Belgrade - The Capital of Serbia

What to seeBelgrade MuseumsFood & DrinkBelgrade RestaurantsVisitor Guide
GETTING HERE | WHERE TO STAY | WHAT TO SEE | TRAFFIC | WHAT'S ON | NIGHTLIFE | SHOPPING | BEST OF SERBIA | SRPSKI

By Plane
"Nikola Tesla" Airport is located 18 km west of the city centre, near the Belgrade borough of Surčin. The national air carrier is Air Serbia (strategic partnership between Government of Serbia and Etihad Airways). Air Serbia is successor of JAT Airways.  www.airserbia.com
Air Serbia
Direct flights from Belgrade Airport:
Austria (Vienna), Belgium (Brussels), BH Federation (Sarajevo, Banja Luka), Cyprus (Larnaca), Denmark (Copenhagen), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart), Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki), Italy (Milan, Rome), Israel (Tel Aviv), FYR Macedonia (Skopje), Czech Republic (Prague), Montenegro (Podgorica, Tivat), The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Eindhoven), Norway (Oslo), Poland (Warsaw), Qatar (Doha), Romania (Bucharest), Russian Federation (Moscow), Slovenia (Ljubljana), Sweden (Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm), Switzerland (Basel, Geneve, Zurich), Tunisia (Tunis), Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara), UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai), United Kingdom (London). Belgrade is
linked to the rest of the world through connecting flights to and from London and Paris (Air Serbia), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Zurich (Swiss), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Lisbon (TAP) and Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways). 
Several tourist agencies offer City Break deals to Belgrade with prices from 200 EUR (the price includes return flight, 2 nights, and one guided sightseeing tour). For more information check:
incoming.magelan.rs, www.putnik.ch or www.travelserbiabelgrade.com.

Belgrade "Nikola Tesla" Airport - www.beg.aero
Belgrade Airport "Nikola Tesla"
Flight information service, Tel: +381 11 2094-444.
Baggage Tracing, Tel: +381 11 2094-854 (Call Centre operating hours: 8-12, 19-21); Air Serbia, Tel: +381 11 2097-839.
Airport Car Park, Open 00-24 (1 hour - 90 dinars). Airport Garage, Open 00-24 (1 hour - 65 dinars, 7-day parking paid in advance - 3.960 dinars).
Tourist Organization of Belgrade&Serbia, International Arrivals (baggage claim area), Tel: +381 11 2097-828. Open 9-21:30, www.serbia.travel.
Duty free shop, Terminal 2 transit area. Open 5:30-9:30 (working hours may vary depending on timetable). Large choice of liquor and tobacco, fragrance, skincare and cosmetics, confectionery, cigarettes, cigars, accessories, toys, music, movie and language CD's. Serbian house, gate A1: Serbian souveniers, Rakia&Wine, Clothing, Byzantine Icons... Airport facilities include 3 bank offices and sufficient number of ATMs, currency exchange machines and payment terminals (available 24 hours for passengers and visitors of the Airport), free Telenor Wi-Fi. Major Car rental companies - Terminal 2, level -1.
 
Getting from Nikola Tesla Airport to Belgrade:
- Mini bus (Line A1), Airport - City Centre (Slavija Square). Runs every 20 minutes from 5:00 to 18:40, then every 60 minutes. A detailed schedule is provided at www.beg.aero. Single fare is 300 dinars, available on the bus. The bus stops are located in front of international departures and international arrivals, levels 0 and -1. Journey time is about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic.

 

By Boat
Getting to Belgrade - By Boat
You can sail into Belgrade on one of the cruisers departing from Vienna and Budapest on their way to the Black Sea, or on your own boat (yacht, sailing boat, kayak...) using any navigable waterway connected to the Danube (for example from Rotterdam via the Rhine delta and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal), providing that your vessel is fit for river navigation.
For cruise travellers
Cruise ships berth at the passenger terminal on the Sava River, below the Belgrade Fortress. The dock services include Tourist Info Centre, gift shop, cash dispenser, bureau de change, police and customs (the passenger terminal is the international border crossing point). Cruise travellers usually have guided sightseeing tours. If you wish to go sightseeing on you own, you can take the steep staircase across the street from the dock, that leads to the centre and the fortress, or you can take a taxi. The long structure on the shore next to the passenger terminal, known as “Beton Hala”, houses several excellent restaurants with live music in the evening.
  
