Serbia is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe. Landlocked and about 88,500 km² in size (roughly the size of Austria), it spans the fertile Pannonian Plain in the north and the rugged Balkan and Dinaric ranges to the south and west. Neighbors include Hungary to the north; Romania and Bulgaria to the east; North Macedonia and Kosovo to the south (Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 independence); and Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro to the west. The Danube and Sava rivers meet in the capital, Belgrade, which is Serbia’s largest city. Belgrade alone has about 1.4 million residents. Overall Serbia’s population is roughly 6.6–6.7 million (2025 estimate). The official language is Serbian, written in both Cyrillic (official) and Latin alphabets. Serbia’s climate ranges from continental in the north (cold winters, hot summers) to sub-Mediterranean in the south.
Serbia’s lands have been inhabited for millennia. One of Europe’s oldest civilizations emerged here: the Vinča culture. By around 5500–4500 BC the Vinča people established large settlements (such as Vinča-Belo Brdo near Belgrade) rich in pottery, ornaments and even proto-writing. To the southeast, Lepenski Vir (in the Iron Gates gorge of the Danube) is a remarkable Mesolithic-Neolithic site with stone sculptures and fish-shaped houses dating to roughly 7000–6000 BC. These discoveries show that Serbia was a cradle of early European farming and culture.
Belgrade itself is among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities (about 7,000 years old). Archaeologists have found prehistoric, Celtic, and Roman layers beneath today’s city. In fact, Serbia was at the core of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity. Around 18 (out of roughly 70) Roman emperors were born in present-day Serbia or neighboring regions. The most famous is Constantine the Great, born in Naissus (modern Niš) in 272 AD. Constantine would go on to reunite the empire and embrace Christianity as a state religion. Nearby Sirmium (today’s Sremska Mitrovica) once served as a capital of the Roman Empire. In late Roman times, Sirmium (on the Sava river) was the seat of emperors such as Decius and Claudius II.
Archaeological highlights: Serbia has numerous dig sites and museums. In Belgrade, the National Museum displays Vinča artifacts, and the fortress park (Kalemegdan) exposes layers from Celts to Ottomans. In eastern Serbia, the old town of Smederevo preserves a medieval fort that once rivaled Constantinople, founded in 1428. The Roman city of Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad) — built by Emperor Galerius in the 3rd-4th centuries — is UNESCO-listed. In Niš, you can visit the ancient fortress “Constantiana” and see remains of Roman baths.
Serbia’s medieval story began around 1166 when the Serbian leader Stefan Nemanja (father of Saint Sava) founded the Nemanjic dynasty. Under his rule and that of his son, Stefan Prvovenčani, Serbia became an Orthodox kingdom. The 14th century was Serbia’s zenith. Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–1355) expanded the realm across much of the Balkans, crowned himself “Emperor of Serbs and Greeks” in 1346, and even set down a comprehensive code of laws (Dušan’s Code). Medieval Serbia was a cultural heavyweight: Orthodox Christianity flourished, monasteries were built, and art and literature advanced. The white marble Studenica Monastery (founded 1196 by Stefan Nemanja) is one of Serbia’s finest medieval monuments and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Across the country stand hundreds of beautiful churches and monasteries, often perched in mountains or hidden valleys.
The turning point came in 1389 at the Battle of Kosovo. In that decisive battle on Kosovo Field (Metohija), the Serbs under Prince Lazar fought the invading Ottoman army. Both sides suffered enormous losses, and Prince Lazar fell, but the Serbs offered fierce resistance. Although the Ottomans ultimately subdued most of Serbia, the Battle of Kosovo lives on in Serbian memory as a symbol of sacrifice and national identity. Monuments like the Gazimestan tower commemorate this legacy. Not long after, Serbia’s medieval state was mostly absorbed by the Ottomans (officially by 1459), but the era is still celebrated as a golden age.
For nearly five centuries after Kosovo, much of Serbia was under Ottoman rule (1450s–1800s). Life in Ottoman Serbia was difficult: peasants often lived as rayahs (tax-paying subjects) under a Muslim foreign administration. Over time, however, Serbs preserved their traditions and Orthodox faith. A famous spirit of “inat” (fierce pride or defiance) is said to have helped Serbs endure. In the Ottoman era, Belgrade changed hands many times and became an important fortress city. North of the Sava and Danube, another empire, Austria-Hungary, controlled the region of Vojvodina from 1699 onward. There, Serbs lived under Habsburg rule, which brought different influences like Baroque architecture.
