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Life in SERBIA! - JUST Look how BEAUTIFUL THE WOMEN here are - COMPLETE DOCUMENTARY VLOG — Transcript

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0:00Bordering central Europe is the
0:02beautiful country of Serbia, home to the
0:04Serbian people. A place that has made a
0:07name for itself throughout history in
0:10many different ways. This is Serbia, the
0:13homeland of the Serbian people. It has
0:16no access to the sea and instead is
0:19completely surrounded by other Balkan
0:21and European countries. To the north, it
0:25shares land borders with Hungary,
0:27Croatia, and Romania. To the west lies
0:30Bosnia and Herzuggoina, while Montenegro
0:34and Bulgaria sit to the south. Kosovo is
0:37also to the south, but Serbia does not
0:40officially recognize it as an
0:42independent state. Serbia covers an area
0:45of about 88,500
0:48km, which is a fairly solid size by both
0:51European and Balkan standards. Its
0:54capital and most well-known city is, of
0:57course, Belgrade. Today, the country has
1:00a population of roughly 7 million people
1:03with nearly 2 million of them living in
1:05Belgrade alone. Before diving into
1:08modern-day life in Belgrade, it's
1:10important to briefly touch on Serbia's
1:12history. Because the Serbian people have
1:15been directly involved in many complex
1:18and defining events over the centuries.
1:21It's believed that the Serbs first
1:22arrived in the region of today's
1:24[snorts] Serbia around the 7th century
1:27and that they belong to the South Slavic
1:29peoples. In fact, the name Yugoslavia,
1:33which they were part of in the recent
1:34past, literally meant land of the South
1:38Slavs. From the 7th to the 14th century,
1:42the Serbs established their own kingdoms
1:44and principalities. And during this
1:46period, they adopted Christianity.
1:49By the 14th century, they came face tof
1:51face with the Ottoman Empire and became
1:54involved in a series of wars. One of the
1:57most significant was the first battle of
1:59Kosovo in 1389
2:02where heavy losses were suffered on both
2:04sides. Serbian Prince Lazar and Ottoman
2:07Sultan Murad I were both killed in the
2:10battle. It's even said that Sultan Murad
2:13was stabbed to death by a Serbian
2:15soldier while inspecting the battlefield
2:18after the fighting had ended. In 1521,
2:22Sultan Sullean the Magnificent captured
2:25Belgrade and the Serbian principalities
2:27were fully absorbed into Ottoman
2:29territory. The Serbs remained under
2:32Ottoman rule until 1878 when they gained
2:36full independence through the Treaty of
2:37Berlin and reestablished their kingdom.
2:41The 20th century brought even more
2:43turmoil. The Balkan Wars and then World
2:46War I reshaped the region once again. In
2:491914, a Serbian named Gabrielo Princip
2:54assassinated the heir to the
2:55Austrohungarian throne, an event that
2:58triggered the First World War.
3:00It's said that more than 1 million Serbs
3:03lost their lives during the war. After
3:06it ended, the South Slavic peoples
3:09united under the state of Yugoslavia.
3:12After Yugoslavia, the country's name
3:14changed to Serbia and Montenegro in
3:172003.
3:19Then in 2006, Montenegro declared
3:23independence and separated from Serbia.
3:26With that, the final remnants of
3:29Yugoslavia disappeared and Serbia once
3:32again became an independent country on
3:34its own. Things took another difficult
3:37turn in 2008 when Kosovo, where ethnic
3:41Albanians formed the majority, declared
3:43independence from Serbia. To this day,
3:47Serbia does not officially recognize
3:49Kosovo as a sovereign state, and the
3:52border between the two is protected
3:53[music] by NATO forces. Today, Serbia
3:57flies a flag made up of horizontal red,
4:00blue, and white stripes known as the
4:03panslavic colors. These colors carry
4:06similar meanings across Slavic nations.
4:09Red is said to represent the bloodshed
4:11and bravery of the Slavs. Blue
4:14symbolizes freedom and loyalty, and
4:16white stands for peace and nobility. On
4:20the left side of the flag is a red
4:22shield topped with a royal crown. the
4:25Serbian coat of arms. This emblem was
4:28also used by historical Serbian
4:30kingdoms. And by placing it on the
4:33modern flag, Serbia seems to be
4:35emphasizing continuity and strength
4:38drawn from its past. When you visit
4:40Serbia, you'll quickly notice that the
4:43official alphabet is cerillic. Most
4:46Slavic countries use cerillic, and one
4:49of its defining features is that each
4:51sound corresponds to a single letter.
