Serbs are warm people especially towards tourists. Most Serbs speak some English (seniors, however, are more likely to speak German and/or French), so you will be able to find your way around by asking directions. Most tourists come to Serbia in the summer and you will often hear German, Italian, French and English on the streets of Belgrade due to the number of tourists.
In the north: continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion: moderate continental climate; to the south: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall.
The first Serbian state was formed in the early 11th century, expanding by the mid 14th century to an empire comprising most of the Balkans. In 1389, Serbs lost a decisive battle in the Kosovo field against Ottoman empire. Serbia managed to preserve its autonomy for another seventy years only to be finally overwhelmed by the Turks in 1459. An uprising in the early 1800s that grew in the full scale war (War of Restoration) led to the restoration of Serbian independence in 1815.
The 1914 Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia following the asassination of Archduke Ferdinand by an ethnic Serb high school student precipitated the first World War. In its aftermath,in 1918, victorious Serbia gatherd all south Slav lands (Croatia, Slovenia, Slavonia, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegowina, and Montenegro)into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes; The country's name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany and Italy in 1941 was resisted by Yugoslav Army in fatherland (Chetniks), commanded by Lt.-Gen Dragoljub Mihajlovi? and communist led guerilla (partisans) who eventually started fighting each other as well as the invaders. The partisans, commanded by Field-Marshal Josip Broz Tito emerged victorious and formed a provisional governement that abolished monarchy and proclaimed republic in 1946 after a dubious referendum. At the end of the war nearly all ethnic Germans left the country. Although pro-Communist, J.B. Tito's new government successfully steered its own delecate path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In the early 1990s, post-Tito Yugoslavia began to unravel along ethnic lines: Slovenia, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia all split from the Yugoslav Union in 1991; and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. All of efforts to preserve Yugoslavia were ultimately unsuccessful and bloody civil wars broke out in Croatia and in Bosnia. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) in 1992. Slobodan Milosevic was elected the first president of Serbia. In the late 1990s, the conflict with the Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo led to a NATO bombing campaign and direct intervention, which left the placement of Kosovo under UN administration. Slobodan Milosevic, by this time elected for the president of the federation, lost Federal elections in the fall of 2000 to Vojislav Kostunica. The country reestablished its membership in the OUN and started preparations to join the EU. In 2002, the republics of Serbia and Montenegro began negotiations to forge a looser relationship, which led first to the name change of the nation to "Serbia and Montenegro", then culminated in Montenegro declaring independence in June 2006. More recently Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence, however this act remains unrecognised by Serbia and most of the other countries.
; '''Independence''' : 4 February 2003 (when changed from ''Federal Republic of Yugoslavia'' to ''State Union of Serbia and Montenegro''), 5 June 2006 (from ''State Union of Serbia and Montenegro'' to ''Serbia'')
; '''National holidays''': January 1 - 2 (New Year's Day), January 7 (Eastern Orthodox Christmas), January 14 (National Holiday (Orthodox New Year), January 27 (Saint Sava's feast Day), February 15 (Sretenje / Groundhog Day (Candlemas) / Serbian National Day), May 1 - 2 (Labour Day), May 9 (Victory Day), June 28 (Vidovdan / St Vitus Day)
Registration is done automatically by hotel staff upon check-in, however if you are staying with friends in a private dwelling, you must register your presence with the police in the district in which you are staying.
You will receive the bottom part of the Foreigner Registration Form to carry with you if registering at a police station, or a printout from hotel reception if staying at a hotel; when exiting the country, you will be required to present it to the Border Police. Sometimes they will not ask for it, and you can keep it as an administrative memento. Never forget, though, that failure to register can result in prosecution and a large fine.}}
Getting into Serbia does not constitute a problem for most European nationals. You don't need to obtain a visa for entering. Citizens of USA, Canada and Australia and the European Union do not need visas either. Citizens of Bosnia need only ID. Check with your nearest Serbian embassy for current and detailed information.
Serbia has announced that visitors with Kosovan visas or passport stamps will not be allowed into the country. In practice, officers seem content with simply crossing them out and replacing them with Serbian ones, but it would be foolhardy to rely on this. Likewise, leaving Serbia via Kosovo is not considered leaving the country, so you run the risk of being charged with overstaying if you ever return.
'''TIP''': Licensed taxi service fare from the airport to the city has a flat rate of RSD 800 (?10). Travel time to the city centre is approximately 20 minutes. Incoming taxis have constant radio communication with airport authorities. This ensures passengers a better alternative. Should there be any problem finding taxi you should address the staff of the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade in the Arrivals Hall to call a taxi for you. All taxis working at the airport are comfortable limousines in top-notch condition.