Starting in 1804, Serbian nationalists rose up against the Ottomans. The First Serbian Uprising (1804–1813), led by Karađorđe, won some autonomy; after it was crushed, the Second Uprising (1815) under Miloš Obrenović achieved semi-independence. Full sovereignty came at the Congress of Berlin in 1878: Serbia became a legally recognized independent principality/kingdom. During the 19th century, Serbia expanded (adding Niš, Leskovac, Pirot) and modernized.
However, Serbia’s liberation coincided with upheaval in Europe. In 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo – a flashpoint that triggered World War I. Serbia suffered immensely in WWI but emerged on the winning side and helped form a new South Slavic state in 1918.
After WWI, Serbia joined with other South Slavs to create the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). Belgrade became the capital of this new multiethnic state in 1918. Ethnic tensions and dictatorship marked the interwar period. During World War II, Nazi and Axis forces occupied Serbia; a brutal guerilla war ensued between royalist Partisans (led by Tito) and Četnik rebels, along with German reprisals. After 1945, Serbia entered the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito. Under Tito’s rule (until 1980) Yugoslavia industrialized and opened relations with both East and West. Serbia remained one republic (the largest by population) in Tito’s federation.
In the 1990s, Yugoslavia began to disintegrate. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia declared independence. Serbia (with Montenegro) first formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, later simply Serbia and Montenegro. Civil wars ravaged the region, culminating in the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia amid the Kosovo conflict. In 2006, Montenegro peacefully split away, and Serbia became a fully independent republic. Kosovo (former province) declared independence in 2008; Serbia does not recognize this, and the status remains disputed. Today Serbia is a democratic republic led by an elected president and parliament.
Serbian is an official South Slavic language. It is digraphic: written in two alphabets. Cyrillic script (like Russian) is constitutionally “official,” but Latin script is equally used in everyday life. Schools teach both alphabets from childhood. This means a word like “Beograd” can be written Београд or Beograd with no change in pronunciation. Serbian spelling is highly phonetic: each letter consistently corresponds to a sound. This makes pronunciation straightforward once the script is learned.
Serbian surnames often end in -ić or -ović. These suffixes originally meant “little” or “son of,” much like “-son” in English (Johnson, Robertson). For example, Petrović means “descendant of Petar.” The -ić ending is a hallmark of Serbian (and broader South Slavic) last names.
English is widely spoken in cities, especially among young people. Due to Serbia’s media and schooling, many locals understand English to at least a conversational level. However, outside urban areas knowledge of English diminishes. Tourists often find that a few Serbian phrases (hello: “zdravo,” thank you: “hvala”) are warmly appreciated.
Believe it or not, vampires come from Serbia, not Romania. The bloodsucking legend has its origins here in the 17th–18th centuries. One famous case involved Sava Savanović, a miller from the village of Zarožje. He was alleged to have haunted his mill and attacked villagers in the 1720s. Early records from 1732 describe exhumations of Savanović’s body and driving stakes through the skull to “lay him to rest.” Even before Savanović, Petar Blagojević (1725) was accused of vampirism in Požarevac and his body burned. Serbia’s rural communities took vampires seriously; they performed detailed rites (stake, burn, decapitate) on suspected bodies to stop the curse.
These stories are among the first documented vampire cases in history, predating Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) by over a century. The Serbian word vampir entered Western folklore through such accounts. Today, you can visit Zarožje and see the old mill said to belong to Savanović (a tourist’s curiosity).
Serbia punches above its weight in global achievement. It has produced luminaries in science, sports and beyond:
Serbia’s varied landscape—from river gorges to high mountains—hides many natural marvels:
Serbia has its share of “New Age” and enigmatic attractions:
The capital, Belgrade, is a story in itself. Its name means “White City” — a nod to the white stone walls of its ancient citadel. Indeed, Belgrade’s Kalemegdan Fortress sits at the meeting of the Danube and Sava. This park-fortress is layered history: prehistoric settlements, Celtic forts, Roman military camps, Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques, and Austro-Hungarian ramparts. Archaeologists dig in Kalemegdan regularly, unearthing artifacts from 7000 BC to WWII. Below the fortress run ancient tunnels: through the 19th and 20th centuries, Belgrade acquired a secret underground network for hiding from invaders (today some are open for spooky tours).
The city has been destroyed and rebuilt over 40 times in its long history — Roman times, Attila the Hun, Ottomans, Serbs, Nazis, and even the 1999 NATO bombs. Yet each time it rose anew. Modern Belgrade is a mix of architecture: socialist-era concrete, Art Nouveau palaces, Ottoman minarets, and sleek new skyscrapers.
