Travel to Serbia: what to visit, itineraries and tips

At the confluence of the Sava and the Danube, Belgrade sets the tone for a warm and still little-visited country: river fortresses, the plains of Vojvodina, monasteries with Byzantine frescoes, the forests of Tara National Park and a kafana culture where people take their time.

Why travel to Serbia?

In the heart of the Balkans, Serbia combines a very lively capital, Belgrade, spectacular Danube gorges and medieval Orthodox heritage with several UNESCO-listed monasteries. Outside the European Union, it remains one of the most affordable destinations in Europe, with tourist numbers still moderate.

What to discover in Serbia?

Belgrade, between the Sava and the Danube

Destroyed and rebuilt many times, Belgrade is organised around Kalemegdan Fortress, which overlooks the confluence of the Sava and the Danube. Knez Mihailova pedestrian street leads to the bohemian Skadarlija quarter and its kafanas, while Zemun, a former Austro-Hungarian town on the opposite bank, still feels like a Danube village. The Temple of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox buildings in the world, and the Nikola Tesla Museum complete the visit. Plan three nights, including a weekend to enjoy the nightlife.

Novi Sad and the plains of Vojvodina

About 90 kilometres north of Belgrade, roughly forty minutes by fast train, Novi Sad combines an old town with Austro-Hungarian architecture and Petrovaradin Fortress on the Danube. Nearby, Sremski Karlovci and the Orthodox monasteries of Fruška Gora can be visited with a tasting of bermet, a local aromatised wine. Further north, Subotica, about ten kilometres from the Hungarian border, surprises with its Art Nouveau town hall. Allow two days for Vojvodina.

The Danube and the Iron Gates gorge

East of Belgrade, the Danube rushes into the Đerdap gorge, the longest river gorge in Europe, which forms the border with Romania. Golubac Fortress, restored and open to visitors, marks the entrance of the gorge about two hours' drive from the capital. Downstream, the prehistoric site of Lepenski Vir and the Roman ruins of Viminacium, on the way, bear witness to thousands of years of settlement. A long day by car is enough for the round trip, two days if you add a river cruise.

The monasteries of the Ibar valley

The spiritual heart of medieval Serbia lies about three and a half hours' drive south of Belgrade. Studenica Monastery, founded in the late 12th century, is UNESCO-listed for its frescoes, as are Sopoćani and the site of Stari Ras near Novi Pazar. Red-walled Žiča stands near Kraljevo, a convenient base. The monasteries are active places of worship: shoulders and knees covered, silence inside the churches. Allow two days to see three or four without rushing.

Zlatibor, Tara and the Drina valley

In the west, the Zlatibor plateau and Tara National Park offer conifer forests, viewpoints and hikes, about four hours from Belgrade. The Banjska stena viewpoints overlook the Drina canyon, the river marking the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the famous house perched on a rock in the middle of the riverbed is near Bajina Bašta. In Mokra Gora, the Šargan Eight heritage train runs in season on a narrow-gauge line shaped like a figure eight. Allow three days for the region.

Niš and the Roman heritage of the south-east

The country's third city, about two and a half hours from Belgrade by motorway, Niš is the birthplace of Emperor Constantine. Its Ottoman fortress, the Skull Tower built in 1809 and the Roman site of Mediana can be seen in one day. Further north-east, near Zaječar, the imperial palace of Felix Romuliana is UNESCO-listed. Niš lies on the road towards Sofia and Bulgaria, making it a logical stop on a journey across the Balkans.

Kafanas, rakija and nightlife

Serbian culture is lived at the table: grilled meats such as ćevapi and pljeskavica, ajvar made from red peppers and rakija, a plum brandy served at the start of the meal. Kafanas, traditional taverns, often host musicians in the evening, especially at weekends. In Belgrade, the splavovi, floating bars and clubs moored on the Sava and the Danube, open mainly from May to September and rarely get going before midnight. For brass music, the Guča Trumpet Festival is usually held in August in the west of the country.

Cities to visit in Serbia

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Must-sees in Serbia

Ten essentials, from Belgrade's ramparts to the gorges of the Drina.

Kalemegdan Fortress

A citadel overlooking the confluence of the Sava and the Danube, surrounded by a large park ideal for watching the sunset over New Belgrade.

Temple of Saint Sava

A huge Orthodox church with a white dome, whose crypt entirely covered in golden mosaics can be visited free of charge in central Belgrade.

Zemun Quarter

A former Austro-Hungarian border town on the Danube bank, with its lanes, fish restaurants and the Gardoš Tower above.

Petrovaradin Fortress

A vast 18th-century fortress facing Novi Sad, known for its clock tower and underground galleries that can be visited with a guide.

Subotica Town Hall

An Art Nouveau building with coloured tiles and stained glass, whose tower offers views over this town near the Hungarian border.

Golubac Fortress

A medieval castle with nine towers set on the Danube bank at the entrance of the Đerdap gorge, restored and open to visitors.

Studenica Monastery

A royal foundation in white marble from the late 12th century, UNESCO-listed for Byzantine frescoes among the oldest in the country.

House on the Drina

A small wooden hut perched on a rock in the middle of the river near Bajina Bašta, now one of the country's best-known images.

Šargan Eight Railway

A narrow-gauge heritage line in Mokra Gora, whose figure-eight route crosses tunnels and bridges in the western mountains.

Skull Tower

A monument in Niš built in 1809 with the skulls of Serbian insurgents, now protected by a chapel and open to visitors.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Belgrade to Novi Sad?
About 40 minutes by fast train on the high-speed line, compared with a little over an hour by car for 90 kilometres. A day trip is therefore easy, but a night in Novi Sad lets you enjoy Petrovaradin at sunset.
Can you see the Iron Gates in a day from Belgrade?
Yes, with an early start: allow about two hours' drive to Golubac, then one to two more hours along the gorge to Lepenski Vir. Organised tours do the loop in about ten hours. To sail on the Danube, it is better to stay overnight.
What are Belgrade's splavovi?
They are barges moored on the Sava and the Danube converted into bars, restaurants or clubs. They operate mainly from May to September and hardly liven up before midnight. Some are calm and family-friendly by day, others decidedly festive at weekends.
What should you wear to visit Studenica and the monasteries?
Serbian monasteries are inhabited by monks or nuns. Cover shoulders and knees, remove your hat in the church and ask before photographing the frescoes, which is often forbidden inside. Some lend a scarf or skirt at the entrance.
Can you enter Serbia after a stay in Kosovo?
Yes, if you entered Kosovo from Serbia. However, Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's entry points with other countries: if you arrived via Albania or North Macedonia, travel through a third country to reach Serbia.
Is the Belgrade to Bar train worth the trip?
The line links Belgrade to the coast of Montenegro in about ten hours, with hundreds of tunnels and the Mala Rijeka viaduct. Comfort is basic, but the daytime journey through the mountains remains a favourite experience for rail enthusiasts.
Do you need dinars or can you pay in euros?
The official currency is the dinar and most shops accept only dinars. Bank cards work well in Belgrade and Novi Sad, less so in villages and monasteries. Withdraw dinars from an ATM or exchange euros at a menjačnica.
When is the Guča Trumpet Festival held?
The Dragačevo festival is usually held in August in the village of Guča, in western Serbia. Brass bands from across the country perform there over several days. Accommodation on site is scarce: book early or stay in Čačak.
What can you see in Niš in one day?
Start with the Ottoman fortress and Kopitareva pedestrian street, continue with the Skull Tower a few kilometres from the centre, then the Roman site of Mediana. In the evening, try the burek and grilled meats of the south, said to be spicier than in Belgrade.

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