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Southeast Europe

SerbiaTravel guide

Explore Serbia visa rulesCommon scams in Serbia

Serbia is a Balkan country in Southeastern Europe. Its capital is Belgrade, and its sights include mountains, lakes, national parks, medieval monasteries and lively cities.

Why go

  1. Explore Belgrade and its cafés.

  2. Visit medieval castles and monasteries.

  3. Enjoy mountains, lakes and national parks.

  4. See traditional villages and the plains of Vojvodina.

  5. Try ski resorts and spa resorts.

Best time to go: Summer is popular for visiting Belgrade and relaxing by lakes. Winter attracts visitors to ski resorts such as Kopaonik.

Getting there

By air

  • Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is Serbia's main airport, 15 km from central Belgrade. Air Serbia, Wizz Air and major European airlines serve it.
  • Niš Constantine the Great Airport (INI) has flights operated by Air Serbia, Ryanair and Wizz Air. Tickets tend to be cheap, but there are fewer destinations.
  • Morava Airport (KVO), near Kraljevo, has Air Serbia services. Direct transport to town is by taxi or rental car; buses on the Belgrade–Kraljevo route pass about 1 km away.

By land

  • International train services are limited, and some routes are closed or being rebuilt. Check the service status before planning your journey.
  • The Szeged–Subotica train connects Hungary and Serbia. Buy Budapest–Szeged and Szeged–Subotica tickets separately, as a through ticket can cost more.
  • Trains connect Bar in Montenegro with Belgrade, but long delays are possible. Sleeping places are popular in summer, and tickets must be bought in person at a station in Serbia or Montenegro.

By sea

  • Danube river cruises pass through Belgrade. Trafalgar Tours offers English-language cruises with a two-day stop there.

Getting around

  • Bus

    Buses are the most common and convenient way to travel around Serbia. Flixbus serves long-distance routes. Polazak helps you plan journeys within Serbia. Smaller towns generally have good coverage, though buses are often older.

  • City public transport

    Belgrade has about 120 routes, including buses, trams, trolleybuses and minibuses. Public transport in Belgrade has improved, with much of its bus fleet replaced. Private minibuses cost more than regular public transport, at about €2 per ride.

  • Train

    Trains can be scenic and up to 40% cheaper than buses. Most routes are slower than travelling by bus. The source describes the Belgrade–Novi Sad journey as taking about 30 minutes. SrbijaVoz runs passenger trains. On Polazak, choose a railway station marked with a train symbol and ŽS when checking fares.

  • Car

    Driving can help you reach remote areas where public transport is limited. Roads outside motorways often pass through town and village centres. Drive on the right and wear seat belts in every seat. Children under 14 cannot sit in the front. The blood alcohol limit is 0.03%. Traffic rules are strict, and police patrol major highways. Motorways have tolls, payable in dinars or euros. Watch for pedestrians, bicycles, tractors and poorly lit vehicles, especially at night. Download offline maps to avoid expensive data roaming. The Serbian Auto-Moto Association provides information, towing and repairs on 1987.

What to see and do

  • Golubac

    See its medieval castle.

  • Subotica

    Explore its Art Nouveau architecture.

  • Smederevo Fortress

    Visit a large medieval fortress on flat land. Its lighting gives it a special atmosphere at night.

  • Museum of Smederevo

    See Roman and medieval objects and collections.

  • Serbia's monasteries and villages

    Discover medieval monasteries and traditional villages.

  • Relax at Ada Ciganlija

    This lake and beach park in Belgrade has sports courts, playing fields and waterside cafés.

Food and drink

  • Grilled meat and sausages

    These are central to Serbian food, which combines Central European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences.

  • Local cheeses and bread

    Both are important parts of Serbian meals.

  • International food

    Major cities have Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai and Lebanese restaurants. Belgrade also has sushi and kosher food.

  • Supermarket food

    Idea, Maxi and Lidl sell imported Western foods.

  • Rakija

    A strong fruit brandy made in flavours such as plum, quince, apricot and pear. Some brands are very expensive.

  • Slivovitza

    Serbia's national plum brandy and the most common type of rakija.

Money

Serbian dinar (RSD)

  • Keep small banknotes for taxis, street sellers and small restaurants. They rarely have change for large notes, especially RSD 5,000.
  • Official exchange offices are called menjačnica. Their rates are usually better than bank rates.
  • Many cash machines accept foreign cards. Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard and Maestro are widely accepted, while American Express and Diners Club are rarely accepted.
  • Bring foreign banknotes in good condition. Exchange offices may refuse worn or damaged notes.

Tipping: Tips are optional because service charges are included. If service is good, leaving 10–15% in restaurants is common; in bars and taxis, people often round up.

