Shun the obvious and dare to discover a region of surprising beauty and rich history. The ragged charm of Belgrade nightlife, the soothing vineyards and monasteries on the green plains, the mountain strongholds of historical rebellion and heroic resistance; the curious traveller will find a lot to like in today's Serbia.
Destination Facts
President: Fatmir Sejdiu (Kosovo)
Prime minister: Hashim Thaci(Kosovo)
President: Boris Tadic (Serbia)
Prime minister: Mirko Cvetkovic (Serbia)
Government: republic
Time zone: GMT +1
Area: 88360
Population: 10160000
Languages: Latin and Cyrillic alphabets. Latin alphabet. Serbian Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Currency: Serbian Dinar (DIN)
Country Dialing Code: 381
JAT (Yugoslav Airlines) has regional services throughout Europe. Other airlines like Lufthansa and Aeroflot fly to Belgrade, and Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Adria Airlines, British Airways and Turkish Airlines fly into Prishtina. International trains from Belgrade call at Novi Sad and Subotica for destinations in the north and west, and Ni š for those going east. No trains run in Kosovo at the time of writing. Reservations are recommended and a student card will get you a reduction on some trains. Eurail and Inter-Rail passes are accepted and sold at Belgrade train station. Drivers from Britain, Spain, Germany and some other countries need an international driving licence; otherwise visitors can use their national licences. Vehicles need third-party insurance plus insurance bought at the border. Traffic police are everywhere so drive carefully and stick assiduously to speed limits.
Buses are necessary for travel in Kosovo and to Novi Pazar, gateway to Kosovo. Jugoslovenske Železnice (JŽ ) provides adequate railway services from Belgrade, serving Novi Sad, Subotica and Niš . There are four classes of train: ekspresni (express), poslovni (rapid), brzi (fast) and putnicki (slow), so make sure you have the right ticket. VIP, Hertz, Europcar and Net Rent-a-Car all have offices at Belgrade airport and in the major cities.
Winter temperatures are, unsurprisingly, cold; January sits in the fairly stable average range between -3° C (26° F) and 3° C (37° F); slightly colder for the mountainous areas. Serbia's summer temperatures average 22° C (71° F) and rainfall, while a bit heavier, tends to fall all at once in pleasant summer storms.
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