Belgrade is famous for its nightlife and riverside clubs (splavs). Bars, clubs and live music venues line the Sava embankment. Locals and visitors party until dawn. International guides often call it the Balkan party capital. A curious feature is Strahinjica Bana street, nicknamed “Silicone Valley” – once the haunt of 1990s elite and their hired company. On the recreational side, Ada Ciganlija is the city’s lakeside park. A peninsula in the Sava, nicknamed “Belgrade Sea,” it has a Blue-Flag beach, sports facilities, cafes, and bikes – a city escape all year round.
Serbian cuisine is hearty and flavorful, reflecting the country’s position at the meeting point of East and West. Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Mediterranean influences mix with local ingredients. Meat grilled over open flame is king: ćevapi (minced meat sausages) and pljeskavica (the Serbian-style hamburger) are ubiquitous, always served with chopped onions and kajmak (a rich clotted-cream cheese). Ćevapi are a favorite street food; many towns claim to have the best secret seasoning.
Pastries and breads are also staples: burek (flaky phyllo dough filled with meat or cheese) is a traditional breakfast, often wrapped to-go. Gibanica (cheese and egg pie) and sarma (cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat) are homestyle classics. Ajvar (roasted red pepper and eggplant spread) and pekmez (homemade jams) turn vegetables into pantry delights.
Cheese lovers will be intrigued by Pule – the world’s most expensive cheese. Made in the Zasavica reserve from Balkan donkey milk (60%) and goat milk (40%), pule can cost over $1,300 per kilogram. Each female donkey (jennet) yields only about 1.5 liters of milk per day, and the cheese is labor-intensive. Nonetheless, local gourmets treasure its nutty flavor.
Beverages are important too. Most households serve rakija – a strong fruit brandy (usually slivovica, from plums) – before meals or at gatherings. There are rakija made from apricot, quince, grapes (loza), and the popular plum brandy šljivovica is almost a national symbol. In Belgrade, visitors often enjoy rakija tastings as a local experience. Beer has a following too, with Serbian and neighboring brews on tap in taverns (kafana) across the country.
Serbia’s countryside is fertile, especially in Vojvodina’s plains. The country punches above its weight in farming exports:
Serbia’s cultural mosaic is rich, woven from its Orthodox heritage, family customs and a dash of Balkan spirit:
Serbia throws unforgettable festivals year-round:
Serbia may surprise with quirkier records:
Venturing beyond cities reveals Serbia’s architectural curiosities:
Serbians are passionate about sports, often excelling on world stages:
Serbia is a friendly destination for travelers:
Serbia’s other cities each have their own character:
Despite human settlements, Serbia preserves pockets of wild nature:
Serbia today blends tradition with change:
To understand Serbia today:
Is Serbia safe and visa-friendly for tourists? Yes. Serbia is generally safe, with friendly locals. Many nationalities (EU, US, Canada, etc.) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Serbia is not in the EU or Schengen zone, so it has its own entry rules.
What is the climate like? North Serbia has a continental climate: cold winters (often below 0°C) and hot summers (30–35°C). The south has some Mediterranean influence: winters milder, summers very hot. Average January lows around –1°C, July highs around 30°C.
Currency and tipping: The Serbian dinar (RSD) is the currency (banknotes up to 5,000 RSD). Tipping 5–10% in restaurants is customary.
Language barrier: Serbian is the official language. In tourist areas and cities, English is widely spoken. Street signs are often bilingual (Serbian/English).
Time zone: Serbia is UTC+1 (Central European Time) and UTC+2 during summer (Daylight Saving).
Electronics: Serbia uses the standard European 230V/50Hz power with Type C/E outlets (same as many European countries).
Health: Medical care in cities is good; travel insurance is advised. Pharmacies (apoteka) are common. Serbia has a surprisingly high quality tradition in some medical fields (e.g. endocrinology).
Specialties to try: Apart from food, try Serbian coffee (strong espresso) and plum brandy (šljivovica) — a visit to the Museum of Rakija in Belgrade is popular. Don’t miss slatko, a small sweet preserve (often rose petal jam) offered to guests.
A Final Note: Serbia may not shout its wonders at first sight, but travelers who dig deeper often fall in love. Whether you’re tracing history in Niš, sampling wine on Fruška Gora, dancing at a village festival, or sipping kafa on a Danube deck in Novi Sad, Serbia’s warmth and richness will surprise you.
