Studenica Monastery

Serbia

　　One of Serbia's most sacred sites, Unesco-listed Studenica was established in 1196 by the founder of the Serbian empire (and future saint) Stefan Nemanja and developed by his sons Vukan, Stefan and Rastko (St Sava). Two well-preserved churches lie within the monastery's impressive white-marble walls. Bogorodičina Crkva (Church of Our...

Uvac Canyon

Serbia

　　The Uvac River's spectacular meanders are the highlight of the 75-sq-km Uvac nature reserve in southwestern Serbia. The incredibly green river snakes through steep limestone rock in a zigzag manner – a feat of nature that's best admired from high above, at Molitva or Veliki vrh lookouts. The reserve, which...

Niš Fortress

Niš

　　Though its current incarnation was built by the Turks in the 18th century, there have been forts on this site since ancient Roman times. Today it's a sprawling recreational area with restaurants, cafes, market stalls and ample space for moseying, as well as the 16th-century Bali-beg Mosque. The fortress hosts...

Archaeological Hall

Niš

　　Though it's small, this museum is worth a gander for its collection of prehistoric, Roman and medieval artefacts, including coins, jewellery, religious pieces and a truly extraordinary, partially bronzed 4th-century Roman gate. It doesn't get many visitors, and the friendly curator is extremely keen to talk about the displays and...

Bubanj Hill Memorial Park

Niš

　　Bubanj Hill, located 3km from the city centre, is the location of one of Serbia's most recognisable Yugoslav-era spomeniks (memorials). Three gigantic fists rising from the ground are the work of sculptor Ivan Sabolić and symbolise the resistance and suffering of men, women and children (or, according to other interpretations,...

Ćele Kula

Niš

　　With Serbian defeat imminent at the 1809 Battle of Čegar, the Duke of Resava kamikazed towards the Turkish defences, firing at their gunpowder stores, killing himself, 4000 of his men and 10,000 Turks. The Turks triumphed regardless, and to deter future acts of rebellion, they beheaded, scalped and embedded the...

Mediana

Niš

　　Mediana is what remains of Constantine the Great's luxurious 4th-century Roman palace. The recently unveiled 1000 sq metres of gorgeous mosaics are the highlight here; they were hidden from public view until protective renovations were completed in 2016. Digging has revealed a palace, a forum, a church and an expansive...

Red Cross Concentration Camp

Niš

　　One of the best-preserved Nazi camps in Europe, the deceptively named Red Cross (named after the adjacent train station) held about 30,000 Serbs, Roma, Jews and Partisans during the German occupation of Serbia (1941–45). Harrowing displays tell their stories, and those of the prisoners who attempted to flee in the...

Orthodox Cathedral

Niš

　　Second only in size to Belgrade's St Sava Temple, this huge Orthodox cathedral, completely restored after being destroyed in a fire in 2001, was consecrated after the liberation from Turkish rule in 1878. The church is a curious mix of Byzantine, Oriental and Western architectural styles and famous for the...

Synagogue

Novi Sad

　　The 1909 Synagogue of Novi Sad, designed by Hungarian architect Lipót Baumhorn, was built as the fifth one on the same location to serve the city’s once large Jewish community, and is nowadays used as a concert hall due to its fine acoustics. Its art nouveau facade, yellowed bricks, stained-glass...

Gift Collection of Rajko Mamuzić

Novi Sad

　　Located next to Trg Galerija, this collection is often overshadowed by the famous Gallery of Matica Srpska and the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection. However, it has nearly 1000 works by more than 30 artists, housed in the lovely villa of the Radulović family. The artworks that emerged in the second...

City Museum of Novi Sad – Foreign Art Collection

Novi Sad

　　Once the private collection of famed Novi Sad mayor and physician Branko Ilić, this special part of the City Museum’s collection displays paintings by Western European artists alongside fine pieces of applied art, some of which date back to the 15th century. The Ilić collection has hundreds of paintings, including...

