The secret is out: Serbia is the hottest holiday spot in Europe this year

Travellers looking for an exciting new place to explore this summer should look no further. This year it’s all about Serbia. The Eastern European hotspot has recently shot to the top of the wishlists of many travel editors and tourists looking for a stunning destination that’s a little bit oﬀ the beaten track.

But don’t let Serbia’s newfound popularity fool you. While interest in this beautiful and diverse country is somewhat fresh, the history here has deep and fascinating roots that stretch back to Byzantine, Roman, Ottoman and early Christian times. The result is a fascinating blend of east and west, with an abundance of culture.

Here is a short list of some the sites and experiences that should deﬁnitely ﬁnd a place in your travel itinerary.

Culture in Novi Sad

Belgrade is the country’s capital and well worth visiting – but the city that is really attracting attention at the moment is Novi Sad. The second largest city in Serbia, it was recently designated the European Capital of Culture for 2021, and for excellent reason.

This petite metropolis, perched on the famous Danube river, has long been a hotbed for creative activity and this nod from the European community will give Novi Sad a chance to truly step into the spotlight.

The city has taken inspiration from its many bridges over the river in choosing its theme. The concept is “Four Bridges” and during its year as the Capital of Culture, Novi Sad will host a range of festivals and events celebrating the ideas of freedom (in its creative industry and youth culture), hope (through its cultural facilities and public spaces), rainbows (in honour of migration and resolving conﬂict) and the ‘new’ (thanks to its cultural heritage and hospitality).

Music for all tastes

But you don’t have to wait until 2021 to enjoy the vibrant cultural life of Novi Sad. It is already home to the popular Exit Festival, offering four days of rock, indie and electronic music every summer. The 2018 edition will take place from 12-15 July and will feature big names like David Guetta, Grace Jones and Martin Garrix.

If brass music is more your thing, plan your trip for August during the annual Guča Trumpet Festival. Taking place this year from 9-12 August, this is the best place to get a true appreciation for the incredible trumpet music that has become so ingrained in Serbian culture.

Breathtaking fortresses

One of the essential things to do on a visit to Serbia is to check out the country’s spectacular fortresses. Combining history with stunning engineering, these constructions are a sight to be seen and deserving of a place on any itinerary

One of the biggest and best known in the country is the Belgrade Fortress at Kalemegdan Park. Built in 279BC, it has been destroyed and reconstructed many times over the centuries and was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979. The history alone is reason enough to visit but it also oﬀers spectacular views of the Danube river, has free entry and is a terriﬁc starting point for exploring the rest of Belgrade.

Magnificent museums

Put it down to a national passion for knowledge and history, but Serbia has more than its fair share of interesting museums covering an awe-inspiring range of topics. The Aviation Museum is a good choice if you’re travelling with kids, and the Historical Museum of Serbia is a great place to explore the country’s history. The Ethnographic Museum has a wonderful range of costumes and domestic items giving a glimpse of folk life and the Museum of Beekeeping is a must for anyone with a taste for the unusual. And you can’t visit Serbia and not go to the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade. Dedicated to the country’s best-known inventor and scientist, it contains over 160,000 documents and oﬀers regular exhibitions and events.

Architectural marvels

Serbia has a range of quirky architectural delights available to visitors and top of the list would have to be Drvengrad. This mini wooden village was built on a hilltop near Mokra Gora by ﬁlmmaker Emir Kusturica as the set for his ﬁlm Life is a Miracle. It is open to visitors and hosts an annual ﬁlm festival that attracts big names including Johnny Depp, who has been immortalised with a life-sized statue.

And make time for a stroll down Skadarlija, a quaint cobblestoned street in Belgrade. Steeped in history and home to a vibrant mix of art galleries, restaurants, hotels and antique shops, it is equally popular with tourists and artistic locals, plus charming street performers, especially during the annual ﬂag-raising ceremony that marks the start of summer.