I visited Belgrade last year and came home genuinely surprised. It’s not that I expected nothing, it’s that what Belgrade actually is bears almost no relation to what you might imagine from the outside. It’s gritty in places and effortlessly elegant in others. The fortress that sits above the confluence of the Sava and Danube is extraordinary. The kafanas in Skadarlija are exactly as atmospheric as the postcards suggest, except cheaper and better. And the nightlife, the famous floating clubs moored along the riverbanks, is unlike anything else in Europe.

What Belgrade does, quietly and without making a fuss about it, is give you an enormous amount for very little money. Museum entry fees that cost less than a London coffee. Restaurant meals that would be twice the price anywhere west of Vienna. Hotels that are genuinely excellent at rates that feel almost unrealistic. It’s the kind of city that rewards curiosity, and I came home with far more photos than I expected to.

Here’s everything worth knowing before you go.

BELGRADE ESSENTIALS

✨️ Getting There / Wizz Air flies direct from London Luton to Belgrade, and Air Serbia operates routes from Heathrow, flight time is around 2 hours 45 minutes. Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups for a fixed-price, no-stress arrival, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is 18km from the city centre and the airport taxi scene can be chaotic for first-timers. Search flights on Skyscanner.

🚗 Getting Around / Belgrade is a great base for a Serbian road trip, Novi Sad is 90km north, Nis is 230km south, and the western countryside (Zlatibor mountain, Drvengrad, the Drina River) is within a few hours. The city itself is manageable by tram and foot, but a car unlocks Serbia properly. Compare rental cars on DiscoverCars, prices are excellent by Western European standards.

🎟 ️ Tours / Belgrade rewards a local guide. The best to book in advance:
Belgrade Must-See Introduction City Tour
Underground Fortress Tour with Sparkling Wine
Rakija Tasting Walking Tour
Belgrade Street Food and Drinks Tour
Northern Serbia and Pannonia Legacy Full-Day Tour

🏨 Stay / Skip the endless scrolling, these are the ones I’d point a friend toward, Stari Grad (Old Town) and the Savamala waterfront district are the best bases, most things are walkable from either:
Budget: Green Studio Hostel
Mid-range: Townhouse 27
Splurge: Square Nine Hotel

🧳 Luggage Storage / If you’re early for check-in or have time to kill before a flight, no stress, there are luggage storage points around Stari Grad and the main train station. Use this website to find one nearby.

📱 Connect / Stay connected from the moment you land with an eSIM. I use Holafly, use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.

🛡️ Get Insured / Things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.