How do you get to Belgrade?
Getting There9.9/10Among the 5% easiest cities to reach
- Main airport
- Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: airportcarhub.com, secretflying.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Belgrade has free public transport citywide (as of January 2025)—buses, trams, trolleybuses, and BG Train are all fare-free for regular lines.
- Airport minibus (A1) and express lines (E1–E9) are not included in free transport; buy 200 RSD tickets on board.
- Terminal 1 serves Wizz Air; Terminal 2 serves Air Serbia and full-service carriers. Always confirm your terminal before traveling to the airport.
- The SOKO high-speed train to Novi Sad (30 minutes) is a quick and scenic way to escape the city for day trips.
- Belgrade–Bar train is one of Europe's most spectacular scenic routes, but journey takes ~11 hours; plan accordingly for comfort on overnight sleeper.
- Most day trips (Avala, Mount Kosmaj, Golubac) require a car or organized tour; public transport to remote sites is limited.
- Ride-sharing apps (CarGo, Yandex Go) are safer and more transparent than street taxis for getting around the city.
- Many infrastructure projects are ongoing (metro construction, railway upgrades); check current status on Serbian Railways website for service changes.
- Budapest–Belgrade direct rail service suspended until late 2026; currently requires connections via Novi Sad.
- River cruises are available but mainly as sightseeing tourism; no scheduled ferry services connect Belgrade to other cities.
Terminals
Terminal 1
- Facilities
- Basic; check-in counters, security, arrivals area
- Primary Airlines
- Wizz Air (low-cost carrier)
Terminal 2
- Facilities
- Larger, newer, most airport amenities
- Primary Airlines
- Air Serbia (national carrier), full-service carriers, international arrivals
Ground Transport
25-30 Minutes
- Cost
- RSD 200
- Option
- A1 Mini-Bus Express
- Frequency
- Regular departures from terminal curb
- Destination
- Slavija Square (city center)
- Notes
- Fastest dedicated road link; buy tickets from driver
50-60 Minutes
- Cost
- Free (included in free public transport from Jan 2025)
- Option
- Public Bus Line 72
- Frequency
- Frequent local stops
- Destination
- Zeleni Venac station (near city center)
- Notes
- Cheapest option; longest journey time
Any City Area
- Option
- Official Taxi Voucher System
- Booking
- At airport taxi desk
- Notes
- Purchase voucher inside terminal at kiosk; fixed-price system to avoid overcharging
CarGo, Yandex Go
- Option
- Ride-sharing Apps
- Notes
- Safer than street taxis; upfront pricing, driver tracking, in-app payment
Airport and city office locations available
- Option
- Car Rental
- Operators
- Hertz, Avis, and other major companies
Operators
Lasta (SP Lasta)
- Scope
- Suburban, local, intercity (Serbia, Montenegro, Republika Srpska), and international transport
- International Scope
- Eurolines network; routes to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
International Routes
~7 Hours
- Frequency
- Frequent services
- Cost Approx
- €15 starting price
- Destination
- Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sofia, Bulgaria; Skopje, North Macedonia; Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Notes
- Regular connections available
Day Trip Access
Transport Methods
- Train (scenic; SOKO high-speed to Novi Sad; regional trains slower)
- Bus (most practical for longer distances; frequent intercity services)
- Car rental (most flexible for remote sites; scenic routes recommended)
- Organized tours (available for most popular destinations)
Nearby Destinations
Novi Sad
- Distance
- 90 km north
- Transport
- High-speed train (fastest), regular buses, car rental
- Highlights
- 18th-century architecture, Petrovaradin Fortress ('Gibraltar of the Danube'), Danube views
- Travel Time
- 30 minutes (SOKO high-speed train); 1–1.5 hours (bus/car)
Sremski Karlovci
- Distance
- Between Belgrade and Novi Sad
- Highlights
- Charming small town, wine houses, Orthodox Cathedral, scenic Danube views
- Travel Time
