The Serbia We Didn’t Know Existed | Off The Beaten Path

Are you a traveller who loves cities and tourist places, or do you prefer to go off the beaten path to explore those hidden gems?

What comes to mind when someone mentions Serbia? Stop thinking of just Belgrade!

You would be amazingly surprised by this spectacular country. So many places are off the beaten path waiting for you to explore. Serbia is a country that offers something for everyone, from lakes, nature reserves, fortresses, ski resorts, monasteries and many, many more.

In today’s blog, we’re giving you a glimpse of Serbia, contrary to what we see in the media.

Visiting Serbia Unexpectedly

After three months on the road, the inevitable moment arrived for us to return home—a prospect we least desired. In all honesty, the thought of heading back left us feeling disheartened.

However, COVID began to rise globally during our time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Malta put Bosnia and Herzegovina in the dark red zone, so eventually, upon our arrival back home, we would be required to undergo a two-week quarantine.

We thought about it and came up with a more exciting plan. After months of crazy backpacking, we felt weird going back, especially if we had to quarantine, so the best option was to extend our backpacking journey. Although COVID is a pest, we couldn’t be more grateful then! Excitement kicked in again!

The country with the easiest way to enter from Bosnia and Herzegovina happened to be Serbia, so we booked a bus there and then. And as they say, the unexpected is always the best, as we spent some indescribably beautiful weeks there.

Serbia is such a beautiful country with warm-hearted people. When we arrived at the border, since we were the only two foreigners on a bus with over 50 people, the border police and customs officers stopped us for questioning. Too many questions, actually. Despite having our passports in hands, we kept getting asked the same questions. Where are you from? What do you do for a living? It took quite long to explain everything, and all eyes were on us, but after all, they were so interested in our adventures and wanted to know more.

There are so many spectacular attractions to admire while the country is full of nature. Even though we explored as much as possible, we only saw the friction of what Serbia offers.

Exploring Mokra Gora, The Seventh Heaven

No words are enough to describe this dreamland! 

Situated in Užice, southwestern Serbia, Mokra Gora is a quaint village on the northern slopes of the Zlatibor mountain. Surrounded by the scenic Dinaric Alps and close to Tara National Park, it is a picturesque destination. Surprisingly, Mokra Gora remains relatively undiscovered, with even locals from Serbia not frequently exploring this magical off-the-beaten-path gem. It’s undoubtedly a part of Serbia that’s worth the visit!

Our affection for this charming village was straight off. Here, there are no fences, no limits—just nature at its finest. Initially planning for a three-day stay, we repeatedly extended our time, captivated by the breathtaking landscapes that seemed inexhaustible.

Can you imagine living in a house in the middle of nowhere, and all you see is nature? That’s exactly how we lived for six days!

As soon as we arrived, our host, Milena, told us that the last Šargan Eight steam train for that season was about to leave in one hour. We didn’t want to miss the opportunity to experience this train. It was one of the main reasons we visited this place.

Since we had just arrived, we didn’t have cash on us. Milena offered to pay for us until we settled, and her husband offered to take us to the train himself! During these little moments, you realise that humanity does exist!

Must See in Mokra Gora 

Šargan Eight

Šargan Eight steam train is magical. It’s a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Serbia, running from the village of Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi station. The views you see are breathtaking. We highly recommend it if you plan on visiting Mokra Gora. 

TIP: Always check the Šargan Eight railway timetable beforehand. 

Drvengrad Bamboo Village

Drvengrad Bamboo Village is a traditional settlement crafted by acclaimed film director Emir Kusturica for his award-winning movie “Život Je čudo” (Life is a Miracle). Stepping into Drvengrad evokes the sensation of being transported into an old film. This experience truly needs to be lived to be fully grasped.

Bele Vode 

Bele Vode is another place on top of our list in Mokra Gora. We hiked from the accommodation to this spectacular place. The pathway is incredible. You can enjoy the most peaceful, soundless, and scenic hikes until you reach your destination in Bele Vode.

Moving on to Novi Sad 

Novi Sad is a calm city in northern Serbia. Compared with the other parts of Serbia, people here are more slow-paced. You can notice it’s a flat city, which is good enough for biking. 

This city is on the banks of the Danube River. You can enjoy a walk around the old town and keep going up to the Petrovaradin Fortress, which dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries and see the view of the river from above. 

The Capital of Serbia, Belgrade 

Since we prefer places more off the beaten path, our first impression when entering Belgrade… Well, it was a little too harsh on our eyes. We noticed broken and cracked sidewalks and too many buildings and skyscrapers. It was only until we started to explore this alluring city.

What to See in Belgrade 

St. Mark Orthodox Church 

St. Mark’s Orthodox church is in Tašmajdan Park, near the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The Old Palace 

Stari Dvor (The Old Palace) was the royal residence of the Obrenović dynasty. This palace is on the corner of Kralja Milana and Dragoslava Jovanovića streets in Belgrade, opposite Novi Dvor. 

Republic Square 

Republic Square is one of the central town squares and an urban neighbourhood of Belgrade in the Stari Grad municipality.

National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia

This building is a landmark and a tourist attraction, located on Nikola Pašić Square in downtown Belgrade.

Fun Facts about Serbia 

They Have the Most Expensive Cheese 

The most expensive cheese in the world is Serbian and costs around €1,100 per Kg. It’s called Pule, made from goat and donkey milk. 

Serbia’s Stone Village 

There’s an entire village made from stone. You find this village named Gostusa in the southeast of Serbia.

Rakija Lovers 

Serbians love Rakija. They just love it, especially if it’s homemade! Rakija is an alcoholic drink made out of fruit. If you taste their homemade Rakija, you probably can’t handle it at first, but it will be so much fun.

We had the opportunity to taste Rakija in other Balkan countries, and funnily enough, while in Montenegro, we tasted homemade Rakija from our hosts, who happened to be Serbians!

Lifting three fingers tradition 

Lifting the thumb and the following two fingers is a Serbian tradition. You can do it if you want to show love and respect to locals. Don’t be surprised while taking a picture with locals if they do that sign. 

If you plan to visit the Balkans, consider Serbia. Stay calm and go off the beaten path, as there’s where you’ll find unique places and make the most of your adventure.

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