Most Beautiful Viewpoints in Serbia for Landscape Photography

Serbia is a rewarding place for landscape photographers. There are high cliffs above the Drina canyon in Tara National Park, the tight meanders of the Uvac River, medieval fortresses on the Danube and quiet countryside in between. You can chase mist in a valley at sunrise, golden autumn forests or the last light on an old stone tower, and you'll often have the view mostly to yourself. The Viewpoints in Serbia show off the country's wide range of scenery, from mountains and gorges to strange rock formations.

A photography trip here also takes you through pretty villages, national parks and historic sites, in settings from mountain meadows to river canyons. If you'd rather not arrange everything yourself, Serbia tour packages from Dubai can handle your stay, transport and sightseeing. With good timing, the right gear and a little preparation, you can come home with a strong collection of Serbian landscapes.

1. Banjska Stena, Tara National Park

Banjska Stena is the most visited of the ten scenic viewpoints in Tara National Park, in western Serbia. It looks down into the deep Drina canyon, with forested mountains and the winding river below. Tara is about 83 per cent forest, which is why it's nicknamed the "lungs of Serbia", and its forests of beech, spruce and fir blaze gold, orange and red in autumn. Mist often fills the valley early in the morning, which makes for dramatic pictures.

For photographers: go early, before the crowds. A wide-angle lens lets you fit the river, the canyon and the mountains behind into one frame.

2. Uvac Special Nature Reserve

The Uvac reserve, in south-western Serbia, was protected in 1971 and covers about 75 square kilometres. The river has cut a canyon 200 to 300 m deep into the limestone, and its tight, looping meanders are some of the most photographed in the country. Molitva ("Prayer") is one of the three best-known lookouts, with Veliki Krš and Veliki Vrh.

It's popular with wildlife photographers because it has the Balkans' largest colony of griffon vultures. The population had dropped to about seven birds in the 1970s and had grown to almost 500 by 2017. If you take a boat tour, stay on the usual routes, since guides who approach nests have caused chicks to fall. Some viewpoints need a hike, so plan your access in advance.

Photography tip: a telephoto lens brings out the river's curves, and a wide-angle lens fits the whole valley.

3. Golubac Fortress and the Danube

Golubac Fortress stands on the south bank of the Danube in north-eastern Serbia, at the head of the Iron Gate gorge and the entrance to Đerdap National Park. The Danube is about 6.5 km wide here. The fortress was built in the 14th century and first appears in Hungarian records in 1335. It changed hands many times between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, and after a major restoration it reopened in April 2019.

The towers, stone walls and blue river give you both architecture and landscape. Late-afternoon light warms the stone and can create reflections on the water.

For photographers: keep the river in the foreground for depth, and mix wide shots with close-ups of the towers and walls.

4. Đavolja Varoš (Devil's Town)

Đavolja Varoš is one of Serbia's strangest natural wonders. It's on Radan Mountain, about 30 km south-east of Kuršumlija, and holds 202 earth pillars, from 2 to 15 m tall, carved by erosion from volcanic soil. Many wear a cap of andesite that shields them from the rain. It was a finalist in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign and has been protected since 1959. Two nearby springs, Đavolja Voda (Devil's Water) and Crveno Vrelo (Red Well), add to the otherworldly feel, and local legends say the pillars are a wedding party turned to stone.

The pillars, springs and surrounding forest suit creative photography. Overcast skies soften the shadows and bring out the textures.

For photographers: shoot vertically to show the pillars' height, and include trees or foliage for contrast and scale.

5. Kopaonik

Kopaonik is a long mountain range in southern Serbia, with forested slopes, open meadows and wide mountain views. Its highest point, Pančić's Peak, is 2,017 m, and much of it lies inside Kopaonik National Park, established in 1981. It's one of the largest ski resorts in south-eastern Europe, and the snow season runs from November to April. On clear days you can see mountains in Montenegro, Bulgaria and Albania from natural lookouts such as Suvo Rudište.

