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The Best of Serbia Tour – 12 days/11 nights

The best of the Serbia tour includes the most important highlights of the country. By choosing this tour, you’ll get to know the rich culture and history of Serbia but also you’ll enjoy the amazing natural beauties of the country.

 

Day 1:

Nikola Tesla Airport – Novi Sad (D) approx. 120 km

Fly to Belgrade where you will be met by your tour guide for this journey. Transfer to Novi Sad, (only 80 km from the airport), the beautiful city on the Danube river, declared for the European Capital of Culture for 2021. Upon arrival, we will take a walking sightseeing tour of this amazing multicultural city. Start from the main square, The Liberty Square which is surrounded by the City Hall and The Name of Mary Church, to the main pedestrian area Zmaj Jovina Street, Patriarch’s Palace to Danube Street and the Park. Check-in at the hotel in the center of the city. Time at leisure until dinner in a cozy local restaurant in the center of the city. Overnight.

 

Day 2:

Novi Sad – Krušedol Monastery – Sremski Karlovci – Petrovaradin – Novi Sad (BL) approx. 65 km

After breakfast, enjoy the full day of unforgettable activities. We’ll first drive along the Fruška Gora National Park, known as „The Serbian Athos“ because of its numerous monasteries. The first stop for today is baroque  Krušedol Monastery, dedicated to the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin. Due to its wealthy historical treasury, famous iconostasis, and many other relics, Krušedol Monastery is considered one of Serbia’s most significant monasteries. After the visit, we depart to Sremski Karlovci, a small baroque town on the Fruška Gora slopes and on the bank of the Danube river, one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers of Serbia. Sightseeing of the city: Patriarchy Residence, Orthodox Cathedral, Theological School, and The Chapel of Peace. Visit one of the most famous wineries in Sremski Karlovci where you’ll enjoy quality wines from this area and a snack. Some time at leisure until we go to the magnificent Petrovaradin Fortress, located on the Petrovaradin cliff, overlooking the Danube River. Petrovaradin Fortress is a symbol of Novi Sad and one of the best-preserved fortifications in Europe, and also, the second largest. After listening to interesting stories and enjoying the view, we’ll set down to a beautiful restaurant on the Danube shore for a late lunch. We’ll finish this exciting day by 15 minutes of leisure walking across the bridge and getting to the city center where you’ll have time to relax and explore the city. Overnight.

Optional: Underground military galleries tour with a lunch at the Petrovaradin Fortress or visit the Matica Srpska Gallery ( Serbian national art from the 16th to the 20th century ) or Museum of Vojvodina visit.

 

Day 3:

Novi Sad – Kelebija – Subotica – Palić – Novi Sad (BL) approx. 250 km

After breakfast, we depart to the very north of the country, to our first stop, the Kelebija Horse Farm. This is a modern stable with a museum of carriages, racetracks, an artificial lake, and a beautiful park, where we’ll have a chance to ride a horse or to have a nice carriage ride. The next stop is a beautiful city of Subotica, also called Pannonian Barcelona, well-known for its relaxed atmosphere, delicious food, and quality wines. Rich cultural heritage assets, lavishly decorated buildings, multicultural spirit and European charm – these are the features that make this city distinctive. Sightseeing tour of the city – starts from the main square where you’ll see the most important sights of secession in this town, such as The City Hall which is the true symbol of the city, as well as the baroque Cathedral, Subotica Synagogue, Rajhl Palace (Art Gallery), etc. After the sightseeing, we’ll have lunch on a popular rural farm) and enjoy an on-site restaurant and a large outdoor area. Follows a visit to beautiful  Palić Lake, where we’ll have a walk down the lake and see the Water Tower, the Grand Terrace, the Women’s Lido and the Music Pavilion. Here we will enjoy traditional deserts in a modern pastry shop followed by the visit of the most famous winery in this area to finish this tour with wine tasting. Traveling back to Novi Sad. Free evening for individual activities and exploring the streets of Novi Sad. Overnight.