- 1 hour from Belgrade
Fruska Gora National Park
- Distance
- North (near Novi Sad route)
- Highlights
- Wine-tasting tours, monasteries, hiking trails, spa resorts (Vrdnik)
Avala Mountain & Tower
- Distance
- 16 km south
- Highlights
- Viewing tower, Monument to Unknown Hero (WWI memorial), panoramic Belgrade views, picnic area
- Travel Time
- 20–30 minutes by car
Mount Kosmaj
- Distance
- 40 km south
- Highlights
- Hiking, cycling, 600-year-old monasteries, Monument to Kosmaj Partisans (WWII modernist memorial)
Manasija Monastery & Resava Cave
- Distance
- ~90 km southeast
- Highlights
- 15th-century fortified monastery, pre-Renaissance frescoes, 8-million-year-old cave
- Travel Time
- ~1.5–2 hours by car/bus
Golubac Fortress & Iron Gates (ĐErdap Gorge)
- Distance
- 120+ km east
- Highlights
- Medieval fortress on Danube, scenic gorge with dramatic cliffs, natural wonder between Serbia–Romania border
- Travel Time
- 2–2.5 hours
Tara National Park
- Distance
- 200+ km southwest
- Highlights
- Drina River canyon, dramatic viewpoints (Banjska Stena, Bilješka Stena), emerald lake, mountain scenery
- Travel Time
- 3–4 hours
Zlatibor Mountain
- Distance
- 200 km southwest
- Highlights
- Lush mountain resort, hiking, Gold Gondola cable car (one of world's longest), winter sports
- Travel Time
- 3 hours by car; regular buses available
Drvengrad (Kusturica Village) & Mokra Gora
- Distance
- 200+ km southwest
- Highlights
- Film set village by director Emir Kusturica, narrow-gauge railway ('Sargan Eight')
Niš
- Distance
- 250 km south
- Highlights
- Historic city with Roman, Ottoman, and medieval heritage; Skull Tower (Ćele Kula), Niš Fortress, Emperor Constantine's birthplace (Mediana); gateway to southern Serbia and beyond
- Travel Time
- 6+ hours by train; 3 hours by car/bus
Domestic Routes
~30 Minutes to Novi Sad; ~1 Hour 20 Minutes to Subotica
- Frequency
- Multiple daily
- Train Type
- SOKO high-speed
- Cost Approx
- RSD 120
- Destination
- Novi Sad (Subotica via Stara Pazova)
- Notes
- Fast, modern trains; popular day trip
~6 Hours 30 Minutes
- Frequency
- Several times daily
- Train Type
- Regional trains
- Destination
- Niš
- Notes
- Direct connection
International Routes
~11 Hours
- Frequency
- Daily (Tara 09:21 departure; Lovcen 21:21 departure)
- Highlights
- Scenic mountain railway through 254 tunnels and 243 bridges; one of Europe's most spectacular routes
- Train Type
- Day train (Tara) + sleeper (Lovcen)
- Cost Approx
- RSD 350
- Destination
- Bar, Montenegro
- Notes
- Modern air-conditioned day trains (since 2024); older sleeper cabins (6-seat). Book sleeper 30 days in advance by email/phone.
Subotica (to Hungary – Szeged Connection)
- Frequency
- Multiple daily
- Train Type
- Regional/SOKO
- Notes
- New high-speed line to Subotica opened October 2025; Budapest connection expected late 2026
River Ferry Danube Sava
- Status
- River cruises available; no scheduled passenger ferry service to other cities
- Day Trips
- Sightseeing cruises (90 minutes to full-day) departing from Beton Hala development; views of Kalemegdan Fortress, Nebojša Tower, Great War Island, confluence of Danube and Sava
- Cruise Options
- Danube river cruises from Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, and other European cities; Belgrade is a major stop. Cruises typically include guided city tours.
- Notes
- No regular passenger ferry connections to other cities as of 2026; Belgrade serves mainly as cruise destination rather than ferry hub
Port Locations
Port of Belgrade (Luka Beograd)
- Type
- Cargo port; passenger terminal on Sava River
- Location
- Danube River, near city center and Pančevo Bridge
Sava River Passenger Terminal
- Purpose
- Main passenger terminal; organized entry point for cruise tourists
- Location
- Sava River
Ground Transport Within City
- Overview
- Extensive free public transport system (as of January 1, 2025)
- Payment System
- As of January 1, 2025, Belgrade has free public transport for all passengers—buses, trams, trolleybuses, and BG Train are fare-free. No tickets needed for regular lines.