Skipper's info
The best time for river cruise is from April to October. In July and August, the rivers are comfortably warm enough for swimming (the best swimming spots are Lido Beach on the Great War Island in the Danube and the lower tip of Ada Međica in the Sava; both places are convenient for anchoring if you wish to swim off your boat). Košava - a strong and cold wind that blows in gusts is fairly frequent in late autumn and winter, causing uncomfortably high waves for smaller vessels. When that happens, the best thing is to moor your boat (remain at anchor)and await better weather. In January and February, there may be some floating ice on the rivers. Belgrade has a large number of marinas and moorings, but most of them do not offer everything a skipper may need in one place. We will recommend 3 well-equipped marinas, however, you should not feel reluctant to try others, Belgraders are hospitable and will certainly try to assist you.
Belgrade by Boat
Kayakers can find accommodation in hostels on the rivers. You can look for necessary information at Belgrade Port Authority (where you are required to register, if you have not done so earlier, on entry into Serbia), although they will not have very detailed information about nautical tourism because they are primarily concerned with large passenger and commercial ships. Still, if you find yourself in trouble, you can always count on them. Fuel supply and rubbish disposal may present a problem during river cruises on Serbian waters (such problem is easily resolved in Belgrade marinas). That is why you it is a good idea to have a jerry can that you can take ashore, to the nearest petrol station, to fetch the fuel and while you are at it, you might as well look for a rubbish bin to dispose of the inorganic waste from the boat. The navigable routes on the Danube and the Sava Rivers are marked with red and green buoys, as well as signs indicating the distance from the mouth of the river (length of navigable waterway). If you have arrived to Belgrade by boat, than you are not a complete novice to river cruising and we do not have to tell you to watch out for the big boats, floating branches, shallow waters and the mosquitoes.

- Bus number 72, Airport - City centre (Zeleni Venac Bus station), runs every 30 minutes from 5:30 until midnight. City centre (Zeleni Venac Bus station, Map H6) - Airport runs every 30 minutes from 4:40 until 23:40. Single fare available on the bus is 150 dinars. The bus stop is located in front of the terminal building, between Terminals 1 and 2. Journey time is about 40-60 minutes, depending on the traffic. A ride on this bus, taking you on a tour round Belgrade suburbs before getting into the city, may turn into a bit of an adventure if the bus breaks down, and is only recommended for the daring (and young).
- Taxi: The city authorities have come up with this procedure for taxi ride between the airport and the city: the prices are fixed. A “Taxi Info” desk is located in the baggage claim area, where you give your destination and receive a “Certification” stating your destination and the price of the ride. At the exit from the airport building, at the taxi rink, you hand the “Certification” to the first available taxi driver. You pay the price stated in the “Certification”. The luggage is charged additionally, and you can tip the driver whatever you like. The city area is divided into 5 pricing zones, but you will be probably be interested only in the first zone, covering the entire urban area of the city, and possibly the second zone, covering the outer urban area. The fixed price to any destination within the 1st Zone and the 2nd Zone is respectively 1,800 and 2,400 dinars (current exchange rate: 1 Euro = 121 dinars). Ignore the taxi drivers accosting travellers in the airport building, they are probably scammers.   More information
Telephone number for complaints: +381 11 3227-000.
Recommended taxi companies:
Lux taxi, Tel: +381 11 3033-123, SMS: 3033, www.luxtaxi.rs
Pink taxi, Tel: +381 11 9803, SMS: 5353, www.pinktaxi.info
"Beogradski poslovni taxi", Tel: +381 11 9801
  
By Train
Once upon a time, in the days of Orient Express, the train was THE way to travel to Belgrade. Today, however, with railway infrastructure in Serbia unable to support anything approaching high speeds, the train is the slowest mode of travel. To make matters worse, many carriages are downright ancient and uncomfortable and trains often stop to give way to one another. On the positive side, a ride on a train will give you the opportunity to savour the scenery, stretch your legs and meet colourful characters you will not encounter on a plane. You can take a train to Belgrade from Switzerland, (Zurich HBF), Austria (Vienna), Germany (Munich), FYR Macedonia (Skopje), Hungary (Budapest), Czech Republic (Prague), Romania (Bucharest),