 

Day 4:

Novi Sad – Zemun –  Belgrade (BD) approx. 110 km

We leave this beautiful city and head to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Along the way, we’ll stop to visit Zemun, the most southern point of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. We’ll visit the Gardoš Tower overlooking the Danube river and the city sitting across the river. Located on the slopes of the hill with its tower and preserved the old architecture, Gardoš is the major historical landmark of Zemun and one of the puzzle part of Belgrade tour.  Upon arrival to the White City, we’ll set off for the sightseeing tour, commencing with the leisurely walk along Knez Mihailova street, the main pedestrianized area packed with numerous boutiques and cafes. We continue into the leafy area of Kalemegdan park and fortress, where you’ll enjoy the magnificent view of the city and the river Sava and Danube confluence. The fortress is home to many monuments, gates, towers, walls from Roman and medieval times, as well as from Ottoman and Austrian. Some time at leisure for a short break and lunch in one of the restaurants in the fortress area. We continue by bus,  to explore rich art-deco style state buildings within the city center and the very masterpiece of Serbian-Byzantine architecture, Saint Sava Temple, the second-largest Orthodox temple in the world. We’ll finish the tour at the resting place of the former Yugoslav president, Josip Broz Tito, the famous House of Flowers. Time at leisure until the evening, when we will have dinner in an old, bohemian part of the city, Skadarlija and enjoy great traditional cuisine in a national restaurant.

 

Optional: Visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Karađorđević royal family.

Day 5:

Belgrade – Smederevo – Viminacium – The Iron Gate – Silver Lake (BL) approx. 310 km

Early departure to Eastern Serbia. The first stop will be at the Smederevo Fortress, a medieval fortified city that was a temporary capital of Serbia in the Middle Ages. This fortress is one of the largest fortifications in the South-East Europe which found its place on a tentative list for a possible UNESCO nomination.

Continue to Viminacium, one of the most important Roman cities and military encampments from the period from the 1st to the 6th century. Continue to the Iron Gate, an amazing 83 mile-long gorge in the Danube River separating Serbia and Romania. Lunch in an authentic open-air village, followed by an amazing boat ride along the gorge with the breathtaking views. After the afternoon ride, the bus will transfer us to Silver Lake, a popular tourist resort. Check-in at the hotel and overnight.

Optional: „Roman lunch“ at Viminacium and overnight in Aranđelovac 5* Spa Resort after the boat ride

 

Day 6:

Silver Lake – Topola Oplenac – Vrnjačka Spa (BL) approx. 230 km

After breakfast, departure to Topola, the place where Karađorđe, a Serbian revolutionary, was chosen to become the leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. You’ll visit a Memorial Collection of King Peter the First, including St. George’s Church and the Mausoleum od Karađorđević dynasty located at the top of Oplenac Hill, in town of Topola. Also, you will visit King Peter’s House – gallery with his private things, and Karađorđe Museum. After this, we’ll take you to the Royal Wine Cellar. Lunch will be served in a quiet environment in a traditional Serbian village. You’ll enjoy the national food in a typical rural household with a beautiful view. In the evening, we’ll arrive at Vrnjačka Spa, the most famous spa resort in Serbia. Time at leisure and overnight.

 Day 7:

Vrnjačka Spa – Žiča Monastery – Studenica Monastery– Uvac – Zlatar (BL) approx. 240 km

We’ll leave this beautiful spa resort and head to visit two of the most beautiful monasteries in central Serbia. The first one, the Žiča monastery with its Romanesque style, originally painted in red in the tradition of the Mount Athos monasteries and the second one, the Studenica Monastery, the largest and richest of Serbia’s Orthodox monasteries. After lunch in this beautiful monastery, we’ll continue our ride to the outstanding beauty of the Special Nature Reserve where the river Uvac weaves in spirals through rugged limestone cliffs. This wild woodland is well-known as the habitat of the rare eagle and griffin-vulture bird species. We’ll take a short boat trip to explore the river and the entrance to the stunning caves with its 7 km long underground network of amazing stalactite and stalagmite formations. After the whole afternoon at this amazing natural surroundings, we’ll arrive at Zlatar, also known as „air spa“. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight.

