Open Travel Guide
Food tours in Serbia

Serbia Food Tours Guide 2026

The culinary side of Serbia — which food experiences are worth booking and which to do yourself.

This guide covers 4+ food tours and culinary experiences in Serbia — Taste of Belgrade Walking Tour, Kalenić Market Gourmet Tour and Serbian Rakija and Wine Evening top the list. Every recommendation carries its practical details: typical costs, the best time to visit, and what to know before you commit.

Serbia offers a captivating blend of ancient history, vibrant nightlife, and warm hospitality. From the dynamic capital Belgrade to medieval fortresses and stunning natural landscapes, this Balkan nation delivers authentic experiences at exceptional value.

Top food tours

Guided experiences that show you Serbia through its food.

walking

Taste of Belgrade Walking Tour

3.5h$45/person

The most popular food tour in Belgrade, visiting Zeleni Venac market, a traditional bakery (pekara), a kafana for ćevapi, and finishing with rakija tasting at a local bar. Led by passionate local guides who share stories about Serbian food culture.

market

Kalenić Market Gourmet Tour

2.5h$35/person

Behind-the-scenes guided visit to Kalenić Market with a local chef who introduces seasonal Serbian produce, artisan cheeses, wild mushrooms, and traditional pickled vegetables. Includes cooking demonstration using market-fresh ingredients.

specialty

Serbian Rakija and Wine Evening

3h$55/person

Evening tasting tour of Serbia's famous fruit brandies — šljivovica (plum), kajsijevača (apricot), and dunja (quince) — paired with Serbian charcuterie, cheeses, and local wines from Župa and Fruška Gora wine regions. Hosted at a private wine cellar in Stari Grad.

street_food

Skadarlija and Stari Grad Street Food Crawl

3h$40/person

Evening food crawl through Belgrade's bohemian quarter and old town, sampling burek from a bakery, grilled meats from a ćevabdžinica, roasted peppers with kajmak, and ending with traditional slatko (fruit preserve) and coffee.

Tour formats

Different ways to experience Serbia's food scene.

Format

Street food tours

Street food crawls visiting bakeries (pekare), grilled meat shops (ćevabdžinice), and market stalls tasting burek, ćevapi, pljeskavica, and seasonal snacks

Format

Market tours

Guided tours of Zeleni Venac, Kalenić, and Bajloni markets with local food experts explaining seasonal Serbian produce, dairy, and artisan products

Format

Restaurant tours

Curated multi-course dinners at traditional kafanas in Skadarlija combining Serbian staples with live music — perfect for experiencing the full kafana tradition

Format

Specialty tours

Specialist tastings focused on rakija (fruit brandy) production, Serbian wine regions (Župa, Fruška Gora, Negotin), or honey and forest products from rural producers

Cooking classes

Take a piece of Serbia home with you.

Class

Belgrade Home Cooking Class

3.5h$65/person

Small-group cooking class in a Belgrade home kitchen learning to prepare burek, gibanica, sarma (stuffed cabbage), and roštilj (grilled meats). Hosted by a local family with three generations of Serbian cooking knowledge. Meal shared together after cooking.

Class

Serbian Bread and Pastry Workshop

3h$55/person

Learn the secrets of traditional Serbian bread (slavski kolač), pita pastry (gibanica), and walnut roll (orasnica) in a hands-on baking session. All ingredients provided, take home what you bake. Sessions in English with advance booking.

Class

Serbian Farm-to-Table Cooking Retreat

5h$90/person

Full-day cooking experience starting with market shopping at Zeleni Venac, followed by a guided session preparing a complete Serbian feast — čorba (soup), roast lamb under the sač, ajvar, and proja (cornbread) — eaten together with local wine pairings.

DIY self-guided food tour

Self-guided Belgrade food route covering the best authentic food stops from bakery breakfast to kafana dinner, achievable on foot in 4-5 hours

  1. 1

    Stop 1 (8AM): Pekara Toma, Makedonska — fresh burek and kifle with jogurt for breakfast ($2)

  2. 2

    Stop 2 (9AM): Zeleni Venac market — sample local cheeses, honey, ajvar, and seasonal produce from stall holders

  3. 3

    Stop 3 (11AM): Savamala district — specialty coffee at Kafeterija and browse the creative food market on weekends

  4. 4

    Stop 4 (1PM): Ima Dana kafana, Skadarlija — traditional Serbian lunch: bean soup, grilled meats, and roast peppers ($8-12)

  5. 5

    Stop 5 (3PM): Šećerna Banica, Knez Mihailova — traditional sweets including Turkish baklava and walnut pastry ($3)

  6. 6

    Stop 6 (7PM): Tri Šešira or Dva Jelena, Skadarlija — full traditional dinner with live music (reserve ahead, $15-25)

Foodie tips

Get more out of every meal.

Tip

Breakfast in Serbia means burek — flaky pastry with cheese, meat, or spinach from a pekara (bakery). Wash down with kiselo mleko (sour milk yogurt) for the authentic experience

Tip

Lunch is the main meal of the day in Serbia; restaurants fill up noon-2PM and serve larger portions than dinner. The two-course set lunch (dnevni meni) at local kafanas is exceptional value at $5-8

Tip

Ćevapi in Belgrade are different from Bosnian cevapi — Serbian style uses a single larger sausage served with kajmak (clotted cream) and roasted peppers rather than onion and sour cream

Tip

Rakija is not just a drink — it's a cultural ritual. Hosts will offer it on arrival; refusing can be mildly offensive. Sip slowly and never refuse the first toast

Tip

Ajvar season runs September-October when locals make enormous batches of roasted red pepper relish. If visiting in autumn, look for fresh homemade ajvar at markets — far superior to the commercial variety

Tip

Vegetarians will find gibanica (cheese pie), prebranac (baked beans), and fresh salads widely available, but note that many 'vegetable' dishes may contain meat stock — ask specifically

Tip

Green markets (pijace) are best visited before 10AM for the widest selection and freshest products; most vendors pack up by 2PM

Tip

Serbian coffee is made Turkish-style with grounds in the cup — wait 2-3 minutes after it arrives before drinking for grounds to settle