A Winter Day in Tutin, Serbia I Will Never Forget

Some of the most unforgettable trips are never planned. They simply happen unexpectedly, quietly, and leave a mark on your heart forever.

During my stay in Rudo, I was staying with my Bosnian family friends when one early winter morning, the husband casually mentioned he needed to go to Tutin for work and asked if I wanted to join him. His wife and kids couldn’t come at that time because of visa issues, so it ended up becoming a spontaneous little road trip for the two of us.

Of course, I said yes.

• 

The morning air was freezing cold already, but surprisingly there was still barely any thick snow around. My friend kept mentioning how different it was compared to previous years — that normally the snow would already be up to the knees or even higher. Yet during most of the drive, we kept searching for snow-covered roads and couldn’t really find any.

But the journey itself felt magical.

• 

Along the way, we stopped several times just to admire the scenery. There were frozen mini waterfalls hanging beside the roads like nature’s crystal decorations. We found a natural hot spring too one of the most surreal things I experienced during that trip. Imagine standing in the freezing cold while touching water that was unbelievably warm, almost hot in some areas. Steam rising into the icy air while everything around looked frozen felt almost unreal.

• 

We took photos, videos, laughed during the stops, and simply enjoyed the quiet beauty of the Balkans in winter.

Our first stop before reaching town was to buy fresh cow cheese from locals nearby. Then finally, we arrived in the small town of Tutin.

Tutin is a quiet municipality located in the southwestern part of Serbia, near the border of Montenegro. It is part of the Sandžak region and is known for its mountains, peaceful villages, strong Muslim Bosniak culture, and incredible hospitality.

Life there feels slower and simpler compared to bigger European cities. The town itself may look modest, especially during gloomy winter days, but the warmth of the people completely changes the atmosphere.

One interesting thing I learned about Tutin is that alcohol is very uncommon there. There are almost no bars, and many places do not sell alcohol at all because of the local culture and traditions. Instead, people gather over tea, coffee, conversations, and family visits — something I honestly found beautiful.

When we arrived, my friend introduced me to a lovely elderly woman who immediately welcomed me warmly and offered to show me around the town while he attended to his work.

And that became one of my favorite afternoons during all my travels.

Despite the gloomy weather, the town felt alive because of the people I met. I met kind locals inside pharmacies, small shops, and cafés. We had tea in two different places — one inside what I think was the town’s only hotel, and another in a cozy tea shop. Everyone was curious, friendly, and genuinely happy to meet someone from the Philippines.

At one point, I noticed a large map posted outside. I remember standing there with the elderly lady, pointing out where the Philippines was on the map and showing her how far I had traveled to reach their small town in Serbia. It was such a simple moment, yet somehow so meaningful.

What touched me most about Tutin was the hospitality.

The elderly lady later invited me to dinner with her family. They welcomed me into their home as if I was part of their own family. The kindness people showed me there was beyond words. They didn’t let me spend a single dime the entire day.

Before we left, the lady even gave me souvenirs — including a silver necklace with a little cat on it that I still remember fondly today.

In return, I made small artworks and drawings for the people I met along the way — for the lady, the pharmacy staff, the shopkeepers, and her family. Art has always been my way of saying thank you, especially when words are not enough.

As evening came, we finally drove back toward Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ironically, that was when the heavy snow finally appeared. The roads became difficult, visibility dropped, and there were moments we had to stop because driving became too dangerous.

But somehow, it made the journey even more memorable.

And just like that, in one single day, I crossed borders, met strangers who treated me like family, experienced winter landscapes straight out of a movie, and collected memories that no luxury trip could ever replace.

It was one beautiful winter day in Tutin that I will never forget.