Cycling in Europe, Summer 2026
(Continued from North Macedonia) I was already about 3 weeks into my trip when I entered Serbia, and by then I think my mindset for the journey had already been set. Even so, Serbia was probably my favorite country to cycle through this summer. I entered Serbia after a long day of cycling from Skopje (95km, 1250m of elevation gain), crossing at one of the most remote border crossings in the region. It was a very small border crossing, with barely any cars passing through. On the Serbian side, I stopped for lunch and visited the Manastir Monastery, one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in Serbia. It was a very peaceful place. After that, I faced a very steep climb to reach Enigma Camping. Nevertheless, my first day in Serbia was amazing. I didn't have a single stray dog chase me.
I had some wonderful, authentic experiences with locals in restaurants and tiny villages (like Rajanj & Roglievo Wine cellars). There were hardly any dogs barking, probably because they are so used to seeing locals cycling. I loved taking breaks in small churches where music was playing, and, of course, eating ćevapi.
By far, the highlight of this part of the trip was cycling along EuroVelo 6 through the Iron Gate Gorge. My favorite section was from Belgrade to Negotin, near the Bulgarian border. It took me about a week to ride it, but the scenery was absolutely spectacular.
I also met a few other cyclists, even though I hadn't seen any for more than a month before that. I felt a little lonelier on this trip than I usually do, which is unusual for me. I had expected to meet many more cyclists. I took a rest day in Belgrade and really enjoyed walking around the city without having to ride my bike. After that, the following week, cycling east through the Iron Gates Gorge toward Romania was probably the highlight of my trip. I found the scenery absolutely stunning. There were fewer cars, more dedicated cycling paths, and I also met Enredias, an Austrian cyclist who kept me company for two days.
It was great to finally have someone to talk to after spending so many weeks alone on the road.
Iron Gate Gorge
