Italy

12 Fantastic Things To Do in Calabria

July 15, 2018 10:41 am July 15, 2018

Calabria is usually not the first place that tourists head to in Italy, but it’s one of the country’s most fascinating regions. If you’re looking to do something more adventurous…

Calabria is usually not the first place that tourists head to in Italy, but it’s one of the country’s most fascinating regions.

If you’re looking to do something more adventurous and visit this beautiful region in Italy, check our recommendations on the things to do in Calabria.

12 Fantastic Things To Do In Calabria

See The Castello Aragonese

The Aragonese castle is one of the most notable landmarks of Calabria.

Although referred to as Aragonese, its origins date to a much older date.

It is believed that the castle has already existed in 536, on a place of the preexisting Roman stronghold.

However, thanks to Ferdinand I of Aragon, in 1458 the castle was expanded to its largest size ever.

Nowadays it’s mostly used for art exhibitions.

Walk Along The Lungomare Falcomata

One of Reggie’s highlights is walking along this promenade filled with shops, restaurants, and benches along the way. The views of Sicily and Etna are terrific.

Calabria has some of the cleanest air in Europe, so you’ll enjoy the fresh breeze while walking along this promenade. There are also a lot of tropical trees and monuments lined along it.

Gabriele D’Annunzio, an Italian writer, poet, and journalist called Lungomare Falcomata “the most beautiful kilometer of Italy”.

There’s a Greek theater, known as the Arena of the Strait, which hosts cultural events during the Summer months.

When you’re starting to feel tired, get ice-cream in one of many gelateria shops, sit on a bench and enjoy the lovely views.

See Art at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia

This is one of the best museums in the Calabria region.

It’s well known for housing a collection from sites in Magna Grecia – a description given by the Romans to the coastal areas of Southern Italy.

The museum has a rich collection of jewelry, coins, medals, and the bronze tables.

A marble head of Appolo from Ciro and the Head of the Philosopher from Porticello are the most popular exhibits.

Relax at Beaches

If you’re looking for an off the beaten path summer destination, Calabria is the place to go.

With many amazing beaches, beautiful villages and fantastic food, there’s no wonder why Calabria is becoming a popular place for holiday seekers.

Some of the best beaches are:

CAMINIA– Surrounded by cliffs, this pebbled sand beach is one of Calabria’s hidden gems. It’s ideal for relaxing and swimming in the pristine waters.

PRAIA A MARE– This beach lies on the Tyrrhenian coast and is famous for Dino Island – a World Heritage site, known for its six sea caves. It’s a fantastic place for swimming and scuba diving.

If you get tired of the water (if that’s even possible ;)) you can go trekking in the nearby Pollino National Park.

CAPO RIZZUTO– Famous for its red sand beaches, Capo Rizzuto is another fascinating place to visit in Calabria.

SCILLA– Scilla is one of Calabria’s most popular beaches, which is buzzing with tourists during Summer months.

There’s a castle above the beach, which offers amazing views of the Sicilian Coast.

TROPEA– You might mistake this beach for the Caribbean, thanks to its spectacular white-sand beaches and turquoise blue water.

What makes this beach even more beautiful are the dramatic cliffs that rise above it.

See the Reggio Calabria Cathedral

This Roman Catholic Cathedral was a former archiepiscopal seat of the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria.

It was damaged by an earthquake in 1908 and rebuilt in modern Gothic and Romanesque styles.

The interior of the cathedral houses many beautiful art pieces, done by the artists from South Italy.

Do Some Shopping At Corso Garibaldi

Corso Garibaldi is a famous pedestrian street in Reggio Calabria.

It’s a beautiful area with traditional architecture and a number of different shops which are worth exploring.

Here you can stock up on designer clothes, books, shoes and more!

Eat Gelato

No trip to Italy would be complete without trying gelato.

One of the best places to try gelato in Calabria is Da Cesare in Reggio Calabria.

Explore Pentedattilo

Pentedattilo is a ghost town which used to be a separate commune until 1811.

The town dates back to 640 BC, and it was founded by the Chalcis.

