serbia trip budget

Wander-Lush

See the Best of Northern Serbia: Easy 7-Day Serbia Itinerary

My one-week Serbia itinerary visiting three of the top cities in Northern Serbia plus one national park is ideal for first-time visitors.

From the concrete jungle of gritty Belgrade to the pretty Art Nouveau towns in the north, Serbia is a haven for wine-lovers, electronic music fans, architecture buffs, Yugo-nostalgics and hikers alike.

Admittedly I’m none of those things – but I thoroughly enjoyed trying a little bit of everything when I spent a fortnight travelling around Serbia last winter.

My Serbia itinerary brings sews together the best parts of the country’s north for an easy 7-day tour by bus or train.

Based off the route I followed on my trip around the Balkans, it’s packed with actionable advice – including the best things to do in Serbia, instructions for getting around, and other handy tips.

Are you planning a visit to Serbia? – Don’t miss my in-depth guide to Novi Sad , Serbia’s coolest city. – Check out my Balkans Travel Guide for tips and recommendations for bordering countries. – If you love road tripping, don’t miss my Balkans road trip planner for inspiring routes around Serbia and beyond.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Serbia itinerary essentials

I travelled pretty extensively through all 12 Balkan states and I think Serbia is one of the easiest countries in the region for travellers. The intercity bus system is great and easy to navigate, accommodation options are plentiful, and English is widely spoken, which makes it easy to troubleshoot any logistical issues.

Here are my tips for planning the perfect Serbia itinerary.

Do you need a visa for Serbia?

Serbia’s tourist visa policy is very similar to the Schengen countries (although it is not included in the Schengen Area). Citizens of 96 countries (including Australia, the UK and the US) can visit Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Some nationalities (including some countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa) are required to apply for a visa in advance.

I recommend using iVisa to check if you need a visa and to apply for an expedited visa online .

Where to start your Serbia itinerary

Belgrade (Serbia’s capital city) is the country’s main transport hub and the natural place to start your travels if you’re flying into the country. There are also regular coach bus connections between Belgrade and neighbouring countries: Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Having said that, I don’t necessarily recommend starting your Serbia travels in Belgrade.

Belgrade is quite a polarising city that many people find overwhelming (or underwhelming, depending how you look at it). I wasn’t a huge fan of Belgrade myself, and I think that if I had started my trip there, it probably would have coloured my impression of the whole country.

Instead, I recommend you start your Serbia itinerary in Novi Sad, the second-biggest city, also located in the north. The two are a mere hour-and-a-bit apart, so you can easily transit to Novi Sad by bus after you arrive in the capital. If you’re flying into Belgrade, I recommend pre-organising an airport transfer to take you to the bus station.

Of course this is just my opinion – you could easily flip this itinerary and start with a few days in the capital before continuing north.

If you happen to be entering Serbia overland from Hungary, western Romania or eastern Croatia, you can easily find bus services to either Novi Sad or Subotica. We entered the country from Osijek in Croatia and had Novi Sad as our first stop.

When is the best time to visit Serbia?

Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica are all destinations you can visit at any time of year.

Because of the way our 6-month Balkans itinerary worked out, we ended up in Serbia in March, which was admittedly still a little chilly and grey for our liking. If I had a choice, I would visit Serbia in late springtime as this season seems to have the best weather conditions.

Summer (June to August) is the hottest time of year in Serbia, and temperatures in concrete-heavy Belgrade can be oppressive. On the other hand, summer and early fall is a great time to go hiking in Serbia’s national parks. If you’re interested in food and wine, fall is also great for experiencing the wine harvest .

Getting around Serbia by bus

Serbia’s bus system is one of the best we encountered in the Balkans. Services are plentiful, fares are well-priced, and in our experience, everything runs true to schedule. We travelled around the country (and the entire Balkans region) exclusively by coach bus. Lasta is the most popular and reliable coach company in Serbia.

I suggest using the Polazak website to find bus schedules and fares in English. We always bought our bus tickets from the station a day in advance – especially recommended if it’s summer or a holiday. You also have the option to buy your tickets online using the Polazak website, although extra charges usually apply.

Bus stations in Serbia have a few quirks. Some of the bigger stations charge entry to access the platforms (usually a couple of dollars equivalent in local currency), meaning you have to buy a platform token in addition to your bus ticket.

Coaches always charge extra for any luggage you want to store under the bus. When we travelled in Serbia, the cost was 60 denars (approx. 60 US cents) per piece of luggage. Bags are tagged before being stowed and you have to present your ticket stub to collect them again, so don’t lose it.

Hiring a car in Serbia

Self-driving can be a good option for confident drivers if you want more flexibility in your itinerary. Serbia has some of the best roads in the region and cheap car rentals; however fuel prices and tolls are on the expensive side. Here are more tips for driving in Serbia .

Personally I recommend using Serbia’s bus network – it’s cheap and efficient. If you do decide to self-drive, I suggest using the Discover Cars website to explore your options and find the best price on a rental. They aggregate a good range of manual and auto transmission cars from international hire companies, with the option to pick up a vehicle in either Belgrade or Novi Sad.

Click here to find a rental car in Serbia using Discover Cars.

Where to stay in Serbia

The final piece of the Serbia logistics puzzle is accommodation. Finding a place to stay in Serbia is very easy, especially in the cities. Hostels, guesthouses and boutique hotels are all widely available. Private apartments are also very popular and can be booked either through Airbnb or Booking.com.

We used Airbnb throughout Serbia and had consistently good experiences. As with the rest of the region, Airbnb is a great choice if you want something self-contained and well-priced.

I’ve included specific accommodation recommendations (including links to the places we stayed at) in the itinerary below. 

How much to budget for your trip

Serbia is a very affordable travel destination by European standards. For context, we found prices cheaper than Croatia or Slovenia, but slightly more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.

Belgrade was one of the more expensive Balkan capitals we visited. To keep costs down, I recommend using Airbnb and eating at local restaurants.

• Budget traveller: 20-30 USD/day (hostel, buses, local meals)
• Mid-range: 30-50 USD/day (guesthouse or Airbnb, buses & taxis, restaurant meals)
• All-out: 50-100+ USD/day (boutique hotel, taxis & private transfers, restaurant meals)

We spent roughly 56,000 denars (approx. 570 USD) for two people for two weeks of travel in Serbia, excluding accommodation.

The perfect 7 days in Serbia itinerary

[belgrade] – novi sad – subotica – belgrade – tara national park (mokra gora).

This Serbia itinerary focuses almost exclusively on the north, with more options to continue your travels in the south at the end. True to my travel style, it prioritises culture, history, food and wine over outdoor activities – although there is one national park included.

As I mentioned, we spent two weeks in Serbia and followed this exact itinerary, albeit at a slower pace. I think one week is the perfect amount of time to spend in Serbia if you’re a first-time visitor and you don’t mind moving around at a reasonably face pace.

Days 1 & 2: Start your Serbia itinerary in Novi Sad

Serbia’s second-largest city and capital of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Novi Sad is the perfect introduction to Northern Serbia.

Novi Sad has a classic European feel thanks to its Hapsburg-era architecture and multitude of outdoor cafes. The Danube runs through the heart of the city, giving it notes of Budapest with a distinctly Serbian edge. One of the many must-dos in Novi Sad is to try the locavore restaurants and wineries that make use of local produce.

Roam the pedestrian boulevard in search of your next kafa hit, duck into Danube’s Park for a stroll under the trees, and seek out the pretty walkways and interiors along the main street.

Novi Sad was considered Serbia’s cultural capital up until the early 20th century and was at one time known by the nickname ‘Serbian Athens’ . This legacy lives on in the dozens of literary and music festivals held throughout the year, most famously EXIT Festival , which takes place on the grounds of Petrovaradin Fortress every summer.

In 2021, Novi Sad will take up its position as European Capital of Culture , an accolade that’s sure to cement its reputation as one of the loveliest cities to visit in the Balkans.

I recommend spending a full day in Novi Sad and adding an extra day to your itinerary for a side trip to the town of Sremski Karlovci.

Things to do in Novi Sad

• Saunter down Dunavska Street to Trg Slobode. Novi Sad’s pedestrian mall is lined with beautiful architecture, cute shops and outdoor cafes. The main square, Trg Slobode, is where you can find some of the city’s most spectacular buildings including the Name of Mary Cathedral.
• Eat lunch at Project 72. A locavore feast in one of the city’s most beautiful dining rooms.
• Sunset at Petrovaradin Fortress. Wander across the river to take in the views from Novi Sad’s fortress. There is an outdoor terrace bar perfectly positioned for a sunset view over the river. Arrive early to explore the complex, with its clock tower, draw bridges and stone tunnels.
• Take a day trip to Sremski Karlovci. Northern Serbia’s prettiest town is just 30 minutes from Novi Sad by bus. Discover the Baroque architecture (including the colourful Grammar School) and visit the gorgeous Museum of Beekeeping. There are several small wineries in town that offer tastings (Podrum Bajilo and Winery Mrdjanin are both recommended). A local bus to Sremski Karlovci from Novi Sad costs 300 denars (approx. 3 USD) per person return. 

For more excellent things to do in Novi Sad, read my Novi Sad city guide.

Where to stay in Novi Sad

When we visited Novi Sad, we stayed at this centrally located Airbnb . Nikola, the host, is very kind and helpful, and the location of the self-contained flat can’t be beat.

If you prefer a hotel, these properties are all centrally located and have excellent ratings (9/10 or higher) on Booking.com:

• Budget hostel: City Hostel
• Mid-range hotel: Garni Citi Hotel Veliki
• Boutique hotel: Hotel Fontana

Day 3: Make your way north to Subotica

Subotica is located an hour north of Novi Sad, very close to the Hungarian border. A small, quiet city by any measure, Subotica is full of architectural treasures and stands out as my absolute favourite place in Serbia.

Subotica is normally associated with one thing: Art Nouveau . Along with its sister city Szeged over the border, Subotica boasts some of the most divine examples of this architectural style anywhere in Europe. The most famous of all is the Raichle Palace (pictured at the top of this article and again below), a private residence built in 1904.

Like Novi Sad, Subotica is an outdoor city whose streets beg for long afternoon walks. A day is the perfect amount of time to explore Subotica on foot, with time for a trip to Palic Lake in the late afternoon.

How to get to Subotica from Novi Sad

There are bus departures at least once an hour from Novi Sad’s MAS Central Bus Station to Subotica, starting from 6am and continuing until around 9pm. (Note that Novi Sad has multiple bus stations – be sure to double check in advance.) Travel time to Subotica is just over 60 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

When booked online through Polazak, Tickets cost between 4-7 Euros depending on the service. We paid 7.90 denars (approx. 8 USD) per person for tickets when we travelled. Check times and prices here .

Things to do in Subotica

• Take a self-guided walking tour of Subotica’s architecture. Subotica Tourism has put together several DIY audio tours through the city that you can follow to see the prettiest buildings. We listened to three of the four tracks and really enjoyed the experience. Highlights of the Art Nouveau tour include the Town Hall building on the main square, the National Theatre and of course the Raichle Palace.
• Go inside Subotica Synagogue. If Raichle Palace has the prettiest facade, Subotica Synagogue definitely holds claim to the most impressive interior. This is seriously one of the most evocative buildings I’ve ever been inside (I liken the experience to visiting the Sagrada Familia). Completed in 1902, it’s no longer active but has been expertly restored with help from the World Monuments Fund. The story of Subotica’s Jewish community is wrapped up in the building and is very, very moving – I highly recommend reading up before you go. The synagogue is open from 10am-6pm every day except Monday. Entrance costs 250 denars (approx. 2.50 USD) per person and is worth every cent.

• Eat lunch at Boss Caffe. Located in the courtyard behind Richle Palace, this local favourite features outdoor dining surrounded by flourishes of Art Nouveau. We ate here twice and really enjoyed the food. The menu is huge and well-priced; we paid 1000 denars (approx. 10 USD) for lunch for 2 people.
• Take a side trip to Lake Palic . Just 10km from Subotica (around 20 minutes by local bus), Lake Palic used to be an elite spa retreat. It features yet more beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, most notably the Grand Terrace complex on the shore of the lake (it now houses a cafe), and a handful of villas tucked in the forest beyond. We walked around the lake accompanied by one of the audio tour tracks.

Where to stay in Subotica

We stayed at the cute Apartment Libra in Subotica , a very comfortable, well-positioned flat with a great kitchen. It was very warm and cosy in winter, and our host Ljubomir even picked us up from the bus station when we arrived.

