Serbia - The Balkan Tale

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We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us

In this southeast European country, there is a spirit that boils and boils, there is belly eating, drinking to forgetfulness, and hot Balkan music that can make you forget about all of your problems. Serb`s hospitality is a national feature. And their biggest pride is the pleskavica, a traditional dish that is available in every village and a local road, served with a rich hot pepper garnish blended with lutenica, ripe beans, and fried potatoes. In Serbia, the most popular is Leskovashka pleskavica, which since 2007 is a protected trademark.
When we say Serbia, mandatorily we associate with the music festivals, which are a source of wild rhythms and high degrees. One of the hallmark events that takes place annually in the city of Gucha is the Festival of brass music. Nearly half a million listeners gather at this festival, and more than 100 orchestras participate in the competition. The fun in Gucha lasts for five days. The beginning of the festival was in 1961, but the tradition of the orchestras of brass music in Serbia began much earlier. The most curious thing about the Gucha Festival is that every morning at 7 o'clock there are musicians playing their trumpets in full force on the streets of the town, so if you expect to sleep longer after their midnight performances, you will not succeed.
The fans of the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica could have wonderful experiences in this country if they walk in his footsteps. Then everyone would believe that life is a miracle! On a hill in the wet forest National Park, Kyustendorf, the Wooden City or the Mechavnik was built - a bastion of art, cinema, science, and culture. Kusturitsa noticed this hill for the first time when filming "Life is a Miracle" in 2003 and decided to build there his own town. In the ethnic town, there are 20-30 houses entirely made of wood in the traditional style of the old Serbian villages. The complex has everything - a central square, streets, a church, a cinema, a pool and a spa, a gym, two restaurants, a coffee shop, a bar and even a prison.

Another similar project of Kusturica is Andrichgrad. It is a stone town located on the peninsula of the Drina River, near the famous bridge of Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Andrichgrad was built as a décor for the film "The Bridge of the Drina river", which Kusturica prepares based on the famous work of Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric. Andrichgrad is no less charming than the Mechannik but still looks a bit deserted because it's a lot newer.
When talking about Serbia we should not miss the romantic trip with the Shargans Eight as it is a legendary train. It is a museum-historical narrow-gauge along the wet forest trail, Shargan Vitassy.
The Nostalgia train, a museum-tourist attraction runs along this route during the summer season from April to October and during the winter holidays from 25 December to 25 January. The distance along the route is 15,440 meters, overcoming a height difference of 300 meters and 22 tunnels (total length which is over 5 kilometers), 10 bridges and several small stations. It is called an Eight because the track is curved in the form of an eight. In summer, the attraction narrow-gauge carries an average of about 80,000 tourists between the slopes of the Zlatybrod, Tara and Zlatar mountains in the Old Vlas area.
Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country. The town, which never sleeps, is located in the northern part of the country when the river Senna flows into the Danube River. Attractive for tourists are the many art galleries, museums, annual festivals. Everyone who visits this city is convinced by the friendly and the merry temper of its inhabitants and the truthfulness of his name - the Nice City. Include also Pirot on your list - several rivers pass through this Serbian town / Erma, Nishava, Temstica, Razsnishka river, Visocica /.

 

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Niš
Niš, Serbia

Nish is the third largest city in Serbia - lively and different from the other European cities. In many places, you will hear live music and you will dive into the city's interesting atmosphere. It is located on the Nishava River and is called the "Gate Between the East and the West". Do not miss the square of the Liberation, the Liberation Monument, the National Theater and the Turkish Fortress built in the far 18th century.

Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is full of restaurants and bars, both on land and in the water. You can relax in the atmosphere of the small cafes or take advantage of the lively nightlife. Take a look at the Zepter Museum, where you will see the modern art of Serbia. Take advantage of the panoramic views of the capital and the Danube from the tower of Gardos.

Novi Sad
Novi Sad, Serbia

In Vojvodina, on the left bank of the Danube, you will see the second largest city in Serbia - Novi Sad. Definitely visit the fortress Petrovaradin. This is probably the most impressive fortress in the whole of Eastern Europe. It hosts one of the biggest music festivals in Europe - EXIT. We highly recommend visiting the St. George Church, the Foreign Art Collection, the Danube Park and the Old Jewish synagogue.

Kragujevac
Kragujevac, Serbia

If you are a lover of history and want to feel all its strength - go to Kragujevac. The sights are so many that your vacation should be extended for at least a few days. Start with the church of St. Virgin Mary - modest outside but lush inside. There you will find the imposing statue of the Kardjordjevic family. And continue on...

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Location

Serbia is a state on the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe. It borders with Hungary to the north, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia to the west, to the east with Romania and Bulgaria and to the south with Macedonia. The country is rich in both: flat and mountainous areas. The capital is Belgrade, located in the northern part of Serbia.

Transportation

We recommend you avoiding the transport by train, but using buses that are more reliable and safer. Taxis are also suitable for moving through the big cities, but it is advisable to use the famous taxi companies you can find on the internet according to the city you are in.