Museum of Vojvodina

Novi Sad

　　This worthwhile museum houses historical, archaeological and ethnological exhibits. The main building covers Vojvodinian history from Palaeolithic times to the late 19th century. Nearby, at building 37, which also houses the Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, the story continues to 1945 with harrowing emphasis on WWI and WWII. The highlights...

Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina

Novi Sad

　　Near to the Museum of Vojvodina's main building is this annexe. It is home to the city's premier collection of Serbian (particularly Vojvodinian) and international contemporary art from the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century, including sculptures, paintings, drawings and photography, installations, conceptual and digital art...

Štrand

Novi Sad

　　One of Europe's best by-the-Danube beaches, this 700m-long stretch morphs into a city of its own come summertime, with bars, stalls and all manner of recreational diversions attracting thousands of sun- and fun-seekers from across the globe. It's also the ultimate Novi Sad party venue, hosting everything from local punk...

Gallery of Matica Srpska

Novi Sad

　　First established in Pest (part of modern Budapest) in 1826 and moved to Novi Sad in 1864, this is one of Serbia's most important and long-standing cultural institutions. It's not a mere gallery but rather a national treasure, with three floors covering priceless Serbian artworks from the 18th, 19th and...

Petrovaradin Fortress

Novi Sad

　　Towering over the river on a 40m-high volcanic slab, this mighty citadel, considered Europe's second-biggest fortress (and one of its best preserved), is aptly nicknamed 'Gibraltar on the Danube'. Constructed using slave labour between 1692 and 1780, its dungeons have held notable prisoners including Karađorđe (leader of the first Serbian...

Zepter Museum

Belgrade

　　This impressive collection of works by contemporary Serbian artists became Serbia’s first private museum in 2010, but remains somewhat hidden even though it's housed in a magnificent 1920s building in the heart of pedestrianised Knez Mihailova. The eclectic interior is a fitting backdrop to the range of styles on display....

Nikola Tesla Museum

Belgrade

　　Meet the man on the 100RSD note at one of Belgrade's best museums, where you can release your inner nerd with some wondrously sci-fi-ish interactive elements. Tesla's ashes are kept here in a glowing, golden orb: debate has been raging for years between the museum (and its secular supporters) and...

National Museum

Belgrade

　　Lack of funding for renovations kept Serbia's National Museum mostly shuttered for 15 years, but its much ballyhooed 2018 reopening has been a great source of national pride – it awoke from the dead on Vidovdan (28 June), the country's national day – and for good reason. Built in 1903...

Marshal Tito's Mausoleum

Belgrade

　　A visit to Tito's mausoleum is obligatory. The big man rests in an aptly gigantic tomb in peaceful surrounds. Also on display are thousands of elaborate relay batons presented to him by young 'Pioneers', plus gifts from political leaders and the voguish set of the era. The mausoleum is attached...

Museum of Contemporary Art

Belgrade

　　One of Belgrade's top cultural sights, this recently renovated museum is a treasure trove of 20th-century art from the ex-Yugoslav cultural space. The 1960s concrete-and-glass modernist building, surrounded by a sculpture park, has great views towards the Belgrade Fortress across the Sava River. 　　Conceptual art features prominently, including a 1970s...

Mt Avala

Belgrade

　　Looming over Belgrade and topped with the tallest tower in the Balkans (204.5m), Mt Avala is a city landmark that makes for a pleasant break from the capital's bustling streets. The broadcasting tower, originally completed in 1965 but levelled by NATO bombs in 1999, was rebuilt in 2010 and now...

Museum of Yugoslavia

Belgrade

　　This must-visit museum houses an invaluable collection of more than 200,000 artefacts representing the fascinating, tumultuous history of Yugoslavia. Photographs, artworks, historical documents, films, weapons, priceless treasure: it's all here. It can be a lot to take in; English-speaking guides are available if booked in advance via email, or you...

Belgrade Fortress

Belgrade

　　Some 115 battles have been fought over imposing, impressive Belgrade Fortress (aka Kalemegdan); the citadel was destroyed more than 40 times throughout the centuries. Fortifications began in Celtic times, and the Romans extended it onto the flood plains during the settlement of 'Singidunum', Belgrade's Roman name. Much of what stands...