A little more
Serbia.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Serbia: what to know before you go

Serbia is a landlocked Balkan country where the Danube and Sava meet, with a famously lively capital, medieval monasteries, Roman ruins and green mountains. It is good value and welcoming, with hearty food and strong coffee culture. It suits city-breakers, festival-goers and travellers who like history and the outdoors.

Where to go

• Belgrade. Kalemegdan Fortress overlooks the meeting of the Sava and Danube, the bohemian street of Skadarlija has old taverns (kafanas) with live music, and the vast Temple of Saint Sava dominates the skyline.
• Novi Sad. Serbia's second city, on the Danube, has an elegant pedestrian centre and the Petrovaradin Fortress across the river, which hosts the EXIT music festival each summer.
• Studenica and Sopoćani monasteries. Medieval Serbian Orthodox monasteries with remarkable frescoes.
• Đerdap National Park and the Iron Gates. The Danube narrows into a dramatic gorge on the border with Romania.

Best time to visit

Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) offer the most pleasant weather for both cities and mountains. July and August are hot in Belgrade and Novi Sad, but it is festival season, with EXIT in July and the Guča trumpet festival in summer.

Staying online in Serbia

Coverage is good in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and most towns, with fast 4G widely available. Signal can weaken in mountain areas, the Danube gorge and remote countryside. Wi-Fi is very common and usually free in cafés, restaurants and accommodation. Serbia is not in the EU, so EU roaming rules do not apply and home plans may charge heavily. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.