If you’re an art and wine lover looking for a day trip out of Belgrade in September and October, these three routes are for you. Each one leads to something you won’t find anywhere else – a unique art phenomenon and wineries immersed in nature, offering award-winning Serbian wines. All three are within a 90 minute drive from Belgrade,
When guests of the tours I guide ask me where to spend a day out outside Belgrade, these are the three itineraries I recommend.
Aranđelovac & Oplenac: Sculptures, Sacral Mosaics and Vineyard Panoramas
Distance: 1 hour (71 km)
Start in the Sculpture Park in Aranđelovac, a spa town under Bukulja Mountain. The park holds 78 sculptures, made by established sculptors from former Yugoslavia and abroad, who’ve taken part in annual artist residencies here since 1966. Allow up to 45 minutes for an easy walk among them.
From Aranđelovac, it’s a 25-minute drive to Oplenac, the hill where the Serbian King Peter and his son, the Yugoslav King Alexander, built St. George’s Church as the mausoleum of the Karađorđević dynasty. The marble facades and five domes reflect Serbian medieval architectural tradition, elegant and restrained from the outside.
The interior is covered in 3,500 square meters of mosaic, made from 40 million tesserae in Murano glass, reproducing the most important frescoes from Serbia’s medieval monasteries.
Entry to the church and the three other objects in the complex costs 600 dinars (about €5). Open daily, 9 AM – 6 PM. The visit can take from one to two and a half hours, if you choose to visit other objects or unwind along a 30-minute hiking trail.
When on Oplenac, enjoy the views that earned this region, called Šumadija, the reputation of Serbian Tuscany. Besides the landscapes, this region shares Tuscany’s passion for winemaking It started with Romans, to be renewed by Karađorđe, a leader of Serbian liberation from the Turks and the dynasty founder, in the early 19th century.
For tasting local wines, head either to Tarpoš Winery or Matijašević Vineyards. Both are 20 minutes from Oplenac.
Tarpoš winery’s most decorated wines include Chardonnay Extra Brut, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. If you’re into native varieties, you’ll want to discover Serbian red Prokupac at Matijašević Vineyards.
Jagodina, Ekata Estate and Despotika Winery – Naive and Contemporary Art
Distance: 1 hour 25 minutes (137 km)
For a refreshing and provocative take on art, by artists outside of the established art world, visit the Museum of Naive and Marginal Art in Jagodina.
This world-renowned, yet never crowded museum, has ben collecting the works of Serbian, Yugoslav and international self-taught artists since 1960. The collection includes over 3,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings and graphics created by more than 350 artists, from the 1930ies to the present day.
The Museum is open10 AM to 6 PM Tuesday to Friday, until 4 PM on Saturdays and until 3 PM on Sundays. The ticket costs 300 dinars (less than 3 EUR).
On the way that leads back to Belgrade, after a 50-minute drive, visit the multifunctional Ekata Estate in Krnjevo.
An impressive neo-brutalist structure, Ekata is a uniquely innovative offering on the Serbian cultural and gastro scene, with a restaurant, distillery, plum orchard and a carefully curated music, theater and visual arts programme. Open Wed – Sun, 12 – 8 PM.
The latest exhibition, that was on view until 6 September 2026, presented a prominent Serbian conceptual artist Radomir Damnjanović Damnjan, together with a Neo-Avantgarde 1960ies art collective from Zagreb (today’s Croatia) called Gorgona.
Another 20 minutes of driving towards Belgrade and you’ll get to Despotika Winery in Vlaški Do.
Despotika’s most acclaimed wine is their Cabernet Sauvignon Krunski dokaz. I like their Morava, a Serbian native white variety.
If you’re a group of 10 or more, choose a wine tasting set that includes a signature Šumadija-style pork roast. You’ll be delighted, we bet. There’s also a Museum of Winemaking within the winery, charming and worth a visit.
Valjevo: Cobbled Streets, Modern Gallery and Gradac Gorge
Distance: 1 hour 25 minutes (101 km)
Start your visit to Valjevo by taking a half an hour to stroll its historic Tešnjar neighbourhood, that preserved the atmosphere of the 19th century.
Then immerse yourself into the fantastic world of Ljuba Popović, one of the most important Serbian artists of the late 20th century, at Modern Gallery. Ljuba, who spent 60 years living and working in Paris, led the initiative to open a gallery that would focus on New Figuration and Fantastic Realism in his hometown Valjevo. Open 10 AM to 6 PM, all days except Tuesdays.
The place to taste wine is Milijan Jelić Winery. Go for the Serbian native variety Morava, which this winery championed 20 years ago while other winemakers were skeptical about it. If you prefer red wine, try Millennium, 85% Merlot and 15% Serbian native variety Prokupac, called Kameničanka in this region. Open 10 AM to 4 PM, all days except Sundays. The winery is a 5-minute drive from the Gallery.
Don’t leave Valjevo without visiting Gradac River gorge. Unbelievably clean and cool emerald-color water invites the braver ones to walk through it. For the less adventurous, there are hiking trails close to the water, immersed in woods. Fresh trout and home style eats are offered at Skok po skok, a lovely unpretentious eatery by the river.
If you’d like to know more about Serbian sacral art check out our Orthodox Icons tour in Belgrade.
A contemporary art lover? You’ll want to know about our gallery hopping contemporary art tour.
Wine lover? Check a local winemaker’s advice on Serbian wine and food matching.
If you’re looking for a private guide in Belgrade or a customized itinerary around wine, art and culture – we’d be thrilled to hear from you.