The mountain changes through the year, with green fields and wildflowers in summer and snow in winter. The park has about 1,600 plant species, 200 of which grow only on Kopaonik.

For photographers: go at golden hour for warm light over the slopes, and keep your camera batteries warm in winter.

6. Zlatibor

Zlatibor, in western Serbia, is known for rolling hills, green meadows, traditional villages and a peaceful countryside. The highest point, Tornik, is 1,496 m, and the area has about 20 marked trails totalling 300 km. The Gold Gondola, which opened in January 2021, is billed as the world's longest panoramic gondola lift at 8.95 km and links central Zlatibor to Tornik peak.

Country roads, grazing animals, old houses and layered distant hills all make good subjects. Nearby Sirogojno is worth a visit for its Staro Selo (Old Village) museum and its traditional wool knitwear. Spring and summer bring fresh green foliage, and autumn gives warm colours.

For photographers: use roads, fences and paths as leading lines to draw the eye through the landscape.

7. Ovčar-Kablar Gorge

The Ovčar-Kablar Gorge is in western-central Serbia, about 17 km from Čačak, where the West Morava river winds for roughly 15 km between the steep green slopes of Ovčar and Kablar mountains. It's known as the "Serbian Mount Athos" because of its monasteries: more than 30 were built here from the 14th century, and ten remain today, along with a church and a sacred cave. The gorge has been a protected landscape since 2001.

High viewpoints give panoramic views, while spots along the water give you the river up close. You can pair the scenery with a visit to one of the monasteries.

For photographers: shoot early morning for atmospheric light and bring a tripod for low light.

8. Avala

Avala is a wooded mountain about 16 km south-east of central Belgrade, so it's an easy escape from the city. It rises to 511 m and is almost 70 per cent forest, with walking trails. The Avala Tower was built in 1965, destroyed in the 1999 NATO bombing and rebuilt, with the new tower opening in April 2010. The mountain is also home to Ivan Meštrović's Monument to the Unknown Hero, finished in 1938.

There are good spots for photographing the forest, distant hills and countryside, and the tower makes a strong feature in a dramatic backdrop.

Photography tip: check the visibility before you go up. Clear weather makes it much easier to capture long panoramas.

Best time to photograph Serbia

The best season depends on what you want to shoot.

• Spring: fresh greenery, flowering meadows and full rivers.

• Summer: mountain hiking, clear panoramas and easy access to viewpoints.

• Autumn: colourful forests, golden hills and dramatic skies.

• Winter: snow-covered mountains and frosty forests, especially around Kopaonik, where the snow season runs from November to April.

The best light comes at sunrise and sunset, when the sun is low. Check weather forecasts and trail conditions before you set out.

Essential tips for landscape photography in Serbia

• Pack the right lenses. A wide-angle lens suits panoramas, and a telephoto lens helps with distant peaks and wildlife. A tripod keeps sunrise and dusk shots sharp.

• Compose with depth. Use rivers, paths, trees or buildings as leading lines.

• Prepare for the terrain. Wear sturdy footwear, bring water and protect your camera from the weather.

• Stay safe and follow the rules. Stick to marked trails, keep well back from cliff edges and respect local rules. Check requirements before flying a drone.

Conclusion

Serbia gives photographers a lot to work with, from the dramatic Drina canyon at Banjska Stena to the looping meanders of the Uvac reserve. Golubac Fortress blends history with a riverside setting, and Đavolja Varoš offers strange geology. Kopaonik, Zlatibor, the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge and Avala add forests, meadows, mountain peaks and wide country views. Exploring the Viewpoints in Serbia takes you well beyond the big cities.

To get the most out of a trip, decide what you want to shoot, aim for the best light and leave time at each place. Landscapes change with the seasons, so no two visits are the same, and you don't need to be a professional to take photographs worth keeping. Arooha Tours can help you plan a trip that combines Serbia's scenery, culture and photography.