Serbia: Travelling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation

In Serbia, in the towns, travelers can move around with no problem by bus or by car hire; thanks to their wide avenues, Serbian towns have little road traffic. In addition, the buses offer very good services, once you have mastered the Cyrillic alphabet. Otherwise, the many, relatively cheap taxis will make life easier for you in all Serbian towns.

In Belgrade, you really must use the tram; it is the best means of transport in the capital, but also a unique and picturesque one.

Maps of Urban Networks

UT Library on line

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Belgrade - Surcin (BEG)	14 km / 9 miles	Available	EUR 14 / 20 min	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation

Within the country, people transport is essentially carried out by buses. The other opportunity travelers have is to hire a car to take advantage of the good road network.

Rail Companies

Serbian Railways

Airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Travelling By Yourself

Recommendation

The motorway network is in good condition. Vehicles with foreign registrations are required to pay tolls in euros. The road network in the country as a whole is mediocre except for main routes. Driving conditions may be dangerous, especially at night and in winter. Speed checks are frequent. They drive on the right in Serbia.  For a stay longer than six months, your license must be exchanged for a local driving license.

 

In case of an accident, you should call the nearest police station in order to draw up an accident report. Third party insurance is mandatory; disputes with local insurance companies often happen. It is also recommended that you take out an assistance insurance contract (for passengers, vehicle, legal aid). Finally, it is particularly recommended that you take out an insurance covering theft and that you extend its cover to Serbia, which is rarely included even in the guarantees for "Europe".

Road Maps

Serbian road maps.

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

The capital, Belgrade, is a very lively city, located on the banks of the Danube and the Sava. In the center of Serbia, the Orthodox monasteries of Studenica, Sopocani and Zica are worth visiting. The first two are Unesco World Heritage sites. Zlatibor, a low altitude mountain resort, and Vrnjacka Banja, a spa situated at the foot of Mount Goc, are also interesting tourist destinations. The town of Stari Ras and the medieval monuments of Kosovo are Unesco World Heritage sites, and are worth going to see.

Nature

Eastern Serbia is the place par excellence for adventure tourism. A mountainous region, with deep valleys and many streams, this part of the country abounds in unusual trails in the middle of nowhere. At a bend in a gorge, you may come across a beautiful waterfall, or a small church surrounded by lush vegetation. On the summits of the Homolje or Kucaj mountains, trails will show you majestic panoramas or take you through vast continental forests. A particular phenomenon is that these mountains conceal no less than 15 caves of great natural beauty open to tourists.

Religious

Monasteries represent an important cultural and historical heritage in Serbia. Built between the XIIth and XVIIth centuries, they not only shape the Serbian Orthodox landscape, but are remarkable witnesses to the architectural and pictorial wealth of the Middle Ages. For their cultural and historical importance, five monasteries have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Studenica, Stari Ras, Sopocani, Djurdjevi Stupovi, Decani.

Thermal

There are more than 40 thermal spas and 150 hot springs in Serbia today, offering a wide range of accommodation and activities. The hot springs have been used since Roman times, especially in the center of Serbia. The most renowned thermal spas are Vrnjacka banja, Sokobanja, Mataruška banja or Niška banja.

Beach

Serbia is a landlocked country.

Winter Sports

In winter, you can go skiing at Kopaonik (1 700 meters), the most popular ski resort.

Outdoor Activities

Between medium altitude mountains, hills and plains, Serbia offers many possibilities for outdoor tourism. The mountain slopes, with their different heights, in splendid landscapes, allow lovers of mountain biking, paragliding and skiing to have fun in winter and in summer. The often steep mountain slopes, as well as many caves, either in their natural state or commercialized, will thrill climbers and potholers.

Shopping

You will not find in Belgrade the same level of shopping opportunities as in Western Europe, but you will surely find souvenirs and local products. Serbian prices are attractive for tourists, but you must be careful not to be cheated by many of the vendors.

Tourism Organisations

Serbian Tourism Board

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

Cases of bird flu have been reported in Serbia. But by avoiding contact with poultry and by taking normal hygiene precautions, there is nothing to fear. Apart from this observation, there are no other particular precautions to take in Serbia.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

Consult the travel advice of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

COFACE Serbia (website in Serbian). (Click on Kontakt at the bottom right of the page, to get the telephone number)

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Belgrade (GMT+1 in winter and GMT+2 in summer)

Summer Time Period

Summer Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.