Other options in Subotica:

• Budget hostel: Hostel Put Svile
• Mid-range hotel: Hotel Forum Garni

Days 4 & 5: Continue to the big city, Belgrade

Now that you’ve eased your way into Northern Serbia, it’s time to hit the big city. 

Before visiting, I only ever associated Belgrade (the ‘White City’) with socialism and Yugoslav history, not realising that it’s actually one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe . Yes, it’s mostly grey concrete on the surface, but there are countless layers of Roman, Ottoman and Yugoslavian heritage to peel back, and no shortage of excellent museums and walking tours to help you do it.

For a balanced experience, I recommend dividing your time in Belgrade between the distinctive ‘old’ and ‘new’ (Socialist) parts of the city, located on the eastern and western banks of the river respectively.

How to get to Belgrade from Subotica

There are a dozen coaches to Belgrade from Subotica every day, departing from the bus station near the railway station and terminating at the BAS Central Bus Station in Belgrade. Buses start running in the early morning (around 4am) and continue until 6pm. Travel time is 3-3.5 hours depending on the service.

Tickets cost 8-12 Euros when purchased online. When we travelled, we paid 1,235 denars (approx. 12.70 USD) per person for tickets purchased at the bus station. Check times and fares here .

Things to do in Belgrade

• Visit Kalemegdan Fortress. Belgrade Fortress sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers and affords magnificent views of New Belgrade. Entrance is free.
• Get hands-on at the Nikola Tesla Museum . Serbia holds claim to inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla as their favourite homegrown hero. His museum in Belgrade is fascinating – even (or especially) if you don’t know much about his work. The Tesla Coil Demonstration will make your hair stand up on end. Entrance to the museum costs 500 denars (approx. 5 USD) per person.
• Visit the House of Flowers. This is the final resting place of another historical icon associated with Serbia, albeit for very different reasons. Josip Broz Tito’s mausoleum is an extravagant greenhouse-like atrium surrounded by lovely gardens. The adjacent Museum of the History of Yugoslavia is a huge, fascinating display of Yugoslav history. The whole thing is slightly macabre, but it’s a must-see in Belgrade

• Wander back in time in Zemun. Located behind New Belgrade, Zemun was described to me by a local as ‘a city within a city’, and it certainly feels that way. This was a separate town until it was absorbed into Belgrade in the 1930s, and locals have managed to hold onto that romantic small-town feel. You’ll find a picturesque town square, lively outdoor markets, and more cafes than you can count.
• Summit Avala Tower for a view. This icon of Belgrade’s skyline was famously destroyed during the war and later rebuilt. Today it contains an observation deck and cafe at the top. Access to the tower is via a lovely hiking trail that starts on the outskirts of the city. Entrance costs 300 denars (approx. 3 USD) per person.

Read more: My complete guide to visiting Avala Tower from Belgrade.

• Bike around New Belgrade: The best way to explore New Belgrade, the western half of the city, is by bike. This area is pancake-flat and there are a number of pathways that link monumental concrete buildings such as the Hotel Yugoslavia with Belgrade’s vast commieblocks and pockets of green parkland. We joined a guided cycling tour with local company iBike and loved it.
• Try a slice of Moscow Shnit. Belgrade’s favourite sweet treat is a delicious cake prepared at Hotel Moscow in the city centre. The recipe is a guarded secret, but I can tell you it’s very light and fruity (perfect for enjoying on the outdoor terrace under a blue sky). The hotel and cafe are iconic in Belgrade.

Where to stay in Belgrade

We stayed at the exceptional Downtown Art Deco Studio , located right in the centre of the city. It was one of the best apartments we stayed at anywhere in the Balkans.

Most Belgrade Airbnbs are concentrated around the northern end of the city on the eastern side of the river. This is also where you’ll find most museums and tourist attractions, plus some great restaurants.

I recommend staying in either the Skadarlija or Dorcol (the oldest part of Belgrade) neighbourhoods.

• Budget hostel: Balkan Soul Hostel
• Mid-range hotel: Hotel Rex
• Boutique hotel: Mama Shelter Belgrade or 7 Rooms Suites

Days 6 & 7: Finish on a high in Tara National Park

It’s a bit of a mission to reach central Serbia’s western corner, but it’s more than worth the long bus ride. Tara National Park is the most heavily forested part of the country and is widely considered to be Serbia’s most pristine pocket of nature . Yet relatively few foreign tourists ever make it here.

Aside from hiking and river sports on the Drina , this area is also brimming with cute villages , history and culture, so there’s something for everyone at any time of year.

How to get to Tara National Park from Belgrade

There are no direct buses from Belgrade to the towns of Mokra Gora or Mitrovac, so you need to transfer through the town of Zlatibor to access the park.

There are a dozen direct buses to Zlatibor leaving Belgrade’s main station from 6.15am onwards. Travel time is around 4 hours , and tickets cost around 13 Euros (or 18 Euros return) when reserved online. Check times and prices here .

Travel time from Zlatibor to Mokra Gora is 30 minutes and can be done either by local bus or taxi.

If you want to avoid a long morning of travel and you have to get back to Belgrade for your flight home anyway, another option is to take a day trip to Tara National Park from Belgrade. This full-day tour includes transfers from Belgrade with a professional driver and a guide to show you all the highlights of the beautiful Drina River Valley.

We did something similar and visited Tara National Park on a day trip from Sarajevo.

Things to do in and around Tara National Park

• Go hiking. There are marked trails all over the park, ranging from short day hikes to multi-day affairs. Most start from Mitrovac where there is a tourist office that can furnish you with maps.
• Photograph the cute Drina River House. A wooden house perched on a stone in the river that marks the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is one of the icons of Tara National Park.
• Admire the frescoes at Raca Monastery. A 13th-century monastery containing a set of important paintings. There are several hiking trails to fresh water springs in the area.
• Visit the weird and wonderful Drvengrad village. Originally built as a film set for the movie Life is a Miracle, this charming model village has become a symbol of Serbia. The film director’s personal collection of vintage cars are scattered amongst the wooden houses and churches. There is a film festival held here every summer.

• Ride the historic Sargan Eight Steam Train. Construction on this narrow-gauge railway started during World War I to link Serbia and Austro-Hungary. Today it’s a scenic railway that runs between the towns of Mokra Gora and Vitasi via tracks that cling to the side of the mountain valley.
• Catch the view from Banjska Stena. It was a sea of fog when we visited Tara National Park’s most famous viewpoint, but I’ve been reassured that the panorama is phenomenal on a clear day!
• Venture to Zlatibor. Serbia’s most popular mountain resort town is located south-east of the National Park, in the shadow of Mount Zlatibor. Here you can find lovely accommodations and more hiking trails.

Where to stay near Tara National Park

The most popular places to stay when visiting Tara National Park are Mitrovac (a good base for hiking) and Mokra Gora . There are some lovely homestyle accommodations in and around the national park – my favourite is this sweet cabin .

See more options in Mokra Gora on Booking.com.

Extend your Serbia itinerary: Other places to visit

If you have more time, you might consider including one or more of these additional destinations to your Serbia itinerary.

Uvac Nature Reserve – add 1-2 days

Located south of Mokra Gora and Tara National Park, this park features biodiverse wetlands and a very picturesque winding river.

To get there, you can take a train to Nova Varos and spend a few nights inside the park, or you can join a day tour from Belgrade .

Nis – add 1-2 days

Serbia’s third-largest city, Nis is located in the country’s south-east, around 230km from Belgrade. It’s accessible by coach from the capital or if you want to add it to the end of your itinerary, you can take a bus from the city of Uzice near Tara National Park.

I didn’t get to visit Nis this time, but I’d love to go back and spend some time exploring the city that traditionally linked Belgrade and Istanbul. (I had no idea Nis was the birthplace of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.)

If you’re planning a visit, I recommend this guide to Nis.

Novi Pazar – add 2-3 days

Also located in southern Serbia, Novi Pazar has always been considered Serbia’s cultural and religious crossroads. It has a long and fascinating history, as evidenced by the many important monuments located in and around the city.

You can learn more about Novi Pazar here.

Onward travel from Serbia

If your flight home is departing from the capital, you can simply loop back to Belgrade from Tara National Park (departing Uzice or Zlatibor) by bus.

If you’re continuing on overland, you can transit west into Bosnia and Herzegovina (first stop: Visegrad) or north-west into Croatia. Another option is to head to Novi Pazar from Tara National Park then continue overland to Montenegro .

Can you cross into Kosovo from Serbia?

If you want to continue your travels in Prishtina and Prizren , you’ll need to read up on the different options for getting to Kosovo to Serbia. There are rules in place that could prevent you from visiting Serbia again in the future, so it’s very important you do your due diligence.

Refer to this detailed guide about crossing into Kosovo legally.

Easy Serbia itinerary: Save it for later

One of the best blogs I have come across online. Everything a traveler should know about a country/place is very well captured and explained. Thanks a lot. More power to you!

Thanks Nabeel for the kind words!

Absolutely very useful blog, am sure this help me plan well for my serbia trip.

Thanks for your comment, Dheepan! Happy travels to Serbia!

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The perfect 1 week itinerary for Serbia

• February 25, 2022
• 11 Comments

Serbia is one of those off-beat, unspoken-of countries that one doesn’t think of putting in their bucket list. I also probably wouldn’t have made it, had it not been for the pandemic. Considering that in 2021, most countries were still closed or battling high cases of Covid-19, only the smaller, lesser-known countries had opened their borders for tourism and Serbia was one of them. For me, just being able to get out and explore a new country is more important than checking off items in my travel bucket list, so I booked my tickets and landed alone in Serbia, wide-eyed like a child in a new school, ready for an adventure, not knowing what to expect. Of course, I had my 1-week itinerary for Serbia planned out before I travelled but the destination had changed last minute, leaving me with very less time to do my research.

Is 1 week too much for Serbia? I always say that if you really wish to explore a country in-depth, you need way more than a week. But like me, if you are really pressured on time, even 5 days are enough. With short trips, I always make it a point to balance out checking off the key ‘touristy’ places to visit and spending some time in the countryside or exploring something off-beat and lesser known.

My suggested 1-week itinerary for Serbia starts from the capital city, Belgrade. If you have less time, only 1 day is enough in the city or if you’re more of a city person than a nature-loving one, then you could choose to spend even more than 2 days, soaking in the vibe. I highly recommend renting a car to explore the outskirts but when you’re in Belgrade, renting a car is the worst idea so I’d recommend doing it only once you’re ready to leave the city.

Read here about All you need to know about planning a road trip in Serbia .

Day 0 & 1: Belgrade

Belgrade is easy to explore on foot/ using public transportation. A lively city, Belgrade deserves at least 1 day in your 1-week itinerary for Serbia, if not 2. For a detailed 2-day itinerary, with tips and suggestions, click here to read my post on What to do in Belgrade in 2 days.

Day 2: Novi Sad via Sremski Karlovci

This is when I recommend you rent a car. Novi Sad is hardly a 1-hour drive from Belgrade if you take the toll road A1 (which is highly recommended, even though you’ll end up paying about €5. It might seem pricey but it’s totally worth it. If you’re a wine lover, I recommend a detour to this sleepy wine town called Sremski Karlovci , just 20 minutes before Novi Sad. Home to historical buildings, both Baroque & neoclassical, it is a charming little town with narrow, winding cobbled stone streets, wineries at every corner, and little boutique selling local delicacies, harvests, and handcrafted goods. Park right outside the village center and prepare to spend about 2 hours here, exploring the charming neighbourhoods and shopping for some souvenirs (of which, wine should be in the list). Walk into one of the many hidden wineries, some of which are in the yards of the locals who own vineyards and are into grape harvesting. There’s nothing like trying some fresh, locally made wine.

Sremski Karlovci

You’ll be in Novi Sad by afternoon, which gives you the entire evening to enjoy the laid-back vibe, the thriving urban art scene, some amazing local food, suave cafes, and bustling market where you can buy unique souvenirs. Start from Freedom Square , flanked on all sides by some of the most historically significant & architecturally grand buildings. Visit the Orthodox Cathedral, The Name of Mary Catholic church , and the hidden alleyways, replete with street art and charming cafes.

From here, take the Zmaj Jovina , Novi Sad’s main pedestrianised street, clotted with pastel-colored outdoor cafes and bistros. This is also where you’ll find The Manual Company , known for its collection of unique souvenirs.

In the evening, cross the bridge over the Danube to Petrovaradin, where you can visit the famous bakery of Novi Sad, Multi Tarte . They close early, so make sure to get there before 5 pm if you don’t want to miss out on the best cakes, desserts & Serbian classics in the city. The apple-vanilla pie comes highly recommended!

