12 Best Places to Visit in Serbia (By a Local)

If you are looking for the best places to visit in Serbia, you might have already heard some controversial things about Serbia travel.

Well, kudos to you for deciding to actually travel to Serbia, anyway!

I’m a Serbian local and in this post I’m going to help you discover the best of my home country.

This is my attempt to sum up all the coolest, must-see places to visit in Serbia and help you decide on where to go in Serbia.

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Best Places to Go in Serbia

1. Fall in Love with Serbia’s Capital City – Belgrade

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The biggest and possibly the most vibrant city in Serbia is Belgrade, which is filled with many fun things to do.

If you have only a weekend to spend traveling through these parts, pick Belgrade of all the places to visit in Serbia. Belgrade is the most dramatic case of past-meets-future if you ever saw one.

It is nested on the confluence of two big rivers the Danube and the Sava. This great position made it a target for many conquerors throughout history, as well as those who just wanted to visit Serbia.

Did you know it burned more than 40 times in different wars? No wonder the confluence is overlooked by the amazing Kalemegdan fortress. 

Spend a day of your Serbia travel exploring it, but to add a sense of adventure to your Serbia travel, opt for one of those underground tours of Kalemegdan. Yup, you get a guide to take you through the underground corridors. They have a tour in English, for those who came from abroad to visit Serbia. 

Right across the street of the Kalemegdan fortress is the entrance to the Knez Mihajlova street. That’s the main pedestrian zone in Belgrade with all the shops and stores that tourists usually enjoy when they come to visit Serbia. 

It ends with the view of the iconic hotel Moskva. It has that “olden days” charm and atmosphere, so make it a part of your Serbia travel and at least pop in to have a coffee and cake. You won’t regret it.

Belgrade is much more than just its past. You’ll find some of the best book fairs, movie festivals, theaters and events in Europe.

👉 A Note on Serbia Travel Safety: Serbia is generally a very safe place to travel, but things can go wrong (especially these days). Check out our article on the best travel insurance for Serbia to learn how to protect your trip.

2. Explore the Austro-Hungarian Charm of Novi Sad

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For a completely different and very specific vibe, Novi Sad is a must for your Serbia travel to be complete. It’s among the biggest cities in Serbia, and there are so many things to do in Novi Sad.

This part of Serbia is called Vojvodina and it has a unique Austro-Hungarian past that makes it different than the rest of the places to visit in Serbia.

Start your tour from Miletic Square and admire the great The Name of Mary Church (also called “The Cathedral”).

From that point on, stroll down the two main pedestrian streets: Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska until you reach the idyllic Dunavski Park. 

Grab some popcorn and sit on the bench watching the famous Isa and Bisa in their pond. Dunavska also has one of the best ice-cream shops ever! It’s called Europa and doesn’t forget to try to sour-cherry/yogurt.

If you are up for a bit of cardio, you can cross the Danube bridge and climb the stairs to the Petrovaradin fortress.

 Reach the Clock – a landmark clock tower of the Petrovaradin fortress that is famous for his small hand showing minutes and the big hand showing hours. You’ll get a magnificent view of Novi Sad – perfect for photos!

You cannot go wrong when it comes to food on your Serbia travel. The cuisine is out-of-this-world. Just enter any restaurant and you’ll see for yourself. 

Food is maybe even more important to experience than any of the places to visit in Serbia.

But, if you just want a good sandwich for the road, ask somebody to direct you toward Vanessa grill and ask for a small index sandwich. Thank me later.

READ NEXT: When is the Best Time to Visit Europe?

3. Taste the Amazing Wines by the Danube at Sremski Karlovci

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Where to go in Serbia if you are a wine lover?

Right next to Novi Sad is Sremski Karlovci. On the bank of Danube, this town is famous for its delicious wines. 

Make your visit to Sremski Karlovci a day trip of your Serbia travel, since you can see everything going about by foot. It’s not among the biggest places to visit in Serbia, but it is one of the most interesting.

Wine lovers who decided to visit Serbia should not wait a minute before they head to the Beekeeping Museum of the Živanović family. 