   

Hydrological Data and Forecast for Danube and Sava Rivers:
(water level, temperature of air and water, tendency, ice report...): www.hidmet.gov.rs. Daily reports on water levels are broadcast on Radio Belgrade 1 at 12:05 (FM 95,3).
Belgrade Port Authority, Karađorđeva 6, Tel: + 381 11 2029-900; Danube river km1170, Sava river km0+350, 44°49'4"N,20°26'58"E. VHF channel 16.Map G6
Belgrade Cargo Harbour, Žorža Klemansoa 37, Tel: +381 11 2752-971, www.port-bgd.co.rs Map J5
Border crossing and customs, Sava Passenger Pier, Karađorđeva 6; Danube river km 1170, Sava river km 0+350. Map G6
River Police, Tel: +381 11 3002-003. River Police HQ is located on the right-hand bank of the Sava, 0+900, right next to Branko’s Bridge Map G6
Belgrade Marinas
· Nautec Marina (the Danube River), 44°50’15''N, 20°25'11''E Map D3
(Kej Oslobođenja 3a - Zemun), Tel: +381 11 3077-792. www.nautec.rs
· Shark Marina (the Danube River), 44°49’21''N, 20°32'11''E (Višnjička 115a, Ada Huja), Tel: +381 64 1108-058. www.marinashark.rs
· Vidra Marina (the Sava River), 44°47’45''N, 20°24'9''E Map B9 (end of Omladinskih Brigada St), Tel: +381 65 6811-022. marinavidra.com
These marinas accept vessels 5-15m in length (5-30 EUR/day). Services offered at the moorings include water points, electricity points, guard, CCTV, toilets, café or restaurant, fuel supply, boat washing & cleaning, WiFi. Nautec Marina also has a service shop for repair and installation of engine and equipment.
Ship’s papers: If you are a citizen of the EU, you can enter Serbia holding only an ID card. The citizens of other countries will need a valid passport (and some would also need a visa). Foreign vessels and skippers are required to have standard documents (certificate of registry for the vessel, skipper’s licence issued in skipper’s country of origin, or the International Certificate of Competence). When you arrive in Serbia by boat, you are required to go to the nearest port authorities and register the boat and crew (have the Crew List and Passenger List ready). After you have registered, you may sail and dock anywhere in Serbian waters, provided that the vessel is safe for navigation. A handheld GPS unit is a minimum requirement for river navigation, but it is a good idea to have adequate nautical charts as you cannot always rely on GPS.

You should get hold of such charts before you arrive in Serbia because you will not find them here. Useful info: www.dunav-info.org, www.danube-river.org

 

Slovenia (Ljubljana), Croatia (Zagreb), Montenegro, (Bar, Podgorica), Bulgaria (Sofia), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo), Russia (one carriage arrives every day from Moscow via Kiev). Do not look for a neat and updated timetable at the Serbian Railways website, rather check the website of the railways of your country of departure. Online purchase and bookings are still not available for outward journeys from Belgrade. Commercial discounts accepted by Serbian Railways: Inter Rail, Euro Domino, Railplus, Balkan Flexipass, Easy Travel Card, Euro<26.
Belgrade Train Station
Central Railway Station, Savski trg, Tel: +381 11 3602-899. Map H7. The station building dates back to 1884 and is located near the Old Town. There is a Tourist Info Centre, conveniently located close to the entrance, in the direction of Karađorđeva Street, open 7am-1:30pm, closed Sunday, which will provide you with more information about the accommodation in the vicinity of the station, city transport and taxis. Speaking of taxis, it is best to avoid the taxi drivers lying in wait in front of the station, because chances are they will rip you off. If you are not too tired to brave the steep 300m climb, you can walk up Balkanska Street and reach the very centre of the city - Terazije. More info on accommodation in the vicinity of the station, city transport and taxis.
  

