- Let's take a look at the map
- How Serbian residents celebrate the New Year
- Active and athletic
- Useful information for travelers
Balkan hospitality is legendary in the world, and Serbia is far from the last position in the list of countries where guests are always welcome. The republic, not spoiled by Russian tourists, cannot boast of access to the sea, but the absence of beaches is its only disadvantage, which, if desired, can always be turned into a plus. If there is nowhere to lie and passively lazy, the tourist becomes active and inquisitive. In extreme cases, he turns into an ardent admirer of national cuisine and tastes everything, and such a scenario for celebrating the New Year in Serbia will appeal to even fitness divas who are always on a diet. The local cuisine does not leave indifferent any person in their right mind.
Let's take a look at the map
Serbia occupies part of the center of the Balkan Peninsula and is located in the continental climate zone. However, the relative proximity of the three seas - Black, Aegean and Adriatic - affects the weather in Serbia:
- Winter in the republic is usually quite mild. Arriving to celebrate the New Year in Serbia, you will invariably find yourself in a rather comfortable environment. The air temperature in January does not drop in the capital below -5 ° С, and more often on the thermometers you can see + 5 ° С - + 7 ° С.
- The ski resort of Kopaonik in Serbia is a little cooler, and you will be skiing in subzero temperatures during the New Year holidays. In the afternoon in January, mercury columns usually reach 5-10 degrees with a minus sign.
- Serbia is in a zone of strong winds, which are especially troublesome in winter. A windproof windbreaker, warm hat and scarf and fleece as the bottom layer of clothing will save you from discomfort.
In the north of the country, severe frosts can occur. At the end of December and January, mercury columns can fall below the 20-degree mark. Study the weather forecast carefully to prepare for its whims accordingly.
How Serbian residents celebrate the New Year
The hostesses are preparing for the holiday, as elsewhere in the world, by the sweat of their brows. The main dishes of the New Year's Serbian table require a lot of attention and considerable material costs, and therefore some of the products are purchased in advance and gradually. The Serbian family's New Year's menu certainly includes sarma - a dish made of pork, beef and grape leaves, which the Russian people know as "dolma". In addition, the hostesses prepare prebranats from white beans, kolach pie, smoked sausages, and for dessert - alva made from nuts boiled in honey.
Plum brandy is the main alcoholic drink on the New Year's table. Fermented plum juice serves as the raw material for its production, and the Serbs consider this drink to be their national treasure. Serbian plum brandy became the first product in the country protected by the European Community certificate.
The main New Year's couple, who congratulates children and adults on their favorite holiday, is also present in Serbia. They are called Ded Mraz and Snegulitsa here, and by their arrival local children rehearse poems and songs to receive the coveted gift. Together with his grandfather and his granddaughter, who appeared in the life of Serbs only in the middle of the twentieth century, Bozic Bata also brings gifts - a mysterious character who leaves sweets and toys in stockings prepared by kids in the evening.
New Year's decoration of the streets and squares of Serbian cities and towns is traditional Christmas trees, illumination and garlands, which are often made here with their own hands. Serbs prefer to celebrate the New Year visiting friends or older family members, and after dinner and the chiming clock, they usually go out into the streets and arrange fireworks and fireworks.
Popular metropolitan restaurants and bars prepare their own festive program with the participation of presenters, DJs, music celebrities, magicians and dancers. It is worth choosing a bar and booking a table in advance, because the popularity of celebrating the New Year in the city's establishments among local youth leaves no chances for tourists to join the ranks of the lucky ones without prior ordering.
Active and athletic
Every year more and more travelers prefer to celebrate their favorite winter holiday on the ski slopes. The only Serbian resort called Kopaonik is located on the slopes of the country's highest mountain range and is suitable for both beginner athletes and experienced skiers.
A large number of sunny days during the winter sports season favorably distinguishes Kopaonik from the cloudy and gloomy Belgrade at this time of year, and therefore the resort's tracks find more and more fans from Russian tourists every season.
You can celebrate the New Year at the Serbian ski resort with the whole family. There is a kindergarten for young travelers in Kopaonik, where educators and instructors help young athletes to take their first steps on the mountain slopes. Adults will appreciate the quality of the pistes and the apres-ski program with nightclubs and discos, gyms and indoor pools, a spa and national cuisine restaurants.
You can diversify your vacation and saturate its program with a cognitive component on excursions. The most popular are walks to the ancient monastery of Zicha and the Studenica cathedral, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Useful information for travelers
Serbian Airlines offer inexpensive flight options from Moscow to Europe with a connection in their own capital at any time of the year. In addition to them, Aeroflot boards fly directly from the Russian capital to Belgrade:
- A roundtrip direct ticket costs approximately € 270. You will have to spend about three hours in the sky.
- LOT Polish Airlines and KLM fly to Serbia with connections in Warsaw and Amsterdam. The price of the issue is from 240 euros, the travel time depends on the company and the duration of the transfer. Both carriers start from the Moscow Sheremetyevo airport.
The buses of the Lasta Beograd company, which is part of Eurolines and connects Belgrade with many cities both in Serbia itself and in other countries of the Old World, will help you to travel inexpensively within the country.
The Belgrade bus station is located next to the railway station at the address: st. Zheleznichka, 4. The official website of the bus station contains timetables and fares for all national carriers. Site address - www.bas.rs. There is an English version, but the Serbian version is very intuitive.
