Curious about the best places to visit in Serbia? Serbia is a country in southeastern Europe. Its capital, Belgrade, is one of the largest and oldest citiеs in the region. Just like North Macedonia and Albania, Serbia is often overlooked by travellers visiting the region, and undeservedly so.

Serbia is quite a small country, but there are plenty of amazing places to visit. In Serbia, you’ll find stunning valleys, gorges, rivers and mountains, as well as beautiful cities with stunning architecture.

Sounds lovely? Want to come and explore? Then you have found yourself in the right place.

We’ve created this list of some of the best places to visit in Serbia to help you with the task of planning your trip to Serbia.

7 best places to visit in Serbia

Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. 

Be warned, Belgrade is not among the most beautiful Eastern European capitals as it was severely damaged by the 1999 bombing. It’s gritty and can feel overwhelming, but if you know where to look, you’ll find beauty on every corner. This is the reason Belgrade is loved by many intrepid tourists.

Even though it is off the backpacker trail, Belgrade is definitely worth visiting during your trip to Serbia. The city is rich in history, has great restaurants and nice nightlife. The people in Belgrade are very hospitable and kind.

Belgrade is considered to be one of the best party destinations in Eastern Europe. It has some really wild clubs.

What else is there to do in Belgrade?

Visit Belgrade Fortress and the massive Kalemegdan Park — the most visited tourist attractions in Belgrade.

Check out the Church of Saint Sava — the most prominent landmark of the city. It is the largest Orthodox church in Serbia, one of the largest churches in the world. The main dome of the Church of Saint Sava resembles that of the Hagia Sophia, after which it had been modelled.

Take a stroll down Skadarlija — a vintage street in the old town.

Visit the Nikola Tesla Museum and the Aeronautical Museum Belgrade.

Admire the Western City Gate of Belgrade. It’s a unique, 36-story skyscraper designed in the brutalist style. It is formed by two towers connected with a two-story bridge and revolving restaurant at the top.

This is not the only great example of the brutalist style. Check out the intimidating “Televizorka” (the “TV Building”) in Block 28 and the imposing apartment towers of Testera in Konjarnik suburb.

Uvac Special Nature Reserve

Uvac is a natural reserve of great importance (the category I in Serbia).

The landscape of the reserve is dominated by a canyon-like valley of the river surrounded by mountains. An average depth of the valley is between 200 m and 300 m.

Uvac is known for its spectacular landscapes — the Uvac river meanders and the island in the Uvac gorge.

There are several viewpoints in the gorge from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the area.

Also, Uvac nature reserve is known for the successful project of the preservation of the griffon vulture.

Studenica

The Studenica Monastery is a 12th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery which is known for its collection of 13th and 14th-century Byzantine-style fresco paintings.

Studenica is a well-preserved example of a Serbian Orthodox Church monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. 

It is one of the most sacred sites in Serbia.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is a city in northern Serbia on the banks of the Danube River. It is the second-largest city in Serbia.

The most notable landmark of the city is Petrovaradin Fortress. Standing atop a riverside bluff, it dominates the cityscape. The fortress dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It features an iconic clock tower and a network of tunnels. 

Across the river is the city’s old quarter, Stari Grad which has beautiful architecture, many monuments, museums, cafes, restaurants and shops.

The most notable buildings in the old quarter are the gothic Roman Catholic Church of the Name of Mary and the neo-Renaissance City Hall.

Đavolja Varoš

Đavolja Varoš, or Devil’s Town, is a set of unique rock formations in south Serbia.

It consists of some 200 peculiar rock formations which resemble towers or pyramids. 

The formations were created by the erosion of the soil due to a volcanic activity millions of years ago. The “towers” are 2 to 15 m tall and 4 to 6 m wide at the base. 

Đavolja Varoš is one of the unique sights in Serbia you definitely should include on your “must-see” list.

Subotica 

Subotica is a lovely multi-cultural (Serbian/Hungarian/Croatian) city known for its art nouveau architecture.

The most beautiful art nouveau buildings are located along the pedestrian strip of Korzo or on the main square. And the City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the main square.

Do not miss Subotica Synagogue. It is a Hungarian Art Nouveau synagogue located not far from the main square. It is believed to be the second-largest synagogue in Europe.

The synagogue was fully renovated and opened in March 2018.

Djerdap National Park & Golubac Fortress

Djerdap (Đerdap) National Park is the biggest national park in Serbia.

The main feature of the Djerdap National Park is the famous Iron Gate which is a gorge on the river Danube. It forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania. 

A part of Djerdap is a UNESCO global geopark, the first one in Serbia. The Djerdap UNESCO global geopark includes the Iron Gates Gorge as well as parts of the Miroč and Kučaj mountain massifs.

Do not miss Golubac fortress which is located in the national park. It was built during the 14th century and had a tumultuous history. The fortress was the object of many battles and changed hands repeatedly. It is believed that this fortress repelled over 120 conquering attacks over time.

Serbia travel tips

1. Although a European country, Serbia is not a member of the EU nor the Schengen Area. But it does offer visa-free travel for up to ninety days for citizens of many countries (including the EU, US and UK).
2. Beware of unregistered taxis in Belgrade. Use Car.Go (a ride-hailing app, similar to Uber) for hassle-free travelling in Belgrade.
3. Carry cash, like many businesses outside the cities, won’t take cards.
4. Taking an intercity bus? Note that you’ll need to purchase an additional bus platform ticket to be allowed to enter your platform. This price is in addition to your bus ticket price and must be paid in cash. Leave yourself enough time to buy a platform ticket.
5. If you are staying in a private apartment (e.g., Airbnb) or with a friend, ask if the host can register you at the police station. If not, you must do it yourself. It must be done within 24 hours of arriving in a new place. If you are staying in a hotel or hostel, you don’t have to register, as the accommodation will take care of this.
6. In Serbia, two alphabets are used — Latin and Cyrillic. So don’t be confused.
7. Do not bring up the subject of Kosovo, as it’s a sensitive topic.
8. If you plan to visit Kosovo, then you should note that Serbia does not recognise the border between Serbia and Kosovo. If you are travelling to Kosovo, enter from Serbia. If you’ve travelled to Kosovo from North Macedonia or Albania, and want to travel to Serbia, you will be refused entry to Serbia — as you don’t have a Serbian entry stamp.
9. The best time to visit Serbia is between May and early October.
10. If you are planning to travel to Serbia in summer, book your accommodation in advance. It’s a very busy time of the year.