Travel to Serbia — everything you need to know
When to go to Serbia?
- April – October — Spring, summer and autumn : Best time to visit: June–August (22–28°C, terraces, EXIT festival in Novi Sad), May and September–October (cooler, festivals in Belgrade). Beautiful autumn in the gorges.
- December – February — Festive winter : Belgrade warms up with indoor bars and clubs. Orthodox holidays (Christmas on 7 January, Slava) are very lively. Temperatures 0 to -5°C.
Weather in Serbia
Check the weather city by city, starting with Belgrade.
- Belgrade: daytime highs from 8 to 30 °C depending on the season, 59 mm of rain per month on average.
- Novi Sad: daytime highs from 7 to 30 °C depending on the season, 56 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Serbia?
Serbia is the great unknown of the Balkans: Belgrade, a city both Balkan and European, with its Kalemegdan Fortress, its legendary nightlife on the Sava river's floating clubs (splavovi), the royal mausoleum of Oplenac and the medieval monastery of Žiča in the Serbian countryside, Novi Sad and its EXIT festival, and the Iron Gates gorge (Đerdap) on the Danube.
Belgrade — Fortress and nightlife
Belgrade is the liveliest capital in the Balkans: Kalemegdan Fortress (2nd century, rebuilt by the Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Austrians) overlooks the Sava-Danube confluence, while Skadarlija street (a 19th-century bohemian quarter) is packed with kafanas resounding with Gypsy orchestras. The splavovi (floating clubs) on the Sava built the city's nightlife legend.
Highlights : Kalemegdan Fortress — 2,000 years of history above the Danube, Skadarlija — bohemian street of kafanas and Gypsy orchestras, Splavovi (floating clubs) on the Sava — unique nightlife, Church of Saint Sava — one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
Novi Sad — Cultural capital and EXIT
Novi Sad, European Capital of Culture 2022, is a multicultural university town: Petrovaradin Fortress (18th century), overlooking the Danube, hosts the EXIT festival every July (150,000 people, one of Europe's best music festivals). Its Austro-Hungarian city centre and the artists' Štrand district on the Danube make it a very pleasant city.
Highlights : Petrovaradin Fortress — the 'Gibraltar on the Danube', EXIT Festival (July) — electro, rock, world music under the fortress, Dunavska pedestrian district — cafés and terraces along the Danube, Štrand beach on the Danube — Serbia's most popular beach.
Iron Gates gorge — Đerdap
The Iron Gates (Đerdap) are the Danube's most spectacular gorge: 100km of 300m-high limestone cliffs carved by the river along the Serbian-Romanian border. The Decebalus rock sculpture (one of the largest in Europe, 55m tall) and the Roman remains of Trajan (Tabula Traiana) are visible from the boat. Exceptional natural and historical heritage.
Highlights : Đerdap gorge from a boat — 300m cliffs, Decebalus's head carved into the cliff (55m, the largest in Europe), Tabula Traiana — Roman inscription from 101–103 AD on the cliff, Lepenski Vir — a 9,000-year-old Neolithic site in the gorge.
Medieval monasteries of Serbia
Serbia has over 200 medieval Orthodox monasteries — several of them UNESCO candidates. Žiča (13th century, blood-red, coronation site of Serbian kings), Studenica (12th century, white marble, medieval painting school), and Mileševa (13th century, the White Angel fresco — broadcast in 1969 via the first European communications satellite) are the most remarkable.
Highlights : Studenica Monastery (UNESCO) — 12th-century white marble, Žiča Monastery — blood-red, coronation site of Serbian kings, The White Angel fresco at Mileševa — the first image ever broadcast by satellite, Sopoćani Monastery (UNESCO) — 13th-century Byzantine frescoes.
Kopaonik & Zlatibor
The mountains of central Serbia bring together the major Kopaonik ski resort and the authentic Zlatibor plateau. Traditional villages, the historic Šargan railway and spectacular nature reserves await visitors. A concentrate of Serbian nature and traditions.
Highlights : Kopaonik — Serbia's largest resort, Zlatibor — plateau and authentic village, Šargan railway, Uvac — gorge and Dalmatian pelicans, Drvengrad — Kusturica's village.
Travel budget for Serbia
Serbia is one of the cheapest countries in Europe: Belgrade rivals Bucharest for the title of most affordable European capital. The dinar fluctuates slightly — euros are accepted in many hotels.
- Backpacker : 35–60 €/j — Hostel + pljeskavica + public transport
- Comfort : 65–120 €/j — 3★ hotel + kafana + excursions
Practical tips for travelling to Serbia
- Flight from Paris : ~2h30 (direct Air France CDG–Belgrade, Air Serbia, Wizz Air). Daily flights.
- Visa : No visa required for French citizens (90 days). Valid passport or ID card. Not yet an EU member.
- Currency : Serbian dinar (RSD). Euros often accepted in hotels. Cards widely accepted in towns. Cash essential at kafanas and monasteries.
- Language : Serbian (Cyrillic alphabet). English well spoken by young people in Belgrade. Less common in the countryside.
- Electricity : Type C/F (European) — 230V. No adapter needed.
- Health : No particular precautions needed. No EHIC (non-EU) — travel insurance recommended. Good-quality healthcare in Belgrade.
- Music : Serbia is the land of turbo-folk (Balkan pop music) and kafanas with live orchestras. Belgrade's club scene (with the splavovi) is one of the best in Europe.
- Safety : Belgrade is one of the safest capitals in the Balkans. Usual caution in crowds and on public transport. Monasteries are often remote — a guide or car is recommended.
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