Nowadays, it’s one of the most picturesque towns in Calabria.

If you love off the beaten path destinations, you shouldn’t miss Pentedatillo.

The town was completely abandoned in the 60’s, while in the 80’s it started to attract volunteers from a number of European countries.

Eat Pizza

When in Calabria, you have to try Calabrian pizza.

What makes it different than other types is the minimal amount of cheese which is in the crust and not on top.

This pizza is also characterized by multiple toppings such as mushrooms, olives, onions etc.

Visit the Aspromonte National Park

Aspromonte National Park is one of the most important natural attractions in Calabria.

It lies along the sea and it has mountain peaks with more than 2,000 meters in height.

It is most famous for its biodiversity and wildlife.

The wolf, wild boar, and dormouse are typical inhabitants of Aspromonte’s forests.

The park has several nature trails which are suitable for hiking and mountain biking.

Explore the Scilla Village

This little fisherman village is known as the Venice of Calabria.

Visitors have a couple of options here – relaxing on the beach, discovering the old settlement or seeing the castle Ruffo.

The village is proud of its fishing heritage and one of the most popular dishes in Scilla’s restaurants is swordfish.

Drink Wine in Ciro Village

This small village is famous for the production of wine, oil, and citruses.

The wines from this region are mostly red and they consist of at least 95% of the Gaglioppo grape.

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Photography

7 Awesome Street Travel Photography Tips

Zorica

July 13, 2018 10:39 am July 13, 2018

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This is a guest post by Max Therry of Photo Geeky. Traveling gives you great opportunities to photograph and record the places you visit. Street photography is a great way to…

This is a guest post by Max Therry of Photo Geeky.

Traveling gives you great opportunities to photograph and record the places you visit. Street photography is a great way to capture the atmosphere and people, and you don’t even have to go abroad to do it – visiting towns and cities near where you live and shooting street scenes makes great practice for when you head off on your travels.

You may feel a little apprehensive about taking your camera into the streets to photograph people, but all you need is some common sense and patience. This article will give you some tips and advice on how to go about capturing street scenes without you feeling intimidated or accidentally offending someone.

7 Awesome Street Travel Photography Tips

Shoot the Images You Like

Often, it seems like the “photography police” takes pleasure in telling people what their images are “supposed” to be like, and that it isn’t a proper street/fashion/travel/portrait image because it “doesn’t fit the rules of the genre” etc.

That’s a shame, because attitudes like that stifle creativity and stop people experimenting and enjoying their photography. Don’t let anyone tell you that your type of street photography isn’t valid – shoot the images that speak to you, not what you think you “should” be shooting!

Keep an Open Mind

You’ll come across many different people and cultures on your journeys, and it pays to keep an open mind and relaxed attitude towards the people and local customs. Try not to judge, even if you don’t personally approve of some things – you’ll get some great images because people will be more relaxed and open around you if they know you’re not condemning the way they live.

At the same time, try not to interfere or get involved in people’s personal lives – keep a respectful distance.

Ask for Permission for Close-Up Shots

It’s always better to ask someone for permission to take their photo close up, if you can. You don’t have to stop and explain at length why you want to, just smile and gesture towards the person and then your camera. This crosses the language barrier (if there is one), and the people will either reply “yes” or “no” to you.

Don’t be afraid to ask for permission. If someone does say no, respect their decision and move on, but don’t let it get you down, or stop you from asking someone else. You have nothing to lose by asking, and a warm smile will go a long way to getting someone to say “yes”!

As a courtesy, you should offer to send them a copy of the edited images if they have internet access, and are willing to give you their email address.

Photograph Festivals and Markets

If you don’t feel comfortable with asking people for permission, you could try going to places where people often expect to be photographed, and are used to it, such as festivals, street performances and tourist markets.

Don’t be afraid to take images of interesting scenes in these places. You’ll find your confidence growing the more you do it. If you do take photos of street performers, it’s only right to put some money in their hat or box after you’ve finished shooting.

At long last, street photography doesn’t just have to be only about people. The buildings, street food, markets with local produce, the vehicles, or even shapes, textures and colors can all tell us about the place you are in. Shoot in your own way, with your own style.

