Where is serbia located. Hospitable Serbia on the world map

Many military conflicts and seizures of territory, occurring since the time of the Roman Empire, made Serbia multinational state, in which the customs of a huge number of nationalities are concentrated.

But at the same time, today it is still dominated by slavic and turkish traditions... Serbs are distinguished by kindness, hospitality, respect and optimism, so a huge number of tourists constantly come to the country.

Detailed map of Serbia

Serbia is a state in the southeast of Europe and is located in the very center Balkan Peninsula that surround warm seas: Adriatic, Aegean and Black. Before the collapse of Yugoslavia, Serbia was part of it. The geographical location of the country has made it a kind of corridor between Western and Central Europe, as well as the countries of the Middle East.

Serbia borders on many states, its neighbors are:

1. In the north- Hungary;
2. On South- Albania and;
3. In the east- Romania and Bulgaria;
4. In the West- Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
5. In the South-West- Kosovo.

Serbia is characterized by the cleanest air, unusually beautiful nature and many historical sights. It is also famous for its excellent ski and health resorts, hunting and fish farms. To date, the state has received access to the Aegean coast.

Climate

Serbia has developed special climatic conditions that directly depend on its relief features. The northern part of the country is occupied by Middle Danube lowland, consisting of large plains with very fertile land, in this regard, a continental climate has developed here.

The center of Serbia is mainly occupied by hills, so the temperate continental climate prevails there. And the presence of ancient mountains in the southern part of the country, accordingly, suggests the presence of a mountainous climate.

Summers in Serbia, as a rule, are quite hot, and winters, although mild, are protracted with a lot of cold winds and with an average air temperature of two degrees, but sometimes it drops to twenty-five. The coldest winter month is January, and the hottest summer month is June. Serbia is one of the sunniest countries in Europe.

Nature

The northern part of the country is occupied by agricultural land, where you can see wheat, corn, a variety of vegetables and, necessarily, a lot of sunflowers.

The south of Serbia is occupied by several mountain ranges:

• Dinaric Highlands;
• Balkan East Serbian Mountains;
• Part of the Rila-Rhodope system.

There are magnificent huge forests of powerful beeches and tender lindens.

The most famous river is Danube... On its way, it forms interesting bays, channels, oxbows and swamps. But, the main pride of this river can be called the beautiful Djerdap gorge with rocks rising up to three hundred meters above the water level and a huge number of pools up to one hundred meters deep.

V national park located on the territory of the gorge, you can get acquainted with a large number of relict plants, which have not been found in other European countries for a long time.

Serbia is famous for its lakes and rivers, in this regard, from European countries it can only compete with it.

The most famous and popular lakes include Silver (Serbian sea). In addition to the beauty of the surrounding forest landscape, nearby ancient fortresses and beautiful beach areas, it is famous for its impeccable purity of water, the flickering of which in the sun is simply mesmerizing. To preserve this splendor, it was decided to prohibit the use of any motor boats, water scooters and other similar technical means on the lake.

Clean water, combined with the absence of strong noise, makes it possible to live comfortably and breed various fish species. The lake has a large number of perch, catfish, carp bream, pike and many other species.

Administrative division and form of government

Serbia belongs to unitary states, its capital is Belgrade, and its Administrative division as follows:

• Two autonomous edges- Vojvodina, Kosovo and Metohija;
• Twenty nine counties;
• Two hundred eleven communities.

Voevodina includes seven districts, Kosovo and Metohija five, and Central Serbia seventeen. There is no local government in them. Each of them is headed by the head of the district, who reports directly to the government of the state and bears full responsibility to it. The district of Belgrade stands apart, in which self-government is allowed.

Serbia consists of twenty-four cities, one hundred and ninety-five large urban-type settlements, and many villages and towns.

Serbia is governed by parliamentary republic, the head of which is the president, and the Supreme legislative body is the Union Assembly, which includes two chambers - the Veche of Republics and the Veche of Citizens. The highest executive body of the country is the government.

Population and religion

The main population of the country is represented by Serbs. In addition to them, a huge number of national minorities live in Serbia, represented by Hungarians, Croats, Turks, Romanians, Bosnians, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Chinese and others. In total, the republic is home to twenty five nationalities, which, as a rule, coexist peacefully.

The state language in Serbia is Serbian, which belongs to the Slavic group. National minorities also use Hungarian, Romanian, Albanian, Slovak and Croatian in colloquial speech.

It is not uncommon in Serbia that one can hear speech in Russian, because in this country there are enough immigrants from.

By the laws and constitution of the republic, its inhabitants are guaranteed freedom of religion... The state religion of Serbia is Orthodox, which is professed by most of the country's inhabitants. The rest of the population is represented by Catholics, Muslims and Protestants.

Cities and landmarks

The largest cities in Serbia are: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niches and Pristina.

Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and the largest city in the country, located at the intersection of the Danube and Sava rivers. He is very hospitable and always glad to receive tourists and provide them with the most interesting and comfortable rest.

This is a very old city, adorned with magnificent palaces, churches, temples, monasteries and fortress walls, which are intertwined with bustling avenues and modern multi-storey buildings.

The main attraction of Belgrade and, perhaps, the whole country can be called an old Belgrade Fortress, which is located in the city center on the Kalemegdan plateau in the park of the same name. Its history goes back more than two thousand years. The entrance to it is decorated with a clock tower, which is allowed to climb in the summer.

Currently, inside it is located war museum, where you can get acquainted with tanks, machine guns and a number of trophy exhibits, of which there are more than thirty thousand. In addition to historical values ​​and old graves, in the park near the fortress you can see:

1. Tennis court;
2. Basketball court;
3. Various modern design elements;
4. Zoo;
5. In winter - rink.

Both local residents and guests of the city come to the park area not only to take a walk, but also to listen to a brass band or ordinary street musicians, visit an observatory, an Orthodox church or a holy spring, and admire numerous monuments and statues.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is located in the northern part of Serbia and is the administrative center of Vojvodina. This is a city in which cultural life literally boils, it was even given a second name - "Serbian Athens".

There are many museums and art galleries scattered here, as well as a variety of festivals, competitions and exhibitions. In addition, it is important. educational center, which houses a number of universities and a large number of colleges and schools.

Opposite Novi Sad, the largest in Petrovaradin fortress, which belongs to the cultural and historical sites of the country. In order to enter it, you need to climb a steep ascent, numbering more than one hundred steps. After overcoming the rise, and climbing its walls, you can admire the beautiful view of the Danube and its surroundings.

The center of the fortress, which previously housed various military installations, is now occupied by hotels with fine, modern rooms and cozy restaurants.

There are also workshops where local artists, sculptors and photographers work. By visiting them, you can get acquainted with their work and even make a personal order. Also on the territory of the fortress there is Museum of the History of Novi Sad and Art academy.

