Ultimate Serbia Travel Guide 2026
Serbia might just be one of Europe’s most overlooked destinations – a mix of vibrant cities, layered history, and the kind of hospitality that quietly wins people over. From Belgrade’s riverfront buzz to Novi Sad’s café culture and Subotica’s art nouveau architecture, this is a country full of character and contrast for anyone willing to look a little closer.
This guide pulls together all my Serbia travel tips and city itineraries from culture and design to food, day trips, and hidden corners. Whether you’re planning a city break, a longer route through Serbia’s northern towns, or just want to see what makes this part of the Balkans so special, consider this your starting point.
- Serbia travel map
- Best things to see & do
- Best time to visit Serbia
- Best local food & drink to try
- What to know before you go
- Average cost of visiting Serbia
- How to get around Serbia
- How to stay safe
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Serbia travel map
There are lots of great cities to explore and sights to see in this historic Balkan country, but I’ve marked the key three that we’ll focus on in this guide below: Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica.
Best things to see & do
Belgrade
No trip to Serbia is complete without seeing the capital, Belgrade. It’s a city that surprises you with its warmth, creativity, and effortless charm. Set where the Danube meets the Sava, it’s a place where grand Austro-Hungarian facades meet leafy parks, lively markets, and cozy cafés that spill onto sun-dappled streets.
There’s an easy rhythm to life here as locals linger over coffee, artists transform old buildings into cultural hubs, and the scent of fresh pastries drifts through cobbled lanes. Belgrade feels both historic and forward-looking, a city full of soul that invites you to slow down and savour every moment.
Spend your time here exploring pivotal fortresses, learning about ancient and recent history, admiring world-class architecture, and tasting the best of Serbian national dishes.
Where to stay
Budget: Balkan Soul Hostel
Mid-range: Simma Luxury Apartments & Rooms
Luxury: Prezident Palace
Ultimate itinerary for two days in Belgrade
Novi Sad
The country’s second city is Novi Sad – said to be the most beautiful in Serbia and I can’t disagree. Novi Sad is a sun-soaked city that radiates charm from it’s prime position on the banks of the Danube. There’s a slower pace to life here as locals stroll elegant promenades, relax in leafy parks and laze on the golden river banks.
Spend your time in Novi Sad visiting the historic sprawling fort, sipping quality coffee in cosy cafés, hunting for iconic street art and visiting the prettiest H&M in the world (trust me!).
Where to stay
Budget: Hostel Sova
Mid-range: City centre apartment (my top choice)
Luxury: Hotel Pupin
Ultimate Novi Sad travel guide: best things to do, places to stay & food
Subotica
Subotica is a hidden gem that feels like stepping into a storybook. Famous for its stunning Art Nouveau architecture, every street is a feast for the eyes, from colourful facades to intricate details that tell tales of the city’s rich history.
Nestled in the northern tip of Serbia, near the Hungarian border, Subotica blends cultural influences with a relaxed, friendly vibe, charming cafés, and leafy parks.
Spend your time here strolling the streets, visiting architectural icons and sitting back to be charmed by its elegance and character.
Where to stay
Budget: Korzo Apartment
Mid-range: Srafko Apartment (my top choice)
Luxury: Artist Hotel
Ultimate Subotica travel guide: best things to do, places to stay & food
Best time to visit Serbia
The best time of year to visit Serbia depends on what you’re looking for – here’s what to expect in each season.
Spring
The temperatures become milder after a harsh winter and make for perfect conditions for exploring cities and the countryside comfortably. Landscapes become more lush, there are plenty of cultural events and most importantly – you’ll dodge the peak summer crowds by travelling in April or May.
Summer
Serbian summers can be hot and busy. Average temperatures get closer to 30° which is great for lazing by the Danube river and making the most of long balmy evenings. But if you’re wanting to explore most of the cities on foot (which I’d recommend) or do any hiking, it can be too hot. So if possible, avoid travelling in August to skip the crowds and heat.
