The first half of the summer was damn hard for me. I won’t go into details, but I was so tired that I looked like a squeezed and then dried lemon. I was tired, first of all, emotionally... But then a saving vacation came, which rehabilitated me, filling me with vital juices and spiritual strength.
The vacation spot was chosen relatively long ago, several months ago. The choice fell... no, not on the Dominican Republic, Spain, Italy or Turkey. My wife and I decided to spend our vacation in Serbia, an unknown and unpopular region among Russian tourists.
Why Serbia? I'm tired of answering this question, to be honest. “Is there a sea there?” No, there is no sea there. But there is a sea in nearby Montenegro, which is easy to get to from Serbia. However, looking ahead, I will say that we never made it to Montenegro. For us as wives, the sea is more of a pleasant bonus, but not a fundamental condition for the next trip.
The fact is that in recent years I have become very interested in the history of the Balkan Peninsula. For centuries, serious passions have been seething there; Representatives of different nationalities and religious denominations border each other, and the peninsula itself is called nothing less than “the powder keg of Europe.” The Balkans have always been a bargaining chip for other states that use the difficult relationships between the inhabitants of the peninsula to achieve their own geopolitical goals. The most striking example, probably known to anyone, even the most uneducated schoolchild, is the outbreak of the First World War.
So, due to the proximity of different cultures and faiths in one territory, the architecture of the Balkans is distinguished by great diversity, and the mentality of people is distinguished by its originality and bright color. Let's add to this the mountainous terrain, the hospitality of local residents, natural beauty and the unprecedented love of Serbs for Russians, as well as the absence of obstacles with visas. That's why Serbia. To be honest, we planned to visit several countries at once: Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia. But when I started reading more about traveling to these countries, I came to the conclusion that a tour of the capitals was not a very good idea and decided that each of these countries deserves special attention and a full-fledged vacation to explore.
We decided to start with Serbia. I’ll say right away that the 16 days that were allotted for the trip were not even enough to explore the entire, seemingly tiny, Serbia. We visited only its western part, traveling around it from north to south.
This vacation was special for us also because for the first time in our lives we did not plan our trip from start to finish. The reason for this is not only the lack of time before the trip, but also the unpopularity of Serbia in terms of tourism. There is minimal information on the Internet; There are some tourist sites in Serbian, but firstly, there are very few of them, and secondly, there was neither the energy nor the time to translate into Russian.
Therefore, the only thing we had was round-trip air tickets and the expected place of the first overnight stay, which we found on the couchsurfing website (if anyone doesn’t know, then this is a special resource where people who want to communicate with travelers from different countries of the world , offer to stay at their home completely free of charge).
Naturally, we flew to Belgrade. Since this is the only major airport in Serbia where planes from Russia regularly fly. We reached the “couchsurfer” Mila, who has a Russian mother and a Serbian father, and who speaks excellent Russian. So, our hospitable friend gave us valuable advice and helped us with drawing up a tourist route, and also told us various, in the language of modern youth, “tricks” and “life hacks”.
To begin with, it was decided to go to the canyon of the Uvac River, in the southern part of Serbia. I saw photographs of this stunningly beautiful place even before purchasing air tickets and immediately decided that I definitely wanted to go to these places. But it takes about 8-9 hours to get there from Belgrade. My wife and I decided that this was clearly overkill in order to overcome this path in one “approach”. We decided to stop somewhere “in the middle” - it turned out to be a city with a sonorous name for the Russian-speaking ear: Kraljevo (Serbian Krajevo).
Kraljevo is a small provincial town located near the most famous Serbian sanatoriums “Matarushka Banja” and “Vrnjacka Banja”. The town is built on the banks of the beautiful Ibar River. We stayed in a guest house, which we found on a booking site, not far from one of the main attractions of the city - the Zicha Monastery.
The guest house, as we understand, belongs to one hospitable Serbian family, in which everyone works for the benefit of the family business. The rooms are clean, the food is delicious, the brandy is simply magical, the hosts are hospitable. What else is needed for happiness?