4:54It's read exactly as it's written.
4:56Serbian can also be written in the Latin
4:58alphabet, which is why in Bgrade, you'll
5:01see some signs in Latin letters and
5:04others in Serbian cerillic. Even if the
5:07alphabet feels unfamiliar, learning just
5:10a few Serbian words goes a long way in
5:12winning people over. For example, hello
5:16in Serbian is drao. If you want to ask
5:19someone how they are, you can say
5:21kakosi.
5:23Yes is da and instead of no they say
5:27nay. And if you ever say volum to
5:30someone you're telling them I love you.
5:34Looking at the currency Serbia uses its
5:36own money the Serbian dinar since it's
5:39not a member of the European Union and
5:42doesn't use the euro. There's even a
5:452,000 dinar bank note which currently
5:48equals about€17.
5:51That alone gives you an idea of how weak
5:53the dinar is compared to the euro. On
5:57the 100 dinar bill, you'll notice a
6:00familiar face. Nicola Tesla, the
6:03worldrenowned scientist. He's such a
6:06major national figure that Belgrade even
6:08named its main airport after him.
6:11There's also a museum dedicated entirely
6:14to his life and work. Once you step into
6:17the heart of Belgrade, the first place
6:20you'll likely find yourself on is KZ
6:22Mihala Street. This is the city's
6:25busiest pedestrian street, and it has an
6:28undeniably grand atmosphere.
6:31Named after Prince Mihilo III of Serbia,
6:35the street is lined with international
6:37brands side by side. Locals from all
6:40walks of life. Elites, tourists, and
6:43everyday citizens spend hours here
6:46walking, shopping, and socializing.
6:50Tall buildings surround you, mostly in
6:52shades of cream and off-white. Many of
6:55these structures are over a 100red years
6:57old, and their architecture gives the
7:00street a timeless elegance. In fact, if
7:03you look at photos from the early 1900s,
7:06KZ Mihova looks almost exactly the same.
7:10The buildings have been exceptionally
7:12well preserved over the past century.
7:15One interesting detail is that this
7:17street wasn't always pedestrian only.
7:20Cars once passed through here, and
7:23people even walked livestock down the
7:25middle of the road. Over time, it was
7:28fully transformed into a space just for
7:30pedestrians.
7:32Even back then, it was the city's
7:34busiest street, a place where people
7:37gathered to shop and socialize, just
7:39like today. Nowadays, the street is
7:42filled with street musicians. In Bgrade,
7:46musicians can perform freely, playing
7:48their instruments without restrictions
7:50and relying on donations from passers
7:53by. Some play the piano, others the
7:56guitar, and some simply sing. At almost
8:00any hour of the day, you'll come across
8:03different performers setting up along
8:05the street. As you listen to the music,
8:08you'll also notice mobile popcorn stands
8:10right in the middle of the street. Serbs
8:13clearly love popcorn because you'll find
8:16these small carts all over the city. And
8:19while Bgrade's architecture is
8:21undeniably impressive and highly
8:24photogenic, the tram lines and bus
8:26corridors cutting through the streets
8:28sometimes make it harder to fully take
8:31in those beautiful buildings without
8:33interruption. If you try to take a photo
8:36of the architecture or even the sky from
8:38across the street, it's surprisingly
8:40difficult. There are simply too many
8:43overhead cables and they end up ruining
8:46the view. Because of all these cable
8:48systems, pedestrian crossings in Bgrade
8:52are often built underground rather than
8:54as overpasses.
8:56The good news is that these underpasses
8:58are generally clean, modern, and
9:01well-maintained. On the transportation
9:03side, there's actually a very positive
9:06detail. Belgrade is a compact city
9:09covering only about 360 km, which makes
9:13getting around extremely easy. Even
9:16better, there are completely free public
9:19transport options that take you directly
9:21from the airport into the city center.
9:24Wherever you are in the city, if you get
9:27on one of the red buses, you enter
9:29through the middle doors and travel
9:31without paying anything at all. Choosing
9:34a taxi just because the city feels small
9:37would be a big mistake. Taxis in Serbia
9:41are frankly quite opportunistic.