Tell a Story

What is it about the place that you’re in that fascinates you? Is it the people, the buildings, the scene unfolding around you? Capture the essence of the place in your own unique way.

One thing you can do to give your street scenes a dramatic look is to turn your images black and white in your image editor. Traditionally, street photos used to be black and white because the absence of color means you concentrate more on what’s happening in the image, instead of being distracted by the color.

Henri Cartier-Bresson was, perhaps, the master of street photography, and you can learn a lot from his images, as you can also learn and gain inspiration from Vivian Maier’s work in the streets of Chicago.

I wouldn’t recommend shooting in black and white mode on your camera, as all you’ll get is a color JPEG that has been desaturated by the camera. You’ll get much better control and great results if you shoot in color and convert the images to black and white in your software – there are tools (like Tonality or B&W Effects) designed specifically for working with black and white photos.

Don’t Aim for Perfection

With street photography, it doesn’t really matter if parts of your image are blurry, or there are some overexposed highlights. It’s all about the people, and the interaction between them.

You will also need to be quick and sure when you shoot street, because it’s too easy to miss those little moments that speak volumes in a photo, such as a fleeting expression or an incident. This is one of the reasons why you should get out and practice your street photography at home, so you know your camera controls instinctively, and can shoot quickly.

Recommended Settings

It doesn’t really matter what type of camera you use, or what gear you have. You can take great photos with just a smartphone, and for street photography they are lightweight and unobtrusive. But if you decide to use your camera, below are a few setting suggestions to start with.

As light and lighting conditions differ from place to place and season to season, it’s impossible to pin down exact settings, so the following are guidelines for you to start from:

For fast-moving action shots of parades and performers, set your camera to Shutter Priority (Tv mode on Canon) for DSLR, or the Sports/Action mode. Set your shutter speed to above 1/250th second to freeze movement. The camera will choose the aperture and ISO settings automatically.
For portraits and close-ups of people, choose Aperture Priority mode, or the Portrait mode on your camera. For AP mode, choose an aperture of between f/2.8-f/5.6 for good separation of your subject from the background. You may need to use a tripod if the light is low to avoid blurry images.
For long-exposure street images after dark with ‘ghostly’ figures of people walking on the streets and light trails from vehicles, you will need a tripod and should set your camera to use Shutter Priority (Tv for Canon). Set your shutter speed to 4 seconds as a starting point, and reduce it until you get a pleasing result.
For wide-angle street scenes, set your camera to Aperture Priority mode and set your aperture to between f/8-f/16 to get the entire image in clear focus.

Hope that these tips have inspired you to think about shooting street photography. Enjoy your travels!

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Turkey

5 Must Have Adventures in Turkey

Zorica

July 6, 2018 10:32 am July 6, 2018

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As travellers and tourists, we all have a list of things we’d like to see or try. Those could be the food, activities or famous landmarks, to name a few….

As travellers and tourists, we all have a list of things we’d like to see or try. Those could be the food, activities or famous landmarks, to name a few. Ideally, you could experience all of those in one place.

One of the best countries to visit if you’d like a concoction of all of the above is Turkey. Turkey embodies the best of the East and the West. It offers an abundance of culture as well as lots of unforgettable fun.

Other than that, Turkey is heaven for thrill seekers. For all of you out there, we’ve prepared a list of adventures you must have when you visit. Between trying the local specialties and visiting the historical monuments, try to squeeze in a bit of excitement. Just note, the citizens of some countries require a visa to visit Turkey. If you need assistance, apply here for your Turkey visa.

That way, you can be sure that you’ll have a trip to remember for a long time. Pick something from the list, or just do it all!

5 Must Have Adventures in Turkey

Climbing Mount Ararat

If you’re an experienced climber, you should consider trying to conquer this mountain. It’s the highest mountain in Turkey, but also one with an interesting legend linked to it.

According to the Old Testament of the Bible, this is the resting place of Noah’s Ark. Some have claimed to have found pieces of it, but it still remains a mystery that makes this place more intriguing.