After the bustle of the capital Belgrade, a provincial, but by Serbian standards not so small city, seemed to us a calm place where time seemed to stop. Well, prices, of course, are also significantly “lag behind” those in Belgrade. A taxi costs less than public transport, and for lunch in a restaurant for two you pay less money than a basket of bread costs in Belgrade (and this despite the fact that prices in Belgrade compared to Moscow or St. Petersburg are generally a freebie). By the way, it was in Kraljevo that a comical incident happened to me: before leaving, we decided to have a little refreshment and went to a local restaurant. There we ordered lunch dishes at random. Why at random? Yes, because the menu was only in Serbian. And in the end they brought me a pork knuckle. A whole pork ham, Karl! And it’s good that we decided not to order a salad, so as not to get too full before the trip.
Then our path lay in a very small town - Senica (Sjenitsa), which is located in a district with a ringing name for Russians - Raska. Before this, we stopped in the city of Novi Pazar, where the bulk of the population, in fact, as in almost the entire Raskin district, are Muslims (mostly Bosnians). And here, of course, everything was completely different: different architecture, different culture, different mentality of the local residents. It would seem that we traveled by bus for only a few hours, but we ended up not only in another country, but one might even say - in another world. But this is less than 300 km from Belgrade. There is no distance at all by Russian standards.
Then we finally reached Senica. There, with the help of a local man who saw two confused tourists and wanted to help, we got through to the person who rents out apartments near the canyon, for whom we actually came here. The owner, named Slavko, met us, took us home, gave us tea, showed us and told us everything. As it turned out, his wife’s brother was at his house, who had been living in Tosno for many years, and that’s where my uncle lives. We breathed a sigh of relief, because this meant that we could forget about the language barrier. Although... Judging by the several days spent in Serbia, a little brandy is also quite a normal translator.
In the morning we asked about the road to the canyon and set off. At one of the forks we turned the wrong way and did not take the shortest road. We came across a village. A local grandfather showed us where to go, and we managed to get on the right path. By the way, it was precisely because we turned the wrong way at one point that we were lucky enough to walk along the river, and this is such beauty that it is impossible to describe in words. And it doesn’t matter that we had to walk an extra 3-4 km. It was worth it.
And so we reached the Vidokovac observation deck. Fascinating! Amazing! Amazing! Magically! It is so beautiful that it took my breath away for several minutes. I couldn't talk or think about anything. No photograph can convey the true beauty of this place. You need to see this with your own eyes. And nothing else.
And if before the vacation I thought that the lack of promotion and unpopularity of the Serbian tourist destination was a significant disadvantage, then here I realized that this is undoubtedly a huge plus. We were on the observation deck, which offers a fabulous view, completely alone for an hour and a half. I have always associated the phrase “observation deck” with bustle, noise, crowds of people wanting to take selfies and the inability to fully enjoy the view. And here - not a soul. Just us and the huge eagles soaring above the river.
Then, however, a crowd of noisy, restless Chinese came, who for about 20 minutes disrupted our unity with nature. But after taking a couple of dozen photographs, our Chinese friends considered the goal accomplished and hurried away, managing to scare away all the eagles, who flew to this place only 40 minutes later.
How I didn’t want to leave there! If I had such an opportunity, I would have pitched a tent there and stayed there to live, but I had to move on. We were already on the right path back, relying solely on our own intuition at several forks, which did not let us down this time.
In total, we walked about 10 km during the day, but for this we were rewarded with beautiful photographs, incredible emotions and “empty” heads, from which, at least for some time, all unnecessary thoughts, anxieties and stresses disappeared.
To be continued....
Serbia is located in Southeastern Europe. Winters in the country are cold, snowy and short. There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. This contributes to the development of ski tourism. Prices for skiing are relatively low, and new slopes appear regularly. The most popular resort is Kopaonik.
