Atterbury Europe has been involved in property development in Serbia for almost six years since teaming up with local partners MPC Properties and has already created a significant footprint in the capital of Belgrade. More than just the malls in which Atterbury is invested, such as Ušće Shopping Centre and BEO Shopping Centre, this beautiful Eastern European country has much to offer the keen traveller inside and outside of the cities, and while global travel may still be hampered right now, planning a future trip is half the fun!

1 Tara National Park

Hundreds of kilometres of untouched nature… it doesn’t get better than that. The reserve is located in Western Serbia, close to the border with Bosnia-Hercegovina. It features many hiking trails and forest paths among canyons and cliffs, and lookout points that offer spectacular views over the glacial blue of the Drina River. A wonderful place to visit if you are a wildlife photographer, as there are over 50 species of mammals including protected bears and roe deer, as well as over a 150 bird species.

2 The Danube

The river that lent its name to the popular waltz by Austrian composer Johann Strauss,  “The Blue Danube”, also runs through the capital of Belgrade. It is the second longest river in Europe and there are many scenic walks along the banks, as well as floating bars and secluded beaches to explore along its length. The river used to form the border of the Roman Empire, and a river cruise is a leisurely way to see the city from a different perspective.

3 Resava Cave

Near the city of Despotovac in Eastern Serbia, you will find the entrance to one of the largest cave systems in Serbia, estimated to be 80 million years old. Visitors are taken on tours that go as deep as 800 metres into the caves that stretch for kilometres into the limestone hills, to view majestic subterranean halls with dripping stalactites and stalagmites formed by melting snow.

4 Watch the sunset from Belgrade Fortress

The cliff on which Beogradska Tvrdava stands has been a military outpost since the first century AD, due to its unbeatable position overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. On the site you can visit two museums, two towers, a bunker and a Roman well, all spread out over a large park within fortress walls. There is a planetarium in a structure that housed a Turkish bath during the 18^th century, a zoo, an amusement park and walking paths with great river views.

5 Stay in a boathouse on Lake Perućac

Situated near the town of Srebrenica, this crystal-clear lake is fed by the waters of the Drina River, and is a popular holiday destination. Good for swimming, fishing and rafting, also sightseeing along the Drina Canyon by boat. In summer, the Pančićeva Regatta is a popular sailing event attracting as many as 100 000 visitors during the third week of July.

6 Nikola Tesla Museum, Belgrade

An interactive museum dedicated to one of the great minds of the 20^th century, the genius scientist and inventor Nicola Tesla, whose ground-breaking work in the transmission and application of electric power inspired the name of the first electric car. Some seriously steampunk electricity zapping machinery, along with some of the great man’s personal effects, and even his ashes, are on display.

7 Rajačke Pimnice

An unusual monument to wine located in Eastern Serbia near the village of Rajac, 24km from Negotin and close to the border with Bulgaria. This unique architectural complex of wine cellars looks like a fairy tale stone village and was built from the mid-1800s to the 1930s, although the area has been famous for its vineyards dating back to ancient Roman times. The cellars were built in the form of traditional stone cabins with basements where the temperature could be kept stable throughout the year for wine production and storage. About 60 of the original 270-plus cellars are still active for visiting and wine-tasting, and there’s also a scenic old cemetery that is a UNESCO heritage site.