Serbia: What Counts As Visiting A Country?

Everyone has a different grasp on what constitutes as having really “seen” or “been to” a place. While I never had stringent rules, I always said as long as you buy something, eat something, converse with someone, and leave the area of transport (i.e. a train or bus station, or an airport), then who’s to say you haven’t been there? The one place that lingers in my mind as to whether it counts or not, however, is Serbia.

My Journey To Serbia

In 2019, I country hopped my way around Eastern Europe via FlixBus. The plan was there was no plan. I started in Krakow, Poland, and when I felt like I was ready to move on, I’d book the cheapest FlixBus ticket to whatever the next destination was. After 5 fun days in Budapest, I was deciding where to go next. Tickets to Belgrade, Sofia, Tirana, and more were all under 10 euro (the options really felt limitless). I decided to go to Sofia, Bulgaria. To get there, however, the bus would make a pit stop in Serbia.

• Pro-Tip: While country-hopping via Flixbus is an option, Eurail is another great way to travel throughout Europe.

Arriving To Serbia

It was late at night, like 2am, when we reached the Serbian border. We had to get out of the bus to walk through passport control. It was my turn to approach the agent, and I got stamped in. Welcome to Serbia, baby.

From there, we got right back on the bus to drive through the country. Since it was so dark, I couldn’t really see the scenery, and I drifted in and out of sleep.

We stopped again, still in Serbia, this time, at a gas station. I got off the bus and went inside. I love grocery shopping in new countries because it’s fun to see which snacks they eat, how things are priced, and what produce might be considered freshest. I saw these cute little skateboard chocolates, so I bought them for around $1.50.

I sat on the bus and ate some of the chocolates, and we moved on until we finally reached the Bulgarian border. I got stamped out of Serbia and into Bulgaria.

If you have more time, you can book a tour from Sofia, Bulgaria to visit Serbia.

There are also private day tours to Romania from Serbia.

So… Does It Count?

I never really considered myself having “gone” to Serbia since my experience was so minimal. However, I have since changed my mind. I got out, I got stamped, I bought something, I ate something, and I conversed briefly with the gas station employee. 

I understand my experience wasn’t rich, that I didn’t pierce any type of understanding of Serbian culture, history, cuisine, or its people. But I did indeed travel there. I like the way one of my friends put it, “You haven’t NOT been to Serbia.”

What do you think? Does my visit to Serbia count? Let me know in the comments!

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