Attractions
Monasteries and fortresses
In Serbia there are numerous monasteries and fortress ruins, traces of the country’s turbulent history with Roman, Byzantine and Turkish settlements. Near Zajecar in the west of the country are the remains of the late Roman fortress of Gamzigrad from the 13th and 14th centuries. The fortress has impressive city gates, mosaics and public baths. In Golubac near the Romanian border stands the country’s best-preserved medieval fortress, built in the 14th century. In the northwestern part of Vojvodina Province, along the low Fruska Gora mountain range, one can find over 10 16th-century monasteries, which display an extremely interesting mix of Byzantine and Baroque architectural styles. The most famous monasteries are Krusedol and Hopovo.
- Usprivateschoolsfinder: Offers description downloadable image of national flag for the country of Serbia. Also includes prehistory and history of this nation.
Further south at the foot of Mount Radocelo lies the Studenica Monastery , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Studenica is the oldest and largest orthodox monastery in Serbia and was founded at the end of the 12th century. The two main buildings, the Church of the Virgin and the Church of the King, are built of snow-white marble. The frescoes of the Sopocani Monastery are also worth seeing. The restored monastery in Zica near Kraljevo is painted red like in the Middle Ages. Here the Serbian kings were crowned. The monastery in Kalenic is built in Serbian style.
National parks
Serbia has several impressive national parks. Djerdap National Park, located on the Danube near Golubac, is one of the most visited tourist regions in Serbia. The main attraction is the Djerdap Gorge or ‘Iron Gate’, a 100 km long gorge that forms the gateway to the southern foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Tara National Park is located in a mountainous region in the west of the country and spreads across the Tara and Zvezda Mountains along the Drina River out of. The park is three quarters forested and consists of a group of mountain peaks and valleys. Here you will find some of the best preserved forests in Europe, as well as the rare Pancic spruce, which has been placed under protection by the state. The Fruska Gora National Park is located in the lowlands of the Vojvodina Province and stretches across the low mountain range of the same name on the bank of the Danube in an east-west direction. The valleys are covered with dense forests, consisting mostly of linden trees. Among other things, over 70 different medicinal herbs grow in Fruska Gora Park. More information about national parks and nature reserves in Serbia is available from the Institute for Protection of Nature of Serbia (Internet: www.natureprotection.org.yu) available.
Belgrade
Belgrade/Beograd, the administrative center and capital of the Republic of Serbia, is a business and communication center. Many buildings were only built after World War II. There are several interesting museums, the National Museum offers a good insight into Serbia’s turbulent past. The Muzeji Savremene Umetnosti(Museum of Modern Art) in Novi Beograd should definitely be visited. The Ethnological Museum is also interesting. A special landmark of Belgrade is the mighty fortress Kalegmedan. Except for a few original Roman structures, the fort was mostly built in the 18th century. Kalegmedan has massive entrance gates, bridges, a clock tower, a moat and a Roman spring. Today the fortress is a city park. Inside, the large Vojni Muzej (Military Museum) can be visited. Nearby is a 19th-century cathedral (Saborn Crkva). Skardarlija is a bohemian quarter with 19th-century buildings, many cafes, street dancers, singers and open-air theaters.
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is located on the Danube. There are some well-preserved churches and several interesting museums. However, the symbol of Novi Sad is the Petrovaradin Fortress on the right bank. Most of the fort was completed in the 18th century. The second largest city in Serbia was “European Capital of Youth” in 2019 and is “European Capital of Culture” in 2022.
Shopping
Overview
Carpets, embroidery, lace, leatherwork, pointe shoes, pec filigree, metalwork and Turkish tea sets are recommended. Shop opening hours: Mon-Fri 08.00-12.00 and 17.00-20.00, Sat 08.00-15.00. Department stores and supermarkets in larger cities and tourist centers are usually open all day (Mon-Sat 08.00-20.00). Some supermarkets also open on Sunday mornings.
Nightlife
Introduction
In the larger towns and resorts there is a varied nightlife with bars, nightclubs, cinemas and theatres. Cinemas are open until 23:00, nightclubs until 03:00 and restaurants until 00:00.
Culinary
Overview
The cuisine in Serbia varies from region to region. National dishes include pihtije (pork or duck in aspic), prsut (parma ham), cevapcici (charcoal-grilled minced meat), raznjici (meat skewer), and sarma or japrak (vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat). The desserts are mostly lokum (Turkish honey) and alva (crushed nuts in honey). Drinks: Good Serbian wines come from Sremski Karlovci, Vrsac, Zupa, Smederevo and from the Timok region. Fruit brandies are also distilled, grape brandy Lozova Rakija is particularly well known.
Accommodation
Hotels
Deluxe hotels are mainly available in Belgrade. Hotels in the other categories often offer very limited services. The best hotels are often fully booked. Advance booking is strongly recommended. Categories: Deluxe, A, B, C and D class. More information is available from travel agencies and tourist information centers.When booking accommodation, visitors can get the VisitSerbia Card, which gives discounts, 20-50% discounts or even free entry to a variety of tourist attractions, mainly in Belgrade, free of charge at www. Order visitserbia.org.
Culture
Religion
Mainly Serbian Orthodox (85%); Roman Catholic (5.5%) (mainly in Vojvodina Province), Protestant and Muslim minorities.
Social Rules of Conduct
Tipping: In hotels, restaurants and taxis, a tip of 5% to a maximum of 10% is only given for good service. Tipping is not mandatory. It is appreciated when the customer rounds up the price. Smoking: Catering establishments larger than 80 m2 must offer a separate smoking room. In smaller restaurants, the landlord decides whether smoking is permitted or not. Smoking is prohibited in public spaces such as schools, hospitals, sports facilities and shopping malls.
Climate
Best travel time
A moderate continental climate prevails in Serbia, the south-western part of the country borders on subtropical and continental climate zones. The summers are pleasantly warm, the winters moderately cold with temperatures from -5 to 10 °C. The warmest month is July and the coldest is January. In Serbia, the Košava, a cold wind from east to south-east, occurs especially in autumn and winter. The season for winter sports starts in the mountains in December and ends in March.
Country data
Phone prefix
+381
Area (sq km)
77474
Population
6,982,084 (Source: homosociety)
Population density (per square km)
93
Population statistics year
2018
Member of the EU
No
Main emergency number
194