Deserves special attention, located on the territory of the Petrovaradin fortress, clock tower... Its specific feature is that, unlike conventional watches, its minute hand is much shorter than the hour hand. Such a move was invented so that those who sailed past the fortress on a ship could at least see what time it was at that time.

Near Novi Sad is a very beautiful national park Fruska Gora with unique flora and fauna. Here you can see more than one and a half thousand of the most diverse plants, many of which are rare or even disappearing.

The fauna is represented by:

• Hoofed;
• Foxes;
• Wild cats;
• Rodents;
• Reptiles.

A special value are some species of birds that cannot be found on the territory of other European countries. Also, one cannot ignore the monasteries located here with ancient iconostases and medieval frescoes, many of which are considered historical monuments.

Niches

Nis is largest city in the southern part of Serbia and the oldest on the Balkan Peninsula. The city can be called a large industrial, commercial, scientific, economic, cultural, political and religious center in the south of the country.

Nis is home to many museums, theaters and other cultural institutions. The city is famous for its famous symphony orchestra and university.

Due to the large number of respectable restaurants and tourist facilities, Niš began to be called "City of pleasure".

One of the main attractions of Niš is Khilandarski Metoh church, which is a unique, iconic building of the sixteenth century. Initially, her appearance was completely different than at present. The fact is that in the middle of the seventeenth century it was badly damaged in a fire. But even now, decorated with magnificent baroque paintings, it is no less beautiful and is a favorite place for pilgrims and guests of the city.

Another famous all over the world and at the same time ominous attraction of Niš is Chele-Kula built in the early nineteenth century by the Turks using human skulls. This happened after the rebellious Serbs were defeated by the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire in the battle, the site of which was Mount Chagar.

The surviving Serbian rebels, not wanting to be taken prisoner, blew up themselves with gunpowder supplies, while destroying most of the enemy. After that, the Turks decapitated their bodies, and about a thousand skulls were inserted into the tower under construction to show everyone what will happen to those who try to resist them.

To date, only fifty eight skulls... Therefore, in order to preserve them, it was decided to enclose the crumbling tower with a chapel. Although Chele Kula is undoubtedly a very terrible monument of history, it nevertheless reminds everyone of what a huge and terrible cost the freedom-loving Serbs won their independence.

Pristina

Pristina is the capital of Kosovo and its largest city. It is also a cultural and industrial center. autonomous region Kosovo and Metohija. The panorama of the city is very contrasting, old buildings, modern buildings and monuments of history and culture are intertwined in it.

Located in Pristina monastery Gracanitsa, built at the very beginning of the fourteenth century, and belongs to the most exquisite Orthodox medieval monasteries. Unique frescoes, icons and ancient manuscripts are of great interest to tourists visiting it.

The archaeological research carried out proved the presence on the territory of Pristina of various ancient peoples.

When visiting Pristina, it is worth looking at House of Eminjik... It is a very beautiful building located in the very center of the city. It was built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire and is an example of how the rather famous and wealthy residents of the city lived at that time.

Also a significant landmark of Serbia is considered monument to Skanderberg, the national hero of the country, who for more than twenty years waged a stubborn struggle against the Ottoman Empire, as a result of which he managed to recapture part of the country's territory from the Turks. The monument is located in the central part of the city on Mother Teresa Boulevard.

There are three museums in the city:

1. City Museum exhibits and documents of which give a complete historical picture of the life and development of Pristina from antiquity to the present;
2. Ethnographical museum, which contains household items of village life;
3. Kosovo Museum where you can see the results of the work of archaeologists. Here are also things of ancient times and the trophies of the Second World War. The most interesting and famous exhibit is considered to be the Goddess of Fertility, whose figurine was made of ordinary clay. It was believed that the goddess makes the change of seasons, increases the vitality of people, protects the harvest.

Devil's settlement

Damn city or Javol-Varosh- this is another unique and, perhaps, the brightest and most mysterious sight of Serbia. He is a true miracle of nature with global significance. It is formed by earthen pyramids of the most varied, bizarre shapes. They are formed and destroyed during soil erosion.

Today, in Javol-Varosh, you can see more than two hundred pillars from the ground. Under the influence of natural factors, they tend to grow, change shape, disappear and appear again.

The location of the Devil's city is surroundings of Kurshumliya on Mount Radan. This area is rich in mineral and thermal springs. At the same time, there are few plants here, due to the large amount of minerals in the soil. Such natural conditions contribute to the fact that the soil layers are constantly washed out and eroded. Due to this, such devilish landscapes are created.

In ancient times, the inhabitants of these places did not find an explanation for this rather strange natural phenomenon, so it was overgrown with many legends, myths and mystical stories. Guests of Serbia are very fond of visiting the Devil's City, apparently wanting to see with their own eyes a unique, mysterious phenomenon. And for greater efficiency, some of the excursions began to be conducted at night.

Serbia is a very friendly country, which, like everyone else, has its own interesting features, the main of which are the following:

• The republic is very famous low prices;
• Here really love citizens of our country;
• Serbs are very respect neighbors and try to help them in any little things;
• Friendliness local population promotes lower crime rates;
• Serbia is the best country for those who want to lead quiet and quiet life;
• Serbs are pretty enough, their spoken language is full of expression, bright colors and feelings. Moreover, it is accompanied by active gestures;
• Most of the population smokes a lot;
• Serbia's everyday cuisine is tied to Turkish dishes, only a few modernized;
• In the nineteenth century, the main rule of the Serbian language became: words are written the same way as they are heard;
• In Serbia, it has long been customary to marry and have children, usually not earlier. thirty years;
• Almost all Serbs are insane love sports especially tennis and football. Moreover, they not only love to cheer for their favorite athletes, but also play themselves;
• Favorite Serbian drink is Turkish coffee, they drink it often and a lot. Serbs practically do not use tea;
• Serbia is very love to build beautiful and reliable private houses, therefore, almost all villages in the country can be called elite;
• Wine which is considered red in our country, the Serbs call black;
• The country uses a large number of a wide variety of products based on milk;
• Serbia is very large exporter of raspberries to the world market, although at the same time in the country its cost is quite high;
• Serbs never do not discuss their problems and do not complain for life;
• In Serbia, as in Russia, they celebrate the Old New Year calling him Little Christmas.

Useful data for tourists about Serbia, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Serbia, cuisine, peculiarities of visa and customs restrictions in Serbia.

Geography of Serbia

The Republic of Serbia is a landlocked state in southeastern Europe, in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with the UN member states Macedonia in the south, Bulgaria and Romania in the east, Hungary in the north, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the west, and Montenegro and Albania in the southwest.

According to the Constitution of Serbia, it includes the Autonomous Territory of Kosovo and Metohija, the territory of which is actually controlled by the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo.