EuroVelo 6 and 11 Routes go through Belgrade. For more info on these routes check: www.danube-info.org, eurovelo.org or en.eurovelo6.org. The best time of the year for a bike ride through Serbia is April-June and August-October. A well-marked, dedicated path takes you to Belgrade along the Danube banks and there are is a wide range of hotels and hostels accepting bicycles, as well as bicycle service shops. If you are only passing through, you can find cheap and clean beds in the bungalows at a campsite on the Danube located on the outskirts of the city, not far from an exit from Novi Sad - Belgrade motorway, GPS: LON: 44°52'39.45"N LAT:  20°21' 22.80"E.
Belgrade by Bike
To explore Belgrade on bike, you can use the cycle routes in New Belgrade, the path running along the river from Belgrade Fortress to Ada Ciganlija, the Danube Quay in Zemun and the Sava Quay in New Belgrade. You need to be careful if you ride on the road, rather than in the cycle lane, because traffic jams are frequent, and Belgrade drivers are prone to drive fast and change lanes abruptly.
Bicycle service shops: Planet Bike, Dunavski kej 13 (Dorćol), Tel: +381 11 2630-

 

  
By Car
Getting to Belgrade by car is quite an adventure and is worth the trouble only if you are making a day or two stopover on your way to Greece or Turkey (Belgrade lies at the intersection of European routes E-70 and E-75 and taking one of those roads is the safest way of arriving into the city). The routes from the South (from central Serbia and Montenegro) and the East (from Smederevo) are fraught with peril, particularly if you are driving at night and in bad weather. The road signs are often placed inappropriately late for a safe exit. You can only drive slowly and hope that your GPS will have a good satellite signal as you try to locate your hotel. To learn more about driving in Belgrade, click here.
Foreign drivers in Serbia require international driving licence, vehicle registration document and a locally valid insurance policy. Insurance policies from the countries that have signed the "Vehicle Insurance Convention" are fully valid in Serbia, while nationals of other countries need to buy an insurance policy on entering the country. You can get the insurance policy from the Automobile & Motorcycle Association of Serbia which has branch offices at border crossings. You are advised to confirm that your insurance company recognises that your policy covers Serbia.
By Car
Traffic accidents: In case of a traffic accident, you should call Traffic Police (Tel: 192) and they will make records of the traffic accident. Drivers of foreign registered vehicles which have been damaged in an accident must obtain a Vehicle Damage Certificate from the police and present it at the border when leaving Serbia. Info Desk of the Automobile & Motorcycle Association of Serbia provides information on road conditions and traffic safety. You may also call them if you need minor road-side assistance or towing to the nearest service shop. Tel: +381 11 1987, 24h.

Road tolls: Road tolls for passenger vehicles are payable on the following routes (Euros and credit cards are accepted): Subotica - Novi Sad: 330 RSD, Novi Sad - Belgrade: 240 RSD, Šid - Belgrade: 340 RSD, Belgrade - Niš: 730 RSD, Niš - Leskovac: 190 RSD (current exchange rate: 1 Euro = 121 dinars).

Fuel: There are petrol stations operating round-the-clock on main traffic routes and in larger towns. The price of fuel does not exceed 1.5 EUR per litre. Available types of fuel: 98 octane unleaded petrol - EN228 standard (BMB 98), 95 octane unleaded petrol - EN228 standard (BMB 95), EURO diesel - EURO 5 standard (evro dizel), D2 diesel (dizel), Liquefied petroleum gas (TNG, on large petrol stations).

Traffic regulations: The speed limit in populated areas is set at 50 km/h, unless otherwise indicated by speed signs. The speed limits outside of populated areas are: 120 km/h on the motorway, 100 km/h on primary roads, 80 km/h on other roads. The police are monitoring vehicle speeds on several locations. Children under the age of 12 and persons under the influence of alcohol are not allowed to sit in the front seat. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.3 g/l. You are required by law to wear a seat belt and you must not use a mobile phone whilst driving (except a hands-free kit). Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear safety helmets. You must drive with dipped headlights on during the day. Vehicles with foreign number plates must display the international licence code of the country in which they are registered.
Camping is only permitted in campsites. Police do not use a special treatment for foreigners. If you have made a minor offence and are suitably contrite, you may get away with a caution, otherwise you will be fined. Do not try to bribe police officers, it is a criminal offence and may quite spoil your holidays. The fine is not paid on the spot - you receive a slip containing the payment instructions and indicating the amount of fine you must pay at a bank or a post office within 8 days.