- Operating Hours
- 4:00 AM to midnight (main network); night buses available 12 AM–4 AM on main roads
Modes
Buses
- Cost
- Free
- Status
- Backbone of network; 223+ regular lines, 23 night lines
- Coverage
- All city areas
- Notes
- Free public transport excludes minibus express lines (E1, E2, E6, E9) and A1 airport express, which cost 200 RSD per ride
Trams
- Cost
- Free
- Status
- Fixed rail network
- Coverage
- Central areas
- Notes
- Some older vehicles with steps; historic charm
Trolleybuses
- Cost
- Free
- Status
- Electric buses on overhead lines
- Coverage
- Specific routes
BG Train (Commuter Rail)
- Cost
- Free
- Status
- Suburban rail system
- Coverage
- Connecting Belgrade to nearby areas
Taxis
- Booking
- Phone booking, apps (CarGo, Yandex Go), or hailing on street
- Payment
- Cash preferred; confirm credit card acceptance in advance
- Overview
- Operated by 24+ licensed taxi companies
- Identification
- White vehicles with taxi association signs; registration plates end in 'TX'
- Pricing Notes
- Avoid unmarked/street taxis (higher prices); use official ride-sharing apps or Pink Taxi app for safety
Useful Tips
- Download Belgrade Plus app for route planning (though tickets are now free)
- Use Google Maps for real-time navigation and arrival predictions
- Keep belongings secure on crowded vehicles (pickpocketing risk)
- Public transport can have delays; plan accordingly
- Inspectors frequently check for valid tickets on express buses/airport transport
Name
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
Airlines
Air Serbia (hub carrier), Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Qatar Airways, and 22+ others
Location
Surčin municipality, west of Belgrade
Destinations
114 destinations in 41 countries; major routes to Vienna, Zurich, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Moscow, Podgorica; long-haul to NYC, Chicago, Shanghai, Toronto
Distance From City Center
18 km
Transfer Between Terminals
Free shuttle bus every 20-30 minutes, or 10-minute walk on marked outdoor path
Location
New station location in New Belgrade (old Železnička 4 station closed Sept 29, 2024; demolished)
Main Station
Belgrade Bus Station (BAS)
Ticket Office
Open 00:00–24:00
Suburban Lines
90+ suburban lines from Lasta Bus Station and termini at Šumice and Banovo Brdo; connecting Belgrade to Mladenovac, Sopot, Lazarevac, Obrenovac, Grocka, Barajevo
Domestic Routes
Connected to all major towns in Serbia; frequent departures
Notes
Infrastructure reconstruction ongoing; check Srbija Voz website for current service status. Many lines under construction (Sofia, Skopje, Zagreb via direct route suspended).
Status
Main station; under ongoing reconstruction with new amenities added monthly
Booking
Tickets at station or online (Serbian Railways website; partly in Serbian). Reservations can be made by phone.
Operator
Serbian Railways (Srbija Voz)
Main Station
Belgrade Centre (Beograd Centar / Prokop station)
Ticket Office
International ticket office open 24/7
Suspended Routes
Belgrade–Budapest direct service (infrastructure works); expected to reopen later 2026 with 6 daily trains. Currently accessible via Novi Sad–Subotica–Szeged with changes.
Proximity To Center
About 3 km from city center; buses stop in front; city center ~3 km walk
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.airportcarhub.com
- 2.secretflying.com
- 3.en.wikipedia.org
- 4.en.wikipedia.org
- 5.tob.rs
- 6.interrail.com
- 7.seat61.com
- 8.en.wikipedia.org
- 9.en.wikipedia.org
- 10.minimalistjourneys.com
- 11.whatsinport.com
- 12.travel.saga.co.uk
- 13.viator.com
- 14.tripadvisor.com
- 15.freshonthemap.com
- 16.thecountryjumper.com
- 17.serbiadriver.com
- 18.lonelyplanet.com
More About Belgrade
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.