80% of Serbia's territory is located on the Balkan Peninsula, 20% is occupied by the Pannonian Lowland.

Plains prevail in the north of Serbia. The further to the south of the country, the larger the mountains become. 15 mountains in Serbia are over 2,000 meters above sea level.

There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. The Dinaric Highlands occupy a large area in the west, stretching from northwest to southeast. Stara Planina and the East Serbian Mountains are in the east, separated from the Dinaric Highlands by the Morava River. In the south there are ancient mountains - part of the Rila-Rhodope system. Highest point Serbia - Mount Jeravica (2656 m).

State

State structure

Serbia is a presidential republic. The head of state and government is the president, elected by the Assembly (parliament). The legislative body is a unicameral Assembly.

Language

State language: Serbian

Vojvodina also speaks Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian and Ruthenian. In Kosovo and Metohija, the official ones are Serbian and Albanian.

Religion

Most of the believers are Orthodox (90%), there are also large communities of Muslims (5%), Catholics (4%).

Currency

International name: RSD

Serbian dinar is equal to 100 pair. In circulation, coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 dinars; banknotes - 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 dinars.

Currency exchange can be done at bank branches, official exchange offices and many licensed exchangers. In Serbia, there are currency exchange machines in public places (train stations, airports). The rate even in nearby exchange offices can vary quite a lot.

Popular attractions

Tourism in Serbia

Where to stay

Serbia is a country with hospitable and friendly people. Today Serbia can hardly be called a "promoted" destination. Despite the fact that the country has shown stable economic growth in recent years, its tourism infrastructure has not yet recovered from the war in the Balkans.

The hotel business of the country, after a complete stagnation, began to develop quite recently. Development is going on quite actively, however, there are still many hotels in a really bad condition. For example, old "Yugoslavian" hotels, which have not seen renovation for a very long time. In addition, despite the unevenly developed tourism sector, there is a tendency for the cost of living to rise.

A system of roadside motels, which are located along major highways and at the entrance to cities, has been widely developed in Serbia. Most of the motels are new and have a good level of services, as well as prices that are much lower than in urban centers. Most of the motel rooms are spacious. Here guests will find comfortable beds, clean linen, hearty and inexpensive cuisine. However, the disadvantage of such roadside motels is their inconvenience for tourists traveling without personal vehicles, since getting to the motel is very difficult due to the poor quality of the roads.

Some inconveniences when staying in Serbian hotels may be associated with the availability of hot water. Here it can be served only at a certain time and for a couple of hours a day, although this problem most often concerns small settlements. V large cities countries such as Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nishe, the water supply situation is much better.

Popular hotels

Excursions and attractions in Serbia

Serbia is a state in southeastern Europe. Despite the fact that Serbia is not popular tourist destination, this is a very interesting and beautiful country that deserves the closest attention.

The capital of Serbia is the picturesque city of Belgrade, located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It is the largest city in the country and an important economic center, as well as simply incredible beautiful city with many historical, architectural and cultural attractions. Serbs call their capital Beograd, which means "White Fortress" in Serbian. Actually, the city grew up around ancient fortress Kalemegdan, which, together with the surrounding park, is one of the most visited attractions in the city. The old quarter of Skadarlija, often referred to as “Belgrade's Montmartre”, is also very popular. You should definitely visit such sights of the capital as the Church of St. Sava (one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world), the Royal Palace, the National Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia and Tito's Mausoleum "House of Flowers", the Palace of Princess Lyubitsa, the Church of the Archangel Michael and St. Mark, Ethnographic Museum, Botanical Garden and Leisure Park Ada Tsiganliya. About 50 km from Belgrade, in the town of Smederevo on the banks of the Danube, stands the famous Smederovsky fortress, built in the 15th century by the Brankovich dynasty.

You will also get a lot of pleasure visiting the Serbian Nis - one of the oldest cities in the country, which went down in history as the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Niš and its surroundings are famous for many historical monuments from different eras - Nis Fortress (17th century), Mediana Archaeological Park, early Christian crypt (4th century), ruins of the Church of Archangel Gabriel, Church of St. Nicholas (early 18th century), monasteries Nis Diocese, Chele Kula (Tower of Skulls), Buban Memorial Park and much more.

It is worth visiting the Serbian city of Novi Sad, among the abundance of attractions of which the most interesting are the Petrovaradin Fortress and the City Museum located within its walls, the Catholic Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the Church of St. George and the Museum of Vojvodina, and in its vicinity - the Fruska Gora National Park and Dundjersky Castle. However, no less interesting are the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Amidzi Palace in the town of Kragujevac, the Cathedral of St. Teresa of Avila, the City Hall and the Reichl Palace in Subotica, as well as the Ancient Town of Stari Ras and the Petrov Church located on its territory (the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul ) is the oldest surviving church in Serbia.

Serbian Orthodox shrines, of course, deserve special attention - the Studenica monastery near Kraljevo and the Sopochany monastery near the city of Novi Pazar (both are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), as well as the Mileseva monastery (13th century) near Priepolje, the Zicha monastery in historical area Raska (13th century). But among the natural attractions of Serbia, it is worth noting the Kopaonik and Tara national parks, the Djerdap gorge in the national park of the same name, the Devil's City geological park in the vicinity of Kursumili and the Resavskaya cave, 20 km from the city of Despotovac.

Do not forget that since the Roman era, the land of Serbia with its mineral springs and healing mud was considered one of the best health centers in Europe. Therefore, a rich excursion program should certainly be combined with health improvement at excellent local resorts.

Serbian cuisine

Modern Serbian cuisine has synthesized elements of various national cuisines. Influence Turkish cuisine manifests itself, for example, in the fact that in almost any restaurant you will certainly be offered kyufta, lula-kebabs, asha-kebabs, all kinds of kebabs, "meso za skara" (Balkan version of the barbecue), lamb pilaf. In the north of Serbia, the influence of Hungarian, Romanian and Bulgarian cuisine is felt, pork dishes are widespread here, those who wish can try hominy and corn cakes. Grape vodka and red wine are made from alcohol in Serbia. In restaurants and cafes, visitors will certainly be offered excellent Viennese coffee and jars - buns or flatbreads in the morning.

Tips

Tipping in restaurants and taxis is up to 10% of the bill. In a taxi, it is recommended to agree in advance on the route of the trip and its cost.

Visa

Opening hours of institutions

Exchange offices of Halyk Bank work from Monday to Friday from 7.00-8.00 to 15.00-16.00 (sometimes with a lunch break), commercial banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 08.00 to 13.00-15.00, on Fridays - from 08.00 to 13.00, on Saturdays most banks are closed.