Using taxi services for destinations outside metropolitan Belgrade is unwise, as prices are unreasonably high. All licensed taxi drivers have a badge, an oval blue license plate with a serial number, and the Belgrade Coat of Arms displayed on the roof. Make sure that the taximeter is switched on. Tarif 1 is the correct one Monday to Saturday from morning till 10 am. '''Tarif 3 is the 'trick' fare used to scam out of obscene amounts of money'''. Or better take one of the several bus lines, check the Belgrade section.{br}
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Several international trains from Belgrade to Budapest and Vienna and to Zagreb-Ljubljana-Munchen/Zurich. Usually, they should not be too late (seldom more than 1/4 of an hour). The night train to Budapest was very regularly overcrowded in summer 2005 (only 1 sitting car). Furthermore, there are direct (day or night) trains from Belgrade to Skopje - Thessaloniki (Belgrade-Thessaloniki 30 euro/seat+20euro/bed one way at 2 beds compartment). Trains to Sofia and Bucarest however tend to be often quite late (about an hour). Trains to Macedonia (Greece), Bulgaria and Romania are allegedly reported to oftenly consist of old, not very comfortable, cars.
For timetables and all other infos, check website of national career '''Serbian Railways'''[http://www.serbianrailways.com/active/en/home.html]
A cheap way of traveling to or from Serbia might be the Balkan Flexipass.
Be sure your Green Card has an uncancelled "YU" or "SRB" box. Coming in from Hungary, the Szeged/Horgos border crossing is notorious for its congestion. If crossing the border from Hungary, try the Tompa/Kelebija crossing point, about 20km west.
On the two-lane E75 between Szeged, Hungary to Belgrade, please note that cars over-taking will often use the unofficial "middle-lane". Exercise caution and pull over to the hard shoulder on the right to let them through safely. The dual-carriageway should be completed in 2009 to eliminate this risk.
The highway between the Croatian border and Leskovac (via Belgrade and Ni?) is tolled, and the toll is significantly higher for foreign cars.
Police are generally stationed at major junctions or at underpasses to control traffic and speed. Drivers commonly warn others of a police presence by flicking the high-beams on two or three times.
'''Vienna''' - Buses leave from Sudbahnhof station almost every day. For destinations south of Belgrade, Zoran Reisen coaches leave at 3pm on Friday, and charge around 45 euros for a one-way trip (as at August 2007).
'''Hungary''' - When you take an international bus from Belgrade towards Germany, don't surprised when a collection is held inside the bus for paying the Hungarian border guards a fee to let the bus go faster over the border. This is what you would call a bribe. On your way into Serbia it seems 'cheaper', though the Hungarian border guards will demand all passengers sign a form declaring they 'offered no gift, cash or otherwise, to Hungarian border police' whether they paid a bribe or not.
There are boat tours, which pass through Belgrade. These are English Trafalgar Tours which cruise along the Danube and have a two day stopover in Belgrade.
Hitchhiking across Serbia is still acceptable and most drivers will treat you like a friend. However, necessary precautions should still be taken. Generally, it is easy to hitchhike through Vojvodina and it's much more difficult to hitch a ride from Belgrade to the south, in the direction of Kosovo, or Macedonia and Montenegro. The [http://www.serbiatravelers.org/en/index.php/hitchhiking Hitchhiker's guide to Serbia] offers a collection of hitchhiking tips for a number of cities and towns in Serbia. It was made by the members of the Serbia Travel Club, an association of independent travelers from Serbia, and is available in English and Serbian.
'''Languages''': Serbian (the majority), also Hungarian in the north.
English is commonly spoken throughout Serbia and the younger people tend to have excellent command. They are also quite willing to practice it with foreigners. Also you can try with young people talking German, French or Spanish which are learned in Serbian schools.
The Serbian language similar to with Croatian and Bosnian. Before the era of nationalist linguistic policies and the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, they were all known as Serbo-Croatian. Today people in the former Yugoslavia no longer use this general term for what remains a common language.
If you speak Russian it can prove to be occasionally helpful for you. Even though Serbia has never been politically involved in any way with Russia, the two languages have some similarities. This also includes all other slavic languages, especially Bulgarian and Macedonian.
In Vojvodina most people speak Serbian, but other languages are also used. In some towns near the Hungarian boarder you are more likely to hear Hungarian. There are many smaller minorities, like the Slovaks, the Romanians, and the Russians, etc. who often speak their native languages as well.
There are two rivers which go through Belgrade: The Sava and Danube. There are a lot of old buildings on all four banks, including a huge fortress (Kalemegdan), that has been built, modelled and remodelled by Celts, Romans, Byzantins, Serbs, Austrians and Turks over more than 2,000 years. It has a multitude of various towers and ports, and two long walking/biking paths along both rivers.
Medieval orthodox monasteries ? Studenica, Manasija, ?i?a, Ravanica. Excellent opportunity to see part of Serbian history. If you are interested in art, there are excellent fresco masterpieces. Recommendaion ? _gBeli An?eo_h (White Angel) fresco in Mileseva monastery.
Belgrade night life ? Belgrade is very famous for its whole-night-party clubs. It depends from musical taste, but if you are in search of place to feel local atmosphere and good vibes, visit bohemian street _gSkadarlija_h, although this street is the haunt of domestic tourists wanting folk music and traditional Belgrade dining. It tends to be full of ill educated nouveau-riche businessmen getting blearily drunk and is not really of any interest to foreigners, particularly younger ones.
