When to Visit Serbia?
The best time to visit Serbia is between May to September when the weather is nice and warm, great for doing outdoor activities, with a high chance of beautiful clear sky.
That said, Serbia does get a fair bit of tourists during the summer months between June to August, and that can drive up the price of accommodation a little bit. If you wish to avoid the tourist crowds as well as the high season price hike, I highly recommend you stick to either late April or early October.
Although, statistically, the weather might not be as good, there are still chances of nice beautiful clear days with great weather during this period. The crowds are also getting thinner while the prices are starting to come down. Either way, as long as you stick to the recommended period, you should be good to go.
How to Get to Serbia?
From the US, you can fly to Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, via Lufthansa, Austrian, or Turkish Airlines that often leave from big cities like New York and Chicago, transiting in their respective country of origin before arriving in Belgrade in about 12 hours.
From Europe, you can find plenty of flights flying from major European hubs to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) via airlines like AirSerbia and WizzAir that will take you to Belgrade in no more than 3 hours.
From Asia, you can also fly with European airlines like Austrian Airlines and Emirates from any big cities in the region, and it should take you about 15 - 17 hours, including transit time, before you arrive in Belgrade.
To find a cheap flight to Serbia, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Serbia?
By Buses: Buses are the cheapest way to get around Serbia. There are several buses running between big cities like Belgrade and Novi Sad as well as to and from other neighboring countries like Bulgaria and Romania in case you are visiting Serbia as part of a bigger trip in the Balkans. You can check the bus schedule online and book the ticket directly here.
By Tours: If you just want to enjoy the place without having to worry about the logistics, you can also rely on organized tours. There are plenty of organized tours and day trips from Belgrade to other parts of Serbia in case you want to extend your trip. You can browse for more available organized tours here.
By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from Belgrade Airport and drive around Serbia, but for this itinerary, you won't need it. If you insist, hit the link below to rent a car in Serbia:
How Much Money Do I Need for 3 days in Serbia?
From this 3-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 4 nights in Serbia, you can expect to pay around 108 EUR for accommodation, considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.
Food: For 4 days, 3 meals a day in Serbia, you can expect to pay around 63 EUR for food, considering you eat out every day. It will be significantly cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook yourself instead.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 28 EUR for bus travel between Belgrade and Novi Sad and an 8-hour bike rental in Belgrade, and that is it.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Serbia, you can expect to pay approximately 15 EUR for entrance fees to tourist attractions around the country.
Total Budget for 3 days in Serbia: 214 EUR
Is it Safe in Serbia?
It is very safe in Serbia. In fact, a female friend told me they feel safer walking at night on the street of Belgrade than they do at home in Germany, which is pretty interesting. That said, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places like bus or train stations, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for your belongings at all times.
Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Serbia independently.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Serbia?
There are 3 major carriers in Serbia, mts, Yettel, and A1, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Serbia. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting esims instead which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Serbia.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Serbia as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on esims in Serbia, click here: Check Serbia's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Serbia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Serbia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.