Serbia
Serbia unites cultures, religions, and landscapes: from rivers and gorges to deserts and primeval forests. The country offers surprising contrasts – both climatic and cultural – and is ideally suited for tours with a focus on natural history or ethnology.
Official language
Serbian
Capital city
Belgrade
Form of government
republic
Area
77,474 km²
population
7,498,000
currency
Dinar (1€ = 118 Dinari)
independence
July 13, 1878
telephone area code
+381
UNESCO World Heritage
Stari Ras & Sopocani
Studenica Monastery
Gamzigrad Palace
NP Djerdap (candidate)
Smederevo (candidate)
Manasija Monastery (Canton)
Serbia – Diversity between the Danube and the Dinaric Alps
Serbia lies between worlds – geographically and culturally. Here, East and West, Orthodox churches and Roman ruins, continental and Mediterranean climates meet.
The result: a country of rare diversity that does not impose itself on travelers, but opens itself up – in landscape, history and encounters.
Nature without a label
Rivers are the lifeblood of Serbia: over 50,000 kilometers of waterways, almost all of which flow into the Danube – which reaches its full width here. Mountains, forests, lakes, and gorges also shape the landscape. In Đerdap National Park, the Danube cuts through the Balkan Mountains in an impressive valley – the so-called "Iron Gate."
In the south: dense beech forests, untouched plateaus, shepherds' paths. In the north: steppe, puszta and even a piece of real desert – the Deliblatska Peščara, a sandy landscape with its own microclimate.
A special treasure: the remains of the last European primeval forests in western Serbia.
Those who embrace this diversity will not only see Serbia, but also feel it – especially through the genuine hospitality, which is almost touching away from tourist centers.
Legacy of Antiquity: Emperors, Limes & Thermal Baths
Serbia was Roman heartland. What is little known is that 17 Roman emperors were born here, including Constantine the Great. The Romans built cities, thermal baths, fortresses, and border fortifications – especially along the Roman Limes, which runs diagonally across Serbia. Many of the archaeological sites are accessible today and fascinate visitors with their architectural clarity and historical significance.
The region's healing waters were already valued in antiquity. Thermal springs with mineral-rich water can be found throughout the country – many of them with modern spa centers that combine wellness, relaxation, and medical treatments.
An ideal combination for group trips with a cultural or health focus.
Sacred paths – monasteries, frescoes, lived silence
Serbia is rich in places of faith – not museum pieces, but living, breathing ones. Nestled among forests, plateaus, and river valleys are centuries-old monasteries, many of them still inhabited, maintained, and in use today. Some of them belong to the European cultural route TRANSROMANICA – a network of Romanesque architecture stretching from Italy to Scandinavia.
In Serbia, there are six monasteries that mark this route:
Žiča, Gradac, Đurđevi Stupovi, Sopoćani, Studenica and Petrova Crkva.
The most important of these sites is Studenica Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the spiritual cradle of the Serbian kingdom. Dating from the late 12th century, the complex comprises a dozen churches and palaces and remains a place of liturgy to this day.
The frescoes – many of them still in their original state – are among the most important works of art in Serbian history. Their expressiveness and color are as impressive as their silent presence: they not only depict the divine, but also tell of the world from which they originate.
For groups interested in Orthodoxy, art history, or spiritual architecture, Serbia is an open archive – quiet, hospitable, profound.
Serbia's nature – diversity to breathe in
Serbia's nature is not spectacular in the classical sense – it is authentic, vast, and accessible. The country lies at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, a fact reflected in both its landscape and its biodiversity.
Gentle hills, steep gorges, lonely plateaus and densely forested mountains alternate within a small area. Rivers such as the Tara, Morava or Ibar flow through the country, feeding fishing grounds and offering routes for rafting, canoeing or leisurely boat trips.
Over 200 bird species – including rare birds of prey – and around 400 species of wild animals live here, many of them in the more than 60 designated protected areas.
For groups interested in natural history, Serbia is a quiet retreat – with opportunities for observation, Photography and educational excursions.
Active adventure – between river and summit
Hiking, trekking, mountaineering or mountain biking – Serbia offers a solid network of trails, moderate altitudes and tours for all skill levels.
In winter: Ski resorts like Kopaonik or Zlatibor, small but charming – good for groups who appreciate a wintery atmosphere more than polished slopes.
For groups interested in sports or hunting, there are 35 fishing and hunting centers available – often combined with rustic cuisine, simple accommodation and a welcoming atmosphere.
Whether actively participating or observing – anyone who experiences Serbia's nature quickly realizes: This isn't about staging. This is about genuine connection.
Serbian cuisine – hearty, honest, handmade
Serbian cuisine is down-to-earth and aromatic – a product of the landscape, the seasons, and the local communities. Influences from Ottoman, Central European, and Balkan cuisines combine here to create a culinary style that is bold, simple, and delicious.
Typical dishes include grilled specialties such as Ćevapčići or Pljeskavica, braised Roasts, hearty bean soups or braised dishes with sauerkraut and lamb. This is served with fresh cheese, smoked ham, caviar from Kladovo – and often to finish with a homemade schnapps: pear, quince, apricot – everything that has stored up sunshine.
In the wine-growing regions around Vršac, Župa, or Negotin, strong red wines and fruity white wines are produced – ideal for groups seeking enjoyment and regionality.
The Danube – a waterway steeped in history
The Danube is more than just a river – it is Serbia's great lifeline. Along its banks lie cities, monasteries, ruins, and natural wonders – an ideal setting for themed group tours.
Novi Sad, with its baroque old town and the Petrovaradin Fortress, is the cultural center of Vojvodina. Belgrade, a little further south, lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers – a city of contrasts, vibrant, and steeped in history. And finally: the Iron Gates. – a spectacular Danube Gorge on the border with Romania, embedded in a UNESCO nature reserve.
Whether as a Danube cruise or a multi-stage cycling tour: The Danube Cycle Path through Serbia is approximately 674 km long. Kilometer-long and part of the international EuroVelo route.
He guides you through nature, past and present – with pauses you can taste.
