doo-doo now. All the way across the bridge over the Sava, I’m watching the meter and battling the sinking feeling of inevitability in my stomach. It’s only a short trip, and I’ve already done it about a dozen times, so I know the going rate is 500 Dinar (about $US4). Pretty soon we’re at our hotel, but not at the front door, down a side road at the trades entrance… uh-oh! As my boisterous companions spill out of the taxi I watch as the driver stops the meter and I see with my own eyes as it jumps from 700 Dinar to 20,000 Dinar! The conversation goes like this: Me: “Mate, I saw what happened! I was watching the meter when you did that!” Driver: “Fare is 20,000, it’s there on the meter.” Me: “I know what type of taxi we’re in, you know what type of taxi this is, and now you know I know. I also know the going fare is 500 Dinar, so take this.” The driver looks at me and smirks because he knows he’s been busted. Driver: “No, no. I don’t want it. You don’t pay.” Me: (figuring not paying will result in police getting involved for fare evasion) “No way, here’s the 500.” Meanwhile in the other taxi the same scenario is playing out. But this driver is telling my friend the fare is correct because then other taxi fare is the same. He gets out of the taxi. He’s huge. Keep in mind that Serbia was in the middle of a war until 2001, anyone over the age of 35 has probably killed a person, or seen people die. My companions now begin to back away and melt into the shadows. Big driver to my driver (This is obviously part of a rehearsed routine): “Tell him how much they pay you?” My driver: (sheepishly) “500.” Big driver throws his arms in the air, and angrily stomps back to his car. My friend tries to pass him a 500 Dinar note, which the driver refuses. My friend drops the note through his open window. It flies back out onto the road and both taxis roar off. We all look at each other, adrenaline racing through our blood, and burst into laughter. Maybe it’s because I’m Australian, I never considered the possibility that he might be armed – my American compatriots certainly had! At what point would I have decided my life was worth more than 20,000 Dinar ($US170)? Inside the hotel we celebrate our good luck with another Serbian rakia. <a href="https://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides/story/34856/Croatia/Learn-Croatian-with-WorldNomads-Croatian-Language-Guide" target="_blank">Ziveli</a>!iStock/shishic 0497025794 iStock Belgrade, Serbia - November 12, 2015: Knez Mihailova Street is the main pedestrian and shopping zone in Belgrade, and is protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city. Many locals and tourist walk in this street every day. Knez Mihailova street is full of shops and restaurants.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/serbia/first-timers-guide-to-belgrade-serbiaSerbia, and in particular its historic and eerie capital city Belgrade, provides travelers with a sense of mystery and fulfilment. Our local insider shares his top things to do in Belgrade, so that you can discover this unique capital city.2017-02-05T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/serbia/first-timers-guide-to-belgrade-serbiahttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#things-to-do"> Top Things to Do in Serbia </a></li> <li><a href="#accommodation"> Places to Stay in Serbia </a></li> <li><a href="#cost-guide"> Cost Guide to Serbia </a></li> <li><a href="#know-now"> Know Before You Go </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="things-to-do">Top Things to Do in Serbia</h2> The capital city Belgrade is your first port of call. There are two sides to Belgrade – a dark, mysterious and sometimes eerie atmosphere, mixed with the begrudged feelings that the locals seem to have in regards to their past. It also has an aura of hope, of caring and helpfulness. The Old Town, which can be reached from the main part of the city by bus, encompasses the lighter, and more beautiful side of Belgrade. I visited Belgrade in early winter, which no doubt has contributed to my overall experience of this eerily charming city. The city itself boasts some stunning buildings and scenery. Take in the wonderful view of the Danube whilst sitting at a local café or bar, be sure to visit the fortress, which is just the beginning of your trip back into a chaotic past. Last but not least, enjoy the incredible nightlife that this city unfolds for you when the sun goes down. If you have time, take in some of the scenic Serbian countryside, especially historic cities such as Novi Sad. The locals in Serbia are friendly, caring and helpful. They do like to educate you on their dark recent history, be sure to listen and ask questions. <h2 id="accommodation">Places to Stay in Serbia</h2> The capital boasts an array of accommodation options, and be sure to book ahead if you're visiting during the summer months. Hostel owners are very friendly - mine even took me out to experience the nightlife, then for a traditional Serbian burek for breakfast the next morning. There are hotels abound in Belgrade, but if you are to visit other cities and towns – be sure to book in advance and check transport close to where you're staying. <h2 id="cost-guide">Cost Guide to Serbia</h2> Serbia is still very affordable – but this won't last forever. <ul> <li>€10-15 to stay in a hostel dorm room.</li> <li>€25-30 for a private room.</li> <li>Depending on your level of luxury, hotel rooms will range from €40-200 per night.</li> <li>Food is affordable, be sure to try the local delicacies such as burek and pljeskavica (which is a local meat patty).</li> <li>The budget conscious traveller can survive on €30 euro per day.</li> </ul> <h2 id="know-now">Know Before You Go</h2> Make sure you get to know the locals. They may not seem friendly at first sight, but remember they have a dark and chaotic past. They are more than willing to engage in conversation, help you to discover their amazing country and even possess a dry sense of humour. If you take public transport (like I did) make sure you are ready for numerous, and lengthy delays at the borders. For example, a night train is a cheap option, but don't expect to get too much sleep. When I caught a night train from Hungary to Belgrade, the train was stopped four times – but don't be deterred, as the end result is well and truly worth it.iStock/shishic 0497025724 iStock Belgrade, Serbia - November 12, 2015: Knez Mihailova Street is the main pedestrian and shopping zone in Belgrade, and is protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city. Many locals and tourist walk in this street every day. Knez Mihailova street is full of shops and restaurants.