Freedom Square

From here, visit the Petrovaradin Fortress . A winding brick staircase will take you to the top where you can enjoy the open-air museum with the fortress walls, arched gates, and some areas converted into terrace cafes & restaurants, offering dazzling views of the city below from a vantage point. Novi Sad is known for its nightlife, due to the young crowd that lives there. It’s lively, entertaining & wild, in parts. A tiny street called Laze Teleckog is full of affordable pubs, best for a night crawl.  There are also classic nightclubs and strip clubs (for both men & women!).

Climbing the stairs to Petrovaradin Fortress

Over the Danube

Suggested budget place to stay in Novi Sad: Garni Hotel Planeta Inn

Day 3: Day trip to Subotica

In my 1-week itinerary for Serbia, I made sure to include this off-beat, charming art nouveau town, about an hour’s drive from Novi Sad. You could spend the whole day here easily, with a relaxed vibe and tranquillity. For details on how to get here and what to do, read my post on Why you should visit Subotica from Novi Sad .

In the evening, you can return either to Novi Sad or Belgrade. If you choose to return to Novi Sad, your drive to Zlatibor on the next day is bound to be longer (3.5 hours) vs Belgrade (2 hours, 45 min).

Day 5 : Uvac Special Nature Reserve

Zlatibor forms the perfect base for 3 nights, in your 1-week itinerary for Serbia. On this day, head to Uvac Special Nature Reserve. It’s best to get an early start to the day, especially if you choose to take the boat tour. For details on how to get there, what to do and where to go, read my post on Everything you need to know about visiting Uvac Special Nature Reserve .

Day 6 : Tara National Park

Prepare for a delightful day of exploration in the gorgeous mountains of Tara National Park. Excellent lakes, stunning hiking trails, historical villages & beautiful riverside restaurants make this place worth spending an entire day (if not more), in your 1-week itinerary for Serbia.

Tara National Park

While there is a lot to see in this area, if you only have a day, read my detailed post on What to see in 1 day in Tara National Park, Serbia.

Day 7 : Back to Belgrade via Golubac Fortress

If you're in Serbia for only 5 days, you can skip this part altogether. However, if you have time, it makes for a great roadtrip to visit this medieval fortress Golubac in the East side of Serbia, and drive through the idyllic Đerdap National Park , enjoying splendid vistas over the Danube, and visit the Silver Lake (Srebrno jezero). 

Do you wish to migrate to Serbia and looking for more info on Serbia residency ? Find here the right sources to read more about what you need to know.

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I would love to visit this under-the-radar country. I totally agree that it’s hard to explore any country in a week, so I love the 1-week itinerary that brings you to Belgrade and nearby to get a feel for the culture and landscape.

I unfortunately didn’t have much time when I visited Serbia and only had chance to visit Belgrade. I would love to go back and explore the places you have listed as they look beautiful, especially the national parks and nature reserves and Novi Sad.

I agree with you! 5 days may just be enough to explore the place. I also want to explore non-‘touristy’ and see/ experience the place like a local. It would be nice too to visit the countryside especially if there is available transportation. Thank you for sharing this itinerary. This is helpful.

When I think about Serbia, small towns and green nature what came to my mind. And I think I wasn’t wrong. Every towns in your itinerary offers that beauty. As someone from Texas, I’m intrigued to know why they built El Paso City in Zlatibor.

You had me at ‘sleepy wine town’! Sremski Karlovci sounds like the type of place I’d like to spend more than a few hours – but with the art scene in Subotica and panoramic views of Zlatibor calling me, it’s easy to see why 7 days is just enough. Something tells me I’d want to plan longer exploring this charming underrated destination with so much to offer. Thanks for putting it on my radar!

It seems you visited some very interesting spots in Serbia, despite having only one week there. We wanted to visited it too when we were in Crioatia, but we had a loaded itinerary and couldn’t fit it in. You made me curious about Golubac Fortress, so I’d love to visit it.

Looks beautiful there! Serbia is one of those places that I always wanted to go but I didn’t know much about it. So it was nice to find this post. I think Tara National Park is the only place I had read about before. And I would love to see it in person someday.

This seems like the perfect itinerary to cover some interesting spots in Serbia. I loved your day two the most, especially the attractions like Petrovaradin Fortress. Would be interesting to walk around that area. And then, I enjoyed reading about the Tara National Park. Lovely guide

This is a great one-week itinerary for Serbia. You really managed to make good use of your limited time in the country. I did not know that Serbia also has a wine culture, so I made a not about Sremsi Karlovci. I hope there are accomodation options in the town, because I would not want to drive after wine tasting….

Woah, I had no idea Serbia looked like this. I think some people (like myself) have a stereotypical image of ‘snow and cold’ when we think about Serbia, but there is so much lush nature. Thanks for sharing!

Medha Verma

I think a lot of people get confused between Serbia and Siberia 😉 I don’t blame you, I did too, before I actually went there!

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Planning a Trip to Serbia: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re looking to travel off-the-beaten-path, the Balkans should be on your radar. Serbia is still relatively undiscovered, the people are extremely warm and hospitable, the cities are safe, and food and drink is cheap. So here’s everything you need to know before planning a trip to Serbia and the perfect itinerary to help you discover this Balkan gem!

What are the Balkans?

The Balkans are a group of countries in Eastern Europe; the exact set of countries that are considered part of this region is always up for debate but generally includes Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and North Macedonia. Most of these countries were communist for a long time, and have only been opening up to tourism in the last decade or two. This makes them an excellent choice for your travel plans – still undiscovered, still cheap, and pretty easy to navigate.

What’s the best time to visit Serbia?

As with many countries in Europe, it’s most pleasant to visit Serbia in April-May or September-October. It can get quite sunny in the summer. However, unlike other European countries that are incredibly packed in the summer, Serbia is not. So rest assured, even if you visit in the dead of the summer, you won’t have to fight the crowds (although it will be pretty hot)!

How many days should I spend in Serbia?

Depends on how much time you have! If you are planning a trip to Serbia, I would highly recommend exploring at least two cities, to get a more authentic feel of the country. This means a minimum of 4-5 days. Here’s a quick itinerary to help you figure out how many day to spend there.

• Belgrade (2-3 days)
• Novi Sad (+1-2 days)
• Zemun (a suburb of Belgrade, +1 day)
• Subotica (+1-2 days)
• Fruska Gora National Park (+2 days)

Where should I go: The Ideal Itinerary for a trip to Serbia

Most likely, you’re planning a trip to Serbia and only have a week or less. I would recommend spending 3 days in Belgrade, 1 day in Zemun, and 2 days in Novi Sad. They are all super close to each other and very accessible, making the trip much easier. However, do check out the other spots I’ve listed above to see if something else interests you a bit more.

How to travel within Serbia

Train infrastructure is not the greatest; trains are often delayed. Instead, the bus system is pretty efficient, reliable, safe and clean (and very cheap). I would highly recommend it! Renting a car is also easy, but unless you’re going to be there for more than a week, or are traveling to slightly more offbeat places, it’s much more convenient to just take buses!

How much does a trip to Serbia cost?

Serbia is very cheap!

• A great dinner at a nice restaurant will cost only $10/person
• A glass of alcohol at a bar will cost only $2
• A nice Airbnb (for 2 people) in a central neighborhood will cost only $50/night
• A round-trip bus ticket from Belgrade-Novi Sad costs $18/person

Is there enough vegetarian food in Serbia?

Serbian cuisine is very meat-heavy, so don’t expect to try much local food while you’re there. However, there’s LOTS of great vegetarian-friendly places serving Italian, Mediterranean and global fare. I had some of the best meals in Serbia, so don’t worry at all if you’re vegetarian.

Other general travel advice while planning a trip to Serbia:

• English is widely-spoken! The exception might be cab drivers outside of Belgrade.
• Avoid taking cabs from unknown companies, at airports or bus stops.  They tend to overcharge you. Have your hotel or Airbnb host book you a car instead, or give you a trusted company’s name.
• Most shops will not accept Euros, so make sure you have sufficient Serbian Dinars on you. Many souvenir stores will accept Euros, and give you change back in Serbian Dinars, so that’s helpful!
• Sofia Adventures is a  great website for planning a trip to Serbia or anywhere in the Balkans. I got a lot of helpful tips from there!

That’s everything you need to know while planning a trip to Serbia! It’s a unique destination, that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. Visit it soon before everyone else discovers it 🙂

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Serbia Travel Guide: Tips, Reviews, and Inspiration

Currency: Serbia’s official currency is the Serbian Dinar (RSD). Credit cards are now accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and shops, but it’s always safe to carry some cash for taxis or markets. If you have a bank card with little or no ATM fees (like our favorite Charles Schwab checking account card), the cheapest way to get dinars is directly through an ATM. 

Power adapters: The power plugs and sockets are type F, like in most of Europe. The standard voltage is 230 V, meaning you can use your appliances if the voltage in your country is between 220 – 240 V (UK, Europe, Australia, and most of Asia and Africa). If you’re visiting from somewhere else (like the US), you’ll need a voltage converter to keep your electronics safe.

Make sure to bring your universal travel adapter with you since they can be more expensive or tougher to find here. We love the Bestek power adapter, which can charge up to 7 devices at the same time and also works as a converter, and the Tripshell Elago adapter if you’re looking for something smaller.

Language: Serbian is the country’s national language. It’s a very complicated Slavic language with two alphabets. You’ll notice most things around the country are written in both alphabets, but there are some street names and signs only written in Cyrillic. A majority of people speak English, especially in bigger cities like Serbia or Novi Sad, and they’re always looking to practice with foreigners.

In the more rural areas, you may encounter people who only speak Serbian. But don’t worry, they are generally very patient and eager to help tourists. When in doubt, you can rely on one of our favorite phrases: “Izvinite, da li govorite engleski?” (Eez-Vee-Knee-Te, da lee go-vaur-ee-te en-gle-ski) which translates to “excuse me, do you speak English.”

Visa requirements: Most countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia do not require a visa for stays shorter than 90 days, however, some do. Those coming from most African countries will need to obtain a visa beforehand. Every foreigner visiting Serbia must register with the government by submitting a form known as a white card or bela karta. If you are staying in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, you don’t need to register in person, as the owners of the place will take care of it on your behalf. If you’re staying in a private residence, you’ll need to register in person at the nearest police station. Check this out for more information about this process.

If you’re looking for more details about life in Serbia, check out our full handbook and detailed guide to living in Belgrade here . 

Not To Overlook

Healthcare: We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance before embarking on your trip. No matter how careful you are, accidents are prone to happen, and the last thing you want is to have a m edical emergency abroad with no financial protection.

There are several companies out there, but after relying on them more than once, we can say we are extremely satisfied with SafetyWing and highly recommend it to others looking for peace of mind while traveling.

Overall, their platform is incredibly easy to use and the entire process is straightforward, and their customer service is knowledgeable, kind, and eager to help. What’s also great is that you can purchase the insurance at any point from anywhere in the world, meaning you don’t have to do it before your trip, and there is no limit on the duration of your trip.

And if you require medical assistance while in Serbia, we recommend visiting one of the three private healthcare institutions ( MediGroup , Bel Medic , or Euromedik ). They all have reliable centers throughout the bigger cities and appointments can be made easily and usually scheduled within the same day. We’ve had some funny interactions with doctors across Belgrade which you can check out here  if you’re looking for a laugh!

Safety: This is a key, and sometimes surprising part of this Serbia travel guide. Though Serbia has a complicated history, we have never felt unsafe here. To be honest, it has felt surprisingly safe. As in many places, pickpocketing can happen, especially in public transportation, so make sure to keep your belongings close. Some taxi drivers tend to overcharge foreigners, so if you’re flagging a taxi in the city, make sure to choose one with a Pink Taxi sign. Alternatively, you can download apps like CarGo  or  Yandex . 

You’ll likely read stories about corruption or the mafia. Unfortunately, those are true, but tourists are almost never the target of this type of crime. Just be aware of your surroundings and don’t be afraid to ask the locals if you have any more questions – they are very welcoming and want to make sure their country is represented in the best possible way. If you need even more convincing, check out  our story on one of Serbia’s most unlikely expats.

People:   Serbian people are very welcoming and eager to help. They are very honest and often don’t sugarcoat comments or questions, so don’t be surprised if you get asked personal questions shortly after meeting someone. It’s part of their charm and they generally just want to make sure you’re not overpaying and having the best time possible. 

Serbians love coffee and Rakija (a Serbian-style brandy). They can often spend hours at a kafana (traditional cafe), chatting and sipping on one of these drinks. 

