• Overall

  Koryo introduces you to Serbia. Our guided and meticulously curated Serbia tour will take you on a truly memorable experience!

  A group tour to Serbia to uncover the soul of Serbia and the passion of the Balkans. Delve into Serbia’s rich history with a focus on the Tito era of architecture and monuments embracing the Second World War and Cold War.

  We begin in contemporary Belgrade, where underneath its modern, cosmopolitan veneer beats a strong and iconic socialist heart. We explore the city’s monuments, brutalist architecture and museums that highlight Yugoslavia's post-WWII significance and the pivotal role of Josip Broz Tito in world geopolitics.

  Leaving Belgrade, we board a ship and travel west on the Danube River. You travel past the remarkable Iron Gate scenery, the largest dam on the Danube. We drive through the pristine nature of Djerdap National Park, the medieval heritage of Golubac Fortress, and meet up with locals from the Negotinska Krajina minorities.

  Our journey then takes us from west to east, visiting the remarkable modernist WWII memorials at Šumarice and Kadinjača. The trip concludes in one of Serbia’s most scenic landscapes, with homemade food, and local anecdotes to thrill.

  This tour to Serbia is particularly relevant as contemporary Serbia negotiates its way between seeking EU membership whilst cultivating ties with Russia.

  We will be guided by our Serbian specialists Kristina (architect) and Nemanja (cultural specialist), and Koryo Tour director Nicholas Bonner (carrying the bags)!

  With two expert Serbian friends accompanying us throughout you will be on an unforgettable adventure! 

  Want to continue your exploration of Europe?
  Check out our Unseen Hungary tour or combine the two on our Crossroads of Europe Tour.

  Scroll down for an overview of our Serbia tour package highlights, tour itinerary, transport and visa information, and extra add-ons.

  ⬇⬇⬇

  Highlights

  • Experience the many layers of Belgrade like the Palace of Serbia.
  • Immerse yourself in nature with a boat visit to the stunning Danube gorge.
  • Enjoy the serene beauty of the Šargan-Mokra Gora nature park from the historic narrow-gauge heritage railway.
  • Fascinating stories about Serbia’s complex history and entertaining tales that reflect the unique spirit of the Balkans.

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• Itinerary

  Briefing Day

  1. May 11 | Sunday

     Arrival Day

     Arrival to Belgrade

     • The latest recommended arrival in Belgrade is this morning.
        
     • Check-in at the hotel is from 15:00.
        
     • If you wish to arrive in Belgrade earlier, please contact your Tour Manager and they can arrange extra nights for you at the hotel.

     Orientation and Welcome Group Dinner

     • We start our tour with a group dinner of some traditional Serbian food, coordination, and briefing sessions, before the adventure ahead!

     Accommodation | Mercure Belgrade Excelsior

     Included Meals | Dinner

  2. May 12 | Monday

     Brutalist Belgrade

     Palace of Serbia (aka SIV)

     • Explore the modernist architectural marvel of the Palace of Serbia used for various governmental and administrative purposes during the Yugoslav era. It was designed in 1946 by Vladimir Potočnjak and completed by Mihailo Janković in 1959.
       
       Combining classicist and modernist styles, the Palace is a secluded landmark on the Danube's right bank.
        
     • The building was the headquarters of the Federal Executive Council (Savezno Izvršno Veće - SIV), which was the executive branch of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It functioned similarly to a cabinet or council of ministers.
        
     • Stunning interiors, adorned with 20th-century Yugoslav art, mosaics, frescoes, and sculptures. The H-shaped building features 744 offices, 13 conference rooms, and the impressive Congress Hall under a glass dome. Today it’s partially used for governmental purposes, while other parts remain abandoned. 

     Tour of the Brutalist architecture of Novi Beograd

     • Our architectural expert and guide Kristina will introduce us to Novi Beograd (New Belgrade), renowned for its striking ‘masterpieces’ of Brutalist architecture, characterized by massive, raw concrete structures.
        
     • Constructed during the socialist era, particularly from the 1950s to the 1970s, this area was envisioned as a modernist utopia to accommodate Belgrade's growing population.
       
       Built on previously uninhabited marshland, Novi Beograd's design was driven by functionalism and socialist ideals, aiming to create a self-sufficient urban area with ample residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.
        
     • Key features include bold geometric forms and exposed concrete, reflecting the era's emphasis on practicality and the aesthetic of raw material, symbolising strength and resilience.
        
     • This will be a part walking/part bus tour.

     Accommodation | Mercure Belgrade Excelsior

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

  3. May 13 | Tuesday

     Tito's Heritage

     Museum of Yugoslavia

     • Explore Josip Broz Tito Memorial Centre, home to the Museum of Yugoslavia. The complex consists of three buildings;
        
     • ‘25th of May’ Museum | Opened in 1962 as a gift for Tito's 70^th birthday, this building showcases presents and Relay of Youth batons (more interesting than it sounds!).
        