9:44For example, they often charge airport
9:46transfers based on the number of
9:48passengers. For three people, the price
9:51can go up to €50. Keep in mind, the
9:54distance between the airport and the
9:56city center is only 14 km. That price is
10:00simply not reasonable. A much smarter
10:03option is to take the red municipal bus
10:06number 72, which waits outside the
10:09airport. It takes you to the city center
10:11for free and you can use the same bus
10:14from the Zeleni Venac stop to get back
10:16to the airport. When you take a closer
10:19look at the cars on the streets, you
10:21might feel a slight sense of
10:23disappointment. Even in less developed
10:25countries, capital cities often have
10:28more luxury or premium vehicles. In
10:31Belgrade, however, most private cars
10:33fall into the mid-range segment. Serbia
10:36also doesn't have a modern nationally
10:38recognized car brand of its own. During
10:41the Yugoslav era, cars like the Zasta
10:44Yugo were produced and widely used. But
10:47in 2008, domestic production stopped and
10:51manufacturing shifted under Fiat,
10:53producing models such as the Fiat 500L.
10:57Today, some of the buses used in public
10:59transport are also produced by this
11:02brand, and Fiat holds a significant
11:04share of the automotive market in
11:06Serbia. On the streets of Belgrade, the
11:09brand you'll see most often is Shkod.
11:12This isn't too surprising considering
11:14how close Serbia is to the Czech
11:17Republic and how popular Czechmade
11:19vehicles are among locals. As for public
11:22transport infrastructure, Belgrade
11:25doesn't have a metro system, mainly
11:27because the city isn't as large as
11:29people might expect. Instead,
11:32transportation relies on city buses, bus
11:35rapid transit lines, and white taxis. In
11:38fact, many places are so close that you
11:41can easily reach them on foot. The city
11:44is divided by a river called the Sava
11:46River. More than half of the people who
11:49live in Bgrade or visit for a short stay
11:52spend most of their time on the southern
11:54side. If you don't have a specific
11:56reason to go north, you'll barely need
11:58public transportation at all. So, what's
12:02on the northern side? Mostly silence.
12:05This area known as New Belgrade is home
12:08to old Yugoslav era residential blocks
12:12that are still inhabited today. It also
12:15hosts the main offices of global
12:17companies like Microsoft and Huawei
12:19along with factories, sports complexes,
12:22and the airport. In a way, Belgrade has
12:26been split by function. The southern
12:28side is lively and touristic, filled
12:31with cafes, striking architecture,
12:34hotels, museums, and parks. The northern
12:38side, by contrast, feels quiet,
12:40industrial, and business focused. It
12:43almost feels like two different cities
12:45facing each other across the Sava River.
12:49Serbia also seems to have very strong
12:51ties with China. On the northern side of
12:54the river, you'll notice many Chinese
12:56signs and Chinese flags. Near the
12:59airport, there are Chinese language
13:01restaurants, hotels, and even casinos.
13:05During our visit, the Chinese president
13:08was in the country, which further
13:09highlighted how close the relationship
13:11between the two nations is. Large crowds
13:15turned out to welcome him, suggesting
13:17that many Serbian citizens support this
13:19political direction. Another interesting
13:22detail is water consumption. In
13:25Belgrade, people confidently drink water
13:27from public street fountains. Locals say
13:30these fountains are safe and that the
13:33only city in Serbia with serious water
13:35quality issues is Zenjenin further
13:38north. That said, public fountains are
13:42one thing, but do not drink water
13:44directly from the tap in your apartment
13:46or hotel. Bottled water sold in plastic
13:49bottles at supermarkets is also fairly
13:52average. This really depends on what
13:55kind of water you're used to compared to
13:58water back home. Supermarket water in
14:00Serbia feels lower in quality. If you
14:03want genuinely good water, it's better
14:06to order water in glass bottles at
14:08cafes. The mineral content and taste are
14:11noticeably better. When you step into a
14:14supermarket and check the prices,
14:16[music] they're generally reasonable.
14:18One of the most common chains is called
14:20Maxi, and locals do most of their
14:22grocery shopping there. Despite Serbia
14:25experiencing an annual inflation rate of
14:28around 122% last year, prices are still
14:32relatively cheap compared to many
14:34European countries. For example, a liter
14:37of organic milk costs around 200 dinars.
14:41Since €1 equals roughly 120 Serbian
14:44dinars, that means you can buy quality
14:47milk for about €1.5.