How To Get Around

Public transportation:   The city of Belgrade is generally very walkable, though there are buses and trams throughout the city as well. They are not the most reliable, so if you’re in a rush, a taxi may be the better alternative. You can buy a Beogradska kartica card at several kiosks and they work on a pay-as-you-go basis. The card will cost you about $3 and you can add as much money as you’d like. For reference, a 90-minute trip costs $1. You can use any of the doors when you enter the bus, just make sure to scan the card against the e-reader until you get verification.

The bus controllers occasionally get on the bus to enforce compliance with paying for ride feeds. They are in plain clothes so you won’t usually be able to recognize them. They get on with all the other passengers and will lock all the card scanner devices (so you can’t scan now if you didn’t before) before going through the bus asking to check your card to see if you have paid. If you haven’t, the fine is around $65. You can pay in cash or with a credit card on the spot.

Car rental:  If you’re looking to travel throughout the country, we recommend renting a car. It’s the easiest way to get around and many of the roads have been recently renovated. However, roads tend to be narrow and windy around the mountain regions. There are local rental options that we’ve used before, including Zim Car Rental Beograd . But pick-up options are only offered in Belgrade and they do run out of cars pretty quickly in peak season. For a larger option with more variety, we recommend using Discover Cars to find the best deals.

Best Time to Visit

Weather: No Serbia travel guide could be complete without a note about the weather. While you can visit Serbia at any time, keep in mind that Serbia’s climate is considered “moderately continental. This means summers are hot (up to 40℃/104°F) and winters are cold (as low as -15℃/5°F). Serbia can be impacted by the cold air referred to as Košava, which usually comes from the southeast, from the Carpathians in the east, coming into Serbia through the Romanian border. It then blows northwest through Serbia and towards the rest of the continent. And it’s also hit by the warm air from the Mediterranean Sea or Africa, so the temperature tends to vary greatly. 

For us, the best time to visit Serbia is between April-June or September-November. You’ll notice people really come alive once Spring hits and temperatures become milder, and the Fall months push everyone to enjoy the last few months of sun and the turning leaves. If you choose to come in the winter, we would recommend avoiding bigger cities and sticking to the mountains as the air can become very unpleasant when people start burning coal for heat.

EXIT Fest is the most popular and it takes place every year in the Petrovaradin fortress in the city of Novi Sad in July or August. It is a renowned music festival across Europe, with more than 1000 artists (including David Guetta) performing at over 40 stages. We attended in 2021 and getting to watch bands perform from all over the world in an ancient fortress is an unforgettable experience!

Lovefest is another summer music festival, generally held every first weekend in August in the city of Vrnjačka Banja. It’s known for its different stages – some with pools, some surrounded by trees and house tunes, and some that only fit 99 people to keep the feel small. 

May is all about food festivals around the country, with everything from honey to sausage. In July, the municipality of Bajina Bašta hosts Drina Regatta. It goes on for three days and has everything from swimming and fish soup competitions, to a fun day floating down the Drina River on a raft with music and hundreds of people.

And in August or September, the Belgrade Beer Fest takes over a big park in Belgrade for five days, serving domestic and foreign brews.

If you’re looking for something very traditional, you can see locals jumping into different lakes around the country, racing for the Christian cross in January. Many believe the water keeps away unclean forces, heals the sick, and protects the healthy. And in February, wineries across Serbia celebrate Saint Trifun on Valentine’s Day. He is widely venerated as the protector of wine and vineyards, and on his day local priests bless the branches of a vine to bless the new wine season. We were invited by locals to enjoy leftovers the day after this holiday and it is still one of our favorite memories. 

Slavas: Slavas are one of the most common traditions across Serbia. This is a Serbian Orthodox Christian tradition where the family celebrates their family saint, considered their protectors. There are different ways to celebrate, but they have usually been going on for generations and generally involve special rituals and lots of good food and wine.

If you ever go to one, be careful about eating too much food in the first round. Even if it looks like the main course, it probably isn’t! 

Rough Budget: Serbia tends to be a fairly affordable country, but of course, prices can be as cheap or expensive as you’d like. Prices in Belgrade are more expensive than in the countryside, with accommodations being the largest expense. The rough estimate below applies to Belgrade prices, which you can assume to be generally the most expensive around the country.

Accomodation (per night)

• Private room: $15-30
• Hostels: $20-50
• Mid-range: $60-90
• Splurge: $100+

Food (meal for one)

• Bakeries/street food: $1-3
• Restaurant: $5-15
• Very nice restaurant: $15+

• City bus: $3 for a card + $1 per 90 minute ride
• Multi-city bus: $5-15 depending on distance
• Rental car: $25 per day

Key Serbia travel guide tip – electronics in Serbia are very expensive. They are all generally imported, so prices are much higher than they would generally be in the US. So if you’re hoping to buy a camera or a kindle, for example, make sure to bring it from home or purchase it in advance. It will save you quite a bit of time and money – just make sure to follow any voltage rules to keep them from frying.

Where to Stay

Serbia is a cultural mix between east and west – and has something to offer everyone. It has a buzzing vibrant capital city, centuries of history to explore, beautiful lust mountains, and remote spots to relax in.

The range of accommodations varies widely – from affordable hostels and weekend homes to luxurious hotels in the city.  But, finding the right place can be a time-consuming challenge, especially if you go remote. 

That’s why we compiled two lists for you: one has the best places to stay across Serbia, suiting every type of travel budget, and the other one is specifically about the pros and cons of the top neighborhoods in Belgrade .

Where to Stay in Serbia

Favorite accommodations in Belgrade and around the country, for those traveling on a budget or for those looking to splurge on a vacation.

Best Neighborhoods in Belgrade

Guide outlining the pros and cons of six key neighborhoods in Belgrade and our favorite accommodations for each of them – from luxury to budget spots.

Where to Go

For a country about the size of Florida, Serbia varies dramatically both culturally and geographically in different regions of the country. Each region has a lot to offer and similarly to other places, the capital city is a region in and of itself. While this Serbia travel guide is quite general and offers an overall approach to the country, you can check out the four travel guides below for tips for visiting the region and the top things to do and see in each of them.

North Serbia

West Serbia

East Serbia

Tips for Traveling with a Pup

Serbia is one of the most dog-friendly countries we’ve ever been to. Most people love dogs and are generally very welcoming of them. Many families in Serbia have pets, and it is not uncommon to see dogs out and about in public places. Dogs are welcome in most restaurants and cafes, with few exceptions. Of course, it’s always safe to call first if you plan on bringing your pet, but the list of places we’ve been denied because of a pup is very small.

One of our favorite things about Serbians is their understanding that dogs are dogs. If our pup gets into a little squabble with another dog, that owner will generally understand that it’s best for the dogs to figure it out themselves. You’ll rarely see the other person get upset or try to get involved, which we greatly appreciate.

Dogs off leash are common and we’ve been particularly impressed by how well-trained some dogs are, walking right next to their owners on the street. We certainly cannot let our dog Piper off-leash on the street, but we do love how common it is to see dogs playing off-leash in parks or fortresses across Belgrade.

However, two negative things to note: 1) there are a lot of stray dogs, particularly in the countryside, so don’t be surprised if you see them. If you find yourself walking in a park and stumble upon a group of strays, we’ve been told the best way to scare them away (if you need to) is to scream at them or hit a stick against a tree, and they’ll be too scared to continue. We’ve only had this happen once to us in our three years of being in Serbia.

And 2) the idea of fixing your dog is not yet popular in Serbia so you’ll notice some protective issues, particularly with male dogs, so just keep an eye out.

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Serbia Travel Guides

Unique Serbia Itinerary For All Types of Travelers

Three one-week itineraries for all kinds of travelers – from those looking to stay in the cities to those seeking to explore the outdoors.

Where to Stay in Serbia: Our Favorite Hotels and Accommodations

Accommodations in Serbia vary widely – from affordable weekend homes to luxurious hotels. Check out our top recommendations on where to stay.

Discover Vojvodina: A Travel Guide to Exploring North Serbia

Tips to traveling around north Serbia – home to some of the prettiest cities in Serbia, with its unique architectural vibe.

Discover Tara Park: A Travel Guide to Exploring West Serbia

Everything you need to know about visiting west Serbia – from hiking the mountains and swiming the lakes to exploring the charming villages.

Tips for Visiting Sićevo Gorge in East Serbia

Full travel guide to Sićevo – one of the most magical villages in Serbia, with hiking trails, old vineyards, and charming hospitality.

20 Things to Do in Belgrade, Serbia that You Cannot Miss

After living in Serbia for two years, we created a list of our favorite things to do in Belgrade – from parks to the trendiest spots to try.

Where to Stay in Belgrade: Guide to the City’s Best Neighborhoods

Pros and cons of the main neighborhoods in Belgrade and our favorite accommodations – compiled after living in the city for 2 years.

It’s Not a Must, But It’s Better to Have a Serbia Tour Guide

If we are looking to explore Serbia, Zeljko Petrovic, a registered Serbia tour guide, is our go to – and here is why he should be yours too.

Ultimate Road Trip Along Serbia’s Danube River

The Danube connects 10 countries and makes for an incredible road trip across Serbia. Check out our 5-day itinerary and suggested stops here!

The cost of travelling in Serbia

When my UK working visa finished in July, I planned to spend two or three months travelling in Europe. Then a friend booked flights to visit me in November. One text message had extended my trip by two months. Instead of being back in Canada and working by late October, I would now be travelling in Europe for five months.

It’s the kind of trip some people spend years saving for, but I didn’t have that kind of time. I couldn’t earn any more money than I’d already budgeted, so the only thing I could do was to make it last as long as possible.

And that’s how I ended up in Eastern Europe.

I’d love to say I was drawn to exploring the history and character of former Yugoslavia, but at the time it was purely a money decision. It would be cheap. How cheap? I had no idea. While that region of the world (along with parts of Asia and South America) is regularly touted as very budget-friendly place to travel, everybody has different ideas of what they consider “cheap” and “budget”. When someone says a destination is cheap, it’s hard to know what exactly to expect.

Many parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in the Balkans, are still off the beaten track for mainstream tourists and there’s not a lot of information available for people planning to travel there. It’s just one of the many quirks of being a tourist in Serbia and an issue I confronted when planning my own trip and budget.

Hoping to save future tourists the same dilemma (and also to make sure I stuck to my budget) I kept track of my expenses while I travelled through the Balkans and Turkey.

The prices are what I paid in September 2013 and are listen in RSD – Serbian Dinar. I’ve converted the price into Euros and Australian Dollars based on the exchange rate in March 2014, but make sure you check the rate at the time of your trip.

Accommodation

During my three weeks in Serbia I paid for 10 nights of accommodation (I CouchSurfed the rest of the time). I booked my first three nights at a hostel in Belgrade from the UK, but the rest of my accommodation was organised at short notice – usually while I was en route to the destination.

Four nights in a hostel in Belgrade: 5500 (1375 per night)

I stayed in an eight-bed dorm at Montmartre Hostel. The hostel is in a safe area and walking distance from Kalemegdan, the bohemian quarter, the sleek shopping street of Knez Mihajlova and the Republic Square. It took me about 15 minutes to walk to the hostel, with my luggage, from the train and bus station. The hostel was small, but clean and comfortable. Breakfast was included. (€48/$71 for four nights; €12/$17 per night)

One night in a guest house in Knjaževac: 2250

I couldn’t find any up-to-date information about accommodation in  Knjaževac in English when I looked online before I visited, so I was in the hands of the woman at the tourist information office. She suggested the guesthouse Milošev Konak and called the owner for me. I had a private double room ((in the photo above) with an ensuite, TV and mini fridge and a cooked breakfast in the morning. The owner spoke poor English, but we managed. (€19/$29)

One night in a hostel in Užice: 1370

At the beginning of the summer Užice didn’t have any hostels. When I visited in September it had two! Times are a’changin in Serbia. I stayed in a huge seven-bed dorm at the Little 15 Hostel in Sevojno, which is a short taxi ride from the city of Užice. I booked my stay with Andres (the owner) by email on my way to the hostel, but the hostel is now listed on most hostel booking sites. The cost included dinner and breakfast. (€12/$18)

Four nights in a guesthouse in Nova Varoš : 9625

I had a private room with two single beds and shared a bathroom. I had breakfast on my first morning, but opted to cook my own for the rest of my stay. I had dinner each night, and it was usually a two or three-course affair. During my stay I also took a tour on the Uvac Canyon with two of the other guests. Because I paid for the accommodation, meals and tour all together I don’t know how much this was worth on its own, but a friend later stayed at Vila Vilovi and was told it would cost her €60 to take the tour alone (it was cheaper for me because there were other guests). (€84/$124)

Most cities in Serbia are well connected by bus. Some bus companies are better than others. I usually travelled with Niš-ekspres (Niš Express), which is apparently one of the more expensive options. The buses were in good condition and clean. The same can’t be said for the trains. I travelled by train between Belgrade,  Užice, Prijepolje and later into Montenegro. It was slow, dirty and rarely on time. I felt comfortable using taxis, although in most cases I had a local either help establish the price before my trip or in the taxi with me. I used a taxi three times while staying near Nova Varoš and got charged the same price for the same trip each time.

