Book cheap flights to Serbia

The long and cold winters are between November and March, with some areas ideal for skiing between November and April. Beware – should you choose to explore the outdoors during this time, as from November the paths between the mountain ranges become obstructed. For a pleasant experience, visit during summer (June – August). The only time you’d have to worry about crowds is during the month of July, when many Europeans descend upon Serbia for the EXIT festival. For the cheapest flights to Serbia, visit between the months of November and April.

South African passport holders will need a visa to enter Serbia. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of your departure. For more information, contact the Embassy of Serbia in Pretoria (phone: 27 12 460 5626).

The South African Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, is accredited to Serbia.

Address: 7 Shipka Street, 1000, Sofia

Phone: 359 2 939 50 15

Before you leave for Serbia, visit your doctor to get all the routine vaccinations. These include the following:

• Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine
• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine
• Varicella vaccine
• Polio vaccine
• Yearly flu shot

In addition, you may need to guard against other diseases, based on where you go and what you do while in Serbia. These are:

• Hepatitis A (transmitted through contaminated food and water)
• Hepatitis B (transmitted through sexual contact, contaminated needles and blood products)
• Rabies (transmitted through the bites of dogs, bats and other mammals)

Serbia enjoys a high level of safety, a fact further accentuated by the helpful nature of the locals, especially the younger residents, who are more likely to speak English.

Beware around crowded areas like tourist attractions and public transportation facilities, due to the risk of pickpocketing. LGBT visitors should take care as there is a general intolerance towards homosexuals.

Due to the Yugoslav wars of 1990, there have been reports of unexploded ordinances outside the major cities. Most of them have been cleared, but stay alert when exploring areas outside the city and stick to well-travelled paths. If you find anything that resembles an explosive, keep away from it and report it to the nearest police station immediately.

Take care to avoid any interactions with those selling drugs. Should the police catch you with illegal drugs in your possession, you will most likely be charged for drug smuggling and banned from the country for a lifetime.