Serbia

Serbia is a landlocked Balkan country whose reputation lags well behind its actual appeal—Belgrade in particular has become one of Europe's more interesting capital cities, with a nightlife scene (including barges, or "splavovi," moored along the Sava and Danube rivers) that draws comparisons to Berlin, at a fraction of the cost.

The capital mixes Austro-Hungarian architecture, socialist-era Yugoslav blocks, and the Kalemegdan fortress overlooking the confluence of two rivers. Belgrade's history is layered and often visible at once: Ottoman remnants, Tito-era monuments, and buildings still scarred from NATO's 1999 bombing campaign.

Novi Sad, more relaxed and student-filled, hosts the EXIT music festival every summer inside an 18th-century fortress. Further south, Serbia turns rural and mountainous fast—Zlatibor and the Tara National Park offer hiking and cooler air, while monasteries like Studenica hold onto medieval Serbian Orthodox heritage.

Food is hearty and meat-heavy: ćevapi, pljeskavica, and rakija (fruit brandy) show up everywhere, often alongside generous hospitality. Serbians have a reputation for directness and warmth that surprises visitors expecting something colder.

English is common among younger people in cities, less so elsewhere. Travel is cheap by Western European standards, and the country works well as an overland stop between Central Europe and the Balkans further south.