This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt's Serbia remains the most acclaimed guide available to a country which in recent years has welcomed an increasing number of foreign tourists to discover its attractive rolling countryside, lively cities, excellent food and friendly people. Development of tourism infrastructure continues apace in Serbia and this new edition reflects all the changes and trends of recent years, including Belgrade's increasing popularity as a weekend break destination, the continued evolution and rising quality of accommodation across all price brackets in both the capital and beyond, the development of Belgrade's Savamala riverfront area, the rise in popularity of bird-watching holidays, the possibilities for wine tours, and the increase in visitors to the EXIT festival held annually in Novi Sad and to the Guča trumpet festival in central Serbia. Particularly notable since the previous edition is Serbia's dramatic improvement in English-language facilities for visitors, with many towns and cities now having tourist information centres with helpful staff, all of which are detailed in this guide. Written by an expert author, the Bradt guide to Serbia offers up-to-date background information on the country's geography, history, economy, politics and people, as well as a strong emphasis on culture and the arts - music, literature, cinema and art - and on natural history, including a thorough overview of Serbia's best wildlife sites. Comprehensive and up-to-date listings of the best places to stay and eat according to budget are covered, along with reliable public transport information to enable you to travel independently with confidence. This guide recommends facilities and places of interest that will hold appeal for all types of visitor - from impecunious young travellers seeking a fun-filled city break to older visitors who prefer a slower pace and wish to immerse themselves in local tradition. Despite burgeoning interest, Serbia remains one of the least known corners of Europe. Belgrade and second city Novi Sad are lively, cosmopolitan and welcoming, while rural Serbia, with its hidden monasteries and gorgeous countryside, is an undiscovered gem. With the Bradt guide you will be able to discover all this intriguing country has to offer.
About the Author: Laurence Mitchell is a travel writer and photographer who specialises in places that lie well away from more familiar tourist territory: transition zones and cultural frontiers like the Balkans and Central Asia. He has been visiting Serbia since it was part of the former Yugoslavia and Tito was in charge and knows the Balkan region extremely well having visited both Serbia and the other countries of the region many times over the past decade and a half. With a keen interest in natural history, as well as the arts, he is eager to convey to others the wealth of cultural and natural offerings that often underrated Serbia has to offer visitors. In addition to Serbia, Laurence has written several other guidebooks for Bradt as well as a couple of walking guides. He also frequently contributes articles to magazines and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.