Serbia things to see and do

Tourist offices

National Tourism Organisation of Serbia

Address: Čika-Ljubina 8, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
Tel: (011) 655 7100.
www.serbia.travel

Things to see and do

Dine out in Skadarlija

Belgrade's 19th-century bohemian quarter boasts restaurants serving typical Serbian cuisine, especially cevapi, grilled minced meat. If you choose to sit outside, don’t be surprised if you’re serenaded at dinner. There are also several art galleries nearby.

Disentangle the diverse history of Nis

See the Ottoman sights of Nis, Serbia's third largest city in the southeast boast plenty of relics from the Ottoman era, including a fortress and the gruesome Skull Tower. The remains of the Roman town of Mediana also lie in the vicinity.

Explore the culture wonders of Novi Sad

Often referred to as the “Serbian Athens”, Novi Sad is an attractive city on the Danube and a cultural centre with museums, galleries, libraries and theatres along with numerous churches that represent a wide variety of denominations. The second city is also home to the imposing Petrovaradin Citadel.

Explore the sprawling Djerdap National Park

The gorgeous Djerdap National Park spans 64,000 hectares (158,146 acres) and is a paradise for nature lovers. Its main attraction is the Djerdap Gorge, a river valley made from four gorges. Other national parks worth a look are Sara, Fruska Gora, Kopaonik and Tara.

Follow Serbia's old wine routes

Serbia is a long-running producer of wines and following some of the old wine routes is rewarding. The Palic wine route follows the trail of “Wines from the Sands” where the winemaking tradition is over 2,000 years old. Other wine routes in Serbia include Vrsac, Oplenac, Smederevo, Negotin and Zupa.

Hike through the Fruska Gora region

Go hiking or birdwatching in the hills of the national park of Fruska Gora to the south of Novi Sad, following woodland trails and discovering half-hidden monasteries. Dominated by a lone mountain, the reserve stretches as far as the Danube River, to the edge of the historic city of Sremski Karlovci.

Make a pilgrimage to the Monastery of Zica

Near Kraljevo, visit the restored Monastery of Zica where the kings of Serbia were once crowned. It was built by the first King of the Serbs in the 13th century, and is curious red-coloured structure, with a modest Orthodox-style dome. In the same part of central Serbia are the pretty Kalenic and Ljubostina convents, both fine examples of the Serbian Morava School of architecture.

Ride the Sargan Eight Railway

Take a pleasure ride on the Sargan Eight Railway at Mokra Gora, close to the Bosnian border. An old narrow-gauge railway that was once an important part of the Belgrade to Sarajevo route, it was closed in the 1970s. The hour-long railway journey climbs 300m (1,000ft) in just 3.5km (2 miles), winding through pretty green hills most of the way.

Tap into the cultural buzz of the capital Belgrade

Belgrade has a bit of everything. In the Old Town, visit Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Nearby landmarks include the enormous Cathedral of St Sava and Princess Ljubica's Konak, an 1831 Turkish-style residence. There's also an irreverent nightlife held down by Sava, for which Belgrade has earned the moniker “new Berlin”.

Wonder at the museums of Belgrade

Visit some of Belgrade's excellent museums and galleries: the Nikola Tesla Museum for live demonstrations of the scientist’s impressive inventions and the Museum of Yugoslav History where former prime minister Tito is buried within the grounds. At the Ethnographic Musuem visitors can learn more about Serbia’s culture and see handcrafted artefacts.

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