Belgrade, large cities - Subotica, Novi Sad, Nis.

Telephone code:

Direct flight:

no, a transplant is required

Official language:

Serbian

Time difference with Minsk:

2 hours behind

not needed, you can stay in the country for up to 30 days

Currency unit:

Dinar/RSD (1 dinar = 100 pair), 1 EUR = ~84 RSD, 1 USD = ~54.3 RSD

Description

If you decided to spend your holidays in Serbia, then you did a good choice. These lands will have something to surprise you with. Variety of reliefs, richness flora, an abundance of balneological springs - all this is Serbia.

And here you will find many ancient and outstanding monuments of architecture, history, culture and - most importantly - the amazing hospitality, friendliness and sincerity of the Serbs and Montenegrins.

The country is divided into 2 regions - Serbia and Montenegro. This Administrative division coincides with the natural: Serbia is plains and lowlands, Croatia is mostly hills and mountains. Both are interesting and beautiful.

Regarding climatic conditions these areas are generally characterized by warm summers and mild winters, with the plains having slightly warmer summers than the mountains, and the Adriatic coast, to which Serbia has access, providing weather similar to the Mediterranean.

If you want to get the most out of your trip and get to know this country from all sides, you need to be ready to take action and not be lazy about moving from place to place. After all, every corner of Serbia is rich in attractions, and they are all different and each is worthy of attention.

But whatever travel route you choose, be sure to get to know the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. Belgrade is a city with a history dating back about three thousand years. In any case, a settlement existed in this place already 3 thousand years ago.

Today's Belgrade creates a feeling of an original interweaving of the culture of the West and the East. The Serbs calculated that their capital was razed to the ground 39 times, and each time, like a phoenix, it rose from the ashes, becoming even better.

In the south relative to the capital (approximately 300 km from it) stretches mountain range called Kapaonik. Be sure to visit these mountains.

In addition to the fact that they represent hundreds of kilometers of luxuriously sparkling snow slopes and mountain peaks, here it is national reserve with untouched nature and fresh air.

But the main thing is that Kapaonik is an excellent ski resort, both accessible for a novice skier and interesting for an experienced athlete.

Road

From Minsk to Belgrade You can get there by plane, but there are no direct flights; you can get there with a transfer on flights of airlines and. Since transfers are made in European cities, a Schengen transit visa will be required.

From Moscow to Belgrade Aeroflot and JAT Airways operate regular flights; flight time is approximately 3 hours.

By train to Belgrade from Minsk you can go through Sofia or Budapest, but this will require a Schengen visa. From Moscow there is a interchange carMoscow - Belgrade, travel time 50 hours, the route passes through the territory of Hungary, a Hungarian transit visa is required to travel.

From Nikola Tesla Airport to Belgrade can be reached by JAT Airways branded buses, which run every hour from 6 am to 10 pm. They will deliver to Slavia Square, which is located in the city center. The fare is 200 dinars (about 3.5 dollars).

City bus No. 72 leaves the airport every half hour to the city center with all stops; the journey takes about an hour. The fare is 20 dinars (about 0.3 dollars).

Map of Serbia. Resorts, cities and regions on the map

Where to call if necessary

Embassy of Serbia in the Republic of Belarus:

Minsk, Surganova st., 29-A, phone: +37529 239 39 90

Embassy of Belarus in Serbia: Belgrade, st. Deligradska 13, phone: +381 11 3616938

Inquiry Office: 998

Tourist information: 987

Emergency services: police - 92, fire - 93, ambulance - 94

Public transport and taxis

Railway transport Serbia represented by the main line that runs from Subotica through Novi Sad, Belgrade, Nis, Pristina and further to Macedonia, the schedule is very convenient and trains run constantly. Another line - from Belgrade to the coast Adriatic Sea, which is very picturesque.

Trains are divided into four classes: “ekspresni” (express), “poslovic” (fast), “brzi” (high-speed) and “putnicki” (passenger). Prices vary, but they are all not high.

In summer, it is worth taking care of your ticket in advance and reserving it a few days before your trip.

Public transport in cities of Serbia is represented mostly by an outdated fleet of buses. You can buy a travel ticket at any newsstand or from the driver (the driver is twice as expensive).

Taxi in Serbia quite inexpensive and very convenient way moving around the city, but can cause unpleasant troubles, since taxi drivers try to deceive tourists. It makes sense to monitor the road using a GPS navigator. It is better to order a taxi by phone, in which case the trip will cost 10-20% cheaper.

When stopping a car on the street, you should either agree on the cost of the trip in advance, or make sure that the driver turns on the meter.

Where to stay

Serbia's hotels have long been in decline due to the war and the country's international isolation. Therefore, many hotels in Serbia are going through an intermediate stage on the way from old-style “Yugoslav” hotels to European-level hotels. Hotels in Serbia are also represented by a system of roadside motels, which offer reasonable prices and quality service.

Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets and plugs of the “European” type, with grounding. IN rural areas Often you come across connectors of the old type - round two-pin, without grounding.

Power outages are quite common in Serbia, especially from November to April.

National cuisine

Serbian cuisine is varied. The cheapest snack itself is Balkan burek, layer cake with cheese or meat and krompirus, which is the same burek, only with potatoes.

It’s also worth trying the ground peppered meat, in Serbian this dish is called cevapchichi And Duvech- pork cutlet with peppers, tomatoes and rice, cooked in the oven. Popular dishes local cuisine are moussaka- eggplants and tomatoes with layers of ground meat, cabbage rolls sarma And kapama- lamb drenched in yoghurt, stewed with onions and salad.

