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We could mention the centuries of culture oozing from ornately orthodox churches, medieval monasteries, imposing fortresses and art nouveau architecture. Or its plentiful and delicious food, the warm hospitality and curiosity of its people, the frenetic city nightlife and the kick of the national drink rakija. Serbia’s all that. But what really makes Serbia your next must-visit destination is its magnificent scenery and its sheer ‘undiscovered-ness’.
It’s simply gorge-ous for walkers
Get your hiking boots on. Serbia has some of the best walking country in Europe – and some of the most spectacular gorges east of Arizona. The huge 100km-long ‘Iron Gates’ gorge in Djerdap National Park channels the mighty Danube through towering cliffs. Contrast that with the lazy bends of the Uvac River gorge – prime territory for spotting vultures – and the forested slopes and deep ravines of Tara National Park. All this unspoilt scenery, from the rolling plains in the north to the high mountains east, west and south, is criss-crossed with hundreds of kilometres of marked and wild tracks while more than 60 overnight trail huts are dotted around to welcome weary walkers.
Bikers’ Paradise
Bikers – whether roadrunning cyclists or mountain downhillers – will find Serbia has new delights over every peak and round every bend. There’s the 1,000+ km of the Danube Bike Trail, which follows the stunning big river scenery as its wends its way from the Hungarian border to its exit into Bulgaria, there are the rough and ready trails of Stara Planina and the steeper slopes of Mt Kopaonik or Zlatibor. Head south to Mt Radan and the mountain tracks will even deliver you to the devil – in the naturally wonderful shape of the 200 earth and stone towers of Djavolja Varos (Devil’s Town).
You can go wet’n’wild
With so much untamed territory, it’s little surprise that Serbia is also a mecca for watersports lovers. The powerful Drina River in Tara National Park, as well as the Lim, Uvac and Ibar offer white-water rafting thrills and spills, especially in the spring, when the torrents flow faster with the melt from the mountain snows. Meanwhile, the wide waters of the Danube are ideal for kayakers, sailors, and boat-trippers – a pleasure that’s not confined to Serbia’s wild places as urban paddlers can also explore the Danube from Novi Sad or Sava and Danube from Belgrade.
Take to the air or dig deep for adventure
Serbia has a love affair with the air – visitors can try everything from tandem skydives, to paragliding, gliding and even hot-air ballooning, and with such wonderful scenery spread out beneath you, it’s a breathtaking way to see the sights. In complete contrast, Serbia also has some 4,000 caves – and from the epic caverns of Homolje to the more intense Ušac caves, this is a spelunker’s paradise.
It’s just as beautiful in winter
As recently as thirty years ago Mt Kopaonik’s black runs were firmly on the Brit skier’s radar as a good-value alternative to the Alps. And the mountain – one of Serbia’s most beautiful – is again out to lure skiers to its 70km of pistes overlooking the Serbia-Kosovo border, its 200 days of sunshine per year, snow cover from November to May and a thrilling new snow park. Or if your thing is more climbing up mountains than skiing down them, Serbia has many a peak to make a climber’s heart beat faster…
To find out more go to serbia.travel