14:50Standard packaged cold cuts like salami
14:52and sausages cost around €2. Unprocessed
14:56meats are also priced between 1.5 and
14:59€2.
15:01Alcohol is particularly cheap. A
15:04standard can of beer costs around 200
15:06dinars or roughly €1.5.
15:10If you're craving a good pasta meal, a
15:13pack of pasta usually costs between€1
15:15and €2. In short, in Serbia, many
15:19everyday items tend to fall into the 1
15:22to2 euro price range. A small but
15:25interesting detail, internet
15:27abbreviations in Serbia are written as
15:30RS, not SR, which you'll notice on
15:33products and street signs. If you're
15:35looking for fresher and cheaper produce,
15:38walking south and away from the tourist
15:40areas will lead you to local street
15:42markets. These markets operate in a very
15:45traditional way.
15:47Vendors set up their stalls, arrange
15:49their produce, and sell directly to
15:52customers. It's a classic market system
15:55common across the Balkans and much of
15:57Europe. If you head into the quieter
16:00back streets, there are no real safety
16:02concerns, but you'll notice some
16:04buildings covered in poor quality
16:06graffiti, creating visual pollution in
16:09certain areas. That said, city cleaning
16:12services in Bgrade do a solid job
16:15overall. When it comes to food, if
16:18you're wondering what to eat in Serbia
16:20and Bgrade, meat is the clear answer.
16:24Large portions of affordable meat are
16:26easy to find. One of the most popular
16:28dishes across the Balkans is chapi, and
16:32they're widely eaten here as well. Each
16:35piece costs about 80 dinars. If you eat
16:38around 5, you'll pay roughly €400
16:41dinars, about €3.5
16:44for a filling meal. In a standard
16:46restaurant, a beef burger known locally
16:49as pies vicha costs around €4.5
16:53and is surprisingly good. Another option
16:56is grilled chicken steak, usually served
16:58with plenty of onions and spicy sauce.
17:01This plate costs around €530 dinars or
17:05about €4.5.
17:07If you're less interested in meat and
17:09more curious about pastries, it's worth
17:12noting that Serbs consume a lot of rich,
17:14oily, baked goods, especially for
17:17breakfast. One important cultural detail
17:20in Serbia, nothing comes free at
17:23restaurants or cafes. Every sauce, every
17:26slice of bread must be ordered
17:28separately and paid for. There's no
17:31concept of complimentary extras here.
17:33Everything placed on your table has its
17:35own price. Even though the food tends to
17:38be a bit greasy, Serbs really know what
17:41they're doing when it comes to flavor.
17:43Alongside doughy, buttery dishes, people
17:46usually drink yogurt, something that's
17:49famous not only in Turkey and Greece,
17:51but across the entire Balkan region. If
17:54you visit one of these more upscale
17:56bakeries, don't lose your receipt. To
17:59use the restroom, you actually need to
18:01enter a code printed on the receipt.
18:04Without it, the door simply won't open.
18:07This system is designed to prevent
18:08people who haven't bought anything from
18:10using the toilets, and it works
18:13surprisingly well. As of January 1st,
18:162025,
18:18the hourly minimum wage in Serbia was
18:20raised from 270 dinars to 308 dinars.
18:25That's roughly €3.7 per hour. This puts
18:30the monthly income of someone earning
18:32minimum wage at around €540,
18:35while the average net monthly salary was
18:38measured at about €860
18:41in March 2024.
18:44These wages aren't exactly enough for a
18:46highquality lifestyle, but compared to
18:49other Balkan countries, Serbian citizens
18:51are doing relatively better. If you come
18:54to the country for work and don't know
18:56what to do at first, working as a
18:58motorcycle or bicycle courier is an
19:00option. Online shopping is highly
19:03developed in Serbia. And as you walk
19:06through the streets, couriers on bikes
19:08and scooters constantly pass by. Two of
19:11the biggest companies operating here are
19:14Walt and Glo, brands you'll see all
19:17across Europe. Walt is a Finnish
19:20company, while Glo is Spanish-owned.