For younger population club Plastic is the place to go. It offers a variety of electronic club music and often hosts very popular international DJ's as well as the best of Serbian DJs. For more info (http://www.club-plastic.com/)
Coffee Bar "Dali" in Hilandarska street is one of the hot spots of young urban Belgrade, although very small it is always full and offers great atmosphere and good music usually selected by some of the best Belgrade DJs. Style's vary from Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Electro, Drum n Bass to Bosanova, Nu Funk and RnB. And if you like "Rakija", on Fridays this bar has a theme night called "Rakijanje" (Drinking Rakija in Serbian slang).
Jazz lovers should visit "Ptica" (the Bird) in ?anti?eva street. Fridays and Saturdays live jazz music. Club also has a CD shop dedicated only to jazz music.
Also, don't forget to visit "Tramvaj" at the corner of Ruzveltova and 27. Marta street. Live music, young people and excellent atmosphere.
Ada Ciganlija is also an excellent place to kick back and relax during summer. It is as locals call it the sea of Belgrade. A lot of sport fields and courts (soccer, basketball, golf, volleyball, etc.). Cafes serving ice cream and beer abound on the banks of this lake-beach park.
Favorite leisure activity in Belgrade is drinking coffee in numerous bars, bistros and cafes (especially in Strahinji?a Bana street, which is known locally as Silicon Valley as it is frequented by loud, vulgar and surgically-enhanced folksingers along with their hangers-on and wannabes). It is very strange, but most of places are occupied all day long - ie, within working hours. You should check: Downtown cafe, Buka bar, Movie bar, Iron cafe, Biblioteka cafe, Monza cafe-boat, Bibis cafe-boat, and many more; People who are not in the folk and MTV music, and don't like to drink overpriced coffee, should avoid this street. There are coffee bars on almost every corner in Belgrade, which offer more relaxed atmosphere and are designed with more taste that those in Strahinji?a Bana street.
EXIT festival ? Biggest music festival in SE Europe, that is happening in the beginning of July, in Novi Sad, on Petrovaradin fortress. (http://www.exitfest.org/)
When ordering a burger ask for 'pljeskavica' (pronounced: pl-yee-eska-veetsa) ask for kajmak (like mildly sour cream) (pronounced: kay-mahk) it tastes way better than it sounds. ''Stepin Vajat'' and ''Duff'' at ''Autokomanda'', ''Loki'' in downtown area and ''Iva'' in ''?arkovo'' are the best grill fastfood restaurants in town. Also try ?evapcici (pronounced: tse-vaptsitsi), they are small parcels of minced meat, grilled with hot spices. It is considered a local fast food delicacy. Highly recommended to carnivores.
Burek (pronounced Boor-ek), sometimes decribed as the Balkan equivalent of McDonalds due to its being sold everywhere, is very delicious. It is made with a range of fillings including meat, cheese, spinach, apple, cherry....... Not for dieters as it is quite oily. Morning is definitely the best time to eat this (sometimes sold-out by afternoon).
Tap water is perfectly safe to drink, and mainly of a good quality, too. There are also many springs and fountains with excellent-quality drinking water - the most popular ones being the fountain on Knez Mihailova in Belgrade, and the many fountains in the city of Nis. One must pay attention when it comes to water in Vojvodina. Some regions ( Kikinda, Zrenjanin..) have heavily polluted water, that is not even used for cooking, only as technical water.
Serbia is generally a very safe place to visit. The locals are incredibly polite and helpful in case you require any assistance. However, you should always be aware of pickpockets, mainly in crowded tourist places and on public transportation. Street robberies, murders, or attacks are highly unusual even in dark or remote parts of the city. One should always watch out for drivers, who can be very rude to pedestrians or cyclists.
When toasting in Serbia, as in the most of european countries, make sure you make eye contact. You may be invited to drink gallons, but are expected to be able to hold your drink. Being obviously drunk is a sign of bad taste, lack of character, and worse. It is always nice to toast in your companion's native tongue. ''Cheers'' is ''?iveli'' in Serbian, ''gezuar'' in Albanian (Don_ft confuse these two,or you will be in trouble!!!) and ''egeszsegedre'' in Hungarian.
The word ''molim'' is key to polite conversation in Serbian. It basically means ''please'', but is also an appropriate response when somebody thanks you (and says ''hvala''). It also means, ''What_fs that?'' if you didn_ft understand some word. Just saying ''?ta''? (''What?)'' can sound rude. It may be said that the use of the word ''molim'' is similar to the use of ''bitte'' in German.
Like most European languages, has the formal and informal way of saying ''you'' (''Vi'' and ''ti''). Use the formal ''Vi'' version when addressing older people. People are normally not addressed or referred to by their first names, unless among friends or relatives.
Serbian greetings are: Dobro jutro = Good morning | Dobar dan = "Good day" indeed to be used most of the day | Dobro ve?e = Good evening | Dovi?enja = Bye | Laku no? = Good night (only when going to sleep, otherwise Dobro ve?e) | Zdravo = The most common informal greeting, used both when coming and leaving.
There are three mobile phone networks in Serbia: MTS, Telenor and Vip. Prepaid SIM cards cost 200 dinars. In Vip stores you can buy a Vip 226 (rebranded Sagem my220V) phone with prepaid SIM card for 1999 dinars.
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