Getting to Belgrade

You can easily get to Belgrade by airplane, train, bus and car.  There are direct flights from most major European cities and Belgrade is also connected by direct flights from Asia, Africa (Tunis) and North America (New York).

For those closer, there are frequent trains from other European capitals – Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb and Sofia (to name a few) – so you could combine your journey by travelling to a nearby European capital by airplane, and then continuing to Belgrade by train.

Those who like travelling by road can choose between coming to Belgrade via bus or in their own car.

Traveling to Belgrade by Airplane Return to Top

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (IATA: BEG) is 18 km west of the city centre and can be reached in 40-60 minutes by car or bus, depending on the traffic. • Belgrade airport is well connected to major European cities by direct flights (see a list of cities with direct flights to Belgrade) from major airlines, as well as some low-cost airlines. It can be reached by direct flights from both Asia (Beijing, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul), Africa (Tunis) and North America (New York).

Belgrade airport has been recently renovated and new facilities have been opened as it is becoming a regional hub. Major airlines that fly to Belgrade are Air Serbia, Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Turkish, Lufthansa, Austrian, Alitalia and Swiss International.

Discount and no-frills carriers offer a modest number of flights. Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has direct flights from London, Eindhoven, Memmingen, Gothenburg, Malmö, Charleroi, Stockholm, Düsseldorf and Dortmund to Belgrade. Istanbul-based Pegasus Airlines flies from Belgrade to Istanbul’s smaller Sabiha Gökçen Airport with great connections to many European and Eurasian cities. Germanwings does have a number of less expensive flights to cities across Europe and Norwegian Air is another low-cost airline operating in Belgrade, flying to Oslo and Stockholm. EasyJet flies from Milan. For travellers from Asia and the Middle East, the low cost airline FlyDubai offers cheap direct connections from India, Sri Lanka and other destinations to Belgrade via Dubai. Good connections for travellers from Asia/Middle East are also offered by Air Serbia and its partner airline Etihad via Abu Dhabi.

Air Serbia operates direct flights from Belgrade to New York’s JFK International Airport 5 times a week.

Transfers from the airport to the city centre

Cheapest solution is a regular bus (take Line 72), which takes up to 60 minutes and costs around 1 EUR. More convenient solutions are minibuses or taxis which take from 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the traffic. A minibus costs around 2 EUR, and taxis cost around 15 EUR for a transfer to Belgrade centre.

  • Bus 72 runs every half an hour from the bus station near the departures level at Terminal 1. It goes to Zeleni Venac market in the city centre and the trip takes about 40-60 minutes. One way ticket can be purchased on the bus, and you can purchase a daily ticket, 3-day ticket and a 5-day ticket. Prices range from 150 RSD (~1 EUR) for a one-way ticket to 1100 RSD (~10 EUR) for a 5-day ticket.
  • Minibus A1, operates between the airport and Slavija Square, stopping at Fontana (Novi Beograd) and Belgrade – Glavna railway station. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. The fare is 300 RSD (~3 EUR), which is paid on-board; be sure to tell the driver what your destination is before departure. The trip takes 30-40 minutes.
  • For the use of taxi services from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to any destination in Belgrade area and further, please contact the city service TAXI INFO desk, located in the baggage reclaim area. There you can pay a fixed price for your destination and with that receipt, you go to a taxi that’s available (you don’t need to pay any extra to a taxi driver). The price ranges from 1400 RSD (~13 EUR) to Novi Beograd, 1800 RSD (~15 EUR) to central Belgrade and from 2200 RSD (~18 EUR) to the suburbs.

Traveling to Belgrade by Train Return to Top

Serbian Railways operates trains in Serbia. Belgrade’s Main Railway Station Centre, in Prokupacka street, is right beside the highway, and just a few kilometers away from the city center. All national and international trains stop here except for trains coming out of Pančevo, Zrenjanin, Vršac and Timişoara, which stop at Belgrade (Pancevacki Most station) with connection by BG Train (kind of a subway) to New Belgrade and suburbs.

Consider this! It is best to buy tickets at the train station (credit cards are also accepted). The international ticket counters are numbers 11 and 12. The station has luggage facilities working 24 hours that costs 110 RSD (~1 EUR) per day.