The view from the top is stunning to say the least. Actually, not only will you be able to see a large portion of Turkey, but also parts of Iran and Armenia!

Make sure you plan in advance and organise a car hire since you have to apply for a special permission two months before your trip. We recommend relying on a specialist company, so you can be sure you’ll get the best possible experience.

If you’re an adventurer ready for some challenges and possible extreme temperatures, this climb will definitely be rewarding!

Scuba Diving in Ka?

With over 8,000 km of coastline, Turkey is an amazing destination for water sports. As a matter of fact, many think that one of the best diving spots in the Mediterranean sea is located near Ka?.

Even though this picturesque town is still a hidden gem, it’s becoming increasingly popular thanks to its diving potential. If you decide to go under the surface of its turquoise waters, expect to see everything. Antique amphoras, airplane wrecks, as well as an abundance of marine life. These are all part of the experience!

One of the most interesting sights is the Dakota DC-3 airplane, manufactured during World War II. If you’re curious, you can actually enter the cargo hold of the plane. Although it’s quite eerie, it is today inhabited by various octopuses, turtles and many types of fish.

You won’t be surprised to hear that Kas is often called “the adventure capital of the Mediterranean”. Except for diving, the town offers many other activities, such as kayaking and trekking. Make sure you give them a shot!

Paragliding Over The Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz

This is one of the world’s best paragliding spots – stable and breathtakingly beautiful. You don’t need to have any experience, just a wild spirit and 30 minutes of free time to spend in the air!

The adventure starts with you getting to the top of Babadag Mountain. Pay attention to the scenery around you while riding to the top. This can prepare you for the incredible views you’ll later experience.

Then, from that 1,960 m high spot, you will run and jump straight into the air. It’s a feeling that can be difficult to put into words. You’ll feel safe with an experienced professional around you, but still incredibly free and ecstatic.

Without a doubt, this is an unmissable experience for all those who are not faint hearted. No matter how busy your holiday schedule is, you shouldn’t miss one of the best paragliding spots in the world!

Rafting On The Coruh River

The Coruh River is one of the fastest running rivers of the world. Here, you’ll be able to find rapids ranging from class 1 to class 5. Therefore, this makes it perfect for those who want an exciting, sport-filled holiday.

Rafting perfectly combines excitement and simply sailing through some of the most beautiful parts of Turkey. The river flows through incredible canyons and valleys, past ancient ruined castles and little villages. Not only is the river itself stunning, but also the entire experience and the scenery.

In the spring time, rafting can be quite challenging. Since the snow melts and the river gets higher, there isn’t a chance of remaining dry! However, that’s the time of year when it’s the most exciting, so why not pick that?

You can definitely compare Coruh River rafting to a rollercoaster ride. If you’re into those, this adventure will suit you perfectly!

Hiking The Lycian Way

If you choose to embark on this 29-day long walking trip, you won’t regret it. This long-distance hike is one of the most beautiful in the world. So, if you’re spending some time in Turkey, bring comfy shoes and head this way!

The journey starts in Fethiye and ends in Antalya. It is over 500 km long and it’s best to take the hike during the spring or fall.

The variety of the trail is one of the most exciting things about it. This adventure will take you through the rocky Taurus Mountains, stunning beaches and valleys, as well as ancient ruins, such as the Myra rock-tombs.

If you get bored with walking, there are many opportunities for kayaking and swimming along the way. The magnificent Turquoise Coast offers a great deal of activities that you can incorporate into your hike!

P.S. Before starting the trip, it would be helpful to read The Lycian Way: Turkey’s First Long Distance Walk. It was written by Kate Clow, the woman who waymarked the route.

Who would be better to tell you about the Lycian Way than the woman who knows everything about it?

Enjoy!