Yes, it says beekeeping, but it is actually a place where you can taste some amazing wines, as well as the beekeeping products. 

4. Discover one of Grimmest Places to Visit in Serbia: Skull Tower, Niš

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Niš is one of the largest Serbia cities, located in the South region. This is where you’ll find amazing food and amazingly hospitable people. But, also, this is the home of one of the darkest places to visit in Serbia. 

This is not a suggestion on where to go in Serbia for those that are weak-hearted.

Namely, Serbian people organized the First Serbian Uprising aimed against the occupying Ottoman Empire. 

 The Uprising failed and the Ottoman ruler of Niš, ordered for all the heads of the Serbian soldiers died at the battle to be severed and skinned. 

Almost 1000 skulls were gathered in that way and used to build the Skull Tower. Today, only around 60 skulls still remain and that is what you’ll see if you visit Serbia and this monument. 

The Skull Tower was meant to be a warning to Serbian people, but it turned into a symbol of defiance. You bet there was a Second Serbian Uprising.

Still feeling grim? I highly recommend booking the tour from Niš to Devil’s Town.

5. Hear the Legends of the Devil’s Town

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Your trip to visit Serbia won’t be complete without this hidden Serbia attraction.

Just near the town of Kuršumlija lies one of the most mysterious destinations in Serbia.

 It is a natural stone formation that resembles a group of people turned into stone. 

Devil’s Town is so amazing that is was nominated to become one of the World Wonders of all the places to visit in Serbia. 

Let’s not drop any spoilers now. Visit it and hear all the folk tales and legends about the Devil’s Town on your day trip.

6. Take a Day Trip Down the Danube and Visit the Amazing Golubac Fortress

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The Danube is one of the largest European rivers and it flows through Serbia, as well. 

If you embark on a Danube fortress tour, as a part of your Serbia travel, you will see Zemun, Kalemegdan, Smederevo, and the lovely Golubac.

Those are all amazing places to visit in Serbia. For Petrovaradin fortress, you have to go to Novi Sad.

Make sure you visit it on a sunny day, as you will want to take a ton of photos. Golubac is the entrance to the magnificent Djerdap Gorge, but it is a glorious site on its own. 

If you still don’t know where to go in Serbia from there, only 10 kilometers from Golubac, there is an old monastery Tumane. The monks opened a tavern in which you can have a meal prepared by them. 

The meals don’t have a price, but you pay what you think is appropriate. Everybody is welcome, you just need to respect the peace of the monks.

7. Stare at the Very Soul of Serbia: Studenica Monastery

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Serbia tourism offer includes a lot of churches and monasteries. If you are wondering where to go in Serbia if you are to see only one monastery during your stay – pick Studenica monastery.

Of all places to visit in Serbia, this one represents the cultural, spiritual and historical epicenter.

Studenica monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ask your guide or do some reading before your Serbia travel and go for a visit armed with knowledge. You will enjoy it so much more.

8. Explore the Tame and Gorgeous Fruška Gora

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Take a look at the map before you visit Serbia.

See that green part at the top?

That’s Vojvodina.

It is green and flat because it used to be under the Pannonian Sea. Fruška Gora used to be an island, but today, it is a mountain.

There are three things to do on Fruška Gora: hike, see monasteries and lakes and eat.

Not bad, right?

Check out Vrdnička kula for the perfect stay.

There are as many as 18 monasteries and 16 lakes on this mountain and its surroundings. Perhaps more than any of the other places to visit in Serbia.

The top of Fruška Gora is called Venac. On Venac, there is an amazing restaurant Arena. 

Ask for their mushroom stew! It’s made out of handpicked mushrooms from the Fruška Gora forest. It’s just heavenly. They also serve amazing snail salad for those brave enough to try.

9. Let the Amazing Tara National Park Enchant You

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There is so much to see and do in Tara National Park that it deserves an article of its own. You can kayak, hike, fish, cycle…you name it! 

If you are hiking, don’t miss out on the viewpoint Banjska Stena with its jaw-dropping view of Lake Perucac. 

After that, go searching for the best spot to see the quirky lake house on a rock.

That house is probably the most photographed of places to visit in Serbia!

