Serbia

This new, thoroughly updated edition of Bradt’s Serbia covers all the practical information you could need plus comprehensive details of Serbian history, geography, economy, politics and people, as well as food and wine, city life, hiking and outdoors and adventure trips. Significant improvements to accommodation throughout the country over the past few years are also covered, with a wide range of options included, from five-star and boutique hotels to backpacker hostels. Bradt’s Serbia also has a strong emphasis on culture and the arts - music, literature, cinema and art - and on natural history, with a thorough overview of Serbia’s best wildlife sites.

Serbia remains one of the least known corners of Europe although Belgrade, the capital, is becoming increasingly popular with overseas visitors, as is the second city, Novi Sad. Both are lively, cosmopolitan and welcoming cities with vibrant nightlife. In contrast, rural Serbia, with its hidden monasteries and gorgeous countryside, is an undiscovered gem. This new edition covers everything from the development of the Savamala riverfront in Belgrade to village stays, archaeological sites from the Roman era or earlier (no fewer than 18 Roman emperors were born in the territory that is now Serbia, including Constantine the Great), public transport information, the EXIT festival and Guča Trumpet Festival and, of course, the country’s sporting prowess: tennis star Novak Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam single titles, while in team sports, Serbia has excelled at water polo, basketball, volleyball and football in recent years.

No matter your interest, whether it be travelling on one of the steepest climbing railway lines in the world, the Sargan Eight line, visiting one of the largest Orthodox Christian churches in the world, Belgrade’s Temple of St Sava, or wandering around the National Museum or Museum of Contemporary Art, both now finally re-opened, Bradt’s Serbia offers everything you need for a successful trip.

Laurence Mitchell has, at various times, taught English in Sudan, surveyed historic farm buildings in Norfolk, pushed a pen in a local government office and worked as a geography teacher. Travel has been an important part of his life ever since his first tentative steps overseas in the 1970s, well before the term ’backpacker’ was invented. He has been visiting Serbia since it was part of the former Yugoslavia and Tito was in charge, and knows the region extremely well. With a keen interest in natural history, as well as the arts, he is keen to convey to others the wealth of cultural and natural offerings that Serbia has to offer visitors.These days Laurence works as a freelance travel writer and photographer with a particular penchant for forgotten places, border zones and territories in transition. His blog can be found at eastofelveden.wordpress.com and photography website at laurencemitchell.com. Ivana Dukčevic was born and lives in Belgrade, Serbia. She graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts & Design from which she received the university degree equivalent to Master of Arts. She runs her own travel pages where she posts stories with photos from her travels: umetnostputovanja.rs. Her travel photos are marketed through Istockphoto/Getty Images.