The country provides excellent opportunities for recovery. There are thermal springs and incredibly healing air. The most famous resorts are Sokobanja, Vrnjacka Banja, Bukovicka Banja. Serbia has very rich nature. It is impossible to ignore the Danube and the Djerdap Gorge. Very interesting national park Shar Planina, Tara, Frushka Gora. There is a popular piece lake in Belgrade that is incredibly clean. Belgrade residents love to spend time in the park next to it.
The culture of Serbia has survived thousands of years. Its monuments are numerous monasteries and churches, which are famous for their frescoes. Despite numerous wars, Serbian fortresses are well preserved and host not only tourists, but also various festivals, such as the EXIT music festival. The most popular cities in Serbia are Belgrade, Subotica, Novi Sad, Nis. Tourism in Serbia is not very popular. It's relatively inexpensive, but there's a lot to see. The country has many historical and architectural monuments, beautiful nature and a pleasant climate.
The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles/day
What to see in Serbia?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.
For more than 1000 years, the fortress has stood on a 125-meter hill near the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Its territory is divided into the Upper and Lower Towns. Inside the fortress are two ancient churches, monuments, ruins of Roman settlements, and defensive buildings. Five towers rise above the fortress, and you can enter the citadel through 12 gates. You can look at the magical landscapes from Kalemegdan Park. You can also relax in the cafe there.
It is a UNESCO heritage site that consists of three monasteries and one church. A valuable example of Byzantine and Western Romanesque church architecture. They were built in the XIII-XVI centuries. The Vysoki Decani monastery was the first to be included in the list of protected sites. It is famous for its frescoes. This is a valuable example in Byzantine art. The remaining monasteries were included as a heritage site two years later.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Europe, where the Danube flows in all its glory. In the Djerdap Gorge, near Golubac, it reaches its greatest width - 6.5 km and its greatest depth - 82 meters. Tourists are taken on cruises through the entire gorge, which consists of four smaller gorges and three basins. In some places, 300-meter cliffs rise above the river. There are also many ancient fortresses on the banks of the Danube.
This is a monastery, which is located in the mountains on the right bank of the Studenica River. It is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and is one of the most luxurious and rich Serbian Orthodox monasteries. Studenica was founded in 1190 by Stefan Nemanja. There are two churches inside the monastery: the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Church of Joachim and Anna. The monastery is famous for its Byzantine style frescoes.
The fortress was built in 1430, when Smederevo was the capital of the country. The fortress has the shape of a triangle. On one side it borders on the Danube, on the other on Yezava. The third side was protected by fortifications. The fortress was defended by a 2-meter wall and 25 towers. In the Small Town there was a printing house, a jewelry workshop, two churches, a palace, and other buildings. The Great City was a trade and craft center.
This is a place shrouded in legends on Mount Radan, 27 km from the city of Kuršumlija. It consists of 202 stone pillars. Their height ranges from 2 to 15 meters. The tops of the pillars are topped with stone caps. The Devil's City was formed due to weathering, but local residents came up with many legends. Therefore, many excursions are held there at night.
This is a block that is located along the 600-meter long Skadarska street. Its history dates back to the 30s of the 19th century. Gypsies, artisans, and traders settled there. After a few decades, artists and writers began to populate the street. That's why it's the most bohemian old quarter in Belgrade, full of galleries, antique shops, cafes and restaurants.
Shar Planina is a mountain range 85 km long. It is located in the central part of the Balkans. The park area is about 40 thousand hectares. The height of more than 100 peaks reaches 2000 meters, and about 30 - more than 2500 meters. The highest mountain in Serbia is Bistra, its height is 2651 meters. The park has an incredibly rich flora and fauna. In addition, there are more than 40 churches and monasteries, tombs, and fortresses on its territory.
One of the largest artificial lakes in Europe is located just a few kilometers from the center of Belgrade. It is located near the Ada Ciganlija peninsula, a favorite holiday destination for Belgrade residents. Thanks to filters installed on the dams, the water in the lake is clean. A healing microclimate has formed there; there is a lot of greenery on the island. Ada Ciganlija has more than 50 sports facilities for active recreation.
