The need for planning, as a process through which the future can be influenced to a certain extent, gave a new form of this activity, that has characteristics of generalization, flexibility and adaptability in time and in space which it refers to. That is strategic planning, which tends to coordinate the variety of development components and has for its aim successful implementation based on planning objectives. In the practice of spatial planning in Serbia, important differences can be recognized in perception of the term "strategy" as a planning document, and in consequence differences in perception of its form, content and aim. In that sense, this paper is dedicated to the interpretation of different approaches in strategic spatial planning in Serbia and it points out strengths and weaknesses of those approaches.