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Getting Around Serbia

Buses, trains, taxis, ride-hailing apps, and rental cars — how Serbia's transport options compare, what to book in advance, and our recommendations by route.

Last checked: 2026-05-28 Editorially reviewed Back to Travel Tips

Updated

What is the best way to travel around Serbia?

Serbia has good intercity transport between the major cities and the main destinations, mediocre rail links outside the new Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed line, and reliable taxi and ride-hailing in Belgrade and Novi Sad. For mountain regions, monasteries, and small villages, a rental car or pre-booked transfer is the practical choice.

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is the country's main entry point. From there you can reach almost any Serbian destination by direct bus within 6 hours. Novi Sad is 1 hour 35 minutes from BEG by airport bus, or 35 minutes from Belgrade Centre Prokop by the Soko high-speed train.

Last checked: 2026-05-29. For corrections, contact us.

Intercity buses — the workhorse

Serbia's intercity bus network is its single most useful transport mode for tourists. Multiple private operators (Lasta, Nišekspres, Severtrans, Vrbas express, Banbus and others) connect every town with several daily services. The main hub is Belgrade BAS (Beogradska Autobuska Stanica) at the new bus station near Block 42, served by city bus 511 from the centre.

Typical journey times and prices from Belgrade:

  • Novi Sad — 1 h 30 min, 800-1,200 RSD
  • Subotica — 3 h, 1,400-1,800 RSD
  • Niš — 3-4 h, 1,500-2,200 RSD
  • Užice — 3 h, 1,200-1,800 RSD
  • Kragujevac — 1 h 30 min, 800-1,200 RSD
  • Sremska Mitrovica — 1 h, 600-900 RSD

Tickets can be bought at the station, from BAS, on platforms like BusBooking and GetByBus, or directly from the operator. Reserved seats are guaranteed. Air conditioning is standard on intercity routes.

Trains — limited but with one excellent line

Serbia's rail network was historically extensive but is now thin outside the modernised Belgrade-Novi Sad corridor. Srbija Voz operates passenger services.

Soko (Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed)

The Soko is a genuinely excellent service: 200 km/h, modern Stadler trains, Belgrade Centre Prokop to Novi Sad in 35 minutes. Trains run roughly hourly. Tickets are 470 RSD second class, 1,200 RSD first class. Buy online at srbvoz.rs, in the station, or on the K-Voz app. Cross-border service to Budapest (3 h 30 min) launched in 2025; the Belgrade-Subotica section of the line opened in late 2025.

Other rail routes

Conventional trains run from Belgrade to Niš, Vranje, Sombor, Bar (Montenegro, scenic but slow), and a few smaller destinations. Speeds are modest (60-90 km/h average), comfort is dated, and buses are usually faster. The Belgrade-Bar line is famously scenic but takes 10-12 hours.

The Šargan Eight

Not transport so much as an attraction: a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Western Serbia near Mokra Gora. See our Šargan Eight guide.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps

Belgrade and Novi Sad have ride-hailing apps with fixed transparent pricing:

  • CarGo — Serbian-built ride-hailing app, the dominant option in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Cards and cash accepted. App in English.
  • Yandex Go — Russian-built, also widely used in Belgrade. Cheaper at off-peak times.
  • Pink Taxi, Naxis, Plavi Taxi — established traditional taxi companies bookable by phone, app, or street hail.

Use a metered or app-based taxi rather than negotiating fares with street touts, particularly at Belgrade Airport. The official airport taxi voucher (sold at the staffed taxi counter) is also fair-priced.

When to rent a car

Rent a car when you plan to visit:

  • Western Serbia, Tara, and the Drina river
  • Studenica, Žiča, and the Raška monasteries
  • Đerdap National Park and the Iron Gates
  • Multiple small towns in Šumadija on one trip
  • Wineries in Fruška Gora or Negotin

For Belgrade-only or Belgrade + Novi Sad trips, you do not need a car — parking is expensive and the bus or Soko train is faster. See our dedicated driving in Serbia guide for rules, tolls, and prices.