Popular drinks: beer, grape brandy and strong Turkish coffee, which is brewed in small cezves.

Dangers

The security situation in the country is ambiguous. The police are trying to suppress all manifestations of hostility towards tourists, but cases of petty fraud occur quite often, especially tourists should beware of deception in the foreign exchange market, as well as pickpockets who often “work” at the airport, in public institutions and places large cluster people.

You should not carry valuables, documents and large sums of money with you; it is better to avoid remote areas of cities after dark.

Visa

Belarusians do not need a visa to visit Serbia; they can stay in the country for up to 30 days.

Customs

Persons over 16 years of age are allowed to import up to a liter of wine and spirits, as well as up to 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco, 250 ml of cologne or 100 ml of perfume.

It is prohibited to import drugs, poisons, psychotropic and explosive substances, gold in raw form and in coins, weapons and ammunition, as well as pesticides into Serbia.

Items of historical, cultural and artistic value can only be exported with the permission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. economic ties Serbia.

The import and export of foreign currency is not limited, declaration is not required. Export of foreign currency without declaration is possible if the amount is within 2000 euros.

Hunting weapons are allowed to be imported only upon application from the Serbian Hunters Association

Weather forecast

Climate of Serbia temperate continental, summers are warm, average temperature up to +30C, winters snowy and mild, average temperature - 8C.

Best time to visit Serbia: period from May to September-October.

Sea and sun

Beaches in Serbia varied, there is both fine sand and milky small pebbles, which are somewhat reminiscent of buckwheat; at some resorts there are also artificial beaches, which are a concrete platform.

Diversity is not limited to coastal features. here you can find crowded and secluded beaches for textile workers and nudists, paid and free, most of them are located in bays sheltered from the wind and waves between steep cliffs.

Car rental

Rent a car in Serbia It’s very simple, for this you need an international driving license, pay a deposit for the car and be over 21 years old.

There is a tax for using the two motorways: about 7 euros for the section from the Hungarian border to Belgrade and 35 euros from Belgrade to the Bulgarian border. The tax is collected at the motorway exit. All other roads are free and are often not in the best condition.

Money

You can change money at exchange offices, which are open every weekday from 7:00 to 16:00. You can also change currency at bank branches, train stations and airports.

In the center of Belgrade, as well as in resort areas, many currency exchange offices are also open on weekends.

Shopping

The most popular souvenir from Serbia is gingerbread hearts. It is believed that the most delicious heart-shaped gingerbreads are made in Sombor; in this place, the tradition of making painted gingerbread has existed for more than 100 years.

Shaikacha is the national headdress of Serbia, which is always green. Its top part looks like the letter "V" or like the bottom of a boat when you look at it from above.

Opantsi– traditional Serbian shoes with slightly upturned toes. They are always made by hand and from genuine leather. There are both real opantsi that you can wear and souvenir ones from 2 to 12 centimeters.

Jugs with dried plums another popular souvenir from Serbia. These jugs, which in themselves can be a wonderful souvenir, contain the most delicious dried plums in the world.

Basil bags hand-embroidered by Serbian craftswomen, since ancient times it has been believed that such bags are a strong talisman.

Kolubara lace handmade using Irish crochet techniques. Lace is woven from the finest threads and is used as a clothing accessory. or as tablecloths, napkins, curtains.

The traditional alcoholic souvenir drink from Serbia is considered rakia, this is an analogue of brandy, made from different varieties of fruit. The most popular type of rakia is slivovitz.

Stores in Serbia open from 9.00 to 21.00 with a lunch break from 12.00 to 16.00. Large shopping centers usually work from 6.00-7.00 to 21.00, and in resort areas and major cities There are also 24-hour shops.

Tips

In restaurants and taxis in Serbia, it is customary to leave 10% of the bill.

Features of the country and nation

Serbs are considered to be somewhat more reserved and stern than Montenegrins. However, in order to notice these features, you will probably have to come here with obvious prejudice towards the Serbian people, so zealously supported in the West recently.

The fate of the Serbs is tragic and heroic at the same time. Suffice it to say that not a single war that has swept across the European continent over the past two millennia has spared this small country, several times smaller than, for example, Switzerland, which has not been at war with anyone for 600 years. Therefore, one should not be surprised that the residents of Serbia are indeed ardent nationalists, and they do not hide it. However, their nationalism is completely different from what is sometimes used to be described in terrible propaganda about the Balkan wars. This is a healthy and centuries-won feeling of national self-sufficiency, pride in one’s history and the deeds of one’s ancestors, as well as bitterness for the centuries-old genocide of the Serbs and the narrow-mindedness of some politicians, including our own, Serbian ones.

But in general, they are the same hospitable and open people as most South Slavic tribes. The Serbs also sacredly honor their culture, like the Montenegrins, for centuries they also rely on the main stronghold of their nation - the Serbian Orthodox Church, they also love to set the table, receive guests and organize all kinds of festivities, eat the same dishes and even speak almost the same language, as well as the rest of the peoples of the former Yugoslavia. Even young Serbs know the history of their country at the level of a professional historian, and excursions to memorable places will be carried out no worse than an experienced guide.

