THINGS TO DO AND SEE
1. Belgrade
One of the best things to do in Serbia is to explore the vibrant city of Belgrade. This is a vigorous, high-energy city, especially in spring and summer, when all ages throng the streets at all hours. With a seemingly endless supply of bars and clubs, the city’s pulsing nightlife is one of the unexpected high points on any European itinerary.
The city’s most attention-grabbing attraction is the Kalemegdan Fortress. Meanwhile just outside the park’s boundary is the Old City, whose dense lattice of streets conceals Belgrade’s most interesting sights. Beyond here lie several more sights worth seeing, including the Church of St Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches, and the very worthwhile Nikola Tesla Museum.
This tailor-made trip to the treasures of Serbia starts in the capital city of Belgrade, where you can explore the bohemian heart of the city. You will be able to explore the natural and historic beauty of Serbia like Tara National Park and the century-old winery Aleksandrović.
2. Novi Sad
Situated on the main road and rail routes towards Budapest some 75km northwest of Belgrade, Novi Sad has long charmed visitors with its comely buildings – remnants of Austro-Hungarian rule. Today it’s an emphatically young town – especially in the summer when thousands of international revellers swarm to Petrovaradin Fortress for the four-day EXIT festival.
3. Exit Festival
Novi Sad developed in tandem with the huge Petrovaradin Fortress (open access) on the Danube’s south bank. The fortress rises picturesquely from rolls of a green hillside, its delicate lemon-yellow buildings set inside sturdy fortifications.
For four days at the beginning of July, the grounds of Petrovaradin Fortress are overrun by EXIT Festival revellers. Now established as one of the premier music events in Europe, EXIT attracts some of the very biggest names in pop, techno and hip-hop.
4. Fruška Gora
Shadowing Novi Sad to the south are the low rolling hills of the Fruška Gora, once an island in the now-evaporated Pannonian Sea. One of the best things to do in is to explore this national park with its orchards and vineyards and a web of simple hiking trails. The hills – known among devotees as the Holy Mountain – also house sixteen monasteries.
About 15km south of Novi Sad, just off the main road before the village of Irig, is Novo Hopovo, where a Byzantine church is housed within a picturesque monastery. Not far off are two more sixteenth-century monastic churches: elegant white Krušedol, and Vrdnik-Ravanica, which has Tsar Lazar’s collarbone on display.
5. Sremski Karlovci
On the eastern fringes of the Fruška Gora National Park, the enchanting small town of Sremski Karlovci makes for a great little trip out of Novi Sad. Its main square, Branka Radičevića, with the Orthodox and Catholic churches and the Four Lions fountain is highly picturesque. However, Sremski Karlovci’s status as a national treasure comes courtesy of its speciality wine, Bermet, made exclusively here since 1770.
The tourist information office on the main square can point you to the delightful wine cellar owned by the Živanović family. Here you can buy your own supplies – swing open the side gate to enter their orchard. There’s also a quaint beekeeping museum. Alternatively, relax with a glass or two on the outdoor decking of the hotel of the same name on the main square.
6. Subotica
Located approximately 175km north of Belgrade, Subotica in Vojvodina presents itself as a splendid alternative to the bustling capital. As one of the best things to do in Serbia, this charming city offers a captivating contrast to Belgrade’s energy and vibrancy. Its Secessionist buildings, green spaces, wide pavements and burghers riding around on old-fashioned bicycles all contribute to its unspoilt, wholesome air.
Just a stone’s throw from Hungary, Subotica feels tangibly more like its northern neighbour. Historically, the ties are close: Subotica reached its apotheosis in the years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire when it was granted the status of a Royal Free Town.
7. Studenica Monastery
The first and greatest of the Serbian monasteries is Studenica, set against the wild, roaming slopes some 12km (and accessible by bus) from the village of Ušče. It was established in 1190 by Stefan Nemanja, founder of the Nemanjić dynasty, whose marble tomb lies in the Church of the Virgin Mary.
Studenica’s superb frescoes were the work of an innovative but still anonymous Greek painter who created trompe-l’oeil images to resemble mosaics.
8. Visiting Tara National Park – one of the best things to do in Serbia
The Tara National Park is located in western Serbia and is named after the most beautiful mountain in Serbia, the Tara Mountain. Visiting the park is one of the best things to do in Serbia for outdoor enthusiasts. Here you will find a huge variety of recreational options, ranging from hiking trails, mountain biking to rafting on the Drina River.
In addition to the stunning nature, Tara National Park also offers a number of historical sites to explore. In particular, the Rača Monastery is a significant monument of Serbia’s medieval heritage.
9. Perucac Lake
Also, a must-see while in Tara National Park is the artificial Perucac Lake. The lake was made by damming the river Drina and constructing the Bajina Bašta hydroelectric station. The lake is a popular destination for all kinds of water activities, including boating and especially fishing. Situated near the lake is the Mramorje Necropolis, which is one of the best-preserved necropolises in the region.
If you are curious and looking for a remarkable journey filled with true wilderness, lovely people and life-changing adventures this tailor-made trip to Serbia & Montenegro is what you need. Enjoy the diverse UNESCO sites, glorious mountain peaks and crystal blue waters.
10. Mokra Gora village
One of the best things to do in Serbia is to visit the picturesque mountain village of Mokra Gora, located between the mountains of Tara and Zlatibor. A popular tourist attraction here is the Šargan Eight narrow railway track, which offers the best way to enjoy the local stunning scenery.
Nearby on Mećavnik Hill is the famous ethnic village of Drvengrad. This village was built on the initiative of director Emil Kusturica and was the location for the production of his film “Life is a Miracle”.