The Orthodox monastery in the Raska River valley was founded by Uroš I in 1263. A little later, the church of St. Trinity, which has survived to this day. Trinity Church is interesting for its frescoes. They have light, light colors and depict biblical images and scenes from the life of the kings of the Nemanjic dynasty. This is an incredible achievement of Serbian culture, which has been perfectly preserved.
The impregnable fortress, which was home to the treasures of the Habsburg dynasty, is very well preserved. It was founded on the Danube in 1692 by Prince Krui for protection against the Turks. In those days, 16 km of underground passages stretched under the fortress. Today there is an archive, museums, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and galleries on its territory. She also annually hosts music fans who flock to the EXIT festival.
This is an open air museum. Its territory is 15 hectares. On it you can see ancient huts built without a single nail, household items, a blacksmith's shop, a bakery, and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. You can also buy previously incredibly popular knitted clothes made from warm wool there. Sirogojno is surrounded by beautiful nature, and the air there is considered healing.
This is a park in western Serbia. It occupies part of Mount Tara, and its area is 22 thousand hectares. On the territory of the park there are gorges, canyons, dips, bays, caves. There is also the shortest river in Europe - the Vrelo. Its length is 365 meters. In the park you can fish in the cleanest lakes and try the local alcoholic drink – Klekovaca brandy. The park has rich flora and fauna, and various festivals are held there in the summer.
The history of the fortress dates back to the 2nd century BC. It stands on the banks of the Nishava River and its area is more than 22 hectares. Byzantine and ancient Roman buildings have been preserved on its territory. The current appearance of the fortress was given by Turkish architects in the 13th century. Inside the fortress there is a park, an art gallery, and a cafe. And if its gates are restored, it can become architecturally and functionally complete.
The monastery was founded by Despot Stefan Lazarevich at the beginning of the 15th century. It is located near the city of Despotovac. The monastery was fortified with walls and 11 towers. There was a huge library on its territory, books were copied. This is a valuable monument of Serbian culture. The frescoes of Manasiah are also popular. The monastery includes cells, a refectory and the Church of the Holy Trinity.
On the Belgrade Plateau, proudly overlooking the city, lies one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. This is the Church of St. Sava. They began to build it in 1935 on the site where the relics of St. Sava were burned. But the work was interrupted and resumed only 40 years after the war. To this day, finishing work is being carried out in one of the parts of the temple. The height of the shrine is 82 meters, and the weight of the dome is 4 tons.
This is a convent in the historical region of Raska. It was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. The Ascension Cathedral of the monastery was the site of the coronation of the rulers of Serbia. In total, 19 rulers received the crown there. In the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, paintings from 1220-1221 have been preserved. Because of the war, the monastery was badly damaged, its medieval frescoes were destroyed. Today Zica is one of the largest monasteries in Serbia.
This is the only museum in the world that owns the scientist’s real personal belongings: patents, drawings, letters, photographs, drawings, books. It was founded on December 5, 1952 in a mansion in Belgrade. On the ground floor you can not only see, but also experience inventions. Visitors have a chance to feel like a Jedi and try the Tesla Coil. The scientist's belongings are stored on the second floor.
This is a monument of Serbian history and culture. It is installed a few kilometers from the battle site of Kosovo. It bears the text of the Kosovo oath, which was given by Prince Lazar. The number of Turkish troops was several times greater than the Serbian army. One of the Serbs killed the Sultan, but his son became the commander of the army. In the same battle, Lazar died, his daughter was sent to a harem, and the Serbs lost their independence.
This is an impressive and dark historical monument. It was built by the Turks when they suppressed the Serbian uprising in 1809. The rebel leader fired into the powder magazine, destroying both himself and his army. Then the Turkish troops tore the skin from the Serbian skulls, stuffed it with straw and sent it to the Sultan. A gloomy tower was built from 952 Serbian skulls. Only 58 have survived to this day; they are surrounded by a chapel.
