Is Serbia one of the most underrated destinations for students?

Serbia, a country located in southeastern Europe, has a rich culture and history. Serbia is often overlooked by UK university students when deciding their next holiday destination. But why?

University students typically tend to be on a certain budget that cannot be exceeded, especially home students on a student loan. A trip to Serbia would typically not exceed £100, including flights and accommodation, if booked a month in advance.

Why Serbia?

Serbia offers university students a budget-friendly destination that is accessible to anyone residing in the UK. This means that even though an international student would typically need a visa to visit Serbia, they would not require one, as Serbia allows anyone with a UK student visa to enter the country. This makes the country visa-free for every UK university student regardless of their passport. Yes, this includes every passport.

Why not other countries that are accessible such as Turkey?

Serbia’s safety is unmatched compared to its neighbouring countries, at least in the two major cities, Belgrade and Novi Sad.  This is mainly due to Serbia having one of the highest home ownership percentages in the entire region.

Furthermore, Serbia does not have as many tourists as Turkey, which makes tourists feel much more at ease and comfortable, due to less waiting times for activities and a cleaner environment.

But isn’t Serbia landlocked? What is there to do during the summer?

Well, what if I were to tell you that kayaking, jet skiing and clubbing on a boat are very popular activities in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia. Despite it being a landlocked country, Serbs have managed to find a way to transform their river into a beach that people swim at during the summer.

Unlike the River Thames, the Danube River is well taken care of and safe to swim in, especially during the summer. The river’s width makes it a great place to swim for all Belgrade residents.

What is something that you can only find in Serbia?

STEM students would be delighted to find out about the Nikola Tesla Museum, which has a lot to offer, ranging from educational services, to getting to see his inventions, and Nikola Tesla’s ashes. If Nikola Tesla isn’t your focus, Belgrade on its own is a time capsule between the Ottoman era, Communist era, and the modern era. This makes Belgrade one of the most architecturally diverse cities in all of Europe.

Architecture enthusiasts would be astonished when arriving in Belgrade, especially when seeing a Communist-era social housing complex being placed right next to a Neoclassical parliament building. The churches in Serbia take the prize for architecture, with breathtaking structures, such as the temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade and St Mary’s Cathedral in Novi Sad.

The churches in Serbia tend to vary architecturally, but all have one thing in common: the stunning artwork! The medieval Orthodox artwork is one of the most unique interpretations of Christianity. Despite most churches in Serbia being Orthodox, Serbs know how to find a way to diversify architecture.

How expensive is it to have a weekend trip in Serbia?

A return flight cost me £30 from Luton Airport, as I booked a month in advance with Wizz Air. My accommodation cost around £37, for all 3 nights in the city centre, and no, it was not a hostel, but an Airbnb near the Belgrade Fortress, an iconic tourist attraction rich with history.

In total, the trip cost me £73, including flights, accommodation, and transport within Serbia (including coaches to and from Novi Sad). In conclusion, I would recommend to almost anyone interested in travelling to start considering Serbia as their next destination.