Sometimes I bought my ticket at the bus station, other times it was from the driver directly. If you buy from the counter there will often be an extra fee, so it’s cheaper to buy on the bus if that’s an option. (Notice the price difference between my trips between Niš and Knjaževac. The first ticket was bought at the ticket counter at the bus station in Niš. The second was bought on board when I left Knjaževac.) You will also be charged to store any luggage under the bus and you pay the guy who’s putting it under there.

Belgrade airport to city centre: 300 (€2.5/$4)

Belgrade to Gornji Milanovac: 1050 + 40 for luggage (€9+0.35/$13+0.50)

Kragujevac to Niš: 950 +50 for luggage (€8+0.45/$12+0.65)

Public city bus in Niš: 50 (€0.45/$0.65)

Niš to Knjaževac: 600 (€5/$7.80)

Knjaževac to Niš: 500 (€4/$6.50)

Public city bus from Niš to Niška Banja: 70 each way (€0.60/$0.90)

Niš to Belgrade: 1135 + 50 for luggage (€9.90+0.45/$14.70+0.650

Prijepolje to Nova Varoš: 140 (€1.20/$1.80)

Nova Varoš to Prijepolje: 140 (€1.20/$1.80)

I caught the train on the Belgrade to Bar Railway. The entire trip takes about 12 hours if done in one go and costs about 3450 (€30/$44). I broke the trip up and stopped several times on the way. I either bought my ticket at the station or on board. There seemed to be no difference in price. Sometimes the ticket included a supplement depending on the type of train.

Belgrade to Valjevo: 384 (€3.35/$5)

Valjevo to Užice: 484 (included a 100 supplement.) (€4.20/$6.30)

Užice to Prijepolje: 484 (included a 100  supplement.) (€4.20/$6.30)

Prijepolje to Kolašin: 533 (I’m not sure if this included a supplement.) (€4.65/$7)

Taxis are cheap enough for even the locals to use regularly. I used them to travel around cities and also for longer trips when there were no buses.

Taxi to Niš bus station (about 10 minutes through the city): 150 (€1.30/$1.95)

Užice train station to Little 15 Hostel in Sevojno (about 10 minutes): 380 (€3.30/$5)

Sevojino to Mokra Gora (45 minutes): 2200 (€19/$28.50)

Nova Varoš to Vila Vilovi (10 minutes): 500 (€4.30/$6.50)

This is a harder cost to break down because although I kept track of how much I spent on food, I didn’t list what I was eating.

All up I spent 14,500 (€126/$188) on eating out, groceries to cook with, snacks and coffee. There was a lot of coffee. None of it was good.

An espresso at a cafe usually cost about 80 (€0.70/$1)

A glass of wine in a cafe in Belgrade cost 400 (€3.50/$5)

Dinner in Belgrade could be as cheap as 200 (€1.70/$2.60) for goulash in the bohemian quarter or Serbian “grill” (expect some sort of grilled meat served like a hamburger or kebab).

A cob of corn from a street vendor was 100 (€0.80/$1.30)

Burek for breakfast was usually about 70 to 100 (€0.60-€0.80/$0.90-$1.30)

A bottle of water was about 40 (€0.35/$0.50)

But it really depends on where you go. At “?”, one of Belgrade’s more touristy eateries, a chicken and vegetable casserole, drink and coffee cost 1320 (€11.50/$17). At what the woman at the Knjaževac tourist information centre considered the town’s nicest restaurant I paid 910 (€8/$11.80) for a meal of grilled chicken, fries, salad and a Coke.

In an effort to eat somewhat healthily (there’s only so much burek and grilled meat I want to put into my body) I often bought my own food from a supermarket, including bread, sliced ham, fruit, vegetables, nuts and water. In Belgrade I spent 570 (€5/$7.40) at the supermarket to buy enough food to eat for two days while I was camping at the World Testicle Championships. A bag of potato chips or chocolate bar usually cost about 80 (€0.70/$1).

Sightseeing

In three weeks in Serbia I visited very few attractions. Because I CouchSurfed a lot, I spent most of my time hanging out with my hosts and less time in museums or at historical sights. But here’s a list of what I did do and what it cost.

Belgrade Military Museum: 150 (€1.30/$1.95)

Skull Tower, Niš: 150 (€1.30/$1.95)

Šargan Eight railway, Mokra Gora: 600 (€5.25/$7.80)

Drvengrad Village, Mokra Gora: 250 (€2.20/$3.20)

Tips for getting the best value in Serbia

Travel like a local  – Local restaurants and transport are cheap because it has to be if Serbs are going to afford it. The average monthly wage in the country is about €300 euro so expenses have to be affordable. If you want the best deal, just ask locals for advice on where they go. At “?” – Belgrade’s oldest pub – I definitely paid tourist prices for lunch. It was the most expensive meal I had in Serbia and not very good.

Don’t rely on internet research -Many businesses that you’d expect to advertise online – don’t. There will always be more accommodation options in a town or city than Google will tell you about. Ask the local tourist information office to call around for you, or just show up and see what’s there. The options I did see online were always a lot more expensive than what I found once I was in the town.

Talk to people – The Serbs are friendly folk so get chatting and see where it leads. Ask your guesthouse owners if they can suggest somewhere to stay in your next destination. Or the best place to go for dinner. Most locals will also give you an idea of what you should expect to pay and so you’ll be prepared in the rare event somebody tries to rip you off.

My personal budget

I had a budget of 3100 per day (€27/40) for Serbia. I’d simply divided my savings by the length of time I would be travelling, so I didn’t know how realistic it would be until I arrived. While I was conscious of my budget I found it was more than enough for how I like to travel – especially when I was CouchSurfing.

In 21 days I spent about 50,000 (€435/$650), which works out to be about 2400 a day (€20/$31) so I finished up my time in Serbia under budget.

Have you travelled in Serbia? What advice do you have for other travellers in the country?

Pegs on the Line is a collection of stories about places, people and experiences around the world. It's written by Megan Dingwall, an Australian journalist with an insatiable curiosity. Available to answer questions such as is Tasmania a real place (yes) and do Tassie devils spin (no).

If you go into the woods…

Men, couchsurfing and safety in turkey, related posts, if pristina’s buildings could talk, lake eyre in flood: a desert phenomenon comes to life, the coppersmiths of sarajevo.

I’m just back from touring Italy ans the Balkans, and what you’ve posted up ties in with what I went through. I flew into Belgrade from Milan on Monday, travelled down to Sarajevo on Tuesday, Dubrovnik Wednesday, Montenegro Thursday and the overnight rain back to Belgrade.

Everywhere is cheap, Dubrovnik slightly less so, but if you are from the UK, and you were a smoker, you could’ve bought 5 packets of Marlboro for the price of one packet. That’s the easiest example of how cheap it is out there, but its cheap for a reason – they earn very little compared to other parts of the world.

Public transport, I mainly used buses, I was lucky enough in getting talking to a man in Belgrade bus station, who spoke English, and got the ticket to Sarajevo, the 8 hour bus took 7 1/2 hours, but I was dropped in east Sarajevo, and ended up getting a taxi into Sarajevo city centre.

The bus from Sarajevo to Dubronik, was a journey of two parts. The first part was a minibus down to Mostar, then getting onto another bus to Dubrovnik. The bus driver to Mostar was a bit of maniac, you would’ve needed a harness and a helmet for the journey.

Dubrovnik to Bar in Montenegro took longer, as the bus was 30 minutes late. Before I go any further, all the buses were comfortable, clean, and in good order.

I then got the overnight train (1700) from Bar, to Belgrade. I think the woman who sold me the ticket said that the train was due in Belgrade at 9 am the following morning, but as I got on the train (which although comfortable, looked grotty, and had the WORST public toilets I have ever come across), I got speaking to people who knew a bit of English, and they told me it would be 10.30 am arrival time in Belgrade, and as the train sped up, slowed down, stopped several times, for no apparent reason, it became apparent that there was go9ing to be a big delay.

The train eventually got in at 1235 daytime, 19 1/2 hours journey time.

As for the Balkans in general, the scenery is stunning, I would definitely go back there, Bosnia and Croatia seem to be the nicest, but I would like to check out more of the region again. The people are like anywhere else: there are some nice people, and you get the odd asshole too.

Thank you so much for sharing this! It must have been tedious to keep track of all these costs! Much appreciated 🙂

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Budgeting for Serbia: Average Costs for Accommodation, Meals, and Activities

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Serbia Travel Advice: 21 Things to Know Before Visiting Serbia

Since Belgrade is a pretty easy bus ride from Sofia , we are lucky to get to spend a fair amount of time exploring Serbia. We recently added it up, and between the two of us, we’ve spent about two months traveling, backpacking, and road tripping around the country.

While Serbia is a “typical Balkan country” in a lot of ways and you should check out our general Balkan tips before you go, there are also some unique aspects to traveling here that you should be aware of to make your trip go as smoothly and safely as possible. So here are twenty-one Serbia travel tips we think you should know before you visit Serbia.

Wifi & Internet

In general, Serbia has pretty excellent Wi-Fi. Between the two of us, we’ve used the Wi-FI in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Novi Pazar, Nis, and Zajecar and in all instances, the Wi-Fi has been pretty fast and reliable. Most cafés will have Wi-Fi and you can occasionally find free Wi-Fi in hot spots in the park.

Serbian Sim Cards

We recommend buying a SIM card if you have an unlocked phone as it will make your life much easier. We wrote a guide to purchasing a SIM card in Serbia if you want a detailed account. We paid 300 dinars (roughly $3 USD) for a one-week prepaid package with 4 gigs of data and 1000 minutes at VIP. We found cell service across the country to be excellent (of course it’s better in big cities).

Read:  How to Get a Serbian Sim Card

Taxi drivers in the Balkans have a bad reputation and it’s not entirely undeserved. We got scammed by taxi drivers so much that we even wrote a guide to avoiding fake taxis in Sofia .

Personally, I try not to take unregistered taxi rides unless I have to. If you or someone else calls a taxi from a company on your behalf to pick you up, the ride will be registered in the system, greatly reducing the chances that your taxi driver will try any funny business with you. When we arrived at the Belgrade bus station and didn’t have working SIM cards yet, we ignored the pushy drivers who approached us as we got off the bus and walked to the nearest hotel and asked them to call a taxi for us. They were happy to oblige.

Once we got SIM cards, we relied on CarGo in order to get us around Belgrade. The app has similar functionality to Uber which is great because it means that you don’t have to deal with cash ever when going by taxi – your data is stored in your account and it is debited automatically. I also like that instead of rewarding a giant multinational conglomerate with questionable ethical practices, you are supporting a local Serbian start-up.

Beware of Loud Birds

Every day around dusk, the birds of Belgrade go crazy, squawking up a storm. While it sounds like it’s the oncoming apocalypse or the start to a Hitchcockian nightmare, it isn’t.  It’s just them jostling for position in their trees.

Kosovo…Don’t Talk About It

Even young Serbs have strong opinions about Kosovo’s quest for recognition, their current leadership, and what happened between the two countries over the past few decades. In fact, avoid referring to Kosovo as a “country” at all while in Serbia.

While it’s perfectly fine to listen to them explain the situation from their point of view, there’s no reason to bring up your own opinions on the topic if they differ from that of your host or guide. You might also see memorials or pictures of people killed in bombings done by Kosovo political activists. In our opinion, it’s better to be polite and show respect to these innocent Serbians who lost their lives at leave it at that.

Traveling Between Serbia and Kosovo

There’s a lot of confusion on the internet about the correct way to travel between Serbia and Kosovo. In fact, when  I tried to make the journey, Google Maps even had the rules programmed in wrong! It’s actually really simple:

• If you want to visit Serbia and then go to Kosovo, that is fine.
• If you want to go to Kosovo and then to Serbia, you must enter Kosovo via Serbia.

