If you are planning a European excursion that takes in Belgrade and surrounding areas, this article was written with you in mind. Serbia is very much a jewel of European culture and the capital Belgrade has much to offer the tourist and the country borders with Hungary to the north, Romania to the northeast, Bulgaria to the southeast, north Macedonia to the south, Bosnia & Herzegovina to the west and Montenegro to the south.
Belgrade
A city that is steeped in history, Belgrade sits on the convergence of two rivers, the Danube and Sava, and this unique city is one of the oldest in mainland Europe. There are many attractions to enjoy, you must visit the ‘House of Flowers’, which is a mausoleum of Josip Tito. Constructed in 1975, it was to be a winter garden for Josip Broz, a prominent communist politician; the structure has 3 sections, a central area with a section on each side and the flowers have been replaced by white rocks. If you are looking to book luxury train travel through Europe, there are specialist luxury train tour operators and they can be found with an online search. This region has changed hands many times over the centuries, witnessing many conflicts and when you have an English-speaking guide, you can learn a lot about the city’s history.
Tour The City
When you book a luxury train journey that incorporates Belgrade, you can tour the city with an English-speaking guide and learn about the history of this unique metropolis. The Town Hall is a must-see, while Republic Square is a grand area with stunning architecture and nearby Mihailova Street is a pleasant place with coffee shops and bakeries; this location was chosen by wealthy people to construct their residence. One major attraction is the Kalemegdan Fortress, an imposing structure that was built to protect government officials during troubled times.
Sargan Eight
The Sargan Eight old narrow-gauge railway that connects Mokra Gora to Sargan Vitasi, is a stunning station that is well worth a visit. The railway was left to degrade in the 1990s and was finally restored and reopened in 2003; there is a great museum in Mokra Gora, a village that is famous as a tourist hotspot. In 2011, an extension was added to the network that connects Visegrad, a town that sits on the convergence of rivers Drina and Rsav. Tara National Park is worth a visit, which includes the spectacular Tara Mountain, which peaks at 1,500m. There are dense forests on all sides of the mountain, with elevated plateaus of green meadows, making for a stunning vista. Founded in 1981, the park consists of 380 sq km that includes part of the Drina River, with an abundance of wildlife.
Luxury Train Tours Throughout Europe
There are some epic train trips through Europe and one of the most popular is Venice to Istanbul, which takes 11 nights and 12 days. The tour starts in Venice, a city that is steeped in culture and has long been a hub for arts, with stops at cities like Trieste through Plovdiv and finally, Istanbul. The Danube Express is the locomotive that runs this route; a train that was built for royalty and you can watch the scenery go by as you travel in luxury.
The Republic of Serbia has much to offer the foreign tourist and spending a few days in Belgrade is recommended. You can find useful information about Serbia online that can help you plan your trip.
