Serbia

At a Glance

Serbia is a Balkan country with a turbulent history and a culture of striking warmth and expressiveness, centred on Belgrade, one of Europe's most underrated capital cities for food, nightlife, and arts. The countryside has monasteries, river gorges, and the vast plains of Vojvodina. Those who enjoy cities with edge, a cuisine rooted in grilled meat and fresh vegetables, and a people who take hospitality seriously will feel very much at home.

• World's largest raspberry exporter — roughly a third of global supply.
• Nikola Tesla was Serbian-American, born in what is now Croatia — both countries claim him.
• Invented the first electric motor (Jedlik, though that's actually Hungarian — Serbia's claim is Tesla).