19:24Belgrade is also home to the
19:25headquarters of several betting and
19:27gambling companies. And as you walk
19:30around the city, you'll frequently come
19:32across their storefronts. Couriers
19:34typically earn around 600 dinars per
19:37hour with monthly earnings ranging from
19:40roughly 82,000 to 171,000 dinars. With a
19:45stable routine, it's possible to make
19:48around €1,000 net per month. But here's
19:51the hard truth. No matter which country
19:54you're coming from, Serbia isn't a place
19:57where it's easy to make good money.
19:59Earning is difficult and taxes are
20:02higher than in many neighboring
20:03countries. In Bgrade, someone working a
20:07legal registered job pays income tax, a
20:10city pension contribution, and
20:13additional social fund taxes.
20:16Altogether, you're facing a tax burden
20:18of around 30%. If you set up a limited
20:21company, things get even tougher. On top
20:25of that 30%, you'll also pay corporate
20:28taxes, pushing the total tax rate close
20:31to 48%.
20:33That's nearly half of your earnings
20:35going to the state. When you step inside
20:38apartment buildings in Belgrade, it's
20:40immediately clear that many of them date
20:43back to the Yugoslav era. The country
20:46isn't heavily affected by devastating
20:48earthquakes and seismic activity is
20:51relatively low. Because of that, these
20:54old buildings have managed to remain
20:56structurally solid. In fact, since 1893,
21:00the strongest earthquakes in Serbia
21:03haven't even reached magnitude 6. The
21:06largest quake of the 20th and 21st
21:08centuries happened in 1922.
21:12More recently, in 2010, the country
21:15experienced a 5.4 magnitude earthquake.
21:19While the buildings themselves are
21:21sturdy, the elevators don't exactly
21:23inspire confidence. You'll notice sudden
21:26accelerations and abrupt stops when you
21:29press the buttons. Serbs tend to keep
21:32the exterior of these century old
21:34buildings unchanged, but inside
21:37apartments are often well renovated and
21:39modernized.
21:41Inside many apartments, you'll also see
21:43radiators, which shows that some
21:45buildings are heated by natural gas or
21:48solid fuels. Only about 10% of heating
21:52in the country comes from natural gas.
21:54The rest relies on solid fuels and air
21:57conditioning. In the capital, monthly
22:00rents for older apartments near the city
22:02center start at around €500.
22:05If you want to live close to the center
22:07in a new luxury apartment, you may
22:10encounter rents reaching as high as
22:12€3,000 per month. That's shockingly
22:15expensive. Even in cities like New York,
22:19rents usually range around €4,000 to
22:22€5,000.
22:23So, if you're looking to rent a decent
22:25apartment in Belgrade, you should be
22:27prepared to spend at least around €1,000
22:30per month. If Serbia ever becomes a
22:33member of the European Union, it's
22:36likely that more people will want to
22:37invest, move here, and apply for
22:40residency. That would almost certainly
22:43push housing and rental prices even
22:45higher.
22:47As you walk along busy streets in
22:49Belgrade, you'll also notice open air
22:51sandwich stands. It's hard to know how
22:54healthy these foods are or even which
22:57animals the meat comes from unless you
22:59try it yourself. Like anywhere else in
23:02the world, Serbia also has people who
23:04are homeless and in need. Their numbers
23:08may be lower compared to many other
23:09countries, but you'll still encounter
23:12people asking for money on the streets.
23:14Compared to places like Albania, North
23:17Macedonia, or Kosovo, where street
23:20sellers and beggars can be extremely
23:22aggressive, people in Serbia are
23:25generally not pushy. Let's say you come
23:28here with someone you care about and
23:30want to create a nostalgic memory. In
23:33busy parts of Bgrade, there are
23:35photographers using old-fashioned
23:37equipment who take your photo and print
23:40it directly onto newspaper style paper.
23:43Instead of asking for a fixed price,
23:46they accept whatever amount you feel
23:47like giving. Within minutes, they hand
23:50you your printed photo, a simple,
23:53nostalgic souvenir. Even though it's
23:56technically summer now, the weather in
23:58Serbia isn't very stable and can change
24:01quickly. Strong winds can appear even
24:04during the summer months. Because of
24:06this, you'll often notice people wearing
24:08long-sleeved clothing from time to time.
24:11For example, someone taking photos might
24:14be wearing a jacket, or others may
24:16choose to dress with long sleeves on top
24:19and shorts on the bottom. At Republic
24:22Square in the capital, there's almost a
24:24concert happening every day. If you
24:27enjoy festivals and live music, Belgrade
24:30truly feels alive and full of energy.
