About Serbia
Serbia’s geography has been continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. In the Middle Ages, southern Slavs entered the territory of what is now the present-day Republic of Serbia. The Serbs established regional states during this period, with the Serbian Empire reaching its peak around 1346.
Serbia gained its independence in 1878 and, with other Slavic states, co-founded Yugoslavia. During the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia formed a union with Montenegro, which was peacefully dissolved in 2006.
Where is Serbia?
The Republic of Serbia is at the point where the Balkans meet the Panonia Plain in Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Hungary, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The capital and other cities of Serbia
Serbia’s capital and the country’s other cities offer an interesting route with their calmness and historical texture. Naturally, our first stop is Belgrade, the beautiful capital of the Republic of Serbia.
Serbian capital: Belgrade
Belgrade is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Serbia as well as in Europe. As Serbia’s largest and most populous city, this impressive capital exhibits the traces of its past on every street.
The city’s name, Belgrade, means ‘White City’ in Serbian, and it is renowned for Kalemegdan, an expansive forested area in the city center. Set along the banks of the Danube and Sava rivers, Kalemegdan is home to the Belgrade Fortress, erected in 279 BC, and to Knez Mihailova, a popular pedestrian avenue lined with cafes and shops. Belgrade is also known for its buzzing nightlife.
The highlights of Belgrade include Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova, St. Sava Cathedral, the Nikola Tesla Museum, Stone Square, Zemun, the Yugoslavia History Museum, and the House of National Assembly of Serbia. Click here for more on places to visit in Belgrade.
The city of peace and order: Novi Sad
The next stop is Novi Sad, the second most populous city in Serbia. with its wide streets, regular city plan and peaceful atmosphere.
With wide streets and a peaceful atmosphere, Novi Sad features many museums and historical structures and hosts numerous events, such as the Novi Sad Jazz Festival and the International Novi Sad Literature Festiva. The city is easily explored on foot and we especially recommend diving into its side streets and discovering its boutiques and cafes.
The highlights of Novi Sad, a historical and entertaining city, include the Museum of Vojvodina, Name of Mary Church, Strand Beach, and Chinatown.
A historic city in the south: Niš
In the southern part of the country and close to the Bulgarian border is Niš, Serbia’s third-most populous town. Niš is known for being the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the founder of İstanbul; the city is also home to an eponymous university, giving it the lively atmosphere of a college town.
The highlights of Niš include King Milan Square, the Niš Fortress, Obrenoviceva Street, Skull Tower, Mediana, and the Red Cross (Crveni Krst) Concentration Camp.
With its dazzling architecture: Subotica
Less than 60 kilometers from the Hungarian border, Subotica is home to many Hungarians as well as Serbians. The city’s stately plazas and historical structures are lovely and Subotica also hosts several festivals throughout the year.
The highlights of Subotica include Freedom Square, Cathedral Square, Dömötör Palace, the former Golden Lamb Hotel and Raichle Palace.
Dining in Serbia
Serbian cuisine features many dishes common in Balkan, Central European and Ottoman fare. Meat and dairy products are widely consumed, as are pastries. Ćevapčići, Balkan-style meatballs, are a well-known Balkan dish served with salted cream. Other delicious Serbian dishes are as follows:
- Balkan schnitzel
- Burek (pastry filled with meat, cheese or vegetables)
- Urnebes (Belgrade-style salad)
- Krofne (marmalade-filled pastry)
- Ajvar sauce
- Karadordeva snicla (rolled meat stuffed with cream)
- Pljeskavica (cream, potatoes, and meatballs with bread)
- Skembici (tripe soup)
Useful information about Serbia
- Serbian capital: Belgrade.
- The official language of Serbia: Serbian.
- The Serbian currency: Serbian dinar (RSD)
- Nikola Tesla Airport, in Belgrade, is the country’s largest and busiest airport
- Serbia has a continental climate.
- Autumn and spring are the ideal times to visit Serbia.
Getting to Serbia
Depending on one’s location, Serbia is accessible by road. But a faster way to reach the country is to purchase a Serbian flight ticket and travel by air. You can fly directly to Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, and travel from the capital to other areas of the country via train or bus.
