(ANSA) - BELGRADE - Belgrade and Serbia were listed among the best places to visit in 2018 by the New York Times and CNN.

In its annual ranking of '52 places to go', the New York Times listed Belgrade over its nighttime attractions and growing creativity. The newspaper described Belgrade as the ''party town'' of Europe, writing that it is as vibrant as ever.

CNN also listed Serbia as a must-see over its natural attractions, including the Danube river, Tara national park and, in the country's south, avolja Varos, or Devil's Town, which ''offers a crazy geological spectacle of weird rocky pinnacles'', the broadcaster said.

After reporting in 2015 on Savamala, the old city neighborhood in Belgrade that led its renaissance, CNN advised readers to visit the country's natural attractions in the spring and summer.

The New York Times cited the city's nightlife that has turned Belgrade into a worldwide attraction as well as interesting new artistic centers like Kc Grad and the Galerija tab.

Other US media outlets and tour guides like Lonely Planet advised to travel to Serbia in 2018. In Italy, a new guide on ''Belgrade and Serbia'' has been published, describing the country's many attractions and providing advice to plan a trip - from the cities of Belgrade and Novi Sad - European capital of culture in 2021 - to the places of spirituality, history and nature. (ANSA).