24:34One evening, you might come across
24:36Serbian folk dancers performing
24:38traditional dances. On another night, it
24:41could be an opera singer giving a live
24:43performance. Even the pigeons in Serbia
24:46are remarkably friendly. People must
24:49treat these birds well because when you
24:51approach them, they come closer instead
24:54of flying away. They aren't afraid. They
24:57wait to be fed. In a way, this reflects
25:01how people here treat animals, almost as
25:04if they've been gently domesticated.
25:06Life in Belgrade truly begins as the sun
25:09starts to go down. As you walk along the
25:12city's famous streets, you suddenly
25:15notice new street performers appearing
25:17out of nowhere. Dancers, musicians,
25:21entertainers.
25:22In the evenings, as crowds fill the
25:25streets, everyone is trying to earn
25:27something or showcase what they do best.
25:30Some perform dances while others try to
25:33sell products in more creative ways. For
25:36example, ice cream vendors often hire
25:38young, attractive women, dressing them
25:41in short skirts as part of a clear sales
25:44strategy. It's a method designed to
25:46attract attention and it works
25:49especially when it comes to selling ice
25:51cream to young men. If you want to
25:54escape the crowds in the evening and
25:56enjoy the sunset, you can head to the
25:59riverfront area of the capital. Sitting
26:02on benches along the Sava River,
26:04cracking sunflower seeds while watching
26:06the view is a simple pleasure many
26:09locals enjoy. You can also cycle along
26:12the river or go for a run to stay in
26:15shape. In Bgrade, the river banks are
26:18just as lively as the main streets.
26:20Since the city has no sea, the most
26:23expensive housing projects, shopping
26:25malls, and luxury cafes are built along
26:29the rivers. If you look at the newly
26:31constructed or still developing
26:33buildings, you should know that many of
26:35these properties were purchased months
26:37in advance by wealthy investors from the
26:40United States, Canada, and Arab
26:42countries. These ultra luxury residences
26:45offer some of the best views in Serbia
26:48and are among the top choices for
26:50foreign investors. Along the river,
26:53you'll often come across festivals where
26:55you can sample local Serbian products.
26:58In nearby parks, there are special chess
27:00style tables designed for elderly
27:03people. One such peaceful area located
27:06right next to KZ Mihilova Street offers
27:09a calm environment for reading, spending
27:11time with your partner, or watching
27:14seniors enjoy their games. You can even
27:17play tennis with your partner or let
27:19your child enjoy the playground
27:20equipment inside the park. When night
27:23falls, the entertainment scene in
27:25Belgrade shifts into a higher gear. Some
27:28people host house parties while others
27:31head straight to Scattera.
27:34This area is divided into two parts. The
27:37first is filled with venues popular
27:39among younger crowds aged 18 to 25 where
27:43clubs line the street and people move
27:45from one place to another. The real
27:48nightife, often referred to as the
27:51Bohemian street, caters to a more
27:53upscale and wealthier crowd. Here,
27:57Serbian musicians do everything they can
27:59to entertain their guests. As you walk
28:02through these streets, you'll encounter
28:04stylishly dressed men and many
28:07attractive women. These places offer
28:09great opportunities to meet locals and
28:12socialize, as many people are out alone.
28:15Some women are unaccompanied while some
28:18men may be looking for a partner. In
28:21fact, many visitors to Serbia claim that
28:24Serbian women are among the most
28:26beautiful in Europe. Whether Serbian
28:28people are truly beautiful or handsome
28:30is something you can decide for
28:32yourself. One thing that stands out,
28:35however, [music] is how openly people
28:37dress. Serbian women can easily catch
28:40the attention of foreign men and locals
28:43often say that Serbian women look for a
28:46more traditional lifestyle. For example,
28:49many are open to marrying wealthy
28:51foreign investors such as Canadians who
28:53move to Serbia. However, if you lack
28:56financial stability, convincing a
28:58beautiful Serbian woman to marry you can
29:01be quite difficult. Serbia's population
29:04tells its own story. While it was close
29:07to 8 million in 1993,
29:09it has dropped to around 6.6 million
29:12today. A significant decline. This
29:16suggests that people are not
29:17prioritizing having children. Most Serbs
29:21do not consider marriage or starting a
29:23family before the age of 30. Until their
29:26mid20s, life is mostly focused on
29:28education and entertainment. As they
29:31approach their 30s, the idea of family
29:34becomes more appealing. This is quite
29:36different from neighboring countries
29:38like Albania or North Macedonia, where
29:41early marriage is more common. In
29:44Serbia, women make up about 51% of the
29:47workforce, which shows that many Serbian
29:50women choose careers over staying at
29:52home and raising children. Serbian men
29:55are also known for their strong
29:57nationalism. You can clearly see this if
30:00you attend an international football
30:01match or a basketball game involving a
30:04Serbian team. While Serbia may not
30:07dominate football, it is extremely
30:09successful in basketball and fans
30:12support their country passionately.