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Blog Cities & Culture Netherlands Travel Tips

8 Less-Known and Alternative Things To Do in Amsterdam

Natalija

June 9, 2018 6:37 pm June 9, 2018

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Amsterdam is an alternative city compared to many other European capitals. But what if you want to see the more alternative side of an already alternative city? If you’ve checked…

Amsterdam is an alternative city compared to many other European capitals. But what if you want to see the more alternative side of an already alternative city? If you’ve checked off all of your travel guide’s recommendations and are at a loss what-to-do-next, follow this list for more less-known and alternative things to do in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Magic Show

The Amsterdam Magic Show is the only theater act performed in English that showcases magic and comedy. It’s set in a 20’s styled cabaret theater (think wood paneling and lush, red velvet curtains). The show is unique and stays current as the act changes every month. Every month world-class mentalists, illusionists and magicians from all over the world come together to awaken our childhood beliefs.

It takes place on the first or second Tuesday each month. There are only two shows a night (the early and late show), so make sure to book in advance as tickets sell out quickly!

Small Museums

Cat Cabinet

Internet was founded so it’d connect the global community over a shared adoration for felines. Well not really. But, we can say for sure that some of the most viewed content on the web is in fact, of our furry masters. Anyone who has a cat knows that you do not own one, but it owns you. 🙂

Kattenkabinet is set in a fully restored, beautiful house from the 17th century. Besides being a historical landmark on its own, it hosts an incredible collection dedicated solely to cats in art, culture and history. Even if you’re not an avid cat enthusiast, it’s a welcomed break from the norm.

Electric Ladyland

Commonly known as ‘The world’s first museum of fluorescent art’, the Electric Ladyland is a museum set in a basement. The museum displays a collection of fluorescent minerals, “thermal expansion” paintings (a painting technique discovered by the owner) and mineral artwork. You too, are an active part of the art, in the segment called “participatory art”.

The only thing that overshadows the museum is its owner, Nick Padallino. His vast knowledge on the subject and charismatic personality makes you want to listen to him for hours. If you want to bypass the magic truffles but still experience an Amsterdam trip – this museum is a perfect pick.

Other unusual museums are the Pipe museum, Vrolik Museum, Venustempel Sex Museum, Museum of Bags and Purses, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! and Red Lights Secrets – Prostitution museum.

Amsterdam Light Festival

Another attraction that puts Amsterdam on the map as the capital of magical entertainment. There aren’t any illusionists/magicians involved into organizing this festival as international architects, artists and (light) designers bring the real magic. Festival is held every winter, and it brings together new talent with a unified goal, to make Amsterdam vibrate warmth and pulsate with color during the coldest, darkest nights.

There are a lot of interesting tours on offer. Bike tours or culinary boat tours, just to name a few. Enjoying dutch delicacies and craft beer is a perfect addition to a light spectacle that’s displayed right in front of your eyes.

Neighborhood: NDSM

Probably one of the coolest neighborhoods in Europe, NDSM is a former shipyard now transformed into a creative hub. Kunststad (Art City) is located in the NDSM hangar where artists are continuously keeping busy creating. Alongside the riverbank there are a lot of restaurants, pubs and clubs. Visit IJ-kantine,Greenhouse Café Noorderlicht or try bungee jumping from a crane.

Restaurants

Restaurant de Kas

Majority of the time we completely desensitize from the food on our plate. How much effort and time it takes for that one potato to be on our plate. Restaurant de Kas puts you in a setting where you’re surrounded by the produce that’s going to end up on your plate. They differ from other restaurants, as their menu is created daily and only consists of things in season and harvested from their garden.

The restaurant is inside of a greenhouse that used to belong to Amsterdam’s Municipal Nursery. They describe their cooking style similar to the cuisines of the rural Mediterranean. The vegetable dishes are served in combination with meat or fish from local suppliers, but there are vegetarian options available.

Ctaste

The “dark dining” concept originated in Switzerland in 1999., with Blinde Kuh. Since then it has spread all over the world, from New York to Beijing.

The question you might be posing to yourself is, why would anyone desire to not see what they’re eating? Well, eliminating sense of sight, your other senses of taste and smell are heightened. At the Ctaste, the visually impaired staff will lead you to your table in a dark room. Before you enter you’ll choose a prefixed menu from a selection of cuisines, but the dishes they’ll be serving you are a surprise.