434, Open 9-20, Sat. 9-15, Closed Sunday. Planet Bike, Bulevar Nikole Tesle 3 (hotel Jugoslavija, Zemun quay), Tel: 2606-526, Pon-Pet. 9-21, Sub. 9-15. Bajs, Sinđelićeva 1, Zemun, Tel:+381 64 2313-645, Open Mon-Fri.10-18.
  
By Bus
The Belgrade Bus Station is located next to the Central Railway Station. The arrivals platform is across a small park, on Hadži Nikole Živkovića Street. Belgrade has an excellent network of scheduled bus services (and additional lines in summer) , connecting it to most large places in Serbia and many European cities. We can recommend the coaches of “Lasta” coach operator, a partner of EUROLINES system. Lasta operates more than 70 lines in international transport, between Serbia and Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Austria, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. Lasta terminus is located next to the arrivals platform of the Belgrade Bus Station, at the corner of Hadži Nikole Živkovića and Železnička Streets. The Belgrade Bus Station provides terminal facilities for other coach operators covering the above European countries, as well as Bulgaria, Greece and Hungary. Its web site does not allow you to purchase tickets online, but it has an updated time table for departures and arrivals.
Aliens in Belgrade
Belgrade Bus Station, domestic transport inquiries: +381 11 2636-299, International transport inquiries: +381 11 2627-146. Map H7
Lasta Call Centre (Info on lines, departures & arrivals): +381 0800-334-334.
Bus Station Lasta, Tel: +381 11 3206-922. Map G6
Steer clear of the taxi sharks surrounding you the moment you step down from the bus, they will try to overcharge you. There is a Tourist Info Centre at the neighbouring railway station, open Mon-Sat. 7-13:30, where you can find more info on accommodation in the vicinity of the station, city transport and taxis. The city centre (Terazije square) is only a short walk from the Bus Station up Kamenička Street. But be ware, for it is a very stiff uphill walk and not for the fainthearted.

   

  
VISAS
If you are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Cuba, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, FYR Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Tunis, Turkey, United States of America, Vatican, you can enter Serbia without a visa and may stay in the country for 90 days, while the citizens of Ukraine, Russian Federation, China (holders of diplomatic, official and ordinary business passports) may stay for 30 days. If you are not a citizen of the EU, it is best to check the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: www.mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-affairs, for the latest details on visa regulations applicable to your country. There you will find the information on visa requirements and how to apply for a visa.
  
Foreign Citizens’ Residence Registration
If you are visiting Serbia on your own and are renting a private apartment, you are required to register with the nearest police station within 24 hours of your arrival in Serbia (in Belgrade: Foreign Citizens Administration, Savska 35, Tel: +38111 3618-964, Map G9). If you are staying in a hotel, hostel, camp, b&b… you need not worry about it, your hosts will automatically do that for you. For information on how to extend your stay in Serbia check Ministry of Internal Affairs - Information for foreigners:
Permanent stay and Identity cards for foreign citizens.
  
Customs regulations
The customs regulations for travellers to Serbia are not much different than those for travelling to EU countries. You are allowed to bring in 1 bottle of alcohol, 1 carton of cigarettes, medicines for personal use... Possession or use of marihuana (and other drugs) is not allowed. Hunting weapons and ammunition may be temporarily brought in only upon official invitation of the authorised institution organising the hunting. Works of art, antiquities and hunting trophies may be exported from Serbia only with the consent of the competent authorities (for more details see www.upravacarina.rs or visit Customs Administration, Zorana Đinđića Boulevard 155, New Belgrade, Map B5). If you are entering Serbia and are carrying cash of a value of 10,000 Euros or more or the equivalent in other currencies, including travellers‘ cheques, you are required to declare it, particularly if you intend to take it out of Serbia. You can always take in or out of the country the amounts up to 10,000 EUR. If you have withdrawn a large amount of cash from an account held in Serbia, you may take it out of the country provided that you have a supporting document issued by the bank.
  
Serbian Laws in English online

 


 
Home | Getting Here | Where to Stay | Visitor Guide | Belgrade Museums | Traffic | Way of Life | Serbian Cuisine | Belgrade Restaurants | Cafes & Bars | Nightlife | What's on | Shopping | Belgrade Rivers
©2012-2016 ALATKA | Disclaimer | Српски/ћирилица | Srpski/Latinica | Rakia & Wine | Kralja Petra Street | Kalenic green market | Fortress | Contact us: belgrade.ala@gmail.com