Exploring Serbia: How to Plan the Trip of a Lifetime

Serbia is a land of wonder. From the action-packed streets of Belgrade to the wine-growing regions of Fruška Gora, traveling through Serbia can offer you new adventures for weeks at a time. But to fully benefit from all that this Balkan paradise has to offer, you should be prepared. You don’t want to venture high into the mountains and suddenly find yourself stuck for something essential. Therefore, it is best to make a checklist before you leave and be sure you don’t leave out anything important.

Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need to have the trip of your life in Serbia.

Making the most of Belgrade

As you will likely be flying into the nation’s capital, it makes sense that we should start there. Belgrade can be an amazing place, full of entertainment, excellent cuisine, and warm hospitality. You can’t miss the city’s biggest highlights, including:

The Belgrade fortress, which will allow you to learn about the city’s rich past and enjoy panoramic views of the area.
Knez Mihailova Street, which is Belgrade’s most famous pedestrian walkway. Here you will experience the full expanse of the city’s 19th-century mansions, most vibrant cafes, and more.
Skadarlija, or the Bohemian Quarter. This quaint 19th-century cobblestone street offers a more rugged, artsy look at the city.
Nikola Tesla Museum. Learn about the famous Serbian-American inventor and engineer whose pioneering work on electricity paved the way for modern power grids, wireless communication, and more.

For all the good that it has to offer, there are several things that you should keep in mind when making your way around the city:

Not all taxi drivers are equally reliable, so it is best to go with a reputable company that you know will charge a fair rate. Pink Taxi and Yandex Go are the companies to use in order to ensure you’re getting the best rates.
Although Belgrade is generally a very safe city, it’s always a good idea to stay aware of your surroundings in crowded areas and during large public events, just as you would in any major European city.
You always want to protect your online privacy. You should know that ExpressVPN offers apps for most major operating systems, and it will give you a variety of locations to choose from when getting online. Using a VPN is especially important when it comes to things like online banking as you never want to potentially expose your personal information.
Like other major cities, Belgrade occasionally hosts political demonstrations. If any are taking place during your visit, simply check local news and avoid large gatherings that may disrupt traffic or public transport.

Beyond the capital

Your trip to Serbia should ideally involve a balance of urban and rural exploration. Once you get outside of Belgrade, you can start enjoying the many rural and semi-rural wonders of the country:

Tara National Park and Mokra Gora. Just 3.5 hours outside the city, you will enter into an entirely different world, which offers mountains leading to the Banjska Stena viewpoint, glimpses of the Drina River Gorge, and Mokra Gora near the famous Šargan Eight heritage railway, one of Europe’s most scenic historic railways.
Golubac Fortress. Heading east from Belgrade, you will come to this 14th-century medieval castle that sits beside the Danube. It leads into the 134-kilometer Iron Gates Gorge that marks the border between Serbia and Romania.
Fruška Gora. Heading west, Fruška Gora juts out from the Pannonian Basin and offers visitors a wide variety of activities, from visiting wine regions to exploring 16 Orthodox monasteries to winding deciduous forests.
Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci. If you are looking for an urban experience that is a notch down from Belgrade in terms of crowds and noise, you should check out the country’s second city. Novi Sad is home to the massive Petrovaradin Fortress, and not far from the quaint town of Sremski Karlovci, located just a short drive from Novi Sad in the province of Vojvodina.

Staying safe and making the most of your rural Serbian experience – whether it be solo activities or organized festivals – requires coming prepared and being open to the country’s unique features. Among other things, this means:

Being open-minded about communal life. If you are from Western Europe or the US, you might be taken aback by people’s forwardness. In general, this is a good thing. Serbians can be extremely hospitable, generous, and warm. The country’s etno sela (ethno villages) are very popular among tourists.
Carrying cash. Although most parts of Serbia are fully integrated into international online payment systems, there may be remote villages where you will need to carry cash just in case. Keep some small bills with you as you move around.
Being prepared for Internet outages and patchy coverage. When you are driving or hiking around in the mountains, you may well lose your mobile connection. In order to prevent yourself from getting lost, always be sure you know where you are going. Downloading maps and investing in hiking apps can be lifesavers when you are in remote regions.
Being willing to try new foods. Remember, traveling is about experiencing new things, so you should open your mind to new gastronomic possibilities.

In Serbia that can include:

Ćevapi. Ćevapi are small grilled minced meat rolls and one of Serbia’s best-known national dishes. They are traditionally served with lepinja (Serbian flatbread), chopped onions and often kajmak.
Sarma. Common among Balkan and Mediterranean countries, Serbia has its own style of cabbage-stuffed meat rolls. They are usually stuffed with pork and/or beef with rice and smoked bacon.
Kajmak. Kajmak is a rich, creamy dairy delicacy traditionally made from the layer of cream that forms on boiled milk. It is enjoyed fresh or aged and is often served with grilled meat or warm bread.
Local drinks. If you are a wine lover, you should definitely sample some of the local vintages. If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t miss rakija, Serbia’s traditional fruit brandy, which comes in many varieties such as plum, apricot, pear and quince.

Pack your bags

Serbia is truly one of the world’s great countries. Steeped in history and tradition, memories of your trip there will surely last a lifetime. Just be sure to take the necessary precautions before you leave, and use sound judgment while moving around the country. If you are open to new ideas, you will discover a land of wonder in this magical Balkan paradise.