30:15Serbs are not very tolerant of negative
30:17opinions about their nation and tend to
30:19become defensive, especially regarding
30:22sensitive topics like the Yugoslav era,
30:25Kosovo, Bosnia, or Montenegro's
30:28independence.
30:29These subjects are best avoided in
30:31casual conversations.
30:34Belgrade is undoubtedly one of the
30:36safest cities you can visit. The chances
30:38of encountering crime are very low.
30:42While exploring the city, you'll barely
30:44notice police presence simply because
30:47there's rarely a need for constant
30:49intervention. If your goal in Belgrade
30:51is culture rather than night life, one
30:54of the first places you should visit is
30:56the Nicola Tesla Museum. Known as the
30:59inventor of alternating current, Tesla
31:02is regarded by many as one of the
31:04smartest people who ever lived.
31:06Throughout his life, he focused on
31:08transmitting electricity wirelessly. At
31:12the museum located in southern Bgrade,
31:15you can see Tesla's personal belongings
31:17and even participate in simple
31:19electrical demonstrations. Have you ever
31:22wondered how radios work? The Tesla
31:25coil, one of his inventions, allows
31:27electricity to be transmitted
31:29wirelessly, a principle still used in
31:32modern televisions and radios today.
31:35Tesla fiercely competed with Thomas
31:37Edison, the supporter of Direct Current,
31:40and ultimately succeeded scientifically,
31:43though he never lived a wealthy life.
31:46Another highlight of the city is the
31:48massive Orthodox cathedral. Its interior
31:52impresses visitors with its grandeur,
31:54while its exterior resembles Istanbul's
31:57Hagia Sophia. This cathedral is
31:59considered one of the most important
32:01religious buildings in the world with
32:03the capacity to host up to 10,000
32:06people. Due to political events and
32:09wars, its construction took decades and
32:12has only recently reached completion.
32:15Despite not being a member of the
32:16European Union, Serbia allows visa-free
32:20travel to many countries, including much
32:22of Europe, China, and Russia. You can
32:25even travel safely to Montenegro, which
32:28was separated from Serbia in recent
32:30history. Although holding a Serbian
32:33passport won't grant you Montenegran
32:35citizenship, you can stay there
32:37indefinitely.
32:39Still, Serbia's EU membership within the
32:42next 10 years is viewed skeptically,
32:45while Montenegro is rumored to join by
32:47around 2035.
32:50One impressive detail is language. If
32:54you stop 10 random people in Belgrade,
32:56at least eight of them will speak fluent
32:58English, especially among those under
33:0140. English proficiency is very high and
33:05communication is rarely a problem.
33:08Outside of Belgrade, however, Serbia
33:11lacks other standout cities. For many
33:14people around the world, Serbia is
33:16almost synonymous with Bgrade. Since the
33:19city itself is relatively small and has
33:21no coastline, some visitors may
33:23eventually feel bored. Because of this,
33:27despite attracting wealthy real estate
33:29investors, particularly from Arab
33:31countries, Serbia doesn't draw large
33:34tourist numbers. In 2024, the country
33:38welcomed only about 2.4 million
33:40tourists. For comparison, even the Greek
33:44island of Cree attracts over 4 million
33:46visitors annually.
33:49Most tourists visiting Serbia come not
33:51from wealthy western countries, but from
33:54neighboring Balkan states, Russia, and
33:57Turkey. After visa requirements were
34:00lifted, around 230,000 tourists arrived
34:03from Turkey alone in 2024.
34:06In summary, Serbia and Belgrade in
34:09particular is a safe central European
34:12destination that is definitely worth
34:14visiting as long as expectations are
34:17kept realistic. This concludes our video
34:20for Serbia. See you in the next one.
34:24Goodbye.

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