Languages Spoken

The only official language in Serbia is Serbian. Other spoken languages are mostly in the neighboring countries, such as: Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian and others. The  younger part of the society(teenagers) speaks good English as well.

Currency

The official currency is the Serbian Dinar. In 2003 it replaces the Yugoslavian Dinar. Most commonly, you can exchange English Pounds, Euros and US Dollars. When exchanging money, trust only authorized currency exchange locations.

Visas

Your visit to Serbia does not require visas for a certain period, depending on your nationality. The visa regime is standard as a Schengen country. Before visiting the country, check it out because you may be able to travel even without a passport, but only with an ID card.

Electricity

Contacts in Serbia are from Type F, operating with C and E plugs. The standard voltage is 230V.

Vaccinations

No mandatory vaccines are required for your visit to Serbia, but it is good at least a month before your trip to this country to see your doctor for advice. Hepatitis A and diphtheria vaccines are recommended.

Emergency Calls

The emergency call phones in Serbia are: for the police - 192, for the fire - 193, for emergency aid - 194.

When to visit
Best time to visit the destination

Definitely, the best time to visit  Serbia is the spring days when you can enjoy all the sights and all the wonderful places. Winter is quite heavy, so avoid visiting during this season. Temperatures fall below 0 and this will definitely decrease your mood.

What to do?
Don’t miss to challenge your world

Music Exit Festival in Novi Sad

A host of one of the most iconic music festivals in the world is Novi Sad, located north of the capital of Serbia. The musicians were part of this event and are one of the most famous and popular in the world, such as Sting, Prodigy, Bon Jovi and many others. The Exit Festival attracts thousands of tourists every year. If you visit Serbia during the festival, we strongly recommend buying tickets and enjoying the world-famous musicians.
 

Visit the wooden city of Kusturica

The wonderful creation of the great Serbian director Emir Kusturica is located in the wetland nature park. Originally built for the film "Life Is Nice" and subsequently remains one of the most famous tourist destinations. The wooden city is entirely made of wood, and the places there like squares and gutters are baptized to famous celebrities. The city itself is also home to a church, a cinema, and a prison. Visit this remarkable place and you will touch the imagination of the great Kusturica.

Expenditures to the "Devil's City"

The phenomenon called Devil's City is one of the most beautiful natural landmarks in Serbia, located near the town of Nish in the Ramadan Mountains. The admirable beauty attracts millions of tourists to this enchanting place that was shaped millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions. Composed of over 200 formations forming this wonderful rock complex, it is a place that you should definitely visit.

To eat from the Serbian cuisine

Serbian cuisine is famous for its incredibly delicious and lavish dishes. Their traditional cuisine is shaped by the influence of the Balkan peoples surrounding the country. The most characteristic of their culinary products are giving a new look and taste to old recipes, mainly expressed in meat and dairy products. The most popular dishes are Serbian pleskavica, Serbian bannok, sarmi, Lescovski octopus and Serbian lentils. Taste and enjoy these Balkan specialties in order to feel the spirit of Serbian life as much as possible.

Walk to Tara Park

A great place to explore Serbian nature is the Tara National Park. It has over 1 900 000 000 sq.m. of area, consisting of dense, deep forests and beautiful caves, steep peaks, the fabulous river Drina and the deep lakes. Take a stroll in this amazing adventure offering breathtaking views and touch the unique Serbian scenery.

You ask, we answer
FAQs about Serbia

Is it safe in Serbia?

Ethnic tensions can only occur in the small populated areas of the country, and in particular far to the south near the Kosovo border. Overall, you can be at peace when visiting this country and enjoy your vacation.

The northern part of the country has a  continental climate and mountainous areas. There are cold winters and hot summers. At any time of the year, there may be rain falls, as they are mostly moderate, and the most common are from June to August. You can ski from December to April. June, July, and August you can get your summer clothes because it's hot.

In Serbia, crossing the main highways is paid, and this is done in special pavilions, which are located on the motorways themselves. However, if you do not want to pay for them, you need to pre-set a route to avoid them, but your trip will be longer.

Tips in restaurants are not required, but you can always leave between 10 and 15% when you're satisfied with the service. Rounding up the bill is enough in bars and taxis. Musicians in restaurants are looking forward to a small tip, especially when playing for your table. About 1,000 Dinars are the hotel's porters' luggage tip, and the amount for cleaning the room per day is the same.

Everywhere in the country, you will see monasteries and churches. Orthodox faith is dominant in Serbia. It entered the country in the far 9th century. The Serbian Orthodox Church is the second oldest Slavic Orthodox Church after the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Catholicism is the second largest practiced religion. Islam enters Serbia after the five centuries of rule of the Ottoman Empire, but it is mainly characteristic of the southern part of the country.


In Belgrade, the starting price of taxis is about 170 Dinars, and in Novi Sad about 80 Dinars. Belgrade's kilometer fee is 65 Dinars, and in Novi Sad is about 50 Dinars. Waiting for an hour is about 75 Dinars in the capital, and in Novi Sad around 500 Dinars. Taxi rates are high in Belgrade and it is advisable to rent a car for traveling around.

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