Purchases

Shops usually work from 09:00 to 20: 00-21: 00 with a lunch break (from 12: 00-13: 00 to 16: 00-17: 00, depending on the institution). Large department stores often work from 06: 00-07: 00 to 21:00, in resort areas and large cities there are also "round-the-clock" shops. Numerous private retail outlets operate on their own schedule.

Medicine

Immunization against typhoid and polio is recommended, as well as preventive measures against tetanus, hepatitis B, diphtheria, rabies and encephalitis. Outbreaks of tularemia and hemorrhagic fever are common in Kosovo.

Security

You should beware of scammers, especially those who are active in the foreign exchange market, as well as pickpockets who often "work" at the airport, in public institutions and in crowded places.

Emergency phones

Police - 192.
Fire brigade - 193.
Ambulance - 194.

Photo and video shooting

Taking pictures is allowed only in places where there is no prohibition sign (crossed-out camera). It is forbidden to photograph objects transport infrastructure and power engineering, port facilities and military facilities.

Questions and opinions about Serbia

Belgrade - Question-Answer

Question answer

Question answer

Belgrade - Question-Answer

Question answer

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Belgrade on 17 January. There he will hold talks with local leader Aleksandar Vucic. Because of his job, Putin is unlikely to have much time to tourist routes, but there is something to see in Serbia. If you decide to take the presidential route and visit Serbia, here are just five of the hundreds of reasons to go there.

How to travel to Serbia, or the number one reason

It so happened that in Europe without a visa, Russians today can only visit a number of countries of the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia. You need a valid passport to enter Serbia. On many websites you can read that you also need to have return tickets, confirmation of your hotel reservation, printout from your bank account about sufficient quantity Money($ 50, one day of stay), but in practice the author of the text did not have a chance to meet people who were asked for such a set of documents. In general, the border, as a rule, is passed quickly and affably. Not only that, $ 50 per day in Serbia can be very good fun.

Serbian ski resorts, or reason number two

As you know, you can have a rest at ski resorts all year round, it is just not always possible to go skiing. There are two ski resorts in Serbia - Kopaonik, about 60 km. trails, and Stara planina (Old Mountain), where there are about 13 km of trails. Despite the name, it is a younger resort. The lifts in the resorts are quite new, the Serbs are pouring snow regularly, they level the slopes well too. There is, however, a strange feature - despite the relatively small number of people, the tracks crash faster than in the same Austria and by two o'clock in the afternoon, or even earlier, simple for a sophisticated skier or snowboarder (marked by the standards of the resort in red and black ) the tracks become mogul with icy bald patches. But in the morning they are perfect, as, indeed, are the forest landscapes.

Hotels here in the season, frankly, are expensive. Prices are almost comparable to Austrian ones, with the difference that Serbs provide three or five meals a day, and sometimes all-inclusive. It's a shame, but this is exactly what is not needed here. In contrast to the same Austria, you can eat and drink on the slope quite fully euro for five to ten, depending on the institution and appetite. Ski pass prices will also please.

I love ski Serbia, despite some discrepancy in the formal ratio of price and quality in favor of the former. Informally - it's good to have a rest here! It is in the aggregate to have a rest, and not to hone the skill of carving or lie in the room of a chic hotel. Having paid for the hotel, you can no longer think about prices and expenses, but just enjoy your vacation.

Beaches in Serbia, or reason number three

Thinking about a trip to Serbia, we hardly imagine a beach holiday, but in vain. The absence of the sea is fully compensated by numerous natural complexes with lakes and forests. And also healing springs with mineral water and a fully developed hotel infrastructure nearby. There are more than fifty resorts with mineral springs in Serbia. There are four in Vrnjacka bath alone thermal springs used for relaxation and treatment. It is here that the only mineral spring in Europe is located with a water temperature of 36.6 degrees, which corresponds to the temperature of the human body. Double room in good hotel no frills in the resort can be rented for 20 euros / day. In Lukovskaya Banya, which is located on the slopes of Kopaonik at an altitude of 681 meters above sea level, there are 28 springs and wells with water temperatures from 28 to 68 ° C.

In addition to thermal and cold springs, there is the Danube and many mountain rivers where you can not only relax in silence, but also fish for trout. Services include accommodation in a fishing lodge, meals, equipment rental and fly fishing training.

Food in Serbia, or reason number four

There is a lot of food here, tasty and inexpensive. Most of the dishes are meat-based, so vegetarians, especially vegans, will have a hard time. A portion of "Meshano Meso" (several types of meat: beef, pork, chicken, less often mutton, chevapchichi / minced sausages /) with an output of 400 grams will cost 5–20 euros. There is interesting feature- Servings in Serbia are slightly larger than it can be assumed based on the indicated grams.

You should definitely eat on the main pedestrian street in the center of Belgrade - Skadarlija. It is called the Serbian Montmartre or Arbat, but to me most of all it reminded me of St. Andrew's Descent in Kiev, only in Belgrade it is quieter and shader. On both sides of the cobbled street, there are cafes and restaurants with live music, souvenir shops and other attributes of a "place for tourists". However, the prices here are quite affordable, especially if before that you dined at Sheremetyevo. For 30 - 50 euros on Skadarlija, you can eat and drink together with a glass of local wine or beer, as well as taste brandy.

Local spirits deserve a separate tasting. Rakia is made here, perhaps, from everything that grows well: plum (shlivovitsa), quince (dunya), apple (yabukavacha), pear (vilyamovka), grapes (lozovacha), apricot (kaisievacha), figs, kiwi ... Served in small, about 30-50 gram bottles with a narrow neck or glasses narrowed at the top. It smells, as a rule, of the fruit from which it is prepared. The fortress can vary from 30 to 75 degrees.

In Serbia, it is not forbidden to "drive", and the locals do it skillfully and in large quantities. They willingly treat tourists with products of moonshine, and here the sense of proportion will not hurt at all - the strength of homemade "brandy" can be more than 60 degrees, but it is treacherously easy to drink.

Wines in Serbia can delight even connoisseurs of high wine art. Alas, most of them cannot be found in Russia, since very large consignments are of interest to Russian importers.

It is worth remembering that Serbian wine tastings are different from those you can visit in France, Spain or Portugal. Here, as a rule, wine is accompanied by a rich Serbian table with cheeses, pršutt, pleskovica and various burekas. After such a feast, you can spend the night in Minich's cellar, which is not far from Aleksandrovac. Accommodation here is a continuation of the tasting, old wine barrels are adapted to the rooms. Seeing their size, you understand that Diogenes was not so wrong in his choice of housing.

