Serbia is the heart of the Balkans: a vibrant mix of Belgrade nightlife, centuries-old monasteries, green mountains and a hospitality that makes you feel at home. An authentic, cheap destination that is still far from mass tourism.
Serbia is the geographical and cultural heart of the Balkans, and one of its most underrated destinations. For Latin American travellers it's a great option: you can enter without a visa, it's incredibly cheap, and its capital, Belgrade, has one of the most intense nightlife scenes in Europe, with floating clubs on the Sava and Danube rivers. But Serbia is much more than partying: there are medieval Orthodox monasteries that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, spectacular canyons, green mountains, a winemaking tradition going back thousands of years and a hospitality that makes you feel at home straight away.
The country can be covered well in 5 to 7 days. Belgrade, the capital, is energetic, a bit rough around the edges and great fun. Novi Sad, to the north, is calmer and more elegant, with its Petrovaradin Fortress and the Fruška Gora vineyards right next door. And the west and south hold rural, natural Serbia: the wooden villages of Mokra Gora, the meanders of the Uvac Canyon, the rock formations of Devil's Town and centuries-old monasteries hidden in the forest. The north is flat (the Vojvodina plain) and the south more mountainous.
The best thing about Serbia is its authenticity and its people: warm, proud and very keen to share their culture, their food and their rakija. What's surprising is how untouristy it still is for everything it offers, and the mix of a vibrant, modern capital with a rural interior that seems frozen in time. All of it, on top of that, at some of the lowest prices in Europe.
The local currency is the Serbian dinar (RSD), and it's worth carrying some cash, especially outside the big cities. Cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in Belgrade and Novi Sad, but in villages, markets and on transport it's often cash only. Change money at exchange offices (menjačnica), which usually offer better rates than banks.
Full converter for RSD →Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) is the main gateway, with the Air Serbia network and connections from much of Europe and Istanbul; Niš (INI) handles low-cost flights. The Soko high-speed train links Belgrade with Novi Sad in just over half an hour and continues to Subotica, and it's the only truly modern stretch of the network. For the rest of the country, buses are the real option: Belgrade's bus station has departures to every city and to neighbouring countries. Worth knowing: Belgrade's main train station has moved to Prokop, which is less central than the name suggests. For Tara and the west, rent a car.
The best time to visit Serbia is from May to September, with warm weather ideal for exploring Belgrade and Novi Sad, enjoying the terraces and the rivers, and heading out into nature in the interior. Spring (May-June) and early autumn (September) are perhaps the best: pleasant temperatures, everything green or golden, and less heat than in high summer. Summer (July-August) is hot, especially in Belgrade, but it's when the city's nightlife is at its liveliest and when the big festivals take place.
If you like music, July is EXIT Festival month at Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, one of the biggest events on the continent, which fills the city with people from all over Europe (book well ahead). Autumn brings the grape harvest in wine regions such as Fruška Gora. Winter is cold and grey in the cities, though it has its Christmas charm, and there are affordable ski resorts in mountains such as Kopaonik and Zlatibor.
Serbian cuisine is a feast for meat lovers and goes straight to the Latin American heart with its grilling culture (roštilj). The signature dish is pljeskavica (a kind of giant burger made with spiced meat), along with ćevapi (small grilled sausages) and all kinds of grilled meats, usually served with kajmak (a spreadable dairy cream), ajvar (red pepper relish) and fresh bread. Also try sarma (stuffed cabbage) and gibanica (a filo pastry pie with cheese). Portions are huge.
The national drink is rakija, a fruit brandy (the plum one, šljivovica, is the most typical) that you'll be offered everywhere, with pride. There's also good wine and the ever-present coffee. Eating is incredibly cheap: a street pljeskavica costs around 4 dollars and a full meal in a restaurant is about 6 to 12 dollars (verified July 2026), with beer at around 2 dollars. The usual tip is to round up or leave about 10%.
Serbia is a safe country for tourists, with low crime and very hospitable people; violent crime against travellers is rare. The usual precautions apply: watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas and on Belgrade's public transport, and for taxis that overcharge tourists (use apps or official taxis with a meter, and avoid drivers who approach you at the airport). The nightlife is intense but relaxed; take the same precautions as on any night out. Driving in the interior is straightforward, although some rural roads are in poor condition.
No special vaccinations are required to enter; make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date and ask your doctor about hepatitis A and tetanus. Tap water is considered safe to drink in the cities, although many travellers prefer bottled water in rural areas. Public healthcare is limited, so travel insurance covering private care and repatriation is highly recommended. The general emergency number is 112 (verified July 2026). One note: if your itinerary includes Kosovo, read up on the entry and exit rules, because Serbia does not recognise its independence.
Serbia is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, ideal for Latin American budgets. A frugal backpacker gets by on about 25 to 35 dollars a day, a mid-range budget is around 45 to 60 dollars, and with 70 to 90 you travel very comfortably (verified July 2026). Some concrete references: a hostel dorm bed in Belgrade or Novi Sad costs between 10 and 20 dollars, a full restaurant meal 6 to 12 dollars, a beer about 2 dollars and a street pljeskavica around 4. City transport and intercity buses are very cheap.
The currency is the Serbian dinar (RSD), at roughly 103 dinars to the dollar (verified July 2026). It's worth carrying some cash, especially outside the big cities; cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in Belgrade and Novi Sad, but in villages, markets and on transport it's often cash only. Change money at exchange offices (menjačnica), which usually offer better rates than banks. All figures are guidelines and may vary by season.
The official language is Serbian, a Slavic language that officially uses the Cyrillic alphabet, although the Latin alphabet is also very common, so you'll see both everywhere. English is widely spoken among young people and in the tourism sector in Belgrade and Novi Sad, less so in the interior; Spanish is hardly heard, although Serbs tend to have a soft spot for Latin America (the telenovelas left their mark!). Learning to read a bit of Cyrillic helps with signs. The country is mostly Orthodox Christian, and the Church carries a lot of weight in national identity.
Dress normally; to enter Orthodox churches and monasteries, cover your shoulders and legs out of respect. Plugs are the European type C/F with two round pins at 230V, so bring an adapter. For connectivity, buy a local SIM (A1, Telenor/Yettel, mts) for very little or use an eSIM; 4G works very well. Two practical tips: accept the rakija you're offered (it's a gesture of hospitality), and be tactful when talking about politics, the wars of the 90s or Kosovo, which are still very sensitive topics.
Few European countries carry as dense a memory as Serbia. At the crossroads of Central Europe and the Balkans, between the Byzantine and Ottoman worlds, between East and West, this land was a frontier of empires for more than two thousand years. A Roman emperor was born here, a medieval empire of its own flourished here, a battle was fought here that became a national myth, and in the 20th century the spark that set off the First World War was struck, without anyone realising it, by a hand from these lands. To understand Serbia is to understand why the Balkans were called the powder keg of Europe, both rightly and unfairly.
This is a story of splendour and defeat, of monasteries covered in frescoes and cities under bombardment, of a people who lost their state for almost five centuries and rebuilt it from scratch. It is also a difficult story, with chapters that still hurt and are still argued over: the wars of the 1990s, Kosovo, the crimes committed and suffered. We tell it with facts, dates and sources, without euphemisms or flags, because that is the only way to travel to Serbia with your eyes open and a clear head.
Read the full history of Serbia →Pick a region and open each destination to see what to do, prices and how to get there.
These are the sources we cite most across this country's guides, with how many times each appears. Hard data —tickets, opening hours, requirements, transport— comes from the official source and carries the date we checked it. Restaurant and hotel picks come from guides and reviews, and we say so on each page.