Serbia ranks 113th in the world in terms of area (88,361 sq. km.). Serbia is bordered in the north by Hungary, in the northeast by Romania, in the east by Bulgaria, in the south by former Yugoslav Macedonia, in the southwest by Albania and Montenegro, in the west by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The length of its borders is 2,027 km (with Romania 476 km, with Bulgaria 318 km, with Macedonia 221 km, with Montenegro 203 km, with Albania 115 km, with Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, with Croatia 241 km, with Hungary 151 km). There are 6,167 registered settlements in Serbia, of which 207 are urban. Arable lands occupy 19,194 km2, forests - 19,499 km2 (excluding Kosovo).

Extreme points - Northern: 46°11` N. (near Hajdukovo), South: 41°52` N (near Dragash in Kosovo), East: 23°01` E. (Hayfield, near Dimitrovgrad), Western: 18°51` E. (near Bezdan in Vojvodina). 80 percent of Serbia's territory is located on the Balkan Peninsula, 20 percent is occupied by the Pannonian Lowland. The length of the borders is 2,027 km (with Romania - 476 km, with Bulgaria - 318 km, with Macedonia - 221 km, with Montenegro - 203 km, with Albania - 115 km, with Bosnia and Herzegovina - 302 km, with Croatia - 241 km , with Hungary - 151 km).

The north of Serbia is dominated by plains. 15 mountains of Serbia have an altitude of more than 2,000 meters above sea level. There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. The Dinaric Highlands occupies a large area in the west, stretching from northwest to southeast. Stara Planina and the East Serbian Mountains are in the east, separated from the Dinaric Highlands by the Morava River. In the south there are ancient mountains - part of the Rilo-Rhodope system. Highest point Serbia - Mount Jeravica (2656 meters)

Relief of Serbia

The relief of Serbia is varied. Vojvodina has fertile plains. In the southeast there are ancient mountains. Central Serbia is dominated by hills and low mountains.

Mountains occupy most of Central Serbia and Kosovo. There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. The Dinaric Highlands occupies a large area in the west, stretching from northwest to southeast. Stara Planina and the East Serbian Mountains are in the east, separated from the Dinaric Highlands by the Morava River. In the south there are ancient mountains - part of the Rilo-Rhodope system. The highest point in Serbia is Mount Djeravica (2656 m)

Inland waters of Serbia

Most of Serbia (81,646 km2, 92.4%) belongs to the Danube basin, the length of which in Serbia is 588 km. 5% - to the Adriatic Sea basin, 3% - to the basin Aegean Sea. The length of the Danube in Serbia is 588 km, along which the border with Romania and Croatia passes. The main tributaries of the Danube in Serbia are the Tisza (flowing from the north), the Sava (from the west), the Drina (from the south, natural border with Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Morava (from the south, entirely within Serbia).

Statistical indicators of Serbia
(as of 2012)

In addition to the Danube, navigable rivers are the Sava (206 km), Tisza (168 km), Begej (75 km), and the Great Morava (3 km out of 185 km) and Tamis (3 km out of 101 km) are partially navigable. Other large rivers- Western Morava (308 km), South Morava (295 km), Ibar (272 km), Drina (220 km) and Timok (202 km). Part of southern Serbia belongs to the basin of the Beli Drim and Radik rivers (4.771 km, 5.4%), which flow into the Adriatic. Pchinya river basins. Lepenac and Dragovistica belong to the Aegean Sea basin. A number of artificial canals have also been built in Serbia, which are used for flood protection, irrigation, etc. Their total length is 939.2 km, of which 385.9 km are used for navigation of ships with a tonnage of up to 1000 tons. The largest system The channels are Danube-Tisza-Danube. The largest lake in Serbia is Lake Djerdap. The largest natural lake- White Lake. Most big Island Serbia is located on the Danube near Kostolets. There are also waterfalls in Serbia, the largest is Jelovarnik (71 meters), it is located in national park Kopaonik.

Abundance of relatively unpolluted surface waters and many underground natural sources mineral waters makes it possible to export and economic development. However, the widespread use and production of bottled water has only recently begun. Serbia has great geothermal potential.

Natural lakes in Serbia are small and rare. Most of them are located in Vojvodina. But there are many reservoirs in Serbia. The largest of them are Djerdap on the Danube and Perucac on the Drina.

Climate of Serbia

In Serbia it is temperate continental, on the Adriatic coast it is Mediterranean. IN central regions countries are always somewhat cooler than on the coast, and the influence of subalpine factors is more noticeable. In the coastal region, summers are usually long, hot (+23-25 ​​C) and quite dry, winters are short and cool (+3-7 C). In mountainous areas there are moderately warm summers (+19-25 C) and relatively cold winters (from +5 to -10 C), abounding in snow. Precipitation falls from 500 to 1500 mm per year, mainly in the form of rain; in the mountains near the sea coast, in some places over 3000 mm falls.

The best time to visit the country is from May to September-October. The tourist season usually begins in April and lasts until November. The sea temperature for seven months ranges from +20 C to +26 C, so the swimming season is equal in duration to the tourist season.

Serbia is located on the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by warm seas- Adriatic, Aegean and Black. To the north of Serbia is the European continent. Another important factor determining the Serbian climate is the topography. Serbia has a continental climate in the north, temperate continental in the south and mountain climate in mountain areas Winters in Serbia are short, cold and snowy, summers are warm. The coldest month is January, the warmest is July. average temperature- 10.9° C. Average annual precipitation - 896 mm. Rain falls most often in June and May.

