Serbia is a safe and welcoming country. Flat plains and the tranquil monasteries provide an effective antidote to urban chaos. This is a land of lush rolling hills and valleys brushing up against rugged mountains, medieval monasteries and mountains provide snow fun in winter and glorious hiking in summer. With its amazing cultural offers, nightlife, restaurants and outdoor activities, you might want to prepare yourself for some sleepless nights!

Places to see

Belgrade is the capital city of Serbia. It is not the most beautiful city, but it has more than enough to offer its tourists – from restaurants to bookshops, to galleries and shops full of pretty things. Belgraders love to shop and party and it seems like no one ever works! Belgrade's ultimate appeal is its nightlife. There is always another place to go to - underground clubs, apartment bars, and floating bars and clubs on the rivers. Cheap food and drink, plus a distinctive national cuisine, make for a host of decent restaurants bursting with lively eaters. When it all gets too much, there are places to escape to and relax. Ada Ciganlija swarms with swimmers during hot summer days, and the nearby park has forests to walk in.

Kopaonik is Serbia’s prime ski resort, it is great for those looking for snow fun without the glamour. It has prices to match and a rather long season. Ski runs, served by 22 lifts, a total of 44km in length and range from nursery slopes to difficult, they are also linked to 20km of cross-country runs. The ski season runs from the end of November to the end of March, or even early April.

Novi Sad is best described as “the capital city at a much more sedated pace”. A variety of interesting cafés, bars, museums, pedestrian streets, the monasteries and vineyards are what you can expect. In July, the town explodes with a flood of festivalgoers, who troop in for the annual Exit Festival.

Climate

The north has a continental climate with relatively cold winters and hot summers. The upland regions have hot, dry summers and cold winters, while the mountain areas have heavy snowfalls. The ski season is generally from December to March.

General info

Getting around in Serbia is easy, because there are so many modes of transport one could use. Busses, cars, trains and motorcycles are the most convenient. Euros are widely accepted, but remember: ATM’s are not found in every town. Traveling in and around Serbia is a safe experience. Some annoyances include smokers in public places. 'No smoking' signs are regularly ignored. Check with the police before photographing any official building they are guarding.

Soccer in Serbia

On 4 December 2009, Serbia was drawn into group D of the FIFA World Cup. They will be playing their first match against Ghana on 13 June 2010, followed by Germany on 18 June 2010, and in the last group match will face Australia on 23 June 2010. The nickname of the Serbian soccer team is the “White Eagles” or Beli Orlovi. Their current FIFA ranking stands at 19. Red, blue and white are their national playing colours, these are also the three colours represented in Serbia’s national flag.

Words: Anzél van der Mescht

About the author: Anzel is currently completing her internship with Hallo Crazy World and Hola Cape Town. She loves the colour purple, laughing, writing and singing loudly. When she travels, she prefers to keep it local, because she hates aeroplanes. Although she has a fear of flying she has travelled to places such as England, Wales, Prague, Germany and Egypt. Her motto in life is "no regrets, only lessons learnt" and she stresses that being young should be an adventure!