Serbia

All our Serbia collections:

• Best places to stay in Belgrade

Most of us still remember footage of Serbia as a war zone in the 1990s, so it might not be top of your 'to visit' list, but today's Serbia is bounding towards western Europe in perfect safety. Serbia's architecture and national treasures will draw in those interested in great European cultures, and Belgrade has shaken off its dark days with vigour to become a lively, and quite cool city. If you're looking for the best places to stay in Serbia you'll certainly find a lot of choice in Belgrade, but if you're here to explore the country's rolling hills and wooded valleys, or its famous monasteries then you'll be better off staying in one of the pretty rural towns.

Southern Serbia is a wonderfully scenic destination for anyone after an outdoorsy break. Zlatibor's hills are great for hikers, Kopaonik is ideal for skiers on a budget, and the Raška region is where you'll find the cultural marks of Ottoman rule.

Vojvodina's flat plains are home of a wide range of ethnic groups and this region is littered with beautiful and significant monasteries and historic landmarks.

Belgrade

Belgrade certainly has a lot to offer - colossal domed churches, the Kalemegdan Citadel, numerous museums and galleries, and Tito's mausoleum, just to name a few obvious highlights.

And beyond Belgrade's breeze block towers and graceful Habsburg masterpieces, around the Danube and Sava rivers, are the charming Art Nouveau buildings, leading into the pedestrianised centre of town.

The mish mash of architecture here is a legacy from the forty times this city has been invaded, from the Ottomans to the troubles of the end of the last century.

Belgrade's old town is lined on two sides by the rivers, and at the very centre, just before the rivers join, is the Belgrade Fortress. Most of Belgrade's main historic sights are within a twenty minute walk from here. And so are a number of the best places to stay in Serbia.

Highlights outside Belgrade:

• One of modern Serbia's biggest and best known events is the Exit festival in Novi Sad, which is a big, friendly town with plenty of nightlife all year round, which sprawls out of outdoor cafes into the towns pretty parks. The town spreads out around the Petrovaradin Citadel, which is also where the festival is held.
• If you're looking for an unusual, and reasonably priced ski resort, look no further than Kopaonik.
• Novi Pazar is where the Turkish culture has best melded with the Serbian, and this colourful town was right in the heartland of medieval Serbia, so is a great base to see some impressive historic treasures.

For a Belgrade city break

• Townhouse 27 is a sleek boutique hotel in central Belgrade. Its 21 rooms combine style and comfort in quiet surrounds.
• Square Nine is the epitome of modern Belgrade, with its statement facade, luxury linen, cashmere throws, products by Hermes, sleek spa and slightly hipster ambience.
• The Metropol Palace is a more traditional five star option, but it's been opened and closed several times since the original opening in 1957, and it's surprisingly sleek and contemporary.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay in Serbia for you? Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Serbia, or contact, one of our friendly gurus for advice.