Belgrade's Kalemegdan Fortress -- Perched above the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, this fortress has been contested by 115 armies over two millennia. Today it is a sprawling park with Roman wells, Ottoman gates, and some of the best sunset views in the Balkans. The surrounding park is where Belgrade comes to stroll, play chess, and watch the rivers merge.
The EXIT Festival -- Held every July in Novi Sad's Petrovaradin Fortress, EXIT is one of Europe's premier music festivals. The setting -- a massive 18th-century fortress on a cliff above the Danube -- is unmatched. Past headliners include The Cure, Arctic Monkeys, and David Guetta.
The Guca Trumpet Festival -- Every August, the small town of Guca in central Serbia erupts into the world's largest brass band festival. Hundreds of thousands of people descend for three days of competitive trumpet playing, roasting meat, and rivers of rakija. It is loud, chaotic, and utterly joyful. Admission is free.
Studenica Monastery -- Serbia's most important medieval monument, founded in 1190 by Stefan Nemanja in a forested valley in the south. The white marble Church of the Virgin contains remarkable Byzantine frescoes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of genuine spiritual power.
The Djerdap Gorge -- Where the Danube cuts through the Carpathian Mountains on the Romanian border, creating the Iron Gates -- one of Europe's most dramatic river landscapes. The Roman emperor Trajan built a road along the cliffs here, and the remains of his bridge and tablet are still visible.
Serbian Kafana Culture -- The kafana (traditional tavern-restaurant) is where Serbian social life happens. Live Romani brass bands, generous plates of grilled meat, and endless toasts with sljivovica (plum brandy). Skadarlija in Belgrade is the most famous kafana street, but the real gems are in smaller towns.
Tara National Park -- Dense forests, deep canyons, and the Drina River gorge make Tara one of Serbia's most beautiful natural areas. The Sargan Eight narrow-gauge railway, rebuilt as a heritage line, is a delightful way to experience the landscape near Mokra Gora.