Everything to Know for Your Trip to Serbia

Part of planning any trip is knowing everything about the new country you are about to visit. So here is my Serbia travel guide for first-timers, with ten tips about how to navigate the country. From answers to questions like, is Serbia safe for tourists and what language is spoken in Serbia, to my experience getting around the country and checking out its top attractions, here is everything to know for your trip to Serbia.

And if after reading this post you feel like you still need more support prepping for your trip to Serbia, feel free to reach out and I’d be glad to help you with the planning process!

Do Americans Need a Visa for Serbia?

Before my trip, I wasn’t sure about the visa requirements for Serbia. Luckily, as a US citizen, I did not need a visa to enter the country as a tourist. If you are an American citizen you are allowed to enter Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days for the purpose of tourism. The only requirement is that you have one full blank page on your passport, and that your passport be valid. Including the US, there are 90 nationalities which can enter Serbia visa free. This list includes the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and France. If you want to confirm if your passport allows you to enter Serbia visa free, check here. 

Is Serbia in the Schengen Zone

No, Serbia is not inside the Schengen Zone. This means that if you are traveling into Serbia from any of the 29 Schengen countries (as well as anywhere else) you will pass through border control. This includes both arrivals by plane and by land from any neighboring country. This also means that your 90 day visa in Serbia does not count towards your 90 days allotted in all of the Schengen countries. 

Is It Safe to Travel to Serbia?

I felt very safe during my time in Serbia. I was in Belgrade, walking around the city on my own both day and night without any issue. I also took several day trips from Belgrade and traveled on the train on my own. I felt very safe throughout my entire time in Serbia and encountered no issues. Of course, you should always take the same precautions you take during any of your travels. It’s also important to note that Kosovo is still disputed territory, and the area around the current border is more unsettled than the rest of the country. I did not visit that area, and you should only do so with caution and an understanding of the current political issues. 

What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Serbia?

I visited Serbia in early May and the weather was very spring-like. I had a few hot, sunny days as well as a few very damp, cloudy days. I am a strong believer that there is no bad time to visit anywhere, and therefore the best time to visit Serbia is whenever it fits into your schedule. Of course, that being said, you need to prepare for differing temperatures throughout the year. In the springtime, pack a raincoat and an umbrella.

If you visit in summertime, you can expect very hot days with temperatures going up into the high 90s F (around 37 C). So you’ll want to bring light clothing and avoid sightseeing in the heat of the middle of the day. Autumn, the other side of shoulder season, is very similar to spring — you’ll get warm, sunny days as well as a decent amount of rain. If you do plan to travel to Serbia in springtime or autumn, make sure to pack some warmer layers for the cooler nights. And, finally, winter in Serbia is cold. While the country doesn’t get a great deal of snow, you can definitely expect some light sprinklings from time to time. But if it’s not snow, you should definitely count on cold rain during some winter days. Pack warm, waterproof clothing. Winter daytimes can be in the mid 40s F (around 7 C) and can drop into the 20s F (about -3 C) at night. 

What Currency Is Used in Serbia, and Can I Use Credit Cards?

Serbia’s currency is called the dinar (from what I heard it is pronounced most similarly to the English word dinner). While conversions always fluctuate, $1.00 is equal to right around 100 dinar. While I think it is always a good idea to have a small amount of local cash on you, I never recommend exchanging currencies in your home country. If you want to get cash right away, simply go to an ATM at the airport when you arrive. I would never recommend getting too much money out though as you lose value converting, so if you have to convert it back a second time you’ll lose even more. I would start with just about the equivalent of $20 and then get more if you need it, there are ATMs all around the city. That being said, I used my credit card almost everywhere without any issue. Restaurants, shops, pay terminals for the train, were all easily and gladly able to accept my US travel credit cards without any issue. 

What Language Do People Speak in Serbia?

