Subotica

First mentioned in 1391, this northern Serb city did not begin to flourish until the 18th century when it was declared first a trading town and then twenty years later, a free royal town under the Habsburgs, who named it Mariatheresiapolis in 1769. Subotica hosts the International Festival of Children's Theatres every May. The nearby Lake Palic resort area holds a film festival every July.

Novi Sad

Serbia's second largest city, Novi Sad has a population of 216,000 people. Located on the Danube between the northern Subotica and the capital, Belgrade, the city is the regional capital of Vojvodina province. Its most important tourist site is Petrovaradin citadel on the opposite bank of the Danube. The two Vojvodina historical museums give an overview of the region's annals from the earliest days.

Belgrade

Capital of Serbia since the 19th century and of the larger nation to which Serbia belonged in the twentieth century, Belgrade has a population of about 1.5 million. Its recent history is one of bombings. Strategically located on the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, it was hit by the Turks in 1862, resulting in their garrison's forced exit in 1867. The city changed hands in World War I, falling to the Austrians in 1914 and then returning to the Central Powers in 1915. It was devastated by the Germans in World War II. Under Communist rule a large part of the rural population moved to the developing urban center. NATO forces again bombed Belgrade in the late 1990s as they sought a solution to the ethnic fighting in Kosovo.

Belgrade is Serbia's premier tourist destination, featuring a 16th century mosque, the Kalemegdan citadel, last rebuilt between 1725 and 1736, St. Sava Cathedral, and a university, opened in 1863.

Kalemegdan, from the Turkish words for fortress and battleground, was for many years the city itself, as Belgrade residents lived within its protective walls. Now, while an urban section of the city, it is no longer a residential district, but has many attractions: a park, a zoo, an art pavilion, the Military Museum, numerous trails, statues, etc. It also has a majestic view of the merging Sava and Danube Rivers. Outside the citadel grounds, tourists will want to visit the Yugoslav Parliament, Republic Square, the St. Sava Cathedral and Studentski Square. The National Museum is on Republic Square, with extensive art and archaeology collections. Skadarlia is a cobblestone street well known for its many restaurants.

Landfill has created a lake in the Sava River, resulting in beaches for Belgrade residents of this landlocked country (since Montenegro's separation).

Smederevo

This medieval town east of Belgrade on the Danube was capital of Serbia briefly in the 15th century, as the Serbs retreated northwards from the conquering Ottomans. A castle remains from that period, and although it is somewhat rundown, it still attracts tourists.

Nis

Nis, in southeastern Serbia, is famous for its Skull Tower (Cela Kula) built in 1806 from the skulls of 952 rebel Serbs. Only 60 skulls are left, but it is still a worthwhile sight. Nis also has a citadel, but unlike those in Novi Sad and Belgrade, this one was built entirely by the Turks. The inscriptions on the gates use the Arabic alphabet.