Essentially, if you enter Kosovo from Macedonia or Montenegro, and then try to cross into Serbia, Serbia will consider you to have entered their country illegally since they do not recognize Kosovo independence legally. Practically, they are aware that they don’t control these borders, but that is not the issue here.

If you cross into Serbia and then go on to Kosovo, you will have the correct entry stamp in your passport for Serbia, and they will treat you as if you have been in Serbia the entire time. If you try to board a bus in Kosovo headed to Serbia, the bus driver will check that you have a Serbian entry stamp before allowing you to board.

When trying to plan the bus route for Visegrad in Bosnia to Pristina, Google Maps did not have the routes through Serbia showing, and instead, it tried to direct me to go back to Montenegro. This would have added a full day on my trip! If you’re trying to take a bus to Kosovo and want to go through Serbia, you will need to rely on locals and the bus companies directly for assistance until Google fixes this glitch.

Smoking in Restaurants & Bars

One thing that will feel very retro for many visitors from the rest of Europe or North America, is that Serbia still allows smoking inside of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. These places can get pretty smokey, and during the day this can feel extra stuffy when sunlight is streaming through the windows amplifying the smell.

If smoking bothers you, we suggest visiting during warm months when you can sit outside or finding restaurants that have non-smoking sections that aren’t next to the smoking section.

The official language of Serbia is Serbian, a southern Slavic language. If you’ve been to Bulgaria, you’ll probably notice a lot of similarities with Bulgarian, since they come from the same branch of the Slavic language family tree.  Linguist dispute whether Serbian is truly distinct from Croatian, or if there’s just one Serbo-Croatian language with varying regional dialects.

I will stay out of that debate, but as a foreigner who doesn’t speak more than five hundred words of any Slavic language, I did not notice a difference traveling between Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Croatia.

In Serbia, you’ll find the English language accessibility to be about the same as in other Balkan countries. In large cities and tourist centers, English is common. In Belgrade, your server or tour guide will likely speak perfect English, and it’s common to be handed an English menu without even asking.

Tourist signs all over the city are also written in Serbian and English, making navigating between landmarks simple. In addition, young people (under forty) typically studied English in school, and they will usually be able to communicate easily. Older Serbs, who studied Russian in school, will be less likely to speak English unless they work in tourism or the service industry.

In the villages and smaller towns, both spoken and written English is less common. In these situations, you will want to have Google translate or another translation app installed on your phone and a data plan on your cell phone so that you can use it.

The Cyrillic Alphabet

One thing that I love being able to do whenever I’m in Serbia is reading Cyrillic. In situations where there’s no English available, at least I can read what’s in front of me. (This usually entails finding the shopska salad and margarita pizza options on a menu).

While Serbia uses latin letters often, I find it’s actually easier for me to correctly pronounce Serbian words when reading Cyrillic, rather than the Latin letters with the diacritical marks that turn all the tsz sounds into the letter c . You can easily travel Serbia without knowing the Cyrillic alphabet, but I think it makes your trip easier. Luckily, we’ve created a handy PDF explaining the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet and its pronunciations that you can print out or keep on your phone. You can download it via the form below!

Going to a pharmacy ( Apteka ) in Serbia is an easy process. However, some medications typically available in the European Union aren’t stocked here. Since Serbia is not in the EU, prescription and medication rules here are different. We found that most of what we wanted was available easily, but some things were not. For example, they did not have the specific brand of OTC antihistamine that we were looking for (though available in the EU), but we were able to get an alternative.

Contact lenses are available without a prescription, making this a great place to stock up on contacts if you know what your prescription should be. Overall, we found pharmacies here to be friendly and well priced, with rules slightly differing from the EU that made some items easier to get and other items harder. If there’s any medication that you have that is crucial, bring enough with you just in case.

Driving in Serbia

First the basics: you drive on the right side of the road like the rest of continental Europe and North America.

Driving in Serbia is surprisingly pleasant! The country has invested a lot in maintaining its roads, making driving on the highway a smooth experience. Because the country doesn’t have as many mountains as most of its neighbors, you’ll experience fewer small mountain roads and better highway visibility.

There are a few things to watch out for, though. Traffic in Belgrade can be a nightmare, and the gas (petrol) prices are steep!

Read:  13 Things to Know Before Driving in Serbia

Renting a Car

Renting a car in Serbia is easy, but there were a few surprises, including giant deposits (over two thousand Euros!) and the automatic cars being twice as expensive to rent as manuals. Combine that with high gas prices, and you might find it’s more expensive to drive a rental than to book a day tour if there’s less than two of you.

Of course, if you want to drive to places completely off-the-beaten-path, then a rental car is clutch. Just know that if you don’t know how to use one (a clutch, that is), then you’re going to pay a lot more than in other countries.

Money in Serbia

Serbian money is called dinars. You can get it at ATM, which is what we do since we get the best exchange rates. One hundred Serbian dinar is about 0.96 USD and 0.85 Euros. I just used the rule of thumb that one hundred dinar was about a dollar, but obviously, if your home currency isn’t USD then it’s not quite so easy.

You’ll need cash when traveling outside of the cities since many businesses will not take credit cards. However, in the cities, most places took credit cards with the exception of public transport,  pekaras, and museums. You’ll also want cash to tip since you can’t add tipping onto your card. To use your debit or credit for taxis, download the Car.Go app discussed above.

For my most recent trip to Serbia, I spent two weeks based in Belgrade. I used about $200 USD in cash and everything else was on my debit or credit cards.

Tipping in Serbia

Like Bulgaria, Serbia doesn’t have a tipping culture but there are norms. In restaurants, it’s common to tip ten to fifteen percent. You won’t be able to leave a tip on your credit card at most places, so try to have small bills with you for these circumstances. If necessary, the restaurant will be able to give you change so you can leave a tip. In taxis (if paying with cash and not an app) just round up to the next hundred. Do the same at bars and cafes.

Long-Distance Buses in Belgrade

The main bus station in Belgrade, BAC, is a large complex spread out over several areas. Always arrive at least forty-five minutes before your bus is scheduled to depart to leave yourself time to check in at the ticket window (even if you’ve purchased tickets ahead of time) and find your bus’s platform. Note that you’ll need to purchase an additional bus platform ticket for 180 RSD (about $1.80) to be allowed to enter your buses platform. This price is in addition to your bus ticket price. For this fee, you may only pay in cash.

There is an ATM in the bus station, but you’ll feel a bit silly getting out such a small sum in cash before you depart. I know we did! Worse, if you don’t show up with enough time to get the platform ticket (and cash if necessary) you’ll be in danger of missing your bus altogether.

Safety in Serbia

After two months of travel all over Serbia, we haven’t run into any safety issues that would make Serbia more difficult to travel than the rest of Europe. Like all places in Europe, there’s a low-level risk for terrorism from political agitators.

Read:  Is Serbia safe? Thoughts on Travel Safe and Solo Female Travel in Serbia

The US State Department advises visitors to “exercise normal precautions.” (Check here to see if this alert level has changed). Be smart about your bags, alcohol consumption, general night safety, etc. But you should feel just as safe in Serbia as the rest of the continent. If you are an American, you can enroll in the STEP program (the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ) to keep the US government aware of your travel plans in case of an emergency. I personally use this program when in places a bit more chaotic than Serbia, but better safe than sorry, especially if this is your first trip to a Balkan country .

One thing you’ll always want to have in case of an emergency or theft while traveling is up-to-date travel insurance . We use and recommend   World Nomads . 

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Serbia Travel Visas

Serbia is not part of the EU or the Schengen Zone. However, many people can visit Serbia without needing to obtain a travel visa. Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and most Europeans can visit Serbia for ninety days visa-free. Many more countries can visit Serbia for thirty days visa free, while citizens of Hong Kong can visit for fourteen days without a visa. People from Africa (with the exception of Tunisia) and a few other countries throughout the world will need to apply for a tourist visa ahead of time.

Check with Serbia directly for the most up-to-date information.

Remember that Serbia is not part of any visa scheme, either with the EU or with other Balkan nations, so if you can visit Serbia visa-free, this will not give you permission to visit any other Balkan or European country. However, if you have a valid visa to visit the Schengen Zone (or a few other places), Serbia will give you visa-free entry and it will not count against your time in the Schengen Zone.

One of the most important Balkan tips we repeat over and over is about travel visas. When traveling the Balkans, remember that the only countries which are part of the Schengen are Slovenia and Greece. For travel to the other ten Balkan countries , you will need to check the rules individually.

Tourist Registration

One thing I see on a lot of Serbia travel forums is questions about registering. Here’s the technical rule as laid out by Serbia’s official tourism board :

Serbian organisations and individuals providing accommodation to foreigners against payment, as well as locals hosting visiting foreigners, must register the foreigner’s stay with the local police station within 24 hours of the commencement of the accommodation arrangement, or of the foreign visitor’s arrival. A foreigner not using official accommodation nor staying with a private individual must register his or her stay and change of address with the local police station within 24 hours of arriving at the place of residency or of the change of address. A place of residency is where a foreigner intends to stay for more than 24 hours.

Beyond the paperwork, you also pay a fee equivalent to four Euros. What does this mean for people who rent through AirBnB like I did on my most recent trip? I think technically the renter is supposed to register you. But I actually have no idea. And not once did any Serbian official ask me about it, nor did our AirBnB host mention it.

So for the anxiety-ridden rule followers out there, know this exists. I’m sure you’ll go to a lot of trouble to make sure you’re registered. For the rest of you, it’s up to you if you want to ask your hosts about it. The only time I would personally worry about this is if I travel to Serbia in the future and fall under the category of not using official accommodations or staying with a private individual. But I don’t even know how I would do that.

Electrical Outlets

Serbia uses the same electrical outlets common across Europe and 220V. Remember that in North America, our outlets are 110V, so be careful about what you plug in here. I use a converter since my main electronics (laptop, camera charger, phone charger) can all handle 220V.

Many appliances like hair dryers would blow if you plug them into just an outlet converter. If you absolutely need to bring an appliance from North America that only takes 110V, you will need a voltage converter. These are pricier than just an outlet converter since they actually change the amount of voltage coming out of the outlet and flowing into your appliance.

BONUS: Where to Stay in Belgrade

We know one of the most intimidating parts of planning your trip is figuring out where to stay – so here are some tips for where to stay in Belgrade, the main port of call for most Serbia trips!

Budget:  If you want a cozy feeling hostel,  Hostel Home Sweet Home  in the Savamala neighborhood of Belgrade is a fantastic choice. Its central location close to Knez Mihailova Street and other Belgrade must-sees makes staying here ultra-convenient. It’s sunny and open, with options for dorm rooms as well as affordable single and double rooms for travelers who want a little more privacy without paying a fortune. It’s one of the best-rated options in town, so we recommend you  check out availability and book in advance here .

Another popular choice is  Balkan Soul Hostel , located in Stari Grad and a convenient walk from all the hot spots like Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, and the splavovi on the Sava River. Every bed has its own charging area and lights, which are essential to me when picking a hostel. It has a social atmosphere and friendly staff who can make your stay in Belgrade even more charming.  Check out availability and reviews here .

Mid-Range:  There are so many great options in this price-range — Belgrade really excels at providing great value when it comes to accommodations in this price tier. One fun option is a floating hotel on the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers,  San Art Floating Hostel & Apartments . While it’s located in Novi Beograd and therefore a little out of the action, I love the floating deck where you can have sunset drinks, and I like the that the décor is a little bit nostalgic, with details like rotary phones and old radios.  You can check it out here .

If you want a more traditional accommodation option, we recommend the affordable four-star  Zepter Hotel on Terazije, one of our favorite streets in all of Belgrade. It has all the amenities you’d expect from a 4-star hotel, like a gym room, in-room coffee machine, and a fantastic daily breakfast. Rooms sell out often, so  check out availability and book in advance .

Luxury:  We’d be remiss if we didn’t suggest the classic luxury option in Belgrade, Hotel Moskva – one of our favorite buildings in the city and a classic haunt of famous politicians, musicians, actors, and other celebrities who pass through Belgrade. It’s also surprisingly affordable for its caliber! With a renowned spa, delicious restaurant (don’t miss the moskva schnit cake – we love it!), and beautifully designed rooms, it’s one of our favorite places in Belgrade and the location is unbeatable. However, it’s almost always sold out, so be sure to  check availability and book well in advance  and hope you get lucky!

If you want a more modern take on luxury, in a beautiful boutique hotel that is classy to the nines, we recommend  Boutique Garni Hotel Townhouse 27.  This hotel is beautifully designed in rich colors, with key details like fresh flowers in the rooms and a gorgeously-presented breakfast. The staff is helpful and courteous and you’ll love the location just off Knez Mihailova in Stari Grad.  Check out availability here.

