Serbia travel guide

Getting there

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is the main gateway, with smaller airports at Niš and Kraljevo; land borders and international buses or trains connect Serbia with Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Best time to visit: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm weather without the summer heat.

Tougher months: No bad time – but July and August can be very hot in Belgrade, and winters are cold and grey unless you are heading to the ski slopes.

Weather by month in Belgrade

• 4°J●
• 7°F●
• 12°M●
• 18°A●
• 23°M●●
• 27°J●●
• 29°J●
• 29°A●
• 24°S●
• 18°O●
• 11°N●
• 6°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Belgrade. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 89 of 198 other passports can enter Serbia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 109 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Serbia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-27). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Serbia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Serbia are based around Belgrade, Novi Sad or Niš. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$70–120 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Serbia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +381.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Belgrade (Central · capital city): An energetic capital with a historic fortress, café culture, legendary nightlife and great-value food.
• Novi Sad (Vojvodina · riverside city): A relaxed university city with pastel Austro-Hungarian streets and the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress.
• Niš (South · historic city): Serbia's third city, birthplace of Constantine, with an Ottoman fortress and lively food scene.
• Tara National Park (West · mountains & forests): Forested peaks, the Drina canyon and the famous lone house on a river rock near Bajina Bašta.
• Zlatibor (West · mountain resort): A popular year-round highland resort with meadows, hiking trails and traditional villages nearby.
• Đerdap National Park (East · Danube gorge): The Iron Gates gorge, Golubac Fortress and the prehistoric site of Lepenski Vir.
• Studenica Monastery (Raška · UNESCO monastery): A 12th-century marble church with some of the finest medieval frescoes in the Balkans.
• Subotica (Vojvodina · Art Nouveau town): A colourful town near the Hungarian border, famous for its striking Art Nouveau town hall and synagogue.

Things to do

• Explore Belgrade Fortress. Watch the sun set over the meeting of the Sava and Danube from the ramparts of Kalemegdan.
• Party on a splav. Dance until dawn on Belgrade's floating river clubs, famous across Europe.
• Dine in Skadarlija. Enjoy grilled meats and live tamburica music in Belgrade's cobbled bohemian quarter.
• Rock out at EXIT Festival. Join tens of thousands of music fans inside Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad.
• Sail the Iron Gates. Cruise or drive through the Danube's dramatic Đerdap gorge, past Golubac Fortress and Lepenski Vir.
• Visit medieval monasteries. Admire centuries-old frescoes at Studenica, Sopoćani and Žiča in the green heart of Serbia.
• Ride the Šargan Eight railway. Board a narrow-gauge heritage train looping through the mountains of Mokra Gora.
• Hike Tara National Park. Find dense forests, viewpoints and the emerald Drina River canyon on Serbia's western border.

Source: full Serbia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Ćevapi – small grilled minced-meat sausages with flatbread and onion
• Pljeskavica – spiced grilled meat patty, Serbia's favourite burger
• Ajvar – roasted red pepper relish served with almost everything
• Gibanica – flaky cheese and egg pie

Source: RoamSun Serbia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Serbian dinar (RSD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 192 police · 194 ambulance · 193 fire.

• The currency is the Serbian dinar; euros are not widely accepted for everyday purchases.
• Cards are accepted in most cities, but carry cash for markets, small towns and rural guesthouses.
• Serbia is generally safe, but watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and on public transport in Belgrade.
• Agree a fare or use an app-based taxi to avoid overcharging, especially at the airport and bus stations.

Source: RoamSun Serbia facts