The Sava

Whether you plan to visit Serbia for a couple of days or a couple of weeks, the river Sava is a must see. Along its 200-kilometre course, the river Sava will take you through numerous cultural and historic landmarks and protected natural areas.

Not far from the bank of the Sava, in the village of Pećinci, you will find the Bread Museum, with more than 2000 exhibits depicting the journey of a grain of wheat to the final product. The permanent display, which includes mills, reapers, grain containers and furnaces, reveals the evolution of breadmaking over the centuries and tells of its importance for the survival of the local population.
The internationally renowned Ramsar Site of Obedska bara, a wetland area situated on the bank of the Sava, is home to numerous plant and animal species. Among the animals that inhabit Obedska bara, the most abundant are various species of wetland birds – birdwatchers can enjoy spotting over 200 different species as they fly above the banks of the Sava or on a walk through the ancient English oak forests and salt marshes.
Another Ramsar Site (a wetland site designated to be of international importance), Zasavica nature reserve, is situated in the municipalities of Sremska Mitrovica and Bogatić and is directly linked to the river Sava by the Bogaz canal. This tranquil area provides shelter to native animal species including Podolian cattle and Mangalica - an old breed of pig - as well as many more rare and endangered plant and animal species. A stay at the nearby campsite, a mere 200 metres from the reserve, will help you recharge and relax whilst allowing you to explore the natural amenities of this protected area.
Those who feel more at home in cities and prefer to explore urban landmarks will no doubt be pleased to learn that the Sava runs through several urban centres, including Sremska Mitrovica, Šabac and Belgrade. Sremska Mitrovica sits atop the archaeological site of Sirmium, one of the cultural and commercial centres of the Roman Empire, with surviving remans of the Imperial Palace, luxury baths and Roman villas built between the 1st and the 4th Century.
If you follow the course of the Sava to the very end, you will reach the Serbian capital city, with its majestic Kalemegdan fortress, with a splendid view of the confluence of the Sava and the Danube. Watching the sunset at the joining of these two rivers, from the walls of the Kalemegdan fortress, is considered to be the most romantic experience Belgrade has to offer.
Just several kilometres away from Belgrade city centre, on the bank of the Sava, you will find the popular bathing area of Ada Ciganlija. Known among the locals as “the Belgrade sea”, the river peninsula of Ada Ciganlija gives you a unique opportunity to spend the summer the way true Belgraders spend it. If you wish to experience more than the conventional tourist attractions on your holiday, Ada Ciganlija will give you an authentic glimpse of everyday life in Belgrade during the summer.
And when the night falls, visit one of the many floating river clubs and experience the unforgettable nightlife for which Belgrade is renowned the world over. Experience for yourself the blend of good music and electrifying atmosphere that entices visitors to return over and over for a taste of the summer nights on the bank of the Sava.