The strongest winds are: Košava (cold and dry wind in the north of the country), Severac (cold and dry north wind), Moravac (cold and dry north wind blowing in the Morava river valley), South wind (warm and dry south wind blowing in the Morava River valley). South-westerly wind (warm and humid, blows from the Adriatic mainly in the West of Serbia).

Flora and fauna of Serbia

Very rich in plant and animal world. Four-fifths of the forest area is deciduous and one-fifth is coniferous. Within Serbia live bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, hares, wild goats, fallow deer, mouflons, lynxes, deer, martens, chamois... The bird world is also diverse: of the 666 species of birds found in Europe, 508 species live in Serbia, and among them are eagles, falcons, pheasants, partridges, wild ducks, marsh snipe and other wading birds. Rivers, lakes, canals, ponds abound different types fish: carp, pike perch, sturgeon, catfish, sterlet, pike, trout, mackerel...

Population of Serbia

Population - 7.82 million people (in 2008) (in 1991 - 9.79 million people); including: in Central Serbia - 5.82 million, in Vojvodina - 2 million. 52% of the population lives in cities.

During the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991-1995, several hundred thousand refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina arrived in Serbia. In 1999, there was a large wave of emigration of Albanians from Kosovo, and in 2000-2001 - the emigration of Kosovo Serbs. The population is dominated by Serbs (62 percent) and Albanians (17 percent). Montenegrins (5 percent), Hungarians (3 percent) and a number of national minorities also live in Serbia. Before the outbreak of hostilities in 1999, Serbs made up 85 percent of the population in Serbia proper, 54 percent in Vojvodina, and 13 percent in Kosovo; Hungarians and Croats are large minorities in Vojvodina.

The official language of the country is Serbian. Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Ruthenian languages ​​are also used in Vojvodina. In Kosovo and Metohija the official languages ​​are Serbian and Albanian.

According to the 2002 census, excluding Kosovo: Orthodox - 6,371,584 people. (85.0% of the population), Catholics - 410,976 people. (5.5% of the population), Muslims - 239,658 people. (3.2%), Protestants - 80,837 people. (1.1% of the population). Jehovah's Witnesses - 3871 people. (0.05% of the population) according to 2009 data.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/

Fraternal Serbia offers effective treatment for mineral resorts at very competitive prices, good skiing at an equally attractive price and interesting sights. Ancient Belgrade and the blue Danube - all about Serbia: tours, hotels, maps.

• Tours for May to Serbia
• Last minute tours to Serbia

Serbia can hardly be called a “promoted” destination, but in one type of tourism it can already easily give a head start to many countries. We are talking about health tours: local resorts are rightfully considered one of the best in Europe in terms of quantity and combination therapeutic factors. At the same time, they have quite modern equipment and set extremely moderate prices for their services by “average European” standards. Other advantages of Serbia for tourism: good nature, mild climate, ample opportunities for hunting and fishing and a good historical “excursion”.

Modestly peeking over the shoulders of its more popular skiing neighbors in Europe, winter Serbia attracts today's discerning tourist low prices, close flight and Slavic soul. The condition of the slopes cannot be determined unambiguously - rather, the optimistic phrase “he will try” comes to mind. And the country is really trying its best: new tracks appear every year, as well as “adult features” like night skiing. Another plus is that the prices are extremely affordable. ski schools with Russian-speaking instructors.

Regions and resorts of Serbia

Time difference from Moscow

− 2 hours in summer −1 hour

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• from Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

The northern regions of Serbia are dominated by a continental climate: summers here are hot (average temperatures are +23...+25 °C, sometimes the air warms up to a barely bearable +35...+40 °C), winters are long and cold (usually In total, the thermometer drops to −1...−2 °C, but frosts down to −25 °C also occur). Climate in southern regions- moderately continental, in mountainous areas - correspondingly mountainous.

The best time to travel to Serbia is late spring, early autumn and summer months. Season on ski resorts officially lasts from December 8 (in fact, you can conquer the slopes already in November) until mid-March.

The warmest month is July, the coldest month is January, the most precipitation falls in May-June. The main weather feature of Serbia is constant winds: in the off-season, bone-chilling Košava and dry Severac blow in the north, cold Moravac and warm southern winds blow in the Morava River valley, and humid southwestern currents from the Adriatic in the western regions.

Communications and Wi-Fi

The top 3 Serbian mobile operators are Telekom Serbia, VIP Mobile and Telenor. A SIM card can be purchased at company offices, press stands, post offices and some stores, but it should be borne in mind that it may take an hour or even more to activate it. They also sell express payment cards, which are the most convenient way to top up your balance.

The operator Telecom Serbia has a tariff for tourists Super Tourist SIM for 1800 RSD with 30 prepaid minutes of international calls.

From payphones installed on the streets major cities, you can call both within Serbia and to other countries of the world. Payphones accept Halo Kartitsa cards worth 300 RSD; calls with local subscribers cost 1.20 RSD, with Russia - 24.50 RSD per minute.

Free Wi-Fi is available in many hotels, restaurants, libraries and other public places. Internet cafes are open in big cities, and in Belgrade parks you can find benches marked with blue flowers that provide free access to the Internet.

Hotels in Serbia

Information desk: 998, tourist information: 987, police: 92, fire brigade: 93, ambulance: 94

City codes: Belgrade - 11, Novi Sad - 21, Subotica - 24, Nis - 18.