Autumn
Like spring, autumn is a great time to visit. The summer heat cools off, the autumn foliage is out in full force, and the cities quieten again. Giving you the best conditions to explore and some of the prettiest views of the year.
Winter
Snow often falls across Serbia in winter which can make for magical Christmas trips with festive markets, events and decorations. It’s also the time to explore Serbia’s snowsports scene in the mountains if you’re wanting an adrenaline rush. But be warned, it can be bitterly cold so pack enough layers to stay warm.
Best local food & drink to try
If you’re travelling to Serbia and want a taste of local flavours and dishes, here are three things you have to try (but I’d always recommend trying more, this is just the start!).
Rakija
Considered the national drink of Serbia, this strong alcoholic fruit brandy made with plums, grapes and apricots is a cornerstone of Serbian hospitality and culture. From welcoming new guests and celebrating achievements to times of sorrow and loss, rakija will always make an appearance.
You can find rakija all over the Balkans but it’s especially popular in Serbia with many different brands and versions. Families will also often make their own rakija with fruit from the trees in their gardens. While you can order rakija in almost all restaurants and bars as well as buy it in the supermarket, for a guided rakija experience head to Belgrade Urban Distillery. Here you can try 20 different types of rakija made with different fruits and learn about the production process.
Burek
Again, you’ll find burek in various forms all over the Balkans but Serbia has it’s own take on this super popular breakfast food. Serbian burek is usually a spiral of flaky pastry that’s stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables and baked until golden. It’s then served in slices with a drinkable yoghurt for the ultimate delicious and easy meal you can enjoy on the go. I’d highly recommend!
Some of the best traditional bakeries in Belgrade to try Burek are Trpkovic Bakery and Ljupce Bakery but again you’ll find burek all over the country.
Cevapi
For meat eaters, you have to try Cevapi. These are small flavourful grilled sausages served with flatbreads, onions and sauces that’s one of the most beloved dishes in Serbia. Simply put, think of it as a perfectly spiced Serbian kebab – so delicious!
Some of the best places to try cevapi in Belgrade are Ćevap Bar (Crni Đorđe) and Ćevabdžinica Savčić Dorćol.
What to know before you go
Currency: Serbian Dinar
Population: 6.5 million
Language: Serbian (Cyrillic alphabet)
Water quality: Tap water is safe to drink everywhere but the city of Zrenjanin
Tipping culture: Tipping is not expected in Serbia but if you’ve had a great experience or service, a tip of 10% of the total bill is enough.
Good to know: While more people in Belgrade speak good English, we found a lot of people outside of the capital don’t. So be prepared with a translation app and allow extra time to figure things out – particularly at train stations and often all the information and timetables are in Cyrillic. When it comes to booking train or bus tickets, it can also be good to use a translation app to read out the name of your destination or check the pronunciation as we had many confused looks! 😂
Average cost of visiting Serbia
Another factor that makes Serbia such a great place to explore is that it’s really affordable. So even if you’re on a tight travel budget, you can quite easily see a lot of the country and have some amazing experiences without breaking the bank. Likewise, if you do have a little more budget flexibility, your money can go quite a lot further.
It’s also not just that it’s affordable but that the quality of what you’re getting for that is really high too. For instance, the accommodation we stayed in was fantastic, the food was delicious and the restaurants, cafés and public spaces are all designed and maintained beautifully.
So for reference, here are a few cost examples:
Average cost of hostel accommodation: £11 per night
Average cost of private apartment or hotel room: £32 per night
Average cost of a cup of coffee: £1.50
Average cost of a meal in a restaurant: £10
How to get around Serbia
Serbia has an excellent public transport network and so generally speaking getting around the country is easy and affordable without a car. But let’s look at all the options…
By train
Serbia has been working to modernise the major rail routes throughout the country and this means lines like Belgrade to Novi Sad and Subotica are brand new, high speed and super comfy. We travelled on the newly opened high speed rail service from Belgrade to Novi Sad and it was brilliant, the trains are sparkling clean and you can get to Serbia’s second city in under an hour. The new line to Subotica has also just opened making travel to the northern part of the country a breeze.