     • House of Flowers | The mausoleum of Marshal Josip Broz Tito; however, it is not called as such out of respect to Yugoslavia's former president. The complex was built in 1975 and served as a winter garden for Tito. It was transformed to be Tito's resting place after his death in 1980.
        
     • Old Museum | This building highlights Yugoslav culture and ethnography. This is an enjoyable deep dive into Tito's life which is by many still viewed in a good light having kept a peaceful coexistence of the nations of the Yugoslav federation.
        
     • From the museum's archive, we will also have a look at Josip Broz Tito and Kim Il Sung’s diplomatic friendship during the Cold War, despite ideological differences.
       
       The Museum of Yugoslavia showcases artefacts and documents commemorating their relationship, including diplomatic gifts, photos of meetings, and letters exchanged between the leaders. This highlights Yugoslavia's role in non-aligned movement diplomacy.

     Tito’s Blue train

     • Experience Tito's Blue Train (Plavi voz), the luxurious state train of Yugoslav Marshal Josip Broz Tito, which hosted over 60 world leaders and travelled extensively across Yugoslavia and Europe.
       
       Today, the surviving carriages, with their elegant Art Deco interiors, don’t operate anymore but they are open for visitors in a somewhat hidden location.

     Evening at your own leisure

     • You can have dinner in one of the restaurants recommended by us and visit one of the vibrant nightlife districts.

     Accommodation | Mercure Belgrade Excelsior

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

  4. May 14 | Wednesday

     Danube Iron Gates

     Golubac Fortress

     • The ten towers of Golubac Fortress are not to be missed. Situated on the Danube River it is a mediaeval stronghold with a tumultuous history.
       
       Built during the 14^th century the castle witnessed numerous battles and depending on the outcome changed hands between Serbs, Hungarians, and Ottomans.
       
       Today, it stands on the banks of the river offering panoramic views of the Iron Gate Gorge and serving as a testament to its enduring architectural and historical significance.

     Tekija-Kladovo boatride

     • From Tekija to Kladovo along the Danube, we will pass the imposing Iron Gates Gorge, where rugged cliffs meet the river's tranquil waters.
       
       Ancient remnants like Trajan's Plaque, at the water level dedicated to the Roman Emperor Trajan to celebrate the construction of the Roman road and the bridge built over the Danube.
       
       We will have lunch on board of the boat as we pass the lush forests, hidden caves, and charming riverside villages dotting the route.

     Accommodation | Djerdap Kladovo

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

  5. May 15 | Thursday

     Hydroelectric Power Station

     Iron Gate Hydroelectric Power Station

     • The Iron Gate dam, a joint Romanian-Yugoslavian endeavour starting in 1964, transformed the Danube valley below Belgrade into a vast reservoir.
       
       Completed in 1972, it submerged communities like Orșova and Ada Kaleh, displacing 17,000 people. Yugoslav President Tito visited the site during its construction, and the opening was celebrated with grandeur, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation.
       
       Today, Djerdap and Porțile de Fier National Parks protect the area's rich biodiversity and historical sites.

     Accommodation | Base Camp - Urban Guerrilla, Negotin

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

  6. May 16 | Friday

     Wallachian Magic

     Discover the Wine cellars, visit the graveyard 

     • Rajačke Pivnice | An ancient wine-making area where the villagers built wine cellars as a secondary settlement 2km away from their village. More monumental and nestled on Beli Breg hill near Rajac village.
       
       Dating back to the mid-19^th century, these 196 cellars and 3 distilleries offer a glimpse into Serbia's winemaking tradition. The winding streets follow the unusual layout of the stone two-story cellars, some transformed into taverns and museums.
        
     • Graveyard | This 19^th-century graveyard is in the settlement and not the village (which shows the importance placed on the wine) and tombstones are adorned with intricate carvings. It's a very bizarre but wonderful hidden gem waiting to be explored.

     Meet a fortune teller from the Vlah minority

     • Vlach Magic | A mysterious belief system practised by the Vlach ethnic minority in eastern Serbia. Combining pre-Christian, Paleo-Balkan, and Indo-European elements, Vlach Magic features rituals performed in natural settings like streams and forests.
       
       Practitioners believe in both "Black" and "White Magic," with shamans, often women, acting as mediators between the divine and the human. These rituals, deeply rooted in tradition, continue to attract people seeking their potent, mystical powers.

     Accommodation | Hotel Petrus, Paracin

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

  7. May 17 | Saturday

     Under Socialism against Fascism Expedition

     Arsenal in Kragujevac

     • Knežev Arsenal | A unique military-industrial and architectural complex in Serbia and Europe.
       
       Established in the late 19^th century, it features striking red-brick buildings, intricate rooftops, and towering chimneys. Home to Serbia's first electric light in 1884, this historic site now hosts the "Old Foundry" museum showcasing 19^th and 20^th-century weapons.