Typical costs

  • Restaurant main dishes: RSD 600–2,400 per person.
  • Private minibus rides: about €2.
  • Motorway tolls: about €0.03 per km on average, charged by road section.
  • Prepaid SIM cards: usually RSD 200–300.
  • A simple phone packaged with a prepaid SIM card: RSD 2,000–3,000.
  • Cafés at Ada Ciganlija can charge about 30–40% more than elsewhere in Belgrade.

Language

  • Serbian is the official language and uses both Cyrillic and Latin letters.
  • Road direction signs use both alphabets. Government signs use Cyrillic, while commercial signs often use Latin letters.
  • Younger adults widely speak English and are often willing to help.
  • Older people may speak German, French or Russian.
  • Hungarian and other minority languages are spoken in parts of Vojvodina.
Molim
Please, you're welcome, or pardon?
Hvala
Thank you.
Živeli
Cheers.
Voda
Water.
Pivo
Beer.
Vi
The polite, formal form of 'you'; use it with older people.

Staying safe

  • Serbia is generally safe, but watch for pickpockets in crowded tourist areas and on public transport.
  • Take care around traffic. Drivers can be inconsiderate towards pedestrians and cyclists.
  • LGBTQ travellers can face hostility and violence. Avoid public displays of affection.
  • Outside cities, follow well-used paths and watch for warnings about unexploded weapons. Do not touch suspicious objects; report them to police.
2 common scams in Serbia, and how to avoid them

Local customs

Do

  • Bring a small gift on your first visit to someone's home, such as flowers or chocolate.
  • At a rural home, take off your shoes unless the host tells you to keep them on.
  • Offer your seat on a bus or tram to an older person or a pregnant woman.
  • Make eye contact when toasting and say živeli.
  • Use molim in polite conversation and the formal Vi when addressing older people.
  • Be respectful of religious beliefs and customs.

Don't

  • Avoid strong opinions about the Yugoslav wars, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia or Kosovo's independence. These are sensitive subjects.
  • Do not describe Serbia as part of Eastern Europe or assume it belonged to the Soviet Bloc.
  • Do not point at someone with your finger.
  • Avoid becoming visibly drunk. Rakija can be stronger than you expect.
  • Do not usually address people by their first names unless they are friends or relatives.

Staying healthy

  • Tap water is generally safe, but some parts of Vojvodina have unsafe water, including Kikinda and Zrenjanin. Ask a local if you are unsure.
  • Water can be heavily chlorinated or hard. In Belgrade, a cloudy appearance can clear after a few seconds.
  • Get good travel insurance. Serbia generally does not recognise the European Health Insurance Card, with a few exceptions.
  • Emergency care is free, but public healthcare can be difficult for visiting foreigners to access. Private clinics in most urban areas offer good care at high prices.

Phone and internet

  • The three mobile networks are mts, Yettel and A1. Coverage is generally very good, including in rural areas.
  • Prepaid SIM cards require registration. Buy from an official phone shop and bring valid identification, ideally your passport.
  • Avoid buying prepaid SIM cards from ordinary markets or kiosks, where registration may be difficult.
  • Serbia has agreements removing roaming charges with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.

Outdoor adventures in Serbia

Serbia has forested mountains, river gorges, lakes and national parks. You can hike around Tara and Fruška Gora, ski at Kopaonik, cycle through Đerdap and relax on river beaches.

  • Kopaonik

    SkiingSouthern Serbia

    Winter

    Visit the ski resort on Kopaonik Mountain, within Kopaonik National Park.

  • Tara National Park

    HikeWestern Serbia

    Visit Tara Mountain near Zlatibor for long hikes with views of mountain peaks and the Drina gorges. No specific trail or transport details are given.

    • Stay on well-used paths outside cities.
    • Watch for signs warning of unexploded weapons. Do not touch suspicious objects.

  • Đerdap Gorge boat cruise

    More to doEastern Serbia, on the Romanian border

    Take a boat cruise through the Danube's Iron Gate gorge. You can also explore Đerdap National Park by car or bus, stopping at viewpoints.

    • Floods are common in the Danube basin in spring and autumn.

  • EuroVelo 6 through Đerdap National Park

    CyclingEastern Serbia

    Follow the EuroVelo 6 cycling route through Đerdap National Park. No start point or bike-hire service is specified.

    • Watch out for drivers, who may show little care towards cyclists.
    • Floods are common in the Danube basin in spring and autumn.

  • Fruška Gora hikes

    HikeVojvodinanear Novi Sad

    Join a weekend hike with Mountaineering Club Naftaš or a Sunday hiking trip with the Železnicar Association in Novi Sad. Naftaš also provides GPS tracks for regular hiking paths on its website.

