Honest thoughts on Serbia after my first visit

First time in Serbia and I tried to approach it with open eyes rather than preconceptions. Subotica was the base and a good one — central, manageable, and with strong food options including the best sarma I've ever had. Đavolja Varoš was the big set piece and fully justified the trip.

Two things worth knowing: language barrier, which is more of a factor than some guides acknowledge. But also: genuinely warm Balkan hospitality, which I'd never read about and turned out to be a genuine pleasure. Solid first impression — I'd return.