     Šumarice Memorial Park & Kadinjača

     • “October in Kragujevac” Memorial Park | Also known as Šumarice Memorial Park, this park honours the 2,800 men and boys executed by German forces in 1941.
       
       Here we can explore the symbolic 21 October Museum and several significant sculptures: the "Interrupted Flight" monument, the "Monument of Pain and Defiance", the "One Hundred for One" monument, the "Resistance and Freedom" monument, and the "Crystal Flower" monument.
        
     • Fighters Workers Battalion Monument | This monument near Užice commemorates the November 1941 battle where the Workers' Battalion bravely resisted the German forces.
       
       The memorial complex, expanded in 1979 by sculptor Miodrag Živković and architect Aleksandar Đokić, includes a pyramid-shaped monument, a crypt, and a museum with over 300 authentic items and documents.
        
       • This monument is part of the photography project "Spomenik" by Jan Kempenaers, initiated in 2006, which gained global renown.
          
       • This project documented the magnificence of the numerous World War II memorials established by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, particularly those constructed in the 1960s and 1970s under President Josip Broz Tito.
          
       • These monuments, created by renowned sculptors like Dušan Džamonja and architects such as Bogdan Bogdanović, are celebrated for their artistic significance. Despite many being abandoned post-Yugoslavia, they remain powerful symbols of the era's artistic and patriotic spirit.
          
     • In the evening, we will have a movie night at Küstendorf.

     Accommodation | Hotel Mećavnik, Küstendorf

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. May 18 | Sunday

     Day in Mokra Gora

     Train ride at Šargan Eight

     • The Šargan Eight (Šarganska osmica) is a restored narrow-gauge railway in Serbia, running from Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi. Originally built in the 1920s in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, it features a scenic 15.44 km route with 22 tunnels and 5 bridges.
       
       Reopened in 2003 and extended to Višegrad in 2010, it offers a nostalgic journey on the so-called "Ćira" train. The ride takes approximately 1.5 hours each way. The area gained fame as a location for Emir Kusturica's movie "Life is a Miracle," enhancing its allure for visitors.

     Drive back to Belgrade

     • A 3 to 4 hours drive back to the capital where our tour sadly ends.

     Accommodation | Mercure Belgrade Excelsior
     
     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch

  9. May 19 | Monday

     Departure Day

     • Flights leave from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (airport code: BEG) to about a hundred destinations in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. You may also wish to spend more time in Serbia. Contact your Tour Manager for tips.
        
     • If your flight is not in the early morning, we suggest you visit the Aeronautical Museum, located very near the airport. Founded in 1957, the museum moved to its current, architecturally stunning facility in 1989, designed by Ivan Štraus. This geodesic glass building houses over 200 aircrafts, including rare finds like the Fiat G.50 and wreckage from the 1999 NATO bombing.
       
       You can discover aviation history through its extensive collection of engines, radars, and aeronautical equipment.

     Included Meals | Breakfast

     End of Tour

• Extras

  • Upgrade to your own room in Central Europe

    The default rooming option for this tour is a shared hotel room. Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra 55 EUR per night.

• What is / is not included?

  INCLUDED

  • Local expert guides and a Koryo Tours tour leader
  • Meals other than those taken at leisure
  • Hotel accommodation
  • All included sights
  • Transportation in Serbia
  • An amazing time in a fascinating country!

  NOT INCLUDED

  • Tip for the driver
  • Incidentals, extra drinks, etc.
  • Meals taken at leisure
  • Optional single supplement: 55 EUR per night
  • International transportation to/from Belgrade not included
  • Transport from/to point of entry/departure to/from Belgrade hotel not included
  • Spending money on souvenirs

• Notes

  Transport Options

  This tour starts and ends in Belgrade. You will be responsible for arranging your means of transportation to Serbia and the hotel.
  
  The airport code for Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is BEG.
  
  The hotel is easily accessible from the airport by public transportation which we recommend using over taxi and other options.
  
  If you wish to arrive early or leave later, please liaise with your Tour Manager.
  
  For those joining us on our Unseen Hungary Tour as well, a Belgrade–Budapest flight on Air Serbia and transport from the airport to the hotel are included in the tour price.
  
  
  Visa Information

  Most of our travellers will not require a visa to Serbia.
  
  However, if you have a valid Schengen, UK, EU-member, or US visa or have a residence permit in these countries you can enjoy a visa-free entry to the Republic of Serbia.

  For details and if you still need a visa, please consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

  
  Additional notes

  Groups will be in the experienced hands of a Koryo Tours tour leader.
  
  Please note that when on tour your day-to-day itinerary may differ from what is advertised above. Your tour leader will ensure, however, that everything available at the time is covered, and replacement options are provided where needed. We will also add in extras when there is time.
  
  After the tour, we will send out a list of all participants' emails so you can keep in touch, swap photos etc. If you do not wish to be on this list then please let us know.

Please apply by 25th April, 2025.