Click here to book a great group tour to see this incredible site.

10. Take a Plunge Back into History with Drvengrad and Mokra Gora

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Quite nearby the Tara National Park are three places you should check out when you visit Serbia:

First, Kaludjerske Bare and the local restaurant “Kod Kurte” that offers mouth-watering local specialties, the unique Drvengrad, and Mokra Gora. 

Second, Drvengrad is a village created by the prominent film director Emir Kusturica which puts it on the list of prominent destinations in Serbia. It is created to resemble the old, Dinaric style log houses that use as little as possible of the modern world.

Third, Mokra Gora boasts the ride on a restored train. You can book the 16 km ride along the slopes of Šargan. Enjoy this scenic route if you have the time. 

This train will take you all the way to the Drina river. In this way, you will have the chance to see several of the best destinations in Serbia.

11. Get Your Adrenalin Pumping Going Drina Rafting 

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Start by booking one of the amazing wood cabins right there by the Drina river. Get to know your group and guide the night before the ride at a group meet and greet. Remember, waterproof socks are lifesavers on rafting.

Prepare for the adrenalin ride, first thing tomorrow morning. The Drina River is clean and amazing and rafting down this gem of nature is legendary. 

Of all the places to visit in Serbia, this is where all the adventure seekers gather, since there is a lot more to do by the Drina than rafting. Explore them!

12. Take a Boat Tour Down the Winding Uvac

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Lake Uvac is breathtaking which makes it one of the most popular destinations in Serbia. Just looking at its wonderful entrenched meaders makes you wish to explore it more. Take that into consideration when choosing to visit Serbia.

There are some amazing boat tours that allow you to see the tall limestone sides up close. They are a great idea if you only have a day and you are thinking about where to go in Serbia.

The boat tours usually take you along the Uvac meaders while you try to spot the stunning griffon vultures flying or observing you from the banks:

Uvac is the Special Nature Reserve that helps the Birds of Prey Protection Fund that tries to keep these magnificent birds from extinction.  

When negotiating about the boat tour, make sure to pick one of the tours that allows you to see the Ice Cave. It is an unforgettable experience that you should put on your list of the places to visit in Serbia.

Why Travel to Serbia?

Though many travelers skip Serbia out of the (mistaken) belief that it doesn’t have much to offer, that just means that you’ll get to see for all the wonderful places to visit in Serbia yourself!

You will NOT be sorry since destinations in Serbia have a lot to offer to its visitors and Serbians have a kind of eager hospitality about them that warms your heart and fills your stomach with amazing foods. Serbia is a country of tumultuous history, unbelievable sports achievements, beautiful people, jaw-dropping nature and wondrous culture. It is not easy to decide where to go in Serbia.

Enjoying destinations in Serbia is a matter of context. A lot of places to visit in Serbia have a mystic, but discreet charm about them.

You may see a bunch of interesting rocks and think nothing much of it. You may snap a photo of it or not.  Later on, you discover that you saw incredible stećci that are actually tombstones and a part of the necropolis dating from the 15th century.

So, what you really need are some insider tips and who better to give them to you but a local traveler. Cue – me. I’ve spent my entire life living and traveling to different destinations in Serbia. 

Due to political reasons, it was really difficult for me to leave Serbia to travel abroad. So guess what I did? I traveled across my own country and learned to love it even more.

Let’s begin your Serbia travel with the obvious, glorious…love-it-or-hate-it capital – Belgrade. You can hardly miss it if you want to visit Serbia.

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I hope you enjoyed this list of the best places to visit in Serbia.

And I really hope you enjoy visiting my country!

Nature, the history and culture and the amazing food – Serbia has it all! Take a moment to think about what you like most about traveling and use it to plan your stay before you decide where to go in Serbia.

There are so many places to visit in Serbia, even if you are traveling on a budget. If you are deciding where to go in Serbia and whether to pick North or the South, there are now cheap flights to both Belgrade and Niš.

Oh, and before you go, be sure to check out these articles to help you plan your trip to Europe:

• Backpacking Europe
• How to Find Cheap International Flights
• Top 33 Things to Do in Budapest

Safe travels!