Travel to Serbia

Beaches of Serbia

The swimming season in Serbia starts in mid-June, when the water in the rivers warms up to +20 °C. You can sunbathe and swim until the beginning of October, until the harsh “koshava” and “severac” blow. The most popular beaches are located right in the capital. The Ada Peninsula of Ciganlija also attracts adherents of calm family vacation, and fans of water activities. The water here, by the way, is the cleanest: dams with filters connected to the right bank of the Sava form an artificial lake surrounded by beaches with sand and pebbles. Admission is free, all amenities are on site. There are special areas with shallow water for children, and for adults there are sports grounds, cafes and bars, and equipment rental points.

The Blue Flag guarantees the cleanliness and safety of the coast of Ada Ciganliya.

The Lido beach in the Zemun area is not so crowded: swimming here is not recommended, but sunbathing, playing volleyball and relaxing in coastal bars is welcome.

Another great place for a summer holiday is Novi Sad on the banks of the Danube. This is a resort with a rich history, which became fashionable among European bohemians at the beginning of the last century. Today, the Strand beach has a luxurious shady garden and developed infrastructure (from showers and toilets to restaurants serving Balkan cuisine). You can diversify the cultural program with fun at the numerous festivals that are regularly held in the city.

Diving

Serbia is landlocked, but if you wish, you can dive in the waters of the Danube or large lakes. Almost all European fish species are found here: bream, minnows, carp, catfish, all kinds of sturgeon. At the bottom of the Danube there are wrecks from the Second World War, but diving to them can only be done under the guidance of certified instructors who know the area. Underwater caves are even more dangerous: they have been practically unexplored, and even experienced divers still do not risk swimming there. There are several diving schools open in Belgrade and other Serbian cities, where you can rent equipment, book a guided underwater excursion and get all the necessary recommendations.

Treatment in Serbia

Not only doctors, but also nature itself take care of the health of guests of Serbian resorts. About a thousand mineral springs, healing mud, clean air and mild climate - everything you need for harmony of body and spirit. Of course, doctors also work “excellently”: numerous hotels and sanatoriums offer effective physiotherapy and spa techniques developed for patients with any diagnosis. And, what’s especially nice, prices for treatment in Serbia are more than moderate compared to average European prices.

What to bring

It is better to bring handicrafts from Serbia: if you try hard, you can find truly unique items in local shops. Ceramic vases, pots and whistles, loom-woven scarves and shawls, dolls in national costumes, patterned brandy flasks, knitted sweaters and socks - Balkan craftsmen know how to surprise tourists. Just for fun, you can buy elements of a traditional costume: “opantsy” bast shoes with curved toes or “shaikachi” caps. Much more practical purchases are handmade leather shoes and accessories: the quality and design are beyond praise.

You can’t leave hospitable Serbia without some goodies: rakia fruit vodka, Pelinkovac wormwood liqueur, herbal tea, ajvar vegetable caviar and plum jam.

Cuisine and restaurants of Serbia

Accustomed to being at the center of European events, Serbs boldly mix the gastronomic traditions of different cultures: Slavic and German, Turkish and Mediterranean. All the treats are simple and incredibly tasty, with the addition of aromatic spices and kaymak milk - specially fermented and lightly salted.

Traditional first courses are liquid “soup” broth and rich “chorba”. For the main course, you should try pork sausages “čevapčiči”, chopped cutlets “pljeskavici”, chops “veshalitsy” and skewered pork “cookies” (not to be confused with flour products!). Ideal combinations of meat and vegetables are “Dzhuvech” stew with tomatoes and an analogue of cabbage rolls “Sarma” with minced meat and rice. The most original dishes are dried prosciutto legs, stewed kapama lamb with salad and yoghurt, and the finest steak Karadjordjeva schnitzel. The fish is used to prepare fish soup “riblya chorba”, trout with prunes and carp in cream. Instead of fast food, there are all kinds of pastries: puff “bureks” with fillings, thin “pita” pies and “priganice” donuts.

Serbs have a special passion for spicy dishes, which is why “feferoni” peppers are a side dish for almost every meal.

It is better to get acquainted with authentic Serbian cuisine in traditional kafanas - establishments with live music, simple interiors and a relaxed atmosphere. In small towns there are many family restaurants, offering regional treats based on ancient recipes. In Belgrade, eateries with experimental cuisine are opening more and more often: this is where the chef’s imagination can run wild. Lunch for two in a standard cafe will cost from 1200-1300 RSD, a snack in fast food - from 450-550 RSD, dinner with alcohol in good restaurant- from 2000-3000 RSD.

Guides in Serbia

Entertainment and attractions: Art Nouveau, Romanticism, Renaissance and Academicism are mixed here, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops are located in beautiful mansions. The most spectacular royal residences are the snow-white Median. The latter is located in the eastern part of the country, on the border with Romania, and is notable for its incredible views, the site of the Mesolithic hunters Lepenski Vir, the ancient Trajan's Bridge and the medieval Golubac Fortress. Local wildlife - bears, lynxes, wolves, black storks and many others.

Kopaonik National Park in the southwestern part of Central Serbia is home to wolves, wild boars, roe deer, foxes, hares, stoats and wolverines, and there are as many as 148 species of birds. The western reserve "Tara" is inhabited by Brown bear, chamois, roe deer, lynx, otter and more than 100 species of birds, including the golden eagle, griffon vulture, peregrine falcon, Eurasian eagle owl and black grouse. In the Fruska Gora National Park, under the shade of deciduous forests, deer and roe deer frolic and many birds nest, including white and black storks, imperial eagle, balaban and black kite.