Hotel prices in Serbia, or reason number five

Compared to many European capitals, you can live in Belgrade for almost nothing. At the height of summer, a room in a hotel in the city center starts from 40 euros. A separate room in a hostel, but with amenities in the corridor, can be rented for 15 - 20 euros, a bed in a dormitory room from 7 euros. You can do something, but why? After all, apartments are also in the center of Belgrade - from 30 euros per day, and with a certain amount of luck you can find them even for 20. And this is not per person. Favorite Russians 4 * hotels offer standard rooms in the range from 70 to 120 euros. It should be noted that there are not many 5 * hotels in the capital of Serbia, and you can enjoy their services at a price of 200 euros per day for a double room. However, if you want to stay in Belgrade not for one or two, but at least three nights, then you should pay attention to Zemun - a city within a city. Part of Belgrade, which in the middle of the 20th century was not only a separate city, but also part of another state - the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A hotel on the waterfront in the center of Zemun will cost almost as much as a hostel - about 15 euros per person per day, and apartments are even cheaper.

Sights of Serbia, or again the number one reason

The oldest part of Belgrade is the Kalemegdan fortress, here you will also find a museum military equipment under open air... If you come to Kalemegdan along Prince Michael Street, you will come across many souvenir shops, shops, outdoor cafes, etc. In some ways, this street is similar to the old Arbat: with artists, dancers and sellers of all the most unnecessary.

Not far from Belgrade, in Smederevo, there is the largest man-made fortification in Europe - the Brankovic Fortress (15th century). It is also possible to organize excursions to the monasteries of Studenica or Sopochany, where there are frescoes from the 11th to 13th centuries. If you look closely, for example, at the fresco depicting the holy doctors Cosmas and Damian in Sopochany, you will see that they are not holding spoons, as in most images of that time, but rather modern-looking scalpels. There are many monasteries in Serbia, and wherever you go, on the roads you will be greeted by signs on a brown background with information that you are not far from this or that ancient temple.

Serbian New Athos- Fruska Gora - 17 monasteries of the 15th - 17th centuries are located here, less than 20 kilometers from Novi Sad.

The Church of St. Sava is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Architecturally, it is somewhat reminiscent of St. Sophia. The temple is interesting because it is a long-term church construction. Construction (planning, competitions and other approvals) began in 1894, only in 1935 did the builders begin to erect the building and by 1939 the walls of the temple were erected. The second World War interrupted construction for almost 50 years. Work resumed only in May 1986. The dome was completed in 1989, and the finishing work continues to this day. Although the lack of decoration can be regarded as a plus, the temple is completely devoid of the stiffness inherent in some ceremonial buildings.

Zemun, as we have already written, is a piece of Austria-Hungary. Here, unlike the rest of Belgrade, narrow cobbled streets and low two-story houses. It is worth going up to the Gardos Tower, built in 1897. It is the southernmost of the four towers erected for the millennium of Hungary in the farthest points of the country.

Monasteries and churches of Serbia deserve special attention, some of which were built and painted in the early 12th century. There are temples of an earlier period: it is believed that the most ancient church in the Balkans is the Church of Peter and Paul in the vicinity of Novi Pazar. It was built in the 9th century on the site of a Roman pagan temple.

In the town of Mokra Gora, in addition to natural beauties, there is an interesting attraction - a narrow-gauge railway, built almost on sheer cliffs, the track width of which is only 75 centimeters. Shargan osmita, as the name implies, has the shape of the number eight. Its construction began in 1916, and the road was launched in 1925. Until 1974, the road functioned until it lost its profitability. However, in 1999 it was decided to restore the road - this time as a tourist attraction. Riding this train is a great adventure, and not far from Drevnegrad is the village of Kusturica, which was built as a backdrop for the film “Life is like a miracle” (Život je čudo). Now there are restaurants and hotels, prices are very, very European. And downstairs, completely authentic architecture and cuisine are much cheaper. In Mokra Gora, you can not only ride on an old train and enjoy a little popular Serbia from Kusturica, but also swim in a mountain river with water lilies and lilies.

Novi Sad and Nis, the second and third cities in Serbia, are no less interesting to visit than Belgrade. Yes, they are small, but very welcoming and cozy. Novi Sad perfectly combines Western and Eastern European architecture. Niš has an ossuary, a beautiful park with almost Roman ruins and modern hotels with ridiculous prices. Near these cities there are balneological resorts.

Serbian language

From lovers of "package" vacations, you can often hear the phrase: how I will be there (abroad), they do not speak Russian. As for Serbia, here, due to the relative proximity of languages, some of the problems are removed. In any case, the signs and menus in restaurants, if you move your brains, become quite understandable. In Belgrade, the older generation is quite tolerable, if they don't speak, then they understand Russian. Young people speak English quite well and almost without exception. Those who are going to travel inland can be advised to grab a dictionary or phrasebook. In small towns and non-tourist villages, sometimes even the hotel staff does not speak any language other than their own. If you get lost and ask for directions in Serbia, then remember, "right" in Serbian is straightforward, but if you go to the right, it sounds like "desno" ("right hand" is the right hand in Old Church Slavonic).

Features of Serbia, but for someone a bold plus

In Serbia, they are very loyal to smoking. If you do not like the smell of tobacco smoke, then it is better to pay attention to this when booking a room. Here, unlike in other Europe, you can often see the "smoking-only room" mark. This does not mean that you will be forced to smoke or not be accommodated, but it will be useless to argue about the smell of tobacco in the room. And in general, in Serbia they smoke a lot and there are few places where "fluff is taken", but at least the coffee is good.

Sea in Serbia

There is no sea in Serbia, but if you miss it so much, then in just 45 minutes you can fly from Belgrade to neighboring Tivat (Montenegro). As a rule, the prices for these flights are not high, and with luck you can buy Belgrade-Tivat-Belgrade tickets for 70 - 80 euros.

Text and photo: Maria Cheglyaeva

👁 Before you start ... where to book a hotel? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 we pay for a high percentage from hotels!). I have been using Rumguru for a long time
skyscanner
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without bothering? The answer is in the search form below! Purchase. This is such a thing that includes flight, accommodation, food and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰 Form - below !.

Really best prices for hotels

The Republic of Serbia is located on the Balkan Peninsula. Part of the country's territory (20%) is located in the Pannonian Lowland. It has no access to the seas and oceans.

Administratively, Serbia is divided into 3 regions, which in turn are divided into districts and communities.

Largest cities: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Pristina and Nis.

Capital of Serbia- the city of Belgrade.

Borders and area

Land borders with Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serbia covers an area of ​​88,361 square kilometers (the country ranks 111th in the world in terms of size).

Serbia map

Timezone

Population

7,243,000 people, which puts the country in 98th place in terms of population in the world.

Religion

The overwhelming majority of the country's believers are Orthodox (85%). About 5.5% of the inhabitants are Catholics and 3.2% are Muslims.

Finance

The official currency is the Serbian dinar.

Medical assistance and insurance

First and emergency medical aid is provided free of charge. All further medical care will be free only if you have international medical insurance and apply to special clinics with it.