The language spoken in Serbia is Serbian. I think it’s very important to learn the simple basics when visiting a country as a sign of respect. Personally, I make an effort to learn the words: hello, thank you, sorry/excuse me. In Serbian those are: zdravo, hvala ti, izvini me. While the latin alphabet is now also widely used, the Cyrillic alphabet is what Serbian was traditionally written in. This means that it may sometimes be difficult for you to read street signs or menus. But, don’t worry, since Serbian is only spoken in Serbia, many people also have a very high level of English. You’ll definitely find that anyone working in tourism, and many people through Belgrade, have no trouble speaking to you in English. That being said, in the suburbs or countryside you may encounter people who only speak Serbian. But, if that’s the case, just use a translator like Google translate or DeepL. 

Also, if you do want to learn more of the basics of the Serbian language, check out this video:

What Are the Must-See Attractions in Serbia?

One of my favorite spots that I got to visit in Serbia is one of the top attractions in Belgrade, the Temple of Saint Sava. There are a lot of really cool things to do and see in Belgrade, but this Serbian Orthodox church was definitely one of the top highlights for me. Outside of Serbia, amongst the places I’d recommend visiting in Serbia, I really enjoyed my time in Sremski Karlovci and I’d recommend it as one of the best day trips to take from Belgrade. There you can enjoy beautiful scenery of rolling hills and vineyards. Which means you can also spend the day wine tasting! 

How Is the Public Transportation System in Serbia?

Public transportation in Belgrade is excellent. There are buses as well as trams that criss-cross the city. The ticketing system works in a similar manner to many other Eastern European countries — you need to get a ticket and then validate it in the machines on the tram. Unfortunately, the tickets are not for sale everywhere and they cannot be purchased from the drivers. This makes things a little complicated for tourists. Serbs who do not travel on public transport frequently, simply text a number which charges them for the ticket and then sends it to their phone. If you don’t get a Serbian SIM (which is not something I’d recommend bothering with on a short trip) then this is not a possibility for you. One of my Serbia public transport tips is that there are not often people checking tickets…

On the other hand, traveling on long distance trains is very straightforward. You buy a ticket right at the machines in the station. This ticket will give you an assigned seat on some trains — and those trains are busy so make sure to sit where you are meant to. A conductor will check your ticket so it is vital that you have one. 

Outside of the area around Belgrade, you’re going to want to rent a car — this will make your travels around the rest of Serbia simpler and more flexible to your schedule. 

Is Tipping Customary in Serbia?

If you ask a Serb, Is tipping required in Serbia? They will likely tell you no, but if you are happy with service at a meal, you can leave a small tip as that is what is customary. But please do not let that tip go over 10%. While I understand that you believe if you are able, you may as well be generous, but it’s vitally important that you (especially if you are American) understand how detrimental tipping culture can become. I have written more about the massive downsides of it, but in summary, if you make a 10, 15, 20% tip the norm, that means it will also be the norm for locals who do not have your same sized pocket book — effectively pricing them out of their own restaurants. And remember, it has become the law that servers in the US do not need to be paid a liveable wage by their employer, instead that burden has been put on the customer — that is not a custom any other country wants to inherit from us, so let’s make sure that they don’t. 

Outside of meals, a small rounding up of a fee for services is ok — but always keep your tips minimal. 

What’s the Food Like in Serbia?

Serbian food is, in my opinion, nothing extraordinarily exciting. It is quite typical of Eastern Europe, with a lot of potato-based dishes and a good amount of hearty meat. Of course, I always recommend trying national dishes. Some Serbian food dishes to try are: Sarma, which is a mix of ground meats along with rice which is then rolled in cabbage leaves. If you are a big meat eater like me, try Ćevapi which is grilled minced meat. There are some vegetarian options such as Burek, which while it can be made with meat, does have a cheese only version. Vegetarian and vegan diets are not extremely common in the area, but you will absolutely find places to eat especially in major cities like Belgrade. 

I hope this Serbia travel guide has answered some of your top questions for your trip to the country. If you have any other questions, please feel free to put them in the comments below! And if you want even more support reach out to me and let’s put together your perfect Serbia travel itinerary 7 days or more!