Holidays and Events

January 1 - New Year, aka New Year: Serbian Father Frost Bozic Bata puts gifts for children in a special stocking hidden under the tree. January 5th is the Tutsindan folk holiday, when lambs and piglets are slaughtered for the Christmas table. The next day, on Christmas Eve Badnidan, men go to the forest for badnyak - an oak log, a mandatory attribute of the main family celebration, and women prepare “pechenitsa”, pies and other delicacies. On January 7, Christmas, all this is eaten with pleasure.

January 9 - Republic Day, February 15 - Statehood Day in honor of the country's first uprising in 1804. March 22 - Babies: time for cleaning, burning garbage, jumping over fires and exchanging honey pies. The main festivities of spring are the Annunciation and Easter: church services take place from the very morning, eggs and wine are displayed on the tables, and in the evening mass festivities begin with “kolo” round dances. May 1, like ours, is Labor Day, May 9 is Victory Day. May 6 - Djurdjevdan, honoring St. George and symbolizing the boundary between winter and summer. June 28 - Vidovdan in memory of the Great Martyr Lazar.

August 2 - Elijah's Day: by eating corn, melon, fresh honey and boiled nettle, you can ensure your health for the year ahead.

Autumn is time public holidays: October 20 - Belgrade Liberation Day, October 29 - Constitution Day, November 11 - Armistice Day in the First World War.

Serbia can be considered a kind of “crossroads” of Europe. The shortest roads running through this country connect Western Europe and the Middle East. A large number of national parks, mountains, and rivers make Serbia great place For active rest. However, in Serbia there is also a large number of unique attractions and several popular balneological resorts.

Geography of Serbia

Serbia is located at the junction of Central and South-Eastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. In the north, Serbia borders with Hungary, in the east with Romania and Bulgaria, in the south with Macedonia, and in the west with Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro. total area this Balkan country – 88,361 sq. km, and the total length state border– 2,397 km.

The autonomous region of Vojvodina occupies the Pannonian Plain, and the rest of Serbia includes the Dinaric Alps, the East Serbian Mountains, and Carpathian mountains and Stara Planina. The most high peak in Serbia - Mount Djeravica (2,656 m).

The Danube, the longest river in this country, flows through the entire territory of Serbia. The largest tributaries of the Danube are the Sava and Tisza.

Capital

The capital of Serbia is Belgrade, which is now home to more than 1.2 million people. Historians believe that the first settlements on the site of modern Belgrade were founded by Celtic tribes.

Official language

The official language in Serbia is Serbian, which belongs to the South Slavic subgroup of the Slavic group of Indo-European languages.

Religion

More than 82% of the population of Serbia are Orthodox Christians (Greek Catholic Church). Another 5% of Serbs consider themselves Catholics, and 2% consider themselves Muslims.

State structure of Serbia

According to the 2006 Constitution, Serbia is a parliamentary republic. The President is elected by direct universal suffrage. Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Parliament, which has 250 deputies.

Main political parties in Serbia – “Serbian Progressive Party”, “Democratic Party of Serbia”, and “Socialist Party”.

Climate and weather in Serbia

The climate of Serbia is influenced by Atlantic Ocean, Adriatic Sea, and various mountain systems. In the north of the country the climate is continental with hot, humid summers and cold winters, and in the south it is temperate continental, with elements of a Mediterranean climate. The average air temperature in July is +22C, and in January – about 0C. The average monthly precipitation is about 55 mm.

Average air temperature in Belgrade:

• January – -3C
• February - -2C
• March - +2C
• April - +7C
• May - +12C
• June - +15C
• July - +17C
• August - +17C
• September - +13C
• October - +8C
• November - +4C
• December – 0C

Rivers and lakes

The Danube, the longest river in this country, flows through the entire territory of Serbia. It has tributaries Sava, Tisa, and Begey. In addition, there are other rivers in Serbia - the Great Morava, Tamis, Western Morava, Drina, Ibar, South Morava, Timok and Radik.

There are several large natural and artificial lakes in Serbia - Lake Djerdap, White Lake, Palic, Borsko, Srebrno, Zlatarsko, etc.

History of Serbia

The Slavs settled on the territory of modern Serbia in the 17th century AD. After some time, Serbia came under power Byzantine Empire. In the middle of the 10th century, an independent Slavic principality was formed in western Serbia.

In 1170, the Nemanjić dynasty began to rule in western Serbia. In 1217, the Pope presented the crown to King Stefan Nemanjic. The heyday of the Kingdom of Serbia occurred in the 14th century, when the country was ruled by Stefan Dusan.

However, in 1389, the Serbian army was defeated by the Turks in the Battle of Kosovo, and gradually the Ottoman Empire began to conquer the lands of Serbia. Since 1459, Serbia has become a province of the Ottoman Empire.

It was not until 1878 that Serbia became independent, and in 1882 the Kingdom of Serbia was proclaimed.

First World War in 1914 began after the invasion of Austrian troops into the territory of Serbia. In December 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed, which then became known as Yugoslavia.

After the end of World War II, socialist Yugoslavia was formed in 1945, led by Josip Broz Tito. The 1974 Constitution was one of the reasons for the expansion of Croatian, Slovenian and Albanian nationalism.