Mains voltage

220 volt. The frequency is 50 Hertz.

International dialing code

👁 As always, do we book the hotel on the booking? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 we pay for a high percentage from hotels!). I have been using Rumguru for a long time, it is really more profitable than 💰💰 Booking.
👁 And for tickets - to air sales, as an option. It has been known about him for a long time 🐷. But there is a better search engine - skyscanner - there are more flights, prices are lower! 🔥🔥.
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without bothering? Purchase. This is such a thing that includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰.

Serbia is perhaps one of the few countries where Russian-speaking guests are treated with special "brotherly" warmth and cordiality. Nevertheless, it is not a popular tourist destination among Russians and, like the Balkans in general, remains a kind of exotic in the center of Europe. And, I think, in vain! This region is interesting for its rich cultural and historical heritage, unusually beautiful nature and mild climate, ski and health resorts, simple and natural national cuisine and, in addition to this, it attracts with a visa-free regime and low, in comparison with the average European, prices. Having visited Serbia once, it is impossible to remain indifferent. So, for example, she settled in my heart forever.

Visa and border crossing

Citizens of Russia and most countries of the former USSR do not need a visa to visit Serbia. Entry only with a passport. However, it is allowed to stay in the country for 30 days. If you need more time, you will have to cross the border. Fortunately, Serbia is surrounded from the west and south by visa-free travel, and Macedonia and the so-called "visa-run" (fast crossing the border "round trip" to get a stamp in the passport) will not be a big problem. Without crossing the border, you can permanently stay on the territory of the country with a "boravak" (a kind of visa, it is also often called a residence permit). But to obtain it, you will need grounds: ownership of real estate, employment or registration own business, education, marriage with a citizen of Serbia. Plus, you will have to spend at least 200 euros on duties, health insurance and other fees.

An important point is mandatory registration ("white cardboard") at your place of residence. It should be carried out within 24 hours from the moment of entry into the country. Hotels and hostels usually register their guests themselves. If you are staying with friends or renting an apartment, for example, on Airbnb, then ask the owner about such registration. You can get "white cardboard" at the nearest police station using your passport. The procedure will not take more than 15 minutes. When leaving the country, the customs officer may ask you to show "white cardboard", and if it is absent, you face a fine from 5 to 25 thousand dinars (40-200 euros). In practice, checking registration at customs is a rarity.

As for customs regulations ... Import of foreign currency is not limited and its declaration is not necessary, but export is limited to the equivalent of 2000 euros. You can import personal belongings, 1 liter of wine or strong alcohol, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 250 ml of cologne or 100 ml of perfume in Serbia duty-free per person. Well, as a standard, it is forbidden to import drugs, poisonous, psychotropic, explosive, radioactive substances, pesticides, gold bullion, unprocessed, in coins, weapons, gasoline in cans. It is prohibited to export items of historical, cultural or artistic value from Serbia without special permission..

How to get there

Popular ways to get (by plane, train and bus) to Serbia are described in detail by me. I will only note that Serbia has a regular railway connection with neighboring Hungary, Montenegro, Macedonia, Romania and Croatia, as well as Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Greece, the schedule and prices of which can be found on the Serbian railways. You can view the options for flights with different connections here.

By plane

By car

Those who are going to visit the country by their own car need to have an insurance policy (green card), which is better to issue in insurance companies in their home country, but it is also possible at points of sale (kiosks and houses with appropriate signs) before crossing the border. The cost of such insurance today starts from 30 euros and depends on the duration of the policy and the type of vehicle. It is not necessary to have international rights.

Tourist regions

Conventionally, relying on administrative divisions, Serbia can be divided into two regions: Northern (most of it is occupied by the autonomous region of Vojvodina) and Southern (central and southern Serbia south of the Danube).

The first one is flat, economically developed, which has preserved samples of cultural and architectural heritage Austria-Hungary. It is not rich in natural attractions, the main interest is the cities and the Fruska Gora National Park. The sphere of agritourism is very developed here.

The second - forest and mountain, it is here that the main natural beauty, ski and health resorts of Serbia are located. On its territory are the largest cities of the country, Kragujevac and. If you want to immerse yourself in colorful and authentic Serbia, then you should definitely come here.

In this review, we will not consider the disputed territory and Metohija. Firstly, it has signs of a separate state (border posts, visa regime, euro as currency, and so on), and secondly, let's leave the disputes to those who are interested in them.

Top cities

Belgrade

The Serbian capital, the capital of the former Yugoslavia, one of the largest cities in the Balkans, dynamic, hospitable and comfortable, "the city that never sleeps". A lot of detailed material on Belgrade can be found. It remains to add: this is the main attraction of Serbia, a must-see. You can familiarize yourself with the options for tours.

Novi Sad

The second largest city in Serbia, its cultural capital with numerous museums and educational institutions. It is located just 80 kilometers and 1-1.5 hours from Belgrade, has regular bus and train connections. much quieter and quieter than the Serbian capital, so many families with children prefer it as a place to live. On the banks of the Danube, opposite the city, there is the Petrovaradin Fortress, on the territory of which one of the largest music festivals in Europe EXIT. You can read a detailed city guide.

Niches

Large industrial and trading city southeastern Serbia with rich history and culture. The main attractions are the Nis Fortress, the ominous and curious tower of skulls of Chele Kula, the Mediana archaeological complex, the first Serbian concentration camp (now a museum) Red Cross, as well as many churches and monasteries inside and outside the city. - the second city in Serbia with its own airport. Although there are much fewer flights to / from it compared to Belgrade, in some cases it can be considered as the destination / departure point for such European low-cost airlines as Wizz air and Ryanair.

Subotica

A beautiful and cozy town in the north of the country near the border with Hungary with well-preserved buildings in the Hungarian Art Nouveau style of the early 20th century. Not far from Subotica is Palich - one of the best SPA-resorts in Eastern Europe with hot artesian springs and healing silt from the bottom of the lake of the same name. In general, if you are traveling on the route "Hungary-Serbia", then I strongly advise you to take a look.

Kragujevac

The first capital of Serbia (1818-1841), a city in the Balkan-eastern architectural style: straight lines of Slavic architecture are perfectly combined with arches and ornate patterns of the East. Kragujevac is famous for its restaurant and bar culture. The cheerful and bustling bars, concentrated along King Alexander Street, open their doors at nightfall and stay open until the early hours of the morning.

You can search for hotels in different cities of Serbia, it is convenient to book hotels on the well-known Booking - by. You can see the options for renting private apartments.

Top attractions

Fruska Gora National Park

The picturesque hilly area just 16 kilometers from Novi Sad is famous for its complex of 17 ancient monasteries and home apiaries and wineries. This park is one of the favorite vacation spots for residents of nearby cities (many families come for the weekend), an excellent place for hiking and cycling.

