These 11 DOs and DON’Ts in Serbia will help you have an amazing time here.
We have picked the most essential things that will serve as your ultimate guide to feeling confident during your visit.
Don’t be afraid. These are not warnings but tips that every tourist should know when coming to Serbia.
First, let’s start with the Don’ts in Serbia and second, you will find out what you should do!
DON’Ts in Serbia
There are some things you definitely shouldn’t do in Serbia; here they are!
#1 Say You’re Not Hungry
Did you visit your Serbian relatives or friends and say no to food?
Serbs don’t take ‘No’ for food. We are a very hospitable nation with a strong sense of hedonism.
When you refuse proja, gibanica (or any other pie), meze, sarma or some other dish Serbs prepared for you, they will be astounded.
And that’s not the look you want to get.
Serbian food is really tasty, and Serbs are aware of that. That’s why they insist you try some (or a lot).
It’s important for us that our guests feel welcomed, and offering them the best of Serbian food is one way to achieve that.
#2 Refuse drinks such as Rakija
As soon as you enter a Serbian home, you will be asked:
Šta ćete da popijete? (= What will you drink?)
Or:
Kakvu kafu pijete? (= What coffee do you like?)
Or:
Može rakija? (= Are you for Rakija?)
It’s not rare to hear all of these questions one after another.
If you say ,,Ne mogu ništa, hvala.” (= Thank you, I’m good.), the hosts will look like you slapped them.
Okay, that’s maybe a little too much, but you get the point.
Even if you’re not a fan of alcohol, try one small shot of rakija. Serbs believe that it has health benefits!
But, if you are strictly ‘no alcohol’ then at least you can try domaća kafa or some juice (maybe even a homemade one). Serbs don’t sit at the table without something to freshen the throat!
If you’re a man, it can be tricky if you don’t drink alcohol. In the Balkans, “the real men” are often the ones who drink alcohol. Crazy stereotype and a very conservative one, but it is often like that, so don’t be surprised if you get some strange looks when you turn down alcohol. But remember: that doesn’t mean Serbs won’t accept or respect you! 🙂
#3 Keep your shoes on indoors
When you come to Serbian home, don’t forget to take off your shoes indoors!
While some countries don’t pay attention to this gesture at all, Serbia is one of those where it is polite to take off your shoes and leave them at the door.
There is no strict rule that you have to do this; Serbs are still divided on this point. Some believe it is primitive to ask guests to take off their shoes, and that this practice applied only when most people lived in the countryside and worked in the fields.
At the same time, others believe that it is only hygienic to take off your shoes immediately upon entering a house, regardless of whether you live in the city or the countryside.
So, what to do, take off your shoes or not? The only safe option is to start taking off your shoes, and if the host tells you that there is no need, then listen to him. If he doesn’t say anything, then you did the right thing. 🙂
#4 Point at someone with a finger
In Serbia, pointing at someone with a finger is very rude.
This is the case in many countries, and most people don’t know why it’s rude, but they simply believe it is. 😁
One of the reasons is that it is believed that this was the way to bewitch someone. So, it’s better to find another way when you want to say something about someone.
#5 Talk about politics
Politics is a sensitive topic in Serbia.
Even the closest people can get into a heated argument about different political opinions and perspectives. Besides arguing, it can lead to never-ending discussions with no conclusions, just a bitter taste in the mouth.
That’s because Serbia has a very complicated history, and it’s better to avoid this direction of conversation.
#6 Compare Serbia with other ExYu countries
This is another topic better to avoid.
Three decades ago, Serbia was part of Yugoslavia, a country that split into six republics (Srbija, Hrvatska, Bosna i Hercegovina, Makedonija, Slovenija, Crna Gora) and two provinces (Vojvodina and Kosovo).
This is still a sensitive subject, thanks to politics and different opinions about Yugoslavia’s entity. All ExYu countries are in some silent contest with one another, so it’s a smart move to stay aside.
DOs in Serbia
Now, let’s see what you should absolutely do when come to Serbia!
#1 Greet others warmly
Serbs are very friendly people. When greeting someone you should make a firm handshake and eye contact.
This way you show respect to the other person. Among family members and close friends, it’s common to exchange one kiss on the cheeks. With distant family members, we usually exchange three kisses. During each kiss, you change sides. These customs can vary from family to family.