The last step is modernising the rail link between Serbia and Hungary allowing high speed travel between Belgrade and Budapest. This is due to open in early 2026.
You can buy tickets for trains on the Serbian website here or at rail stations. There isn’t really any need to buy them in advance as in our experience they don’t get too busy, you’ll be able to find a seat. Just note, as I mentioned above when the destinations and information on the platform is in Cyrillic, you’ll want your translation app ready to go to avoid any confusion!
By bus
If you’re no so conscious of time and want to save a little more of your travel budget, you can also easily get around the country by bus. Again, for the most part the buses are modern, clean and really safe. They also help connect neighbouring countries like Bosnia Herzegovina, Hungary and Croatia if you’re travelling through.
The best way to check bus timetables and book tickets is through Omio here.
By rental car
If you want to explore more of Serbia outside of the main cities, it can be easier and more cost effective to rent a car. Generally the quality of the roads between towns and cities is good but can become poor in rural areas.
The best quality roads are toll roads that allow you to drive a lot more directly between destinations but you will have to pay at the toll booths. Also be aware of traffic police – while there are no speed cameras in Serbia, there are often police manually checking speed by the side of the road. If you’re caught speeding, you’ll be given an on the spot fine, so be sure to pay attention to speed limit changes.
Overall, hiring a car is a great option if you do want to see beyond the major cities but to be honest if you’re only visiting the main places I mention in this guide, you really don’t need a car. Finding parking in Belgrade and Novi Sad can be really challenging and you’ll pay a lot for the privilege. So only rent one if you really need to!
You can find the best prices for rental cars in Serbia through DiscoverCars.com here – prices start at as little as £5 per day.
By taxi
For shorter distances across the city or to and from the airport, use the Belgrade equivalent of Uber called Car:Go (download the app here). This is a regulated, safe and affordable ride hailing service that means you don’t need to figure out if the taxi is safe and the fare is already agreed.
If you need a taxi outside of Belgrade, it’s often easier to ask your hotel or apartment host to call one for you. That way, you are more likely to avoid over inflated prices or taxi scams which can occur.
How to stay safe
Serbia is generally a really safe country and Serbian people are some of the most friendly, welcoming and generous I’ve met while travelling.
For instance we were struggling to find our accommodation in Subotica and I walked into a tiny local shop to ask for help. When the owner couldn’t understand what I was trying to ask she called her friend who spoke more English and they came across town just to help us. Talk about going above and beyond!
While I was travelling in Serbia with my husband, I would also feel comfortable exploring the country as a solo female and overall we had zero issues. But that doesn’t mean they can’t occur – there are a couple of things to be aware of.
Pickpockets
Of course almost every country on earth has them. So long as you exercise normal precautions and always keep an eye on your valuables (especially on public transport), your belongings should be fine.
Protests
After part of the train station in Novi Sad collapsed in 2024 killing a number of local people, anti-government protests have become more and more common. While these are often peaceful they’re increasingly turning violent so paying attention to local news and avoiding these demonstrations is key.
Scams
If you’re travelling on the overnight train from Montenegro (Podgorica) into Serbia (Belgrade), border guards will enter to check your passports and stamp them. While this didn’t happen to us, we’ve heard of instances of guards asking for payment in exchange for stamping passports. Of course generally (unless you’re a unique passport holder) this should be absolutely free and no fee is needed. So just be aware of that and where you can, choose a cabin with other people as this is less likely to happen in front of Serbian locals.
Kosovo
If you’re not too familiar with recent Serbian history, you might not be aware of the conflict that led to Kosovo gaining independence. Simply put, this is still disputed by Serbians and so travelling into Serbia with a Kosovo stamp in your passport is not recommended as you could be denied entry, and neither is bringing up the subject of Kosovo with locals. Where possible, travel to Serbia first if you’re wanting to visit both nations or via a third country.
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