 

Day 8:

Zlatar – Gostilje Waterfall – Sirogojno – Potpeće Cave – Zlatibor (BL) approx. 130 km

We’ll depart to Gostilje waterfall, the impressive attraction in Western Serbia, the place where according to the legend fairies are taking a bath. This stunning waterfall surrounded by peaceful and colorful nature will certainly amaze you. We’ll continue to Sirogojno village,  to see authentic 19th-century Serbian homesteads originating from the region of „The Old Village“. This village is a fully operational open-air museum, also well-known for producing quality knitwear. Traditional lunch featuring exclusively organic, homemade products from the area is served on-site. We’ll end today’s tour at the Popeće Cave created by subterranean rivers and inhabited even during the Neolithic period. We’ll arrive at the Zlatibor mountain which will be our destination for the next three overnights. Check in at the hotel. Overnight.

 

Day 9:

Zlatibor – Šargan the Eight – Mokra Gora – Mećavnik – Zlatibor (BL) approx. 95 km

We depart the hotel for a scenic ride on the Šargan Eight, narrow-gauge railway which once linked Belgrade and Dubrovnik. Experience breathtaking landscapes of Mokra Gora mountain from this vintage train that passes through 22 tunnels in just over 15 kilometers making a „figure-eight“ – hence its’ name. Our journey ends at the Mećavnik village, initially built as the movie set by the renowned film director Emir Kusturica for the movie „Life is a Miracle“. Today, it operates as a holiday resort featuring traditional timber built Serbian houses. The visit includes an al fresco lunch (weather permitting). Return to Zlatibor after lunch. Free afternoon and evening for exploring the resort’ and its’ traditional outdoor market.

Day 10:

Zlatibor – Tara National Park – River Drina Gorge – Perućac Lake – Zlatibor (BL) approx. 150 km

Our day starts by transversing picturesque mountain plain before reaching the Tara National Park for a scenic woodland walk. According to the old tales, this mountain was named after Slav’s God Tar who had settled here because of the area’s fascinating natural beauty. A gentle hike to a vantage point will reward us with beautiful views of the Drina River as it meanders through the valley. We then transfer to the River Drina for a two-hour cruise through narrow gorges and across stunning lake Perućac with a dinner. Our day ends at a vantage sport with one of Serbia’s most photographed natural scenes – a solitary house perched on a rock right in the middle of the river. Back to Zlatibor. Overnight.

 

Day 11:

Zlatibor – Belgrade (BL) approx. 215 km

After early breakfast, we check out from the hotel in Zlatibor and head to Belgrade. Along the way, we’ll stop for a lunch-break at the authentic village. Arriving at the capital is scheduled in the evening. Free time to enjoy in the city streets or to relax at the hotel. Overnight.

Optional: Traditional Serbian night with dinner and folklore (supplement price – 30€ – 3-course meal, folklore music, and dance performance, welcome drinks, and snacks)

 

Day 12:

Belgrade – Airport Nikola Tesla (B) approx. 25 km

After breakfast, time at leisure until departure to the airport.

*This tour can be customized to your needs on request*

*END OF THE PROGRAM*

Number of persons 10 15 20 25
Price in EUR 1478 1292 1175 1006

Supplement for single room: 145 EUR

 

Price includes:

  • Transfer according to the program
  • Licensed English or Chinese speaking guide during the whole tour
  • 1 FOC
  • Accommodation in Novi Sad (3 BB in 4* hotel), Belgrade (2 BB in 4* hotel), Silver Lake (1 BB at 4* hotel) Vrnjačka Spa (1 BB in 4* hotel) and in Zlatibor (3 BB in 4* hotel)
  • 8 Lunches: (3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th day)
  • 3 Dinners (1st, 2nd, 4th)
  • Wine tasting on 2nd, 3rd, 6th day
  • Boat ride on 5th, 7th and 10th day
  • Entrance fees (The Patriarchy’s Palace and the Chapel of Peace on 2nd day, Kelebija on 3rd day, The House of Flowers on 4th day, Smederevo Fortress and Viminacium on 5th day, Royal Residence on 6th day, Žiča and Studenica monasteries on 7th day, Sirogojno and Potpeće Cave on 8th day,  Šargan the Eight and Mećavnik on 9th day, Tara National Park tax on 10th day)

Price does not include:

  • Flight costs
  • Drinks during meals
  • Other costs not mentioned in the program

 

Abbreviations:

B – breakfast

L – lunch

D – dinner