Serbia

Serbia is a Balkan country on the Danube, with plains in the north and mountains in the south. Belgrade rises above the confluence of the Sava and the Danube: the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan park overlook both rivers, pedestrian Knez Mihailova Street leads into the centre, and cobbled Skadarlija, the old bohemian quarter, is lined with restaurants. Dorćol and Savamala bring design shops, galleries and riverside promenades, and cafés and a lively food scene set the pace.

Beyond the capital lie the vineyard-covered Fruška Gora hills and the wine town of Sremski Karlovci, Novi Sad with the Petrovaradin Fortress above the Danube, the cliff-lined Đerdap gorge in the east, and the forested mountains of Zlatibor, Tara and Kopaonik, with ski slopes in winter. Studenica Monastery, founded in the late 12th century, with its white marble church, is UNESCO-listed.

At the table: ćevapi, small grilled minced-meat rolls; pljeskavica, a large grilled patty; kajmak, a rich clotted cream; ajvar, a roasted red pepper relish; burek, flaky filo pie; slow-roasted meats, river fish and wines from Fruška Gora and Župa. Summers are hot and winters cold; spring and early autumn are usually the most pleasant for a city break, and winter belongs to the mountains. Serbia suits food and wine lovers on a city break, couples, and design and architecture lovers.