In 1991-92, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina separated from Yugoslavia. Almost throughout the 1990s, Yugoslavia (i.e. Serbia) fought with its former republics. The Serbs had a particularly difficult time in the Kosovo war after NATO intervention. As a result, Kosovo separated from Serbia.

In 2003, the state of Serbia and Montenegro was formed, which existed until 2006. Now the Republic of Serbia occupies an area of ​​88,361 square meters. km, and has no access to the sea.

Culture

For many centuries, the Serbs treated their culture with care, because... in this way they maintained their identity under Ottoman rule. Until now, Serbs annually celebrate various holidays, the history of which dates back to the early Middle Ages. The most popular Serbian holiday is “Vidov Dan” (the local version of St. Vitus Day).

Cuisine of Serbia

On the formation of Serbian cuisine big influence provided by countries neighboring Serbia. The Turkish influence is especially noticeable, because Serbia was a province of the Ottoman Empire for a long time.

We definitely recommend that tourists in Serbia try “ćevapčići” (small minced meat rolls), “Pljeskavica” (cutlets), “musaka”, “podvarak” (fried meat with sauerkraut), “proja” (corn bread), “gibanica” "(cheese pie), etc.

Traditional strong Serbian alcoholic drinks are šljivovica (plum brandy) and Lozovača (grape brandy, rakia).

Sights of Serbia

Serbs have always been careful about their history, and therefore there are many interesting sights in this country. The top ten best attractions in Serbia, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts

The most big cities Serbia - Novi Sad, Nis, and, of course, Belgrade.

Serbia is landlocked, but this country has a lot of balneological resorts. The most popular of them are Soko Banja, Buyanovacka Banja, Vrnjacka Banja, Banja Koviljaca, and Niska Banja.

Souvenirs/shopping

We advise tourists from Serbia to bring heart-shaped gingerbread, folk crafts, Serbian folk hats, embroidered shirts, traditional folk trousers, traditional folk shoes, Serbian folk jewelry (bracelets, beads, necklaces), wine, slivovitz, as well as Serbian folk musical instruments(frula, gusle and dvojnice).

Office hours

Serbia or officially the Republic of Serbia (this was once former center big and great Yugoslavia). Geographically, Serbia is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula.

Serbia borders on the east with Bulgaria, Romania, on the south with Macedonia, on the north with Hungary, on the west with Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Now it is a country that includes three provinces: Central Serbia (capital Belgrade), Vojvodina (Novi Sad) and Kosovo and Metohija (Pristina).

The population of Serbia is 9,396,411 people (as of 2002). The majority of the population lives in Central Serbia, almost 5.5 million people. Vojvodina has a population of just over 2 million and Kosovo just under 2 million.

Serbia is a multinational country. Along with the Serbs, of whom the vast majority (85%) live here, Albanians (Kosovo), Montenegrins, Hungarians, Bosnians, Roma, Slovaks, Romanians, and Bulgarians live here. Recently, the number of immigrants from Asia (Chinese) has increased in the country.

The most ethnically colorful part of the country is Vojvodina. Several dozen different nationalities have taken root in Vojvodina (there is even a prominent Ukrainian diaspora here).

The main religions are Orthodoxy and Islam. Orthodoxy predominates in Central Serbia, and in the Kosovo region Islam predominates.

The state system of Serbia was established by the constitution adopted in 1990. According to the constitution, the main legislative bodies are the unicameral parliament - the Assembly and the president. The executive branch is the Council of Ministers headed by the Chairman.

The country's economy is based on the agricultural and industrial sectors. Mineral resources include lignite and brown coal, oil, ores of copper, lead and zinc, uranium, and bauxite.

The manufacturing industry of Serbia includes mechanical engineering, metalworking, chemical, pharmaceutical, woodworking, textile, leather and footwear, and food industries. The main branch of agriculture is crop production.

In Serbia, grains, sugar beets, sunflowers, hemp, tobacco, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and berries are grown.

Raw materials and semi-finished products, consumer and food products, machinery and industrial equipment are exported.

The Balkans have been inhabited by people since ancient times. The first inhabitants of this territory known to us were the Illyrians, followed by the Celts (around the 4th century BC) in the 3rd century BC. The Roman conquest of this country began, and under Emperor Caesar Augustus, the borders of the empire reached the city of Singidunum (present-day Belgrade).

After the division of the Roman Empire, the territory of Serbia became part of Byzantium. In the mid-6th century, at the height of the great migration of peoples, Slavic tribes of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes crossed the Danube and occupied most of the Balkan Peninsula.

In 879, the Serbs converted to Orthodoxy, and in 969, Serbia separated from Byzantium and created an independent state.

The Serbian kingdom came into existence in 1217. Serbia flourished during the reign of King Stefan Dusan (1346-1355). In those days, not only the territory of the country grew (Serbia includes the territory of modern Albania and the northern lands of Greece), but also the spiritual development of the nation took place (monasteries and temples were built). The decline of Serbia's prosperity is associated with the defeat of the Serbian army in the Battle of Kosovo (1389) against the Turks under the leadership of Sultan Murad.

After the defeat, the country fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for 5 centuries. Over these five centuries, the country has experienced numerous uprisings, the invasion of the Austro-Hungarians, the implantation of an alien culture and faith (part of the population converts to Islam).

The country's independence was declared in 1816, but in fact only after the defeat of the Turks in the Russian-Turkish War in 1878 did Serbia become an independent state.

