What to buy in Belgrade? , 13 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Find Here!

Serbia is an excellent destination you can visit all year round, whilst keeping to a low budget. It’s also a wonderful place for shopping. Whether you’re the type of traveller who enjoys local wines, traditional sweets, handmade jewellery and carpets, or even local honey, in Belgrade you are sure to find a gift or souvenir that will charm you.

Regardless of how much space you have in your luggage, you’re bound to find something on this list that will fit in your suitcase (and help keep your memories of Serbia alive).

The best Serbian souvenirs

# Yugoslavian Souvenirs and Memorabilia

In Belgrade, you’ll find most shops and museums are dedicated to keeping alive the memory of Yugoslavia and its leader, Josip Broz Tito. You can also find Yugoslavian pins, communist insignia, and even Yugoslavia-themed jewellery.

# Traditional Serbian Pottery

If you plan to cook some Serbian cuisine specialities yourself, then you absolutely must bring home some Serbian pottery! In Serbia, the most famous pottery comes from Zlakusa. Here, potters use the same techniques as their ancestors, with traditional methods dating back four centuries. Dishes cooked in Zlakusa pots are known to have a unique flavour and aroma, enhancing the dish in a way no ordinary pot or pan can. So, if you’ve discovered that Serbian food is one of your favourite Balkan cuisines, then you’ll want to buy your own Zlakusa cookware to use at home.

# Rakia or Rakija

Another must-do during your stay in Serbia is to try local rakia, (usually made from plums or grapes) with a high alcohol content. Commercially produced rakia has about 40% ABV. However, if you are offered homemade, it can be 50% ABV or even more! While rakia and fruit brandies are common throughout the Balkans (just like our own raki), they can vary greatly in taste. Of course, this ubiquitous drink is available in every city in the country. Just remember to say živeli! before taking your first sip. (That’s the Serbian for “cheers!”).

# Bermet

Why not take home some Bermet, a unique dessert wine? It makes an excellent Serbian gift. While rakia is found throughout the Balkans, Bermet is exclusively Serbian. A dessert wine that resembles a sweeter version of Port, it is produced only in the Fruska Gora region of Vojvodina. The wine is made using twenty herbs and spices and comes in white and red varieties. The recipe is said to be a secret kept by the families who maintain vineyards in the village of Sremski Karlovci.

# Serbian Wine

If you want to bring home a wine to accompany your meal, Serbia is famous for its wines from Fruska Gora and the Danube region. The rosé and reds from the Probus winery were delightful, while the whites from Fruska Gora are also excellent. Whether you choose to buy a bottle from a winery or a shop, Serbian wines are a great way to remember your trip. They also make excellent gifts for family and friends.

# Traditional Serbian Jewellery

Orthodox crosses, rings, and other beautiful religious jewellery are sold in most monasteries, along with other traditional religious gifts. Whether you are looking for religious jewellery or something with historical designs, there are jewellery shops throughout Belgrade, and you can also find jewellery in many markets. This is obviously one of the most common Serbian gifts, but don’t overlook them as they make an excellent present.

# Ajvar

Why not pack a jar of ajvar in your suitcase? It’s a great way to bring a taste of the Balkans home with you. It’s also inexpensive, as you can get it from a green market, like Belgrade’s Zeleni Venac. It’s a red pepper dip that you’re very likely to be offered in a restaurant during your visit. It’s an affordable way to bring a taste of Serbia back home.

# Traditional Serbian Clothing and Other Textiles

Whether you like carpets from Pirot, sweaters from Zlatibor, or Serbian embroidery from anywhere in the country, there is a variety of textile and embroidered souvenirs to buy. Serbia is renowned for mixing Balkan, Ottoman, Byzantine, and Slavic themes in its embroidery, and its works are so exceptional that the National Clothing website ranked it among the top five countries in the world for embroidery traditions. Serbian national costume incorporates all the artistic elements of local weaving traditions.

# Licider Heart

The most essential Serbian souvenir used to say everything from “Happy Birthday” to “I love you.” Similar to the Licitar biscuit of Zagreb, Croatia, this is a traditional heart-shaped biscuit with red icing, then decorated with colourful designs. If you want to take your Licider home as a gift for a loved one, you can have a personalised message written on it. You can find these in souvenir shops, but it might be even more fun to buy them at Belgrade’s Christmas market.

# Succulents and Plants

If you plan to visit the Jevremovac Botanical Garden in Belgrade, it’s a good idea to pick up a small potted plant.

# Traditional Musical Instruments

You’ll hear Serbian music up and down Skardarska Street in Skardalija. After exploring the history and traditions of Serbia, you’re bound to stumble upon at least one group of street musicians playing traditional Serbian folk instruments. Whether it’s in the town square in Novi Sad or a café on Skardarska Street in Belgrade, Serbian traditional music seems to be everywhere. How about a gusle or a šargija to take home with you?

# Ratluk

Would you like to bring home some ratluk? It’s the Serbian version of Turkish delight! And a delicious way to remember your trip. Serbia’s long history under Ottoman occupation resulted in many Turkish traditions remaining after the country gained independence. One of these traditions is the making of Turkish delight. Serbs call it ratluk. Available in green markets and other sweet shops and snack stores, it makes an excellent treat if you’re looking for Serbian gifts to bring back for family, friends, or colleagues at the office. Other excellent sweet ideas include Serbian chocolates, which you can buy in patisseries in larger towns and cities.

# Classic Souvenirs

Do you collect fridge magnets? Or mugs? Or perhaps shot glasses? If you have a collection of traditional souvenirs that you always buy when in a foreign country, you can easily get one from Serbia too. There are tons of stalls and souvenir shops wherever you go, so don’t worry about leaving without a new item for your collection.

Planning a trip to Belgrade? Read our travel guide for enchanting Belgrade and discover all the sights you shouldn’t miss, as well as everything you need to know about Serbia’s capital!

Where to buy Serbian souvenirs

There are many unique shopping options in Serbia, along with the more traditional tourist-friendly places. Here are some of our favourite ways to shop while in the country.

# Monasteries

Monasteries are a great place to buy souvenirs! You’ll directly support small communities, and many handmade products such as honey, homemade wines, and other natural products are available. They also tend to have books about the art and history of the monastery that are not available anywhere else in the world. Not only can you find some unique items in each of them, but you’ll also directly support the community. Given that visiting them is free (no tickets are required to visit Serbian monasteries and churches), it’s the best way a typical traveller can contribute to the well-being of the monastery and its inhabitants.

# Green Markets

Belgrade’s Zeleni Venac is an excellent spot to pick up jars of ajvar when you’re in the city. While there are many more throughout Serbia. In fact, in Belgrade alone, there are over thirty! These farmers' markets often have souvenir carts for tourists, but they are also a great place to pick up jars of traditional Serbian foods, like pickled peppers and ajvar. The best part? If you don’t go to a super-touristy market, you’ll find everything at local prices. No tourist taxes here!

# Wineries

If you go wine tasting in one of Serbia’s wine regions, you’ll likely be tempted to buy one of the wines you try. Although we found that wine at wineries is a bit more expensive than in city markets, there’s nothing quite like buying wine directly from the family who has been producing it for hundreds of years!

# Souvenir Stalls

Wherever you go in Serbia, you won’t be far from a souvenir stall! There’s no shame in picking up some local kitsch from a souvenir stall, especially if you have a fantastic collection of fridge magnets or spoons from your travels.

These were all the wonderful and unique souvenirs you can buy from Belgrade and bring back to remind you of your trip. In Belgrade, you will find a very wide variety, whether it’s food and drink or classic souvenirs and gifts.

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