Trains to Belgrade from other European cities

  • Budapest: Two daily trains between Budapest and Belgrade. InterCity Avala leaves at 12:05 from Budapest – Keleti station, arriving in Belgrade at 20:13. Another daily train, the Ivo Andrić leaves at 08:05 from Budapest – Keleti station, arriving at 16:32. In addition to that, the overnight train Beograd leaves at 22:25 from Budapest – Keleti station and arrives in Belgrade at 06:21. There are reservation – free seats for all trains. One way ticket is 15 EURO and the return ticket is 26 EUR (this offer is called the “Belgrade special”, as of July 2016).
  • Ljubljana: One daytime train, leaving at 08:25 and one night train, leaving at 21:05. There is a discounted Belgrade Special ticket, non-refundable and bound to specified train and day, cost is 25 EUR (one way, reservation included in price), but there are only 6 tickets per train.
  • Podgorica and Bar, Montenegro: One daytime and one night train (plus 2 more during the summer season). The price to Bar is 21 EUR plus a 3 EUR compulsory seat reservation or 6 EUR couchette reservation (6 seats).
  • Skopje: One daytime train, leaving at 08:20 and a night train, leaving at 22:14. Return ticket costs EUR 32.60 EUR (“Serbia special”).
  • Sofia: One night train, which leaves at 20:30. One way ticket costs 20.60 EUR and 6 EUR for couchette reservation.
  • Thessaloniki: There is a train which leaves at 18:30. One way ticket costs 33.80 EUR, return 54 EUR.
  • Timişoara: Two daily trains (06:50 and 15:38). You’ll have to make 2 easy train changes to Belgrade: First, from Timişoara – Nord station take the short train trip to Vršac station and then you catch a train from Vršac station to Belgrade – Dunav station. The return ticket from Timişoara – Nord to Belgrade – Dunav costs 14 EUR, just ask for the “Banat Special”. There are no direct trains to Bucharest.
  • Vienna: Daily train from Vienna – Hauptbahnhof at 09:12. The return ticket costs 70 EUR.
  • Zagreb: One daytime train, leaving at 11:05 and one night train, leaving at 23:48. The regular ticket costs 24.40 EUR one way, while the return ticket costs 48.80 EUR. It is important to emphasize that every additional passenger has a 50% discount for the return ticket (just ask for the “City Star” ticket). For example, the “City Star” return ticket costs 73.20 EUR for two passengers.

Traveling to Belgrade by Bus Return to Top

Belgrade Bus Station, also known as BAS (short for Beogradska Autobuska Stanica), is right next to the Main Railway Station Beograd, in Karađorđeva street. When buying a bus ticket for national travel, you will also receive a token to enter the platform area. For international travel, you will be given a paper stub to present at the platform gate.

Remember! Inform yourself about your trip prior to departure as much as you can; if in doubt, ask a fellow passenger for assistance.  For international trips to the rest of Europe, Lasta is the Eurolines carrier.

Traveling to Belgrade by Car Return to Top

Remember! If you plan to come to Serbia by car, please be careful when driving and take speed limits into consideration. There are rigorous penalties if you exceed speed limit on highways (which you will have to pay when leaving the highway)

From Hungary

If you are coming from Hungary, you should use the E75 highway (M5 in Hungary, A1 in Serbia). After crossing the border at Horgoš – Röszke, you will pass through Subotica and Novi Sad. It is 2 hour drive from the border.

From Montenegro

Use the E763 highway, also known as the Ibarska magistrala (M22 in Serbia). After crossing the border at Gostun – Dobrakovo, you are going to pass through Zlatibor, Užice and Čačak before reaching Belgrade. Be beware that this is a mountainous road so drive carefully. It takes about 5 – 6 hours from the border to Belgrade. Also beware of the road works, as the road is slowly being upgraded to a dual – carriageway. The first section, from Ljig to Preljina was opened on the 25th of August, 2016, and one more section should be done before June 2018.

From Slovenia and Croatia

Use the E70 highway, when coming from Ljubljana or Zagreb (A3 in Croatia and Serbia). You will enter Serbia at the Batrovci – Bajakovo border crossing. From there it takes 1 hour to Belgrade.

From Romania

Use the E70 highway, coming from Timișoara (M10 in Serbia, DN59 in Romania). You will cross the border at Vatin – Moravița and pass through Vršac and Pančevo. It takes around 2 hours to Belgrade.

From FYROM

Use the E75 highway (A1 in FYROM and Serbia). You will cross the border at Tabanovce – Preševo, and go through Niš and Kragujevac, before reaching Belgrade. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to get to Belgrade.

From Bulgaria

Use the E80, and the E75 highways (A4 and A1 in Serbia). After crossing the border at Kalotina – Gradina, use to E80 to Niš, and join into the E75 there, continuing to Belgrade. It takes 4 hours to complete the trip from the border.

From Albania

Use the Tirana – Priština highway, then continue to Niš and join into the E75 highway to Belgrade. It takes 6 hours to complete the trip from the first border. Beware that you will be crossing 2 borders, out of which, one is administrative.

From Bosnia and Herzegovina

When coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina it is recommended to go into Croatia and use the A3 highway to Belgrade.