SERBIA
Fun Facts From Globus Tours
- The main religion is Orthodox Christianity, and St. Sava in Belgrade is one of the world’s largest orthodox churches.
- A fifth of all Roman Emperors, including Constantine the Great, were born on the territory of modern-day Serbia.
- Serbia is the one of the top raspberry exporters in the world.
At the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Serbia’s land-locked territory covers 88,000 square miles. Its population of 8.7 million people is comprised of mainly Serbs and a number of other minorities including Albanians, Hungarians, Romanians, Croats, and Bulgarians. The official language is Serbian, the alphabets are Cyrillic and Latin, and the main religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, of which the Serbian Orthodox Church (Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is part. The capital, Belgrade, is the administrative, economic, and cultural heart of Serbia. Outdoor sports are enjoyed as well as Serbia’s many natural attractions, wine routes, and spas. Famous Serbs include scientist and prolific inventor Nikola Tesla, physicist and physical chemist Mihajlo Pupin, and more recently the 13-time Grand Slam tennis champion Novak Djokovic.
VISAS, PASSPORTS, AND OTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Visas to Serbia are not required for US citizens. If you hold a passport from another country, please check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to Serbia. All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Please carry proper identification (your passport) on you and do not leave it in your suitcase or hotel room.
It is advisable to carry your passport with you at all times.
COUNTRY CODES
The country code for Serbia is 381. When calling to Serbia from overseas, dial your international access code (011 from the US/Canada), followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. Phone numbers in Serbia are 5-7 digits in length. Dialing from the US/Canada: 011 381+## ### ####.
CURRENCY
The official currency of Serbia is the Serbian Dinar (RSD).
Bank hours: generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; some branches stay open until 7pm. Saturdays: 9am-1pm.
1 Serbian Dinar (RSD) = 100 Paras
- Banknote denominations: Dinar 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000
- Coin denominations: Paras 50; Dinar 1, 2, 5, 10, 20
Major credit cards are generally accepted in shops (Visa and MasterCard). However, if traveling to smaller towns or villages make sure you have some cash on you. If you run out of cash and there are no ATMs or banks, the post office may be able to provide cash, though this is not guaranteed.
For the most current exchange rates, please go to our website at Globusjourneys.com/Currency.
BUDGETING AND SHOPPING
The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person. Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages as provided by our experienced personnel.
- The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is 200 Dinar.
- An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately 800-1000 Dinar.
- Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage starts at approximately 2000 Dinar.
- Shopping specialties: folk-art products, rakija (brandy), Pirot kilims/rugs.
TIPPING
Tipping for service is customary in Serbia. For restaurants, 10-15% is a reasonable amount for service.
For taxis, round up the fare.
A small tip to staff is appreciated for room service (1-2 Dinar)
ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Outlets
Voltage for outlets is 220-230V. American voltage is generally 110V Hz. Therefore, you will need a converter for your travels. Adapters will be necessary to adapt your plug into the outlet but may not convert the voltage, so both devices are necessary. Serbia uses a round, 2-prong plug that looks like:
TEMPERATURES
The climate is temperate, with all four distinctive seasons. Serbia tends to have hot, dry summers falls, and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall. To help you plan, below are average low and high temperatures for Serbia.
To convert to Celsius, subtract 30, then divide by 2. While not exact, this simple formula will give a close estimation.
FOOD SPECIALTIES
Pecenje (whole roasted pork, lamb, and goat), Đuveč (stewed vegetables and pork meat similar to ratatouille), goulash, karađorđeva šnicla (breaded rolled steak stuffed with kajmak (cream cheese), sarma (cabbage or vine leaves filled with ground beef or pork), pita and burek (cheese/egg/meat pasties), Proja (savoury cheesecake), slivovica (plum brandy).
FEW WORDS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE
Serbian (pronounced as):
Good morning/day: Dobro jutro/dobar dan, Good evening: Dobro veče, Please: Molim vas, You’re welcome: Molim, nema na čemu, Thank you: Hvala, Yes: Da, No: Ne, Do you speak English?: Da li govorite engleski?, I don’t understand: Ne razumem, Please write it down: Zapišite to molim vas, How much?: Koliko košta?, 1: Jedan, 2: Dva, 3: Tri, 4: Četiri, 5: Pet, 6: Šest, 7: Sedam, 8: Osam, 9: Devet, 10: Deset, Where is…?: Gde je…?, Telephone: Telefon, Bathroom: Toaleta, Tea: Čaj, Coffee: Kafa, Mineral water: Mineralna voda , Cheers!: Ziveli/Na zdravlje!
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE COUNTRY INFORMATION
Additional country-specific information for US citizens can be found on the US Government’s website www.travel.state.gov. Here, you can find the most up-to-date information about destination descriptions, passports/visas, safety and security, transportation, travel local laws, alerts/warnings, vaccinations, and more. For citizens of other nations, we recommend you consult your local consulate for travel information, regulations, and requirements.