The Butcher

A burger joint located near Albert Cuypstraat in de Pijp. If the name of the restaurant is not self explanatory enough there’s a cow hanging upside down in the window display. So yes, beef burgers all around. What separates the Butcher from other burger joints is the secret bar located in the back. The same concept that made the cocktail bar Please Don’t Tell in New York City thrive among its competition. In order to be granted an entrance to the secret bar – you need to know the daily changed password.

Markets

Thanks to globalization, whatever country you’re in, you’ll find an H&M or a Forever21 anywhere. So why buy something at H&M in Amsterdam, when that same collection is probably displayed back at your home country? If you enjoy the hunt of something unique and want to purchase something characteristic of the country you’re visiting – you can never go wrong with street markets.

Antique market Amsterdam

Serious collectors fly to Amsterdam just to navigate through its 1750 square feet of lost artifacts. Don’t bring too much money as you won’t be able to resist.

Noordermarkt

Here you can get anything from jewelry, clothes to books or art pieces. If you’re in need of some organic ingredients for your dinner – you’re in luck as here you can find a vast array of different organic foods.

Albert Cuypmarkt

If street markets are your scene then you’ve probably heard of the Albert Cuypmarkt, Amsterdam’s busiest market. Whatever you’re in need of, the chances are you’ll find it here. I’d say that to make the most out of it spend at least half a day exploring. If you get hungry there are snack vendors, eateries and cafes all over the surrounding area. Haggling in Netherlands’ largest antique market is an experience of its own.

Other markets worth a visit include Waterlooplein Flea Market and of course Bloemenmarkt.

De Hallen

De Hallen is an early 20th century industrial building, now a center of the arts, fashion and most importantly, food. In this complex you can find a cinema (largest independent cinema), a boutique hotel, stores and Food Hallen – indoor food market with around 20 street vendors and a bar.

Alternative Housing

As mentioned, Amsterdam and its forward thinking inhabitants are great at putting old, unused spaces to new purposes. These are some of the noteworthy mentions that you should check out or even better stay at, for a different experience.

Faralda Crane Hotel is set in a 50 metres high harbour crane in NDSM shipyard.

Amstel Botel is a floating hotel in NDSM shipyard.

Hotel de Windketel is a private tower and once part of the municipal waterworks.

The Lloyd, world’s first 1-5 star Hotel. Its role throughout the years has been changed often, serving first as a refugee center, detention center, juvenile detention center and artist studios.

Amsterdam is on the pricier side and unfortunately not all of us can afford to stay at Hotel de Windketel. However there’s always a demand for cheap short stay Amsterdam accommodation, so you’ll surely find something suitable for your budget.

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

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Blog Travel Tips

50 Awesome Travel Products You Can Buy on AliExpress For Less Than $20

Zorica

June 8, 2018 4:57 pm June 8, 2018

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You have probably heard about AliExpress. In case you didn’t, it’s China’s largest online retail service. What makes AliExpress unique? You buy directly from a manufacturer so the prices are…

You have probably heard about AliExpress. In case you didn’t, it’s China’s largest online retail service. What makes AliExpress unique? You buy directly from a manufacturer so the prices are considerably lower. Another great thing about AliExpress is that most products have free or very low shipping costs.

Truth be told, there’s a lot of junk on it. It takes some time to carefully select good items and another drawback is that parcels sometimes take a month to arrive.

I’ve mostly bought photography accessories from AliExpress. For instance, the remote control shutter release for a Nikon camera cost me $1.49. The same thing in the store was $20.

If you don’t mind waiting, you can find some really good deals there.

In this post you’ll find 50 awesome travel products you can buy on AliExpress for less than 20$.

So let’s start.