    • Stay on well-used paths outside cities.
    • Watch for signs warning of unexploded weapons. Do not touch suspicious objects.

  • Ada Ciganlija lake beach

    BeacheBelgradenear Belgrade

    Summer

    Use the road links near the east or west end of Ada Ciganlija. Several buses run along the mainland shore, but none crosses onto the island.

  • Zlatibor

    SkiingSouthwestern Serbianear Užice

    Winter

    Visit the mountain resort near Užice, on the route towards Montenegro.

  • Sokobanja thermal springs

    Hot springnear Sokobanja

    Take the road that branches off the Belgrade–Athens motorway at the 200 km mark to Sokobanja. No individual bathing facility is specified.

  • Ludaš Lake birdwatching

    WildlifeVojvodinanear Subotica

    Visit Ludaš Lake in the Subotica area to watch birds. No transport route or guided service is specified.

  • Štrand

    BeacheVojvodinanear Novi Sad

    Usually open from mid-May to mid-September

    Visit the sandy beach on the Danube riverbank in Novi Sad.

    • Floods are common in the Danube basin in spring and autumn.

  • Ada Ciganlija cycling tracks

    CyclingBelgradenear Belgrade

    Hire a bike from Markoni Sport by the east road link and use the island's cycling tracks.

  • Veštačka Stena climbing wall

    ClimbingBelgradenear Belgrade

    Head to Veštačka Stena at Ada Ciganlija, about 500 m west of the east road link. Booking and instruction details are not specified.

  • Palić lakeside parks

    More to doVojvodinanear Subotica

    Summer

    Go to Palić, 8 km east of Subotica, to explore the parks around the lake.

  • Čačalica birdwatching and picnic

    Wildlifenear Požarevac

    Drive about five minutes from central Požarevac to Čačalica park on the edge of town.

  • Kelebija horse-carriage rides

    More to doVojvodinanear Subotica

    Visit the traditional horse farm near Kelebija, a few kilometres from Subotica, for a horse-carriage ride.

  • Winter City Ada ice skating

    More to doBelgradenear Belgrade

    Winter

    Go to Winter City Ada by the east road link at Ada Ciganlija.

Airports, metros and trains in Serbia

Airports with scheduled flights

  • BEGBelgrade Nikola Tesla AirportBelgradeMain international airport
  • ININiš Constantine the Great AirportNišMain international airport

Trains

Rail network
3,764 km
Electrified
1,279 km
High-speed lines
185 km
Top speed
200 km/h

People and safety in Serbia

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mostly one faith.

  • Christian93%
  • Muslim4%
  • No religion3%

LGBT+ travellers

Legal

  • Same-sex marriage is not recognised.
  • Laws protect against discrimination.

Women travellers

Ranked #29 of 181 countries for women's safety, inclusion and justice.

69% of women say they feel safe walking alone at night where they live.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 89 of 198 countries can visit Serbia easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required89
  • eVisa30
  • Visa required79

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Europe45 of 45 countries
  • Americas22 of 35 countries
  • Asia18 of 50 countries
  • Oceania3 of 14 countries
  • Africa1 of 54 countries

Questions

When should I visit Serbia?

Summer is popular for Belgrade and lakeside activities. Winter is the season for ski resorts such as Kopaonik.

Can I get by with English?

English is widely spoken by younger adults. Older people may be more comfortable with German, French or Russian.

What money should I carry?

Carry Serbian dinars, including small notes for taxis and small businesses. Official exchange offices are called menjačnica.

What is the easiest way to travel between towns?

Buses are the most common and convenient option. Trains can be cheaper and scenic, but are usually slower.

Can I drink the tap water?

It is generally safe, but some areas of Vojvodina have unsafe water, including Kikinda and Zrenjanin. Ask locally if you are unsure.

Do I need to leave a tip?

Tipping is optional. A 10–15% restaurant tip is common for good service, while people often round up in bars and taxis.

Is Serbia safe for visitors?

Serbia is generally safe, but pickpockets operate in crowds and on public transport. LGBTQ travellers can face hostility, especially around public displays of affection.

How do I buy a local SIM card?

Go to an official phone shop with valid identification, ideally your passport. Prepaid SIM cards require registration and usually cost RSD 200–300.

What should I do if I need medical help?

Call 194 for an ambulance. Emergency care is free, while private clinics can be expensive; good travel insurance is recommended.

What should I bring when visiting a Serbian home?

Bring a gift on your first visit, such as flowers or chocolate. At a rural home, remove your shoes unless the host says otherwise.

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