Have you traveled through Serbia or are you planning an upcoming trip? Leave your best Serbia travel tips and any questions you have for your trip below!

Stephanie has been living in and traveling around the Balkans for the past three years. She’s written for National Geographic Online , appeared on CNN Arabic and in the New York Times , and ridden more Balkan buses than is good for a person.

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27 comments.

its overall wonderful reading you blog.

I am traveling through Eastern Europe coming FEB 2019

I would like to know any information regarding taking a train from SOFIA to SERBIA & SERBIA to BUDAPEST?

if possible give me the bus/train station name,(e.g where i should get down and take the connection train/bus)

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you Dheepan! Unfortunately, in winter the train schedules run quite differently and it is really inconvenient to take the train as it requires multiple connections (they are better in summer). Instead, I recommend you to take a bus. From Sofia to Serbia (Belgrade) we have a post about it here: https://sofiaadventures.com/sofia-to-belgrade-bus/ that has full details better there I can write down in a comment.

Basically, You leave from Serdika Station in Sofia (NOT the Central Bus Station, but they are very close – about 100 meters walking distance) and then you arrive just outside the Central Bus Station in Belgrade. There is one direct bus a day. You can also take Matpu to Nis, and then take the Nis Express to Belgrade (two buses).

From Belgrade to Budapest I recommend taking a Flixbus (flixbus.com) – there are two a day leaving Belgrade, one in the morning and one at night. They go from Belgrade Central Bus Station to Budapest Népliget.

Hi Stephanie and Allison, I thoroughly enjoyed your blog on Serbia. Thank you very much. In fact I’m planning on going there for 3 months in 2020. First I’m wondering if 3 months is going to be enough to see Serbia and Montenegro.? Second should I base myself in 1 location like Belgrad or Novi Sad and take day trips or should I stay in 2 or 3 different locations while exploring? I was born in Novi Becej 60 years ago and left the country 50 years ago therefor have no idea what would be the best option in having a base. If you can suggest the best location/s to stay in while exploring I would be very grateful. Sue

Wow! You’re going on a trip of a lifetime!

If I were planning a trip with 3 months for Serbia and Montenegro, I would want a base for a few weeks at a time and then do a couple of shorter overnights. For example, you could base yourself in Belgrade but then do a few nights in Novi Sad and Subotica before moving on. I’m super jealous, sounds like you’re going to have an amazing time!

I would not skip going to Kosovo. You can cover most of the sites in Kosovo in a week! Definitely check out our post on the best cities and towns in Serbia. Three months is more than enough to do complete justice to Serbia and Montenegro!

Im a Srilankan passport holder . And i have US multiple visa. Can i use US visa as a supporting documat to enter serbia

This is what Serbia states as its official policy:

At its meeting of 30 October 2014, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on visa free entry to the Republic of Serbia for holders of foreign passports having a valid Schengen, UK and other Member States’ visa, or visa of the United States of America, and for holders of foreign passports having residence permit in the countries of the Schengen area, EU or the United States of America, which was published in the “Official Gazette of RS”, No. 119 of 31 October 2014 and which will enter into force on 8 November 2014.

By this decision, the above-mentioned categories of foreign nationals may, without prior visa application, enter, transit or stay in the Republic of Serbia up to 90 days during a six-month period, but not exceeding the expiring date of the said visas or residence permits.

My advice would be to print this out and have a hard copy with you in case the border officer isn’t aware. You can find it on their website here.

I’ll like to visit but don’t know how to go about it am a Nigerian looking to spend less anyway

The first place to start would be to get a travel visa to Serbia. Are you based in Nigeria or somewhere else?

Do u know anyway to have a private transfer from Blegrade airport to Kraljevo? And then return back to the airport 10 days later?

Thank you and I appreciate your comment.

You’re welcome!

Thank you and I appreciate with you.

Hi I am planning to visit Serbia on visa free due to USA visa from turkey and from Serbia to Bosnia with Pakistani passport .what do I need during my travel .and can I travel more than one balagan countries in one attempt.

Hi Adnan, double check that both of these countries accept a USA visa as valid entry and contact the MFA of Serbia or Bosnia with any questions. Note that for many of the countries, the USA visa must be multi-entry and not expired. We are not visa experts so we cannot advise any further, sorry.

Hi there… I am going to visit Serbia this month actually, and your articles are very very helpful! While I want to know more about CarGo the app. What kind of card can be used? Master card or visa card or both? Thaaaaanks so much

Hi Mich, I’ve used my Mastercard but Visa should work as well!

I would like to go Serbia due to job purpose Is it possible? What should I do to go Serbia How to go Serbia How many amount should arrange if I would live over there 15 days? Where should I stay cheap n best in Serbia Kindly reply me please Regards PRADIP Kumar Sharma 7015144228

Hi Pradip, sorry, we don’t know this kind of information as we focus on travel. I recommend getting in touch with local Serbian companies to see if they are hiring in a specialty area you have, because it’s quite difficult to just move without a job offer.

Hi Allison, Thank you for this wonderful write up. Am planning to do a one month cycling in Serbia. Can I tent anywhere on the side of the road, or are there any restrictions? Also, are there any good GPS maps available exclusively for cyclists or is it ok just to follow Google maps, what you say from your experience. Am a solo traveller. Thanks again, Dennis

Hi Dennis – sorry, but I have no idea about the camping rules or any cycling resources – I haven’t experienced either! Good luck on your trip, sounds like a great journey!

Hi, thanks for the wonderful writeup and tips. Very much useful. Im heading over to Serbia next week and was thinking to visit Kosovo from there. Me and my wife have valid UK visas, but do not have a Schengen visa. We are having Indian passport. Can we enter Kosovo with UK visa ?

According to Wikipedia, only valid multi-entry Schengen visas will allow you to enter Kosovo with a Kosovo Visa. However, visa policies for Kosovo may not be reported accurately (it happens in this part of the world). I would suggest you reach out to the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs for confirmation. Note that Serbia will not consider you to be leaving Serbia, so you only need to worry about if Kosovo will let you in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Kosovo

Hi, thanks for the information about your trip in Serbia. Just want to asked if is there any possible problem with me about my travel going to Serbia. I will visit my boyfriend there and it’s my first time also to go in Serbia. I’m an au pair currently in Denmark and I have a visa good for two years and I have a residence permit in Denmark also. Thanks for your answer!

Hi Maria! If you have a valid Schengen residency permit, it should be fine. From the MFA website:

“At its meeting of 30 October 2014, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on visa free entry to the Republic of Serbia for holders of foreign passports having a valid Schengen, UK and other Member States’ visa, or visa of the United States of America, and for holders of foreign passports having residence permit in the countries of the Schengen area, EU or the United States of America”

Thank you for sharing your story, you wrote interesting facts about Serbia. It was important for me in what language I can communicate in Serbia.

Glad you found it helpful!

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Chinese President Xi sets off on diplomatic trip to Europe

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Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to arrive in Europe on Sunday, on a trip that will take him to France, Hungary and Serbia.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was set to receive Xi in Paris on Sunday afternoon.

Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are then scheduled for Monday.

According to reports from the Élysée Palace, the talks will focus on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.

Macron said ahead of the visit that everything must be done to involve China in the major global issues. As Europeans, we hope that the country will work towards the stability of the international order, Macron said.

After his stay in France, 70-year-old Xi will continue on to Serbia and Hungary.

Serbia maintains close relations with China and is a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative, in which Beijing is investing billions in transport routes and harbours worldwide, but particularly in the Global South.

The Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is also considered to be China-friendly. Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Belt and Road Initiative.

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Bucket list travel on a budget: Expert tips for airfare, loyalty programs, credit card perks and more

Many travelers have their sights set on summer getaways , but with everything from baggage fees to fuel costs impacting the price of a ticket, "Good Morning America" is asking travel experts to share tips for booking bucket list destinations on a budget and finding savings along the way.

Travel expert Nicky Kelvin, senior director of content for The Points Guy, offered his tips for affordable travel techniques.

Where to find the best flight deals

Kelvin encourages travelers to utilize Google Flights and other free price-tracking tools to compare fare prices and snag the best deal.

He also suggests using both the calendar and map features within Google Flights to see which airports, dates and destinations how the lowest fare.

From the Google Flights homepage on a computer, click "explore destinations" and select a departure city without adding a destination. Then zoom out on the map to see the best prices for destinations all over the world.

Get the most out of free travel loyalty programs

Travelers should be earning points for anything and everything that they are buying or booking from airline and hotels to car rentals, Kelvin said.

In addition to the points that can can help travelers earn free flights and hotel stays, Kelvin said to look for extra perks just for joining.

Hyatt rewards, for example, offers all guests free breakfast.

For Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Car Rental, he said you can add your spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver for free.

Loyalty programs are great for airlines too. JetBlue, for example, allows enrolled customers -- even if they don't have enough points for a flight -- to use points for discounts. Plus, with any airline, as you accumulate points to earn status, you can get free seating upgrades.

Travel credit cards with cash back perks

Along with earning points, travel credit cards give you protection for your trip like insurance to help with lost or damaged baggage and trip cancellation protection

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As for credit cards, The Points Guy team suggests the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card as an all-around pick -- you get 75,000 miles after meeting your minimum spend in the first three months. Which Kelvin said is a value of over $1,300.

If you're looking to earn the most miles, he said look to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

"You'll earn the most points on all your purchases with this one," he said.

Finally, if you want a credit card with no fee, Kelvin suggested the Bilt Mastercard, which he said is particularly great for renters because you can earn points on what's likely someone's biggest expense.

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Save money on international phone plans for summer trips

If someone's trip is taking them out of the country, using a cell phone internationally can cost $10 to 15 per day. For a family of four, that's more than $400 for a week.

If your phones support eSIM, Kelvin suggested purchasing a data plan for your destination through an app such as Airalo, Truphone or GigSky.

For example, one of Airalo's global SIM plans costs $9 for one week, which could save a family close to $350 dollars, depending on their existing international coverage.

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China’s Xi to visit France, Serbia, Hungary as Beijing appears to seek a larger role in Ukraine

FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping talks to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People, on April 26, 2024, in Beijing, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit France, Serbia and Hungary next week as Beijing appears to seek a larger role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that has upended global political and economic security, China’s foreign ministry said Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool, File)

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BEIJING, China (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit France, Serbia and Hungary next week as Beijing appears to seek a larger role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that has upended global political and economic security.

The visit by Xi, China’s president and head of the ruling Communist Party, is his first to Europe in five years and will “inject new momentum to the peaceful development of the world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing on Monday.

China claims neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared their governments had a “no limits friendship” before Moscow’s February 2022 attack on Ukraine. China has refused to call the Russian assault an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia’s financial and technological ability to continue producing weapons for use against Ukraine, which is awaiting tens of billions of dollars in military aid to counter Russia’s aggression.

The Foreign Ministry said Xi’s visits will begin April 5 and end April 10 but gave no further details.

The visits will be closely watched in Washington for any signs of diminishing support for key U.S. foreign policy goals.

French President Emmanuel Macron prompted concerns in Washington during a visit to China last year after saying that France wouldn’t blindly follow the U.S. in getting involved in crises that are not of its concern, an apparent reference to China’s demands for unification with Taiwan.

China has built strong relations with Serbia, including making a semi-secret delivery of an anti-aircraft missile system to the former Yugoslav republic in 2022.

The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delayed Sweden’s entry into NATO for months. NATO expansion has been cited by China as provoking Putin to invade Ukraine.

Orbán, a right-wing populist who has forged close ties with Russia, has said that criticism of Hungary’s governance by Swedish politicians soured relations between the two countries and led to reluctance among lawmakers in his Fidesz party to support Sweden’s NATO entry.

The visits come after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Xi in Beijing and stressed the importance of “responsibly managing” the differences between the United States and China as the two sides butt heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues .

Also on Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu hailed military cooperation with China during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.

He said the cooperation is important as “new hotbeds of tension are emerging and old ones are exacerbating. In essence, this is the result of geopolitical adventures, selfish neo-colonial actions of the West.”

GOBankingRates

10 Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations for 2024

Posted: April 30, 2024 | Last updated: April 30, 2024

We've reached that time of year when everyone you know seems to have just returned from an incredible vacation or is currently on one -- and is posting up a storm about it on Instagram. With the costs of travel at a record high -- the average cost for a summer vacation has now reached $10,000, according to travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth.com -- you might be thinking that taking a vacation is simply not in the cards for you.