Drvengrad

Built by the famous Yugoslav filmmaker Emir Kusturica, the ethno-hotel is a village with traditional Serbian houses, streets and squares named after the director's revered historical characters and artists. For example, there is Che Guevara Street and Nikita Mikhalkov Square. Drvengrad is in the territory small settlement Mokra Gora on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The narrow-gauge railway "Sharganska Osmitsa" operates nearby. It lost its original purpose in the middle of the last century and was closed. It was recently reopened. Now, winding among the mountains through numerous tunnels, she carries curious and enthusiastic tourists. It is important to note: it is not always possible to stay overnight at the Drvengrad hotel itself (my advice: it is better to book rooms in advance and be sure by phone - the administration often does not respond to e-mails for some reason), however, a large number of houses and rooms are rented around by locals residents, moreover, their price will be at least two times lower. You can walk and eat in the hotel without any problems.

Tara National Park

Literally 10 kilometers from Drvengrad, among the Serbo-Bosnian mountains, is the Tara National Park with a beautiful artificial lake in the center. The legendary place of Serbia is recognizable by the famous house in the middle of the Drina River. There is also the shortest river in Europe - Vrelo, which is only 365 meters long.

Uvac canyon

Perhaps the most incredible beauty place in Serbia. Previously, the Uvac rivulet flowed in a zigzag. Then a dam was built, and the canyon was flooded. There are many caves along the way, some of which are several kilometers in length. In ancient times, they were used by people as roads. The griffon vulture, listed in the Red Book, also lives here. In warm weather, pleasure boats run along the canyon. I strongly advise you to use them - such a walk is hard to forget.

Djerdap National Park

It is interesting first of all by the picturesque gorge of the same name (it is also called the Iron Gate), separating Serbia and Romania. There are three other undoubtedly noteworthy sights on the territory of the park: the Lepenski Vir camp of the Mesolithic hunters, the world's longest antique bridge of Trajan (aka the first bridge over the Danube), and the medieval Goluback fortress, half submerged in the Danube.

Kopaonik

The largest mountain range Serbia. Located in its southern part on the border with. A picturesque region with mountains covered with dense forest, clean air and healing springs. In winter, this is the main ski resort country. On the territory of Kopaonik, there is one of the main shrines of the Serbian people - the Studenica Cathedral, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Smederevo fortress

One of the largest lowland fortresses in Europe has an uncharacteristic triangular shape and stands on the banks of the Danube. Some towers and fortifications medieval fortress were destroyed or badly damaged by the explosion of a German ammunition depot during World War II, and then during the Allied bombing. Inside the long-suffering fortress, there is a cozy green park, which in summer becomes the site of the International Theater Festival.

Zlatibor

A plateau-resort with unique "golden" pines (this kind grows only here and nowhere else in the world) and a specific curative microclimate - above Zlatibor, mountain and sea air mix in an amazing way. The place perfectly combines modern tourist infrastructure and the opportunity for a quiet secluded holiday. Here is the most high mountain in Serbia - Tornik.

Vrnjachka Banya

The largest and most popular health resort ("bathhouse") in Serbia. There are seven carbonic and alkaline sources here, the temperature of one of them absolutely coincides with the human one - 36.6 °. This is the only one in the world.

Sremski Karlovtsi

The city is the center of Serbian history and Orthodoxy. The oldest seminary in the country is located here. It is interesting that it was in this city that the headquarters of the white movement was located during the civil war in Russia. The place is famous for its specific drink "bermet" (a kind of mixture of wine, liqueur and grape juice), traditionally made according to old recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in the families of winemakers. The town itself is quiet and cozy. Located near Novi Sad. You can successfully capture it for inspection on the way from Belgrade.

Devil's City

A miracle of nature in the south of Serbia, consisting of two hundred stone pillars. The originality of the place has given rise to a lot of gloomy legends among the local population. For a thrill, it is recommended to visit at night. The "city" is located in the south of Serbia, 27 kilometers from settlement Kurshumliya.

Weather

Serbia is very well located in terms of weather conditions. From the north of the country to the south, the temperate continental climate is replaced by the Mediterranean. In summer, in July and August, it can be quite hot, sometimes the thermometer shows 35-40 ° С. But in the rest of the year it is quite comfortable: autumn is dry and warm, winter is short and non-frosty (the temperature rarely drops below -10 ° C), spring is often rainy, but the transition to summer can happen as early as March. If we take the regions of Russia for comparison, the weather conditions of the Krasnodar Territory are the most consistent.

Money

The national currency of Serbia is the Serbian dinar. Rarely where you can buy them for rubles (in Serbian branches of Sberbank you can, but the rate is bad), so you should stock up on euros in advance or withdraw cash from an ATM from a credit card. If your card is issued by Sberbank, then I recommend getting dinars in Serbia at its ATMs - it will be released without commission. At ATMs of other banks, the commission can be 100-400 rubles. Euros are not in use, although many large prices, for example, for renting an apartment, are usually indicated in the currency of the European Union. However, many private taxi drivers agree to pay for their services in euros, they also often indicate the prices of souvenirs on the main tourist street of Belgrade - Knez Mihail... In the cities of Serbia, there are usually a lot of exchange offices ("money changers"), and if you brought euros, you can exchange them there. I advise you to first compare the courses (they may differ significantly) in several and choose the most profitable option.

Bank cards (Visa, Maestro, Mastercard) are accepted in many shops and catering establishments. But it is always better to have cash with you - just to be on the safe side: the payment terminal may not work, but it happens that it does not exist at all.

Moving around the country

Many natural beauties of Serbia (for example, Uvac canyon or Djerdap gorge) are located in remote places that cannot be reached by public transport. Therefore, I recommend renting a car for an in-depth study of the country. You can do this already at the airport or, after looking for information in advance, familiarize yourself with the offers of numerous "rent-e-cars" and choose the most profitable one. The largest selection of models and prices can be found in the corresponding travelask section -.

For rent, in many cases, you only need a passport and a deposit, which depends on the make and class of the car.

Not the best, but still an alternative to a car is a regular bus. Serbia has a very developed bus service, you can get to almost anywhere in the country. Detailed information with links to services where you can clarify the schedule, read.

More cheap way- electric trains. I advise you to choose new modern lineups (they are marked with a RE rank). Old formulations are often messy and uncomfortable.

Connection

If required mobile connection, then SIM-cards of local operators can be purchased both in specialized salons and in ordinary newspaper kiosks "Moj kiosk", you will not even be asked for a passport. The cost will be 2.5 euros (300 dinars). The price of a minute of conversation within the country is not low by Russian standards - 10 euro cents (12 dinars)... You can also connect mobile Internet to the SIM card. Calls and Internet package for 4 euros (500 dinars) with infrequent use, it should be enough for a week or two.