This is an architectural ensemble located in eastern Serbia. It was built in the 3rd-4th century by order of the emperor. On its territory there is a palace, fortifications, cathedrals, a triumphal arch, and a memorial. The complex can be considered a small city. This is a striking example of traditional Roman architecture. In 2007 it was listed as a UNESCO heritage site.
This is a natural cave 20 km from Despotovac, which is one of the most visited. Its length is 2850 m, the length of the tourist route is 800 m. It is generously decorated with nature. Inside it are stalagmites, stalactites, columns, petrified waterfalls. This cave is about 80 million years old. Its territory is divided into four viewing rooms. It is also said that before the start of the Battle of Kosovo, the Serbs hid treasures in the caves.
This is the most popular balneological resort in the Rash region. It treats diseases of the digestive system and diabetes. It is famous for its thermal springs, the temperature of which is equal to the temperature of the human body. They are located in a park area, and near them there are monasteries and ancient buildings that are included in the UNESCO heritage list.
This is an Orthodox monastery located in central Serbia near the city of Velika Plana. This is one of the few monuments of wooden architecture in the country. The monastery was built in 1818 by Vuica Vulicevic. A year before construction, he participated in the murder of his godfather. According to legend, the monastery received its name as a sign of the prince’s repentance.
The village was created by Serbian director Emir Kusturica for the filming of the film “Life is a Miracle”. This is the embodiment of his childhood dream of an ideal village. It is located on the slope of the Mokra Gora mountain near the town of Užice. Today the village welcomes tourists; on its territory there is a hotel, cinema, library, gallery and church. There is a restaurant, a pastry shop, a swimming pool and much more. All houses are made of wood.
This is a narrow-gauge railway that runs between the settlements of Mokra Gora and Shargan-Vitasi. Its laying began in 1916. Today the train travels along a tourist route in the shape of a figure eight. Tourists are greeted by stunning views, the fortress in the city of Uzice and ancient stations. The trailers are rare, you can climb on them and touch everything.
Resort in eastern Serbia near the city of Nis. Sokobanja lies between the mountains. The Sokobanska Moravica river flows next to the resort. This is a wellness center for the treatment of nonspecific lung diseases. It is rich in thermal springs saturated with radon. The ionized mountain air of the resort is considered beneficial. The climate there is pleasant, without fog or wind.
This is a tourist area in the highlands of Serbia. It is located 30 km from Belgrade. Zlatibor is a health resort famous for its healing air. Numerous towns are calm and very clean. Cottages and hotels have been built for tourists, prices in restaurants and cafes are low. The center of the region is the city of Kraljevo Voda surrounded by pine trees. The hills in this area are very picturesque. Tourists love to take pictures here.
Cheerful music, life films of Kusturica and... resorts, which will be discussed further.
Once upon a time it was one country, Yugoslavia , wealthy and difficult to access for Soviet people. Today everything has changed and the tourist flow is increasing every year. Most countries on the Balkan Peninsula do not require visas, there are direct and charter planes, bus and train connections. The Serbo-Croatian language is very similar to Russian and Ukrainian, and the lack of acclimatization after the flight, which takes only 3 hours from Moscow, is an additional advantage. Do you want to know,Where is the best place to relax in the Balkans?? We will tell you about the most interesting places, , Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Over the past few years, holidays in Croatia and Montenegro have really attracted our compatriots. The turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea, a variety of beaches, a mild climate, a European level of service, the Slavic language, safety on the streets and reasonable prices - this is what attracts tourists here in the summer. If a person has never been to these countries, our article will help you decide on the choice of place.
Croatia– a European country with a well-developed infrastructure. The British, Germans, Poles, Austrians and Dutch prefer to spend their holidays here. Therefore, the level of service is quite high in hotels and restaurants. Is it true, prices are much higher than in neighboring Montenegro. The cost of products, services, and dishes in establishments differs by 10-50%.
If you want to relax on a budget, choose Montenegro.
