Car Rental - Serbia

A city with a clear personality and extremely lively nightlife, Belgrade is no shrinking violet. Positioned at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, it has been a place with a key role in history. The Celts, Romans and Ottomans all staked their claim here, while it’s easy to find traces of the Habsburg dynasty.

Plenty of that history is packed into the Kalemegdan Citadel, the scene of dozens of battles over the centuries, with a 15^th century tower and many 19^th century elements, as well as fascinating exhibits such as Roman sarcophagi. Many visitors flock to the mausoleum containing the tomb of Marshal Tito, which is attached to the excellent Museum of Yugoslav History.

In the south-west of Serbia sits the region of Zlatibor, a gorgeous area with an almost Alpine feel. You’ll find fresh air, waterfalls, mountains and woods – as well as Serbs on vacation. It’s the place to idly peddle a boat on a lake, to see farm buildings from centuries past and to sample Serbian delicacies.

One of the most unique features is the village of Drvengrad. Built from scratch by the director Emir Kusturica for his 2004 movie ‘Life is a Miracle’, it’s a quaint place made from timber that now hosts a film festival and has streets named after Maradona, Bruce Lee and other stars. You can visit or even stay here, and the surrounding countryside is wild and worth exploring.

West of here lies the Tara National Park, full of hiking trails and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see wildlife such as brown bears, and rare types of owl and woodpecker.

Nis, in the south of Serbia, is the third-largest city in Serbia but one of the leaders in terms of heritage. It’s the birthplace of several Roman emperors, including Constantine the Great, although much of the city has been shaped by some 500 years of Ottoman rule.

There are parts of Nis that still feel ancient, with horse-drawn carriages a frequent sight on the streets. The university here, however, also means the town is youthful and fun, with great clubs and places to eat.

Make time for the Nis fortress. There have been many fortresses built on the site, although the one you’ll see today was erected in the 18^th century by the Turks. It’s not the staid tourist site that many such places are – it’s packed with cafes and restaurants, shops, stalls, a 16^th century mosque and hosts music festivals.

Finish your visit to Nis with some fine Serbian food. A ‘kafana’ is a café-cum-restaurant, and you’ll find the popular ‘burek’ at bakeries throughout the country – a combination of filo pastry with a variety of fillings including ground beef, potatoes and sometimes cheese.