In large cities in some parks and even public transport you can connect to free Wi-Fi, which, of course, is also available in many hotels, restaurants and bars.

Language and communication

The official language in the country is Serbian. It is interesting that two alphabets are used at once: Cyrillic and Latin. Cyrillic is the official alphabet and is more common, for example, in legal documents, government magazines and newspapers. In everyday life, both alphabets are used equally. The Serbian language is similar to Russian, many words are recognizable, but they can have a different, and sometimes opposite, meaning. For example, "harmful wife" in Serbian means "hardworking wife", and "belly" means "life". Nevertheless, it is quite simple to understand a Serb for a Russian person (and vice versa), accompanying speech with sign language. In addition, the older generation of Serbs studied Russian at school and many can speak it.

In large cities, especially in Belgrade, young people speak fluently English language... If you also own it, then communication problems will not arise. Feel free to use it in shops, catering places and just on the street.

Here are 10 simple Serbian words and phrases to make communication easier:

• Dobar dan (dobar dan) - good afternoon, hello,
• Ćao (chao) - hello / bye,
• Doviđenja (dovijenya) - goodbye,
• Hvala (praise) - thank you,
• Molim (we pray) - please
• Izvinite (sorry) - I think no translation is required,
• Ne govorim srpski (do not speak srpski) - I do not speak Serbian,
• Ne razumem (do not understand) - I do not understand
• Kako da dođem do ..? (how do we dodge to ..?) - how to get to ..?
• Koliko košta ..? (koliko kosta ..?) - how much does it cost ..?

Features of the mentality

Serbs are very hospitable and cordial people. Especially in relation to the Russians. Upon learning that you are from Russia, the Serb will be genuinely happy to talk about common historical roots, brotherhood of peoples, mutual love and support at all times. Sometimes in the market after learning that you are Russian, the seller can make a good discount, and if you're lucky, then he won't take money at all... Serbs are sincere and extremely polite. A smile and a "warm" word are their main attributes in any communication. However, there are also dubious qualities of their mentality. Like many southern peoples, Serbs are a little lazy and unhurried. in keeping promises... So, when going to Serbia, please be patient and restrained. Be prepared, for example, for a saleswoman in a supermarket to slowly chop a ham and at the same time discuss news from the life of relatives with a random customer, while a queue of 10 people has accumulated at her counter. No one will say a word, they will wait patiently. So what is the rush?

Food and drink

Serbian national cuisine in a peasant style is simple and natural. There are no culinary delights in it. Serbs do not treat cooking with aesthetic awe, like the French or Italians, for example. Many dishes contain minimal ingredients and are easy to prepare. However, something deserves attention.

5 dishes worth trying

Bakery

Serbs are fans of baking. Bakeries ("bakers") are everywhere, literally in every home. The morning of any Serb begins not with coffee, but with pastries and yoghurt in your favorite baker. They have such a variety of assortments that an unprepared person, not knowing what to choose, falls into a stupor. To prevent this from happening to you, I advise you to order a burek or pita first. The food is not easy, but hearty and budget (less than 1 euro per serving).

Rostil

This is the name of grilled meat dishes: pleskavitsa, chevapy, sausages. You can order at a restaurant, or you can try it at a fast food. The difference is not great: in the first case, the meat with a side dish will be served on a plate, in the second - in a pita bread. Cost - from 1.5 euros (150 dinars) in fast food and from 4 euros (500 dinars) in a restaurant.

Rakia

A kind of vodka, or fruit "moonshine". It is usually made on the basis of plums, quince, grapes and pears. It is worth looking for a homemade one. If you take the "store" one, then it is better to choose the one that is more expensive (from 8 euros), the cheap options are not always good. It is worth drinking rakia in Serbian in small sips, enjoying and discussing the taste.

Kaymak and cheeses

Serbia is famous for its dairy products. Its diversity is sometimes not easy to understand. Of particular note are kaymak (a type of cream) and young or mature cheeses made from goat, sheep, cow's milk or a mixture of these. The easiest way to find them is in the market or in the store. But in order not to be mistaken in your choice, order a Serbian cheese platter at the restaurant. Do not deny yourself the pleasure - try it!

Aivar

Aivar is a Balkan type of vegetable caviar based on red paprika and eggplant. Usually it is served with a rochelle. So, if you order, for example, pleskavitsa or chevapa, ask to add ayvar to the side dish. A good aivar can also be found in the market.

Prshut

Serbia has incredibly delicious meat delicacies. Balkan prosciutto dominates over them. It resembles Spanish jamon in taste and preparation method, but not quite. Homemade prosciutto can be bought at the market or ordered at a restaurant. From the "store" I advise the production of the meat factory "Zlatiborac".

Bermet

And, of course, the same bermet, which was discussed just above. The best bermet is undoubtedly made and sold in Sremski Karlovci. But you can also find it in other liquor stores.

Shopping

There is no shopping in Serbia. That is, absolutely. If you are coming here hoping to find tons of branded products by low prices, then you are mistaken: there are few brands here, and their prices bite. In this regard, Russia as a whole is much more favorable.

What to bring from this country

Serbia's business card is natural and inexpensive products: from honey and herbal tea to handmade cosmetics. You can bring the same prosciutto, wine and brandy with you and as a gift. But remember about the customs norm for the carriage of alcohol - no more than a liter per person.

Security

Serbia is the safest country I've ever visited. Nevertheless, you should not completely relax, because, despite the low crime rate, no one will give guarantees against isolated criminal cases. Follow standard safety guidelines - do not wear large sums money and valuables with you, do not show your wallet in crowded places - and your stay in Serbia will not be overshadowed by troubles.

Many are intimidated by the presence of a large number of Roma in the country. But they are completely harmless. There are, of course, those who "earn" their living by begging or compulsive trade on Kneza Mihail Street in Belgrade, but there are only a few of them. Most of them work as "orderlies of the city": they collect and hand over all kinds of waste paper and metal.

Popular types of scams

I only know about the taxi scam. In the end, for some private traders, the trip is very expensive. So I advise you to contact the official taxi services or catch cars with special identification marks. There must be a meter in the cabin.

5 things to do in this country

1. Walk around Belgrade, visit the Kalemegdan fortress, relax (like locals) sit in a summer cafe, sipping a cup of coffee.
2. Visit Drvengrad and the narrow gauge railroad"Sharganska osmitsa".
3. See the impressive Uvac Canyon.
4. Try bermet and rakia.
5. Enjoy the national cuisine. Try rostil and kaymak.

Nearby countries

Serbia is a convenient transport interchange in Europe. Most border countries can be reached by train or plane, and absolutely everything - by bus or car.

To visit Hungary, you will need a Schengen visa, to Romania and Bulgaria - a Schengen or national one.