Written by: Olivera Tolimir
At the intersection of Central and Southeast Europe, encompassing the fertile land of the Pannonian Plain and hilly Balkans lies Serbia – a country of opposites. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here. Here’s a list of only a few things you can enjoy in Serbia:
- a relaxing weekend next to a lake or a river;
- fresh air and great food in the mountains;
- crazy nights in the city;
- numerous museums and theatrical plays;
- well-known archeological discoveries from the prehistoric period;
- numerous music and film festivals.
But how to choose if you’re planning to spend (a part of) your summer in Serbia?! Unfortunately, we can’t help you with this one, since it depends on your preferences – if you prefer nature, you should choose from one of the first two options, and if you’re more for an active kind of fun, festivals and nightlife are probably the best choices.
Since we can’t cover all the fun things you can do during your Serbian summer in just one blog text, today we’ll focus on the exciting ones! So, hold tight, soon you’ll see the list of the seven exciting things you can do in Serbia this summer!
BITEF
If you like intensity, but not so much if you’re experiencing it, consider BITEF a perfect choice for your stay in Serbia. BITEF (Belgrade International Theater Festival) was founded in 1967, and it’s keeping pace with the world’s newest theater trends ever since.
The 2022 BITEF will be held from the 23rd of September until the 2nd of October (it’s technically not summer, but it’s pretty close). If you’re interested in theater, you shouldn’t miss this fantastic festival!
Belgrade Beer Fest
Belgrade Beer Fest is one of the most popular festivals in Serbia, and it’s held every year in August. The 2022 Beer Fest will last from the 18th to the 21st of August.
This festival’s tradition dates to 2003. Aside from the more than 300 types of beer, the Fest will include 50+ rock’n’roll bands and musicians performing on four stages. If you’re a Eurovision fan, you’ll be happy to hear that this year’s Eurovision representative of Serbia, Konstrakta, will perform at the 2022 Beer Fest!
And what’s best of all, the entrance is completely free if you come before 7.30 pm, and if you arrive later, the price will have the symbolic value of two drinks!
Nishville Jazz Festival
For those preferring jazz over rock’n’roll, Nishville Jazz Festival is a perfect choice! Like Beer Fest, Nishville is also held in August but lasts a bit longer. The most visited jazz festival in Southeast Europe takes place in Niš (hence the name), and this year it will last from the 5th to the 14th of August.
In 2016 Nishville Jazz Festival even made its way to the British Guardian’s list of the top ten jazz festivals in Europe!
If you’d like to find out more about the history of this festival or to find information about tickets and performers, you can look it up on its official webpage.
Guča Trumpet Festival
Guča Festival is another famous music festival in Serbia. It’s a brass band festival where the best orchestras compete in playing traditional folk music while the dancers participate in the traditional Serbian dance kolo.
The festival takes place in Guča, a town with a population of around 3500. Half a million visitors come to this small town to enjoy the sounds of the traditional Serbian trumpets!
The Guča Festival is a 3-day festival that takes place in August. This year’s festival will last from the 5th to the 7th of August. If you want to experience something Serbian you can’t see or hear anywhere else, this festival is something you mustn’t miss!
Rafting
If you like adventure and excitement but aren’t a devotee of crowds and loud music, rafting is an absolute must for your summer in Serbia! Rafting is an activity where you use an inflatable raft to navigate a river. It’s fun and exciting, and what’s even more important, safe. You’ll get a life vest, so even if you end up in the water during the sudden turns, it will be just another fun story you’ll be retelling to your friends for a long time.
There are a few rivers where you can try rafting in Serbia. If you’re a thrill seeker, our advice is the river Lim. Its waters are fast and wild, so they’re the perfect choice for an adrenaline rush lover! You can also choose the Ibar or the Drina for your rafting adventure.
If you’re more serious about whitewater rafting, you should participate in the “Limska Regatta”. It’s a 3-day rafting competition in May. Limska Regatta takes place on the river Lim (that’s why we call it Limska).
Belgrade Nightlife
Although many Serbs don’t like to talk about Belgrade’s nightclubs as one of the landmarks of their country, since there are more significant historical objects and cultural festivals, it wouldn’t be fair to skip that part in our narrative. After all, we are talking about the seven most exciting things to do during your summer in Serbia. We’ll mention the most significant natural beauties and historical monuments of our country in some of the following blog posts.
Belgrade has one of the most vivid nightlives in Europe. There are numerous nightclubs and splavs. A splav is a floating river club. It has become one of Belgrade’s marks.
If you’re looking for a fun night out, but aren’t interested in festivals, you should consider visiting some of the Belgrade nightclubs. The selection is endless, so you’ll be able to find a club with any music kind you’re looking for.
EXIT
Last, but not least – the most famous Serbian music festival – EXIT! This magnificent festival takes place at the Petrovaradin Fortress near Novi Sad. It started as a student movement in 2000 but soon turned into a music festival.
We think EXIT doesn’t need us to represent it at all. It’s enough to say it was proclaimed “Best Major European Festival” at the EU Festival Awards 2013 and 2017 and to mention some of the artists that performed there, such as Billy Idol, The Cure, The Killers, Guns N’ Roses, Motörhead, David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, The Prodigy, Migos, Sex Pistols, Korn, Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Jamiroquai, M.I.A., Avicii, Nina Kraviz…
This festival is always held at the beginning of July, but don’t worry that you missed it this year. The countdown until the next one has started, and you can already buy your tickets!
