12 destinations for 12 months: trips that you cannot miss this year
Since the dissolution of Yugoslavia thirty years ago, several of its constituent republics, most notably Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro, have become quite successful tourist destinations. Until now, Serbia has steered clear of this, but Belgrade has been building a reputation as a foodie destination for a few years now. Expect the Michelin Guide to award stars to some of the city's restaurants soon, in recognition of its Central European-influenced cuisine, which fuses Eastern and Western gastronomy and is heavily inspired by the cuisine of neighboring countries such as Greece and Turkey. Among its most outstanding restaurants is the Langouste, run by chef Guillaume Iskandar, whose work at the Garance in Paris has already earned a Michelin star. There is also the grandiose Salon 1905, which has a tasting menu accompanied by Serbian wines that shows that the truffles, cheeses and cold meats of the area have nothing to envy to the best in Europe.
The capital's lively nightlife is often compared to Berlin in the '90s, but its hip, casual character is about to get a little more luxurious with the upcoming opening of a St. Regis. The hotel will occupy a 42-story tower, the tallest skyscraper on the Balkan Peninsula (if we do not include those in Istanbul), and will be the center of the new Belgrade Waterfront district, an urban revitalization project that will feature large buildings and green spaces.
“... we don't need to match some narrow red-white-and-blue blur of what Americanness — or humanity — means. There… https://t.co/6KMwong4bd
— Tricia Ebarvia Fri Apr 09 09:02:49 +0000 2021
The second largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad is one of the three European Capitals of Culture for 2022, one of the first cities to receive this distinction outside the European Union. This progressive cultural center dedicated to music, art and literature along the Danube has opened several new spaces for this year: an old pasta factory, a silk-dyeing facility and a mansion from 1890, all of which have been transformed into contemporary art galleries and performance halls where events and exhibitions will be organized throughout the year. —Nicholas DeRenzo