If you want to wish someone a happy birthday, a happy New Year or ,,Srećna Slava!” you will usually exchange these three kisses no matter how close you are. 😁
Fun fact: Reading this, you would probably think: But, why do Serbians kiss three times on the cheek?
Well, there are two main theories for this custom. One says that kissing three times on the cheek comes from Christianity and represents a mutual greeting of the Holy Trinity, dedicating each kiss to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Another theory explains that each kiss has its own meaning. The first kiss represents life and celebrates life’s values. The second kiss is in the name of death, dedicated to those who have passed away. The third kiss is in the name of honour, reminding us to live in accordance with Christian virtues.
#2 Join toasting
We love to toast for everything. Serbs make toasts in cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, and especially during celebrations. When others raise their glasses and say ,,Živeli!” you just do the same.
Again, you should make eye contact, or you will hear Kad se kuca u oči se gleda (When you toast, you should look people in the eyes.)
After you gently tap other people’s glasses, take a sip.
#3 Make small-talk
If you want to talk like a native, you should master Serbian small talk. 😁
The irony is that nobody likes them, but everyone thinks it’s impolite to avoid them.
So, when Serbs encounter someone familiar on the street, they probably won’t stop and start talking (this is the case if that’s not someone close). Instead, they keep walking, and while leaving the others’ sight, they will say something like this:
– E, šta ima?
– Si dobro?
– Da, da, evo, ti?
– Evo.
As you can see, there are a bunch of questions and zero real information but everyone understands everything. 😁
#4 Compliment food and drink
In the first part of ‘Don’ts in Serbia’, we told you not to refuse Serbian traditional food or drinks.
Well, it’s not enough just to accept it, you should also inform the cook how you like it!
Don’t say something like: Ovo bi moglo biti bolje ako… (= This could be better if…) The safe option is to say Ovo je baš ukusno! (= This was tasty!) But don’t worry. There’s a huge chance that this will be your honest impression. 😃
And when it’s about drinks such as rakija, you could say Uf, dobra, dobra! or ‘ Baš je jaka.’ (= It’s a strong one.)
#5 Tell Serbs what you like in Serbia
Serbs love their country, and even if we have some not-so-good words about Serbia from time to time, it’s not about the country itself; it’s rather about some things linked to the system and how things over here work.
For example, there are a lot of administrations for different aspects.
But we won’t talk about it now. It’s actually another thing better to avoid. 😀
However, when it comes to our country, we are proud of our nature, food, culture, hospitality, and more. So, don’t hesitate to share with us what you liked the most. We would love to hear!
On the other hand, never openly speak badly about our country, we tend to get very offended, even if we ourselves criticize exactly the same things! As we said here and in other blog articles, we are very passionate and proud people, so don’t hold this against us. 🙂
In the end, let’s cover two more customs you could notice if you spend enough time around Serbs.
Why do people throw coins in rivers or kiss bread?
Throwing coins in rivers comes from old folk beliefs. In Serbian tradition, water has always been seen as something powerful, with the function of cleansing, carrying energy, and or as a symbol of renewal.
That’s why some people throw a coin into a river while making a wish, hoping for good luck, safe travels, or simply as a small ritual that means they’ll one day return to that place. This is not something that every Serb does today, but it’s one of those traditions that has stayed around through generations.
Kissing bread one of those small things many Serbs do almost automatically. Bread has always been treated with special respect in Serbian culture. It has been seen as a symbol of life, hard work, gratitude, and God’s blessing.
This custom comes from times when food was precious and not taken for granted. Kissing bread is a small sign of respect.
As you can see, both customs have deeper meanings and are part of Serbian culture. But do you have to do the same things when you come to Serbia? In short, no. Serbs don’t expect you to do the same things as them, simply behave as you think you should while respecting other people’s culture and customs.
One of The Most Important DOs in Serbia
Explore Serbia!
When people come to Serbia, they usually prepare to explore Europe and its most popular countries, forgetting to explore Serbia. But Serbia has a lot to offer to tourists.
For example, if you visit Serbia in spring don’t hesitate to visit some of the Etno villages, or spas such as Vrnjačka or Sokobanja.
If you come in winter, a lot of Serbian mountains are waiting for you. Some of them are Kopaonik, Zlatibor, Divčibare, Tara, and Stara planina. And if you come to Serbia in summer, there are many festivals to visit or lakes to go swimming and enjoy!
Ready to learn the Serbian language and experience Serbia like locals? Schedule your online Serbian lessons!