Serbia is not a very popular, but actively developing tourist destination. From the point of view of a traveler, the country is good because it has a rich history, many attractions - both natural and historical and cultural, low prices, a language a little similar to Russian, delicious food and good people.
The Republic of Serbia is a country on the Balkan Peninsula, until 1992. was part of Yugoslavia.
— Population- 7.5 million people, of which 83% are Orthodox Serbs.
— Currency– Serbian dinar (RSD), 1€ = 120 RSD
— Nature: in the north there are plains, in the west, south and east there are mountains, there is no access to the sea.
Visa to Serbia citizens of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine do not need it if the period of stay does not exceed 30 days (up to 90 days if you have a Schengen or Swiss visa valid for the entire period of stay). No return tickets or money are required upon entry.
Flights to Belgrade
There are international airports in the capital city of Belgrade and in the city of Nis in the south of the country. Round-trip tickets for a direct flight from Moscow to Belgrade will cost around 190€ no sale. Tickets Minsk-Belgrade will cost 250€ for a connecting flight both ways. If you arrive in Serbia by plane, you can book an inexpensive flight to the center of Belgrade online in advance.
Air ticket search form:
Prices in Serbia
Hotel prices. A hostel bed in a shared room can be found for 5-7€ , a double room in a simple private hotel will cost 20-30€ .
I rented a hotel in Zlatibor on this site for 20 €.
In short, it’s worth visiting the Kalemendan fortress, strolling along the embankment of the Sava and Danube, drinking coffee in one of the cafes in the city center, eating pljeskavica and a bun with baker champignons, walking around the buildings of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff destroyed during the war, and in the evening going to the Skadarlija district, where bars and clubs are concentrated.
— Novi Sad(Novi Sad) - most people advised me to visit Novi Sad out of all the cities in Serbia. Located 100 km north of Belgrade. I can’t call it cozy, since the city is the second largest in the country. Particularly noteworthy are the massive Petrovaradin fortress and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in the center. Novi Sad is also famous for cultural events, a large number of museums, galleries and architectural monuments.
— Frushka Mountain— National park on the right bank of the Danube near the city of Novi Sad. Today, 16 Fruskagora monasteries remain in the park. It is recommended to inspect them in the following order: Vrdnik (Ravanica), Novo Hopovo, Remetu, Grgeteg, Krušedol
— Smederevo— 45 km from Belgrade is the Brankovic Fortress, the largest plain fortress in Europe by area (11 hectares).
— Cacak- a pleasant Serbian city. We walked there for about an hour. I didn’t notice anything special in such a short time, but the people in Chachaki are friendly. We met a Serb there on the street who goes to Russia to work. He speaks Russian perfectly and smiles. It was a most pleasant meeting.
— Gorge of Mount Kablar and monasteries on the banks of the Morava River - one of the most beautiful places in Serbia. This Monastery complex is also called “Serbian Mount Athos” and “Holy Mountain”. It is located 15 km from the town of Cacak on the road to Uzice.
— Užice- a beautiful city in the mountains in the west with red tile roofs. The most significant attraction is the medieval Uzice Fortress.
Užice 
Roads in Serbia — Zlatibor- ski resort. In the summer there is nothing special to do, if you just breathe the air (it is very clean and fresh there), you can go to the ethnographic village of Sirogoino.
— — project directed by Emir Kusturica. A hotel complex built on a mountain in the village of Mečavnik in the west of the country in the style of Serbian village houses without a single nail. Not marked on all maps, so look for the Mokra Gora National Park near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many people come to Serbia specifically to visit Drvengrad. There is also Sharganska osmitsa- narrow-gauge mountain railway in the form of a figure eight.
— Tara National Park— beautiful nature, we came from the south, the road there is not very good, so after 5 km we turned around and went back.
— Creman prophecy(Creman prophecy). The prophet brothers Milos and Mitar Tarabici lived in the 19th century and predicted the future. Thus, they predicted the appearance of “falcon communications” (telephones) and “iron flyers” - airplanes, as well as many events of the First and Second World Wars.
