Sarah-Jane Begonja

It’s here that you’ll find the birthplace of Vlad Dracula, the real man behind the myth, as well as historic sites like the Sighisoara Clock Tower and the Church on the Hill. As a bonus, the church is at the highest point in all of Sighisoara, and standing in front or behind the church offers visitors an incredible view that is a free alternative to the view from the clock tower, which you have to pay for. It’s worth experiencing both views; however, since a view from the clock tower includes the church, and a view from the church includes the clock tower. Many of these are souvenir shops, and it’s good fun ducking in to see what you’ll find; of course, there are a lot of Dracula-themed items, but you’ll also find painted eggs, religious paintings, stunning ceramics, and hand-carved items.

Tauresium is an ancient archaeological site that features the remnant of what was once a great city that was the birthplace of King Theodahad of the Ostrogoths and Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The site features the remnants of an ancient town that dates back to the early Roman era and numerous artifacts that date back to as early as the 13th century B.C. Excavations have revealed that the city had several large buildings, a monumental stoa, and an acropolis. Bargala is a Byzantine fortified town located 12 kilometers east of the Stip city that dates back to the 4th century A.D. when this site was used as a Roman military camp. After the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Byzantine empire’s rise, the city flourished, especially during the rule of Justinian I.; the city had 20 observation towers, two Roman baths, and an episcopal basilica.

You can submit your application at a diplomatic mission/consular post of the Republic of Croatia or at the competent police administration/police station according to your temporary residence address. Once you are informed that your temporary stay was granted, you have to contact the diplomatic mission/consular post once again to obtain a biometric residence permit (please inquire beforehand about this possibility at the diplomatic mission/consular post) or a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia. Third-country nationals are obligated to register their temporary residence address at a police administration/police station within 30 days from being granted a temporary stay or obtaining the visa, or otherwise, their temporary stay will be revoked. Both third-country nationals who are not required to hold a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia and those who are required to hold a visa have to obtain a residence permit – biometric card (must provide photos and biometric data) in person at a police administration/police station.

Serbia is not that big a country, and you can get pretty much anywhere in the country from Belgrade within just a few hours’ drive. Serbia’s oldest national park should be among your first options if you want to leave the busy city behind and get back to nature. Serbia’s second-largest city, Novi Sad, lies near Fruška Gora National Park and is one of the country’s most livable cities. This is another excellent destination for day trips from Belgrade, particularly if you’re after a combination of local history, architecture, wine, and a great place to pick up a bottle of wine or two to take home!