500ml Watter Bottle

Daily Backpack

Denim Daily Backpack

40L Travel & Hiking Backpack

Portable Cosmetic Travel Bag

Thermos Cup

Transparent Toiletry Bag

Women Travel Makeup Case

Travel Bag

Storage Bag for Electronics

Tactical Pen

Mini Portable Electronic Scale

RFID-blocking wallet

DSLR camera backpack

LENS cleaning pen

Portable Camera Tripod

Vintage Camera Strap

Universal Camera Lens Cap

DSLR Camera Lens Dust Blower

GoPro Shutter Pistol Trigger

Wireless Home Security Camera

GoPro Accessories Bag

Travel Notebook

Genuine Leather Passport Cover

Titanium Multifunctional Swiss Knife

Wireless Headphones

Inflatable Neck Pillow

3 Pcs/Set Unisex Nylon Packing Cubes

Classic Umbrela

Universal Travel Adaptor

ROCK Odin Series Power bank 5000 Mah

Universal Macro Lens Kit

Humidifier

Wireless Bluetooth Speakers

You can also check EuroTribe’s Travel Gear Guide in which I list all gear I personally use.

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Advice Blog Serbia Travel Tips

How to buy a Sim Card in Serbia

Zorica

May 31, 2018 2:18 pm May 31, 2018

11 Comments

Whether you’re planning a city break to Belgrade, a visit to Exit Festival or vacation at the mountains or spas having a SIM card is always useful. If you’d like…

Whether you’re planning a city break to Belgrade, a visit to Exit Festival or vacation at the mountains or spas having a SIM card is always useful.

If you’d like to buy a SIM card in Serbia here are a few things you need to know.

Companies

There are 3 most popular mobile network operators in Serbia. These are MTS, Telenor and VIP.

When it comes to the signal, all 3 brands cover more than 90% of Serbia’s territory and they offer 4G mobile network.

In my opinion, Telenor has the most interesting packages, while VIP offers more convenient packages for new users. Note that this applies if you’d like to sign up for a contract. If you’re buying a SIM card that you will use for only a couple of days the difference is not huge at all, which you can read more about below.

How

Buying a SIM card is easy. They can be bought at any kiosk, store or at the official stores of the mentioned brands. I recommend you buy it at the official store because the kiosks sell regular sized SIM card which won’t work with most new phones. You’d need to trim the card to make it micro. Of course this can be a hassle hence I recommend the official store. Offical stores have Multi SIM card which means you get standard, micro and nano card in one package. If you need the card immediately after you land you can buy one easily at any store at the airport. You don’t need a passport or an ID in order to buy a prepaid SIM card.

Costs

These are the prices;

MTS: 300 RSD; initial credit 25 RSD

MTS now also has a special offer for tourists. These are Super Tourist and Tourist SIM card. With Super Tourist SIM card you get 10 GB of internet, 30 minutes for international calls and 120 minutes of mts mobile network calls. The price of this package is 1,800 RSD (15$). Tourist SIM card gives you 3x24h of 4G mobile internet. The price of this package is 600 RSD (5$). Note that some of these options expire after 7 days. You can learn more about this offer by clicking here. WiFi is widespread in Belgrade’s coffee shops and restaurants so if you don’t plan to do a lot of instagramming or to make calls you’ll probably be okay with just a regular sim card too.

Telenor: 200 RSD; initial credit 25 RSD

VIP: 200 RSD; free calls in VIP mobile network for 7 days; 2 GB of internet for 7 days

That’s a pretty sweet deal. But VIP also offers a Visitor SIM which is a great option if you’ll be using internet a lot. For 990 RSD you will get 5GB of Internet and unlimited internet data for Viber. This deal lasts 14 days. You can also make calls with this card but you’ll need to refill it separately for that matter.

I hope this will help you in your selection 😉

Topping up

This is easy. You can top the card from any kiosk or store. You just need to state how much money you’d like to add and give the phone number. Note that this will only be possible if you have a regular sim card. The minimum amount you can add is 200 RSD. If you will get any of the special offers mentioned above or if you’d like to buy extra internet etc. head to the offical store.

You can also top the card with your credit/debit card through their online shops.

Coverage and data speeds

All three brands have a very good coverage and you won’t have any problems unless you are somewhere very close to the border and the signal might be a little bit messy. Using the online shop you can buy internet data and other extra options. Overall, getting a sim card in Serbia is good value for the money.

I hope this post will help you buy a sim card in Serbia. Do you have any questions I could answer? Feel free to comment below.

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