Find Out: Dave Ramsey: 7 Vacation Splurges That are a Waste of Money

Read More: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

With the summer travel season approaching, it's not too late to head out on a memorable trip this year -- and if you choose your destination right, you don't have to spend all your money to go. 

Here are 10 affordable destinations based on insured trip costs, as identified by Squaremouth.

• Average trip cost: $3,344

"With its rich coffee culture and cuisine, vibrant cities, and scenic landscapes, Colombia offers plenty of once-in-a-lifetime experiences at a fraction of the cost," said Mercedes Zach, travel expert at Asaptickets .

You can find cheap flights from America to Carteana or Bogota and explore the country, as safety has improved vastly over the last few decades. 

Check Out: 10 Best US Vacation Destinations for Retirees on a Budget

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Puerto Rico

• Average trip cost: $3,907

"A tropical Caribbean vacation can be a lot cheaper than you would expect if you aim for less expensive islands such as Puerto Rico," Zach said. 

You can arrive in Puerto Rico in less than three hours from Miami and enjoy the island's beautiful scenery. You can visit the capital city of San Juan or check out one of the beach towns like Flamenco Beach.

Learn More: 8 Tips To Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy

• Average trip cost: $3,987

Bermuda may be closer than you think. This island in the Atlantic Ocean is ideal for beach lovers and sports enthusiasts. Bermuda is also known for world-class sailing if this is something that you want to try out on your next vacation. 

• Average trip cost: $4,667

"Mexico is also an amazing tropical destination for an affordable vacation with an amazing climate and rich culture," Zach said. 

Known for gorgeous beach towns and affordable travel options, Americans have relied on Mexico as a budget travel destination for years. 

Are you not sure what to do in Mexico? Here are some suggestions from Zach:

"The first Mexican town that comes to my mind when looking for a budget-friendly beach getaway is the surf town of Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca. It's famous for its untouched beaches, bohemian vibe and plenty of things to see and do around. Puerto Escondido offers you everything from snorkeling, swimming among the marine life, seeing dolphins in their natural habitat, trying out sport fishing, releasing newborn turtles and taking surf lessons to exploring the nearby beaches, such as Huatulco and the Bay of Carrizalillo."

Dominican Republic

• Average trip cost: $4,726

The Dominican Republic is known for its beautiful resorts across the island. While this may seem like a more expensive travel option, you can save a bit since the resorts offer plenty of amenities. Staying at a resort is more stress-free and you have access to the beach, pool area, hot tubs, saunas and a gym at no extra cost.

Where should you stay when visiting the Dominican Republic? Here are suggestions from Zach:

"Whether you're looking for a romantic couple's trip or just some quality time away with the family, Caribbean resorts such as Iberostar Dominicana in Punta Cana, BlueBay Villas Doradas in Puerto Plata or Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo in Las Terrenas deliver great service, fun sports activities and breathtaking views for as little as $200 per night for two people. "

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• Average trip cost: $4,747

The island, known for its sunny climate and luxurious resorts, could be the perfect family getaway if you find a deal for a resort that fits your budget. You could enjoy the lively culture, the natural beauty, and the water sports offered. 

• Average trip cost: $5,121

If you're looking for a tropical destination, look no further than Aruba, where you can still find affordable options for the family. With some of the best white sand beaches and excellent diving options, this could be a memorable family vacation on a budget. 

• Average trip cost: $5,181

"Vietnam is a diverse country with breathtaking landscapes, amazing food scene and welcoming locals," Zach said. "Stretching from its border with China in the north to the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest, Vietnam has over 2,000 miles of majestic coastline with magnificent golden beaches, fishing villages, tropical islands, national parks, spectacular inland waterways, majestic mountains, lush rice terraces, 1,000-year-old temples, dynamic cities and historic villages, all worth exploring and falling in love with."

While the flight could add to your cost, you'll likely save money on accommodations and food when you land in Vietnam. 

"Budget accommodation ranges from $15 to $50 per night, with meals costing around $2 to $5 per dish at local eateries," said Christy Woodrow, a travel writer behind the blog Ordinary Traveler . "Transportation within the country is affordable, with domestic flights starting from $30 and local buses and trains being even cheaper."

Find Out: 5 Vacation Destinations That Middle-Class Families Can't Afford Anymore

The Bahamas

• Average trip cost: $5,325

You won't have to travel far to get to The Bahamas as you're not too far from the Florida coast, and you can swim with the pigs in The Exumas before you know it. You can find a budget resort or look up deals on hotels to have an affordable stay.

Philippines

• Average trip cost: $5,330

Traveling in the Philippines is ideal for budget-conscious travelers as you can find cheap accommodations and options once you arrive. 

"You can comfortably manage expenses at $30 to $50 per day, covering accommodation, meals, and transportation," Woodrow said. "For a more mid-range experience, budget around $70 to $100 per day."

To maximize your savings, focus on a single region of the Philippines because traveling to multiple islands can be pricey.

Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.

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Cuts to England’s cycling and walking budget challenged in court

Campaigners say loss of £200m from active travel budget is illegal and resulted from Treasury pressure

Swingeing cuts to public spending on cycling and walking in England should be overturned as government expenditure was already insufficient to meet legally binding climate targets, the high court has been told.

Campaigners are challenging a decision in 2023 to cut more than £200m from the Department for Transport’s active travel budget for the following two years.

In a judicial review hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, lawyers for Transport Action Network (Tan) argued that the cuts threatened a key plank of the UK’s carbon reduction strategy.

The DfT’s budget for cycling and walking was cut by more than 50% in March last year in a move that was overshadowed by accompanying cuts to the HS2 high-speed rail scheme , announced the same day.

Lawyers for Tan argued that the decision was incompatible with the government’s net zero strategy and transport decarbonisation plan, which set out proposals and policies required to meet carbon budgets.

The first of the strategic priorities outlined in the plan was to accelerate “modal shift” from car use to sustainable travel.

Accompanying targets included doubling cycling journeys and ensuring more than half of primary school age children walked to school by the middle of this decade.

David Forsdick KC, representing Tan, said in written arguments that the DfT had decided not to cut funding which was “central to achieving the objectives for active travel, was important for equality ambitions, for air quality targets and for delivery confidence in meeting carbon targets, and had a very high cost-benefit ratio”.

The barrister said that “immediately prior” to the March 2023 decision, the Treasury and No 10 required the transport secretary, Mark Harper, “to impose ‘additional savings’”. Forsdick said: “This appears to explain, at least in part, the illegalities in the decision.”

In November 2023, a critical public accounts committee report found that the DfT had made little progress against its objectives to increase active travel, and was not on track to meet its 2025 targets.

Although Dame Bernadette Kelly, the DfT’s permanent secretary, told the committee hearings that she “would not identify funding as the key issue” in missing targets, Tan claims that the money allocated was already inadequate to meet the climate pledges.

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Tan’s lawyers also claim that the funding decision last March was only made after an 11th-hour intervention from the Treasury that did not allow time for proper consideration. They also argue that the move failed to take into account air quality considerations.

The DfT has told the court that none of the grounds has any substantive merit and that the claim should be dismissed. The government said it had invested more than £850m in active travel in 2020-21 and 2022-23.

A judgment is expected to be delivered in the weeks following Tuesday’s hearing.

A DfT spokesperson said: “This government is doing more than any other to promote walking and cycling, investing over £3bn into active travel during this parliament up to 2025. We await the verdict and will respond fully once received.”

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As China's Xi Jinping visits Europe, Ukraine, trade and investment are likely to top the agenda

Ukraine, trade and investment are expected to dominate Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first trip to Europe in five years, which starts in France on Monday

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Ukraine, trade and investment are expected to dominate Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first trip to Europe in five years, as the Asian giant rebuilds its foreign relations after a prolonged absence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Xi will start the tour in Paris on Monday, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been stressing the idea of European strategic autonomy from the U.S. On a visit to Beijing last year, Macron courted controversy by saying France would not necessarily always align with the U.S. in foreign policy, an apparent reference to American support for the self-governing republic of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

• Travel Planning Guide

The Best Affordable Budget Tours to Serbia

Get ready for an incredible adventure to Serbia without breaking the bank with these fantastic budget tours. We've carefully analyzed a wide range of tours from highly reviewed companies, ensuring that you get the best value for your money. From affordable prices and positive guest ratings to excellent service, exciting destinations, and engaging activities, these handpicked tours prove that you can have a remarkable travel experience on a budget. So pack your bags and get ready to explore Serbia on a fantastic organized tour without compromising on fun and adventure.

• Highlights of Serbia in 5 days - SMALL GROUP 5 Days, $480.85
• Belgrade city break - 4 days / 3 nights 4 Days, $339.43
• Best of Serbia in one week - SMALL GROUP 7 Days, $792.00

What are budget and low-cost tours like in Serbia?

Here are the important factors:

• 5 trip options analyzed
• $97 average price per day (USD)
• 4 to 7 days in length
• 4.78 of 5 average rating
• 41 people or less on average

You'll be surprised at the array of budget tours in Serbia, as there is something for everyone. It's no wonder that visitors can't get enough of these tours, boasting an impressive average guest rating of 4.78 out of 5 stars. Picture yourself joining a group of like-minded adventurers, with an average maximum size of 41 people, ensuring a fantastic blend of social and personalized experiences. The average tour length spans 5 days, with tours ranging from 4 to 7 days long. With our thorough analysis of 5 budget tours, we've found the best. So rest assured that Serbia has something to captivate every kind of traveler.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 5 Best Budget Tours in Serbia

Highlights of serbia in 5 days - small group.

• On Sale: 10% Off See Prices
• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for budget tours.
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

This fantastic trip has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. This trip visits 6 destinations, including Golubac, Lepenski Vir, Sremski Karlovci, and Petrovaradin along the way. Your adventure starts and ends in Belgrade. With an emphasis on local culture and family-friendly activities, you know you'll have an amazing adventure. Lasting 5 days, the maximum group size is 8 people, and it's good for guests age 1 to 90. Organized by Victor Tours DMC , this is a great deal because it's only $88 per day.

• In-depth Cultural

Belgrade city break - 4 days / 3 nights

With a stellar 5 out of 5 rating, this extraordinary journey is the perfect choice. And since the priority is on local culture, wine tasting, and family-friendly activities, this tour is a great choice. Experience a trip that takes you to 4 remarkable destinations, including Sremski Karlovci and Petrovaradin. Belgrade will be the beginning and end of your trip. Spanning across 4 days, the journey accommodates 18 individuals, and is suitable for guests age 1 to 90. Offered by Victor Tours DMC , this remarkable journey is priced at just $78 per day. Don't miss out on this incredible experience.

• Sightseeing
• Wine tasting

Best of Serbia in one week - SMALL GROUP

This exceptional trip offering by Victor Tours DMC has received a 4.8 out of 5 rating. On this 7-day voyage you can unwind while also making new memories. Explore 9 incredible locations on this trip, including Mokra Gora, Zlatibor, Golubac, and Lepenski Vir. Begin and conclude your remarkable journey in the gorgeous destination of Belgrade. With a group size of 8 people, it's suitable for guests age 2 to 90. Rest assured, this trip is all about local culture and family-friendly activities, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $103 per day.

Discover Serbia

• On Sale: 25% Off See Prices

Check out this trip that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 4.6 out of 5 rating. Discover a journey that spans 8 destinations, with notable stops in Petrovaradin, Mokra Gora, Zlatibor, and Fruska Gora. You'll start and end your journey in beautiful Belgrade. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around local culture and family-friendly activities. Spanning across 7 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 16 participants, and it's great for guests age 1 to 85. Brought to you by the renowned Balkan and more , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $105 per day - an unbeatable value.

IRON GATES CRUISE, 4 days, MS Fidelio

• On Sale: 30% Off See Prices

This 4-day trip, visiting Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, is ideal for guests age 1 to 105. And priced at only $112 per day, it's a great value, too. Begin your trip in Belgrade and complete it with a memorable finale in Bucharest. It's offered by Crucemundo , a very popular company with rave reviews and knowledgeable guides.

• River Cruise

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Serbia , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Serbia , The Best Adventure Tours to Serbia , The Best Cultural Tours in Serbia , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Serbia , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Serbia , or The Best Tours for Seniors to Serbia for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade , The Best 10-Day Tours from Belgrade , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Belgrade for more package tour options.

How much do budget tours cost in Serbia?

Visitors will find a large range of terrific options for budget tours when planning a visit to Serbia. The price of these specific trips can vary according to length, destinations, and travel style. The average price of budget tours in Serbia based on data from 5 options is an affordable $97 per day. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Serbia .

And for more information on Serbia, see Serbia Travel Costs and Serbia Hotel Costs .

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