I was born in West Serbia, in the mountain area surrounded by hills and valleys, and never had a chance to explore the northern part of Serbia until recently when I ventured for a short round trip from Belgrade. And I have to say it was truly remarkable. We started our trip from Belgrade, and our destination was Movenpick Fruske Terme, a resort and spa in Fruska Gora, a natural healing spa with many different pools, saunas, and resort features that are there to make your stay as pleasant, rejuvenating, and rebalancing as possible.
We arrived late at night, checked into our hotel, and our first impression was outstanding. Check-in was smooth, effortless, and we were greeted by pleasant staff who ensured to accommodate our every request. Rooms were comfortable, spacious, with all necessary amenities, including a free mini-bar (that had no alcohol, of course, but a selection of water and juice).
For dinner, we went to Restaurant “Vrdnicka Kula,” which is a part of the Etno village “Vrdnicka Kula,” with a very nice ambiance that complemented perfectly our hotel stay. We tried local delicacies such as pheasant pate for appetizers and venison meat for mains, perfectly paired with local red wine, and topped with homemade pie desserts and different cakes.
We couldn’t wait for the morning to wake up and have breakfast (free buffet) and after that head to the spa section where we could finally enjoy those thermal pools that we’ve heard so many stories about. It is not common for young people to visit thermal spas in Serbia since they are considered to be healing places for elderly people to visit once they have some pains, issues, or health problems, so we were also hesitant and skeptical about what kind of crowd we should expect during our stay there.
The breakfast buffet was better than expected, one of the best ones I’ve seen in Serbia, with so many healthy and regular food options, including homemade Serbian cookies and specialty desserts like my grandma makes only for special occasions. There was something for everyone.
After breakfast, we headed to the pool area, and we were amazed again. The pools and indoor/outdoor facilities were fascinating and great to relax, enjoy, and swim. We particularly enjoyed the outdoor thermal pools, with sunny weather and nature views, it was a true delight to relax outside and enjoy the beautiful landscapes. I used the opportunity to do cold/hot plunges since one of the pools outside wasn’t heated, so it gave me an opportunity to do a little hydrotherapy. All other hotel guests were also very friendly, and we could see all age groups, from young families with kids to older couples to even single girls venturing out for a little spa getaway. Everything was wonderful, and we were really enjoying every moment.
After the pools, we headed to the sauna section, and it was an overwhelming choice of saunas, that you didn’t know which one to choose from. I opted for the Russian bath and chrono sauna, but would have loved if I had time to test them all.
We had to end our stay here, sadly, and venture out to explore more of the Jewel of Serbia, including wineries and smaller haciendas down the road.
The hotel stay cost about $120 a night, including a room for 2 people, breakfast buffet, spa access, and resort facilities. If you wanted a massage or extra service, that was an add-on. I’m sad we didn’t have time to try out their famous treatments that include natural healing mud of Peloids but gives me another reason to anticipate my return to this rejuvenating place.
Hotel website: Movenpick Fruske Terme
Our next stop was Salas 137, or as I like to call it, the “Serbian style hacienda.” It is a unique place near Novi Sad, where you can come and enjoy local foods and beverages in an authentic ambiance filled with interesting Serbian decor and excellent service. The place also offers rooms for lodging, and there is a stable nearby as well. All the food on their menu is the local specialties, and you won’t regret trying anything from their menu.
Salas 137 website: Salas 137
From there, we started our wineries tour, with the first stop at “Podrum Sukac,” which was probably the most unique wine tasting experience I’ve ever had in my life. We were greeted by the owner of the property who took us into their basement, where we tried freshly poured wine from the barrel, for no extra cost. So, if you are a wine connoisseur, now you know you can get free wine tasting in Serbia 🙂 Wine was super cheap too, 2 liters of wine was about $10, but only served in plastic bottles.
Our next stop was the world-famous “Vinarija Kovacevic,” where we stopped for dessert, an aperitif, and also got more wines to go. Their wines are known to be top-class, and the restaurant is exceptional, with an inspiring menu, fantastic food, and wonderful staff. The place is classy, elegant, and sophisticated, and great for any occasion. They say that this winery is a place for true hedonists and they call it a piece of heaven, for which we can vouch.
As we had to head back to our West Serbia and mountains, this is one of the experiences that really makes us appreciate our beautiful country Serbia even more, and makes us wonder – what else is there to explore that we are not aware of?
This blog post was originally published on BlondyInsider.com. We hope you enjoyed reading about our adventure in Fruska Gora, Serbia. Stay tuned for more travel tales and tips!