In the XIX - XX centuries. Serbia was ruled by two dynasties - the Obrenovic and Karageorgevich.

As everyone well knows, it was with Serbia that the First World War began. Austria-Hungary captured Serbia. But after the end of the war, a new state is formed under the rule of the King of Serbia.

This state included: Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia. In 1929, the country officially became known as Yugoslavia. During the Second World War, Yugoslavia was occupied by fascist troops. There is a widespread partisan movement in the country, in which tens of thousands of people participated.

In 1991, due to accumulated unresolved social and political problems, a Civil War and the collapse of the country begins. As a result, Yugoslavia breaks up into such independent states, like Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia.

On May 21, 2006, a referendum was held in Montenegro on Montenegro’s secession from the union state of Serbia and Montenegro. At the same time, the Assembly of Serbia proclaims the republic the heir to the union state.

Most Big city and the capital of Serbia - Belgrade(Serb. Beograd). Belgrade is one of oldest cities Europe. Founded in the 3rd century BC. at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, by the Celts and was originally called Singidunum. Belgrade is located in the historical province of Banat.

The geographical location of the city was one of the many reasons for the conquests of Belgrade. The city was conquered 40 times, 38 times the city was destroyed and rebuilt. There were armies of Celts, Goths, Romans, Franks, Slavs and Turks.

The population of Belgrade and its suburbs is 1,482 thousand people (Belgrade - 936 thousand people, suburbs - 549 thousand people).

Modern Belgrade is a large business, cultural and banking center. Belgrade is one of the important river ports in Europe. The city has the largest number of institutions of national importance in the field of science and art.

Here are located the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (1886), the Serbian Royal Academy, the National Library of Serbia (1832), National Museum(1841), National Theater (1869), University of Belgrade (1808).

Belgrade is located at an altitude of 116.75 meters above sea level. The exact coordinates are 44°49"14" north latitude and 20°27"44" east longitude. The city is divided into the districts of Old Belgrade, New Belgrade and Zemun. The territory of the city proper is 359.96 square meters. km.

Medieval fortress - Kalemegdan made of white stone, historical part city, located on the right bank of the Danube and Sava rivers. This is one of the oldest fortresses in Europe and now houses the Military Museum. Most of the buildings on the fortress grounds, including medieval gates, Orthodox churches, Muslim graves and Turkish baths, date back to the 17th century. In front of the entrance to the fortress there is a monument of gratitude to France (1930), and around the defensive structures there is a beautiful park, on the territory of which almost the entire flora of the European continent is represented, and the remains of the Austrian fortress have also been preserved.

Not far from these places is Stari Grad. This is the oldest quarter of the city and currently houses the fashionable places of Belgrade.

As attractions, it is worth noting the old quarter of Skadarlije, Ada-Siganlija Park, the National Museum (1844) on Republic Square with an extensive archaeological collection and a collection of paintings, the house of Prince Milos (1831), the Old Palace (1882), the Ethnographic Museum on the square Studentski Trg with a collection of Serbian costumes and folk art, the Church of St. Sava (XIX century), the Bayrakli-Jamia Mosque (1690), the Gallery of Frescoes, the Palace of Princess Ljubica (1831) in the Balkan style with a large collection of furniture from the 19th century, the Museum modern art (1965), examine the remains of Roman, medieval Serbian and Turkish fortifications, mosques of the 16th-17th centuries. and numerous colorful houses of the 18th-19th centuries.

The new city grew south of the Belgrade fortress, its bright and spacious quarters were built according to last word architecture, with many parks, alleys and boulevards framed by modern buildings. Interesting buildings here are the People's Assembly (1937), the industrial fair complex (1950-57), the Orthodox Church of St. Mark (1932-1939), the Union Executive Assembly (1958), the Museum of the Revolution (one of the last in Eastern Europe), the Assembly building (Parliament, 1907-1932), a small Russian Orthodox church, the former residence and grave of Marshal Tito, the sports center "25 May" (1973), the Congress Center "Sava" (1977) and many houses in pseudo-Stalinist style.

Not far from Belgrade, in Smederevo, there is the largest plain fortress in Europe - the Brankovic Fortress (XV century), occupying an area of ​​11 hectares and surrounded by a whole complex of buildings of the “Small” and “Big” cities. Kragujevac has a beautiful Byzantine-style cathedral. You can visit the unique medieval monasteries of Zica and Milesheva, and Studenica and Sopocany are even protected by UNESCO.

To the south of the capital, near the small town of Prijepolje, there is one of the most famous and ancient Serbian monasteries - Mileshevo (1218-1219), founded by the nephew of St. Sava of Serbia - Prince Vladislav. It was here that the relics of St. Sava were transferred from Tarnovo in 1237, and the world famous fresco “The White Angel on the Holy Sepulcher” is located here. Currently, the monastery is the residence of Bishop Mileszewski.

• After the war, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria negotiated unification and only personal differences between Stalin and Tito derailed the process.
• The Republic of Serbia is landlocked.
• In 1999 there was a large wave of emigration of Albanians from Kosovo, and in 2000-2001 - the emigration of Kosovo Serbs.
• On the territory of Serbia, exchange transactions outside official institutions (commercial banks, exchange offices, etc.) are considered a criminal offense and are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months to 5 years with confiscation of currency.
• National Serbian proverb: there are three hundred million of us and Russians, but without the Russians there are two carriages.