This laid-back Serbian town draws locals and visitors to its lively market square, traditional restaurants, and authentic nightlife scene. Local dishes and fresh coffee are town staples.
In Leskovac, you can smell grilled meat wafting through the streets year-round, with local chefs preparing their famous pljeskavica on outdoor grills. Walk through the ruins of a 6th-century Byzantine city, where ancient mosaics still show Emperor Justinian's monogram. Swim in Vlasina Lake where grass-covered islands float across the water, or hike through the Kukavica mountains to gather wild rosemary. The city's 1903 hydroelectric plant in Vučje still runs using its original turbines and equipment.
Food and Grilling Culture
Local grill masters mix ground meat with salt, pepper, and garlic to create pljeskavica - meat patties that can reach 30 centimeters in diameter. Each August, the Roštiljijada festival transforms the main boulevard into an open-air kitchen, where more than 100 grills serve meat specialties like ćevapi (grilled meat rolls), mućkalica (grilled meat stew), and whole roasted lamb. The festival draws 500,000 visitors. In autumn, you'll see families gathering to make ajvar - they cook red peppers from nearby fields into a relish they store for winter meals.
Archaeological Sites and Museums
You can explore Justiniana Prima, 8 kilometers from the city center, where excavations reveal daily life from 535 CE. Walk through ancient public baths, see the remains of a sophisticated sewage system, and examine fortification walls. The basilica contains floor mosaics with Emperor Justinian I's monogram. In downtown Leskovac, the National Museum displays 33,000 artifacts spanning 11 time periods, from stone tools to documents from the 1900s.
Natural Areas
The Kukavica mountains start 5 kilometers southeast of Leskovac, reaching 1,442 meters at Vlaina peak. Follow the 28-kilometer marked trail through oak and pine forests, where you can collect wild rosemary and sage along the way. Drive 40 kilometers to reach Vlasina Lake, where peat islands covered in vegetation drift across the water. Wild horses roam among birch trees on the shoreline. The water temperature rises to 22°C in summer, making it comfortable for swimming.
Getting Around and Transportation
Drive from Belgrade to Leskovac in 2 hours and 50 minutes on the E75 highway. The train station connects to 19 daily routes, including international trains to Athens and Skopje. For air travel, use Niš Constantine the Great Airport, 45 kilometers north, with flights to major European cities. The central bus station runs regular services to Priština, Pirot, and Bosilegrad.
