What nobody tells you about visiting Serbia

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from Serbia. Some things matched: Belgrade Fortress is as spectacular as every review says, and Novi Sad has a genuine energy I'd read about. The rakija obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: extraordinary Orthodox monasteries. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: Belgrade rough around the edges. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.