Encompassing the largest and busiest airport in Serbia, Surčin sprawls across the forested floodplain of the Sava River on the eastern edge of Belgrade. Settlements from the Stone Age, Neolithic period and Roman era have been uncovered in the region, which is now marked by several small towns and villages.
Things to do in Surčin
Near the village of Jakovo is the Fenek Monastery, which was built in the late 15th century and dedicated to St. Martyr Paraskeva. It’s dominated by a one-nave Baroque church with a bell tower rising above and houses wooden iconostasis attributed to the master carver, Aksentije Marković. Also within the Serbian Orthodox complex are several archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic period.
Sprawling between the villages of Progar, Boljevac and Ašanja is the Forest of Bojčin, an area of swampy forest protected as a natural monument since 1965. More than 100 species of birds have been recorded in the forest, which is dominated by red oak, hornbeam and linden trees. In 2010, a theatre designed by Zdravko Milinković was built in the park that hosts folk, jazz and classical music performances as part of the Bojčin Cultural Summer Festival.
For a day at the beach, head to the Tarzan Plaza Progar, which overlooks a bend in the Sava River. You can jump from the elevated platforms into the water or feast on locally caught fish at the waterfront eatery. Surrounded by forest, it’s a popular weekend destination for city dwellers who come for long, lazy lunches on the terrace.
Getting around Surčin
Surčin is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Belgrade and encompasses Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect the towns and villages throughout Surčin while having your own vehicle gives you greater freedom to explore.