Public transport in Belgrade and Novi Sad

Belgrade — free since 2025: Belgrade uses a network of buses, trams, and trolleybuses (no metro yet — Belgrade Metro is under construction and partly trialling on Line 1). The system is operated by GSP Beograd. Since 1 January 2025, all regular city and suburban lines are free for all passengers — buses, trams, trolleybuses, and BG Train. No ticket, card, or app is needed for these lines. Source: Tourist Organization of Belgrade. Two services are not included and still charge a fare: the minibus express lines E1, E2, E6, E9 (200 RSD per ride, paid in the vehicle) and the A1 airport express bus between Slavija Square and Nikola Tesla Airport (400 RSD per ride).

Novi Sad uses city buses operated by JGSP Novi Sad. Tickets cost 80 RSD bought from the driver, 65 RSD with the city card. The city is compact and most tourists walk or use a single bus line.

Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica all have local bus networks but most tourists rarely need them. Old town centres are walkable.

[1] [4]

Belgrade Airport transfers

From Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) to the centre (around 18 km):

  • A1 minibus shuttle — runs every 20-30 minutes to Slavija Square (Belgrade centre). Around 400 RSD, ~30-40 minutes.
  • City bus 72 — cheapest option (89 RSD), runs to Zeleni Venac. Roughly 45-55 minutes; can be crowded.
  • Official taxi voucher — fixed-price by zone, around 2,500-3,000 RSD to central Belgrade.
  • CarGo or Yandex Go — pre-book on the app, typically 1,800-2,500 RSD to central Belgrade.
  • Pre-booked private transfer — 25-40 EUR, useful for early-morning or late-night arrivals.

Avoid offers from unaccredited drivers in the arrivals hall.

Our route-by-route recommendation

RouteBest option
Belgrade → Novi SadSoko high-speed train (35 min)
Belgrade → NišBus (3-4 h) or rental car
Belgrade → SuboticaSoko (from 2025) or bus
Belgrade → Užice, Zlatibor, TaraBus to Užice, then onward; rental car preferred for Tara
Belgrade → Đerdap / Iron GatesRental car or organised day tour
Niš → Sofia / SkopjeInternational bus

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Getting Around Serbia FAQs

What is the best way to travel from Belgrade to Novi Sad?

The Soko high-speed train. It takes 35 minutes, runs roughly hourly, and costs 470-1,200 RSD depending on class. Buses are an alternative (about 1 h 30 min) but the train is faster, cheaper than driving, and far more comfortable than the older conventional trains.

Does Belgrade have a metro?

Not yet a full network. Belgrade Metro Line 1 is under construction with sections partly opening in 2025-2027. For now, Belgrade uses buses, trams, and trolleybuses. The system is dense, cheap, and reliable in the city centre.

Are intercity buses in Serbia comfortable?

Yes. Modern coaches with air conditioning, reserved seats, USB ports on newer fleets, and Wi-Fi on some operators. Lasta and Severtrans are the highest-rated operators on most major routes.

Do I need a car to visit Serbia?

No for Belgrade and Novi Sad only — public transport and ride-hailing cover the cities easily. Yes (or a private driver) for trips into Western Serbia, Tara, Đerdap, or mountain monasteries, where public transport is sparse and infrequent.

Is Uber available in Serbia?

No. Uber does not operate in Serbia. The locally dominant ride-hailing apps are CarGo and Yandex Go. Both have transparent pricing, accept cards, and are widely used in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

How do I get from Belgrade Airport to the city centre?

Options include the A1 airport minibus to Slavija Square (around 400 RSD), city bus 72 to Zeleni Venac (89 RSD), the official taxi voucher (2,500-3,000 RSD), or ride-hailing apps CarGo and Yandex Go (1,800-2,500 RSD). For early or late arrivals a pre-booked private transfer is the simplest choice.

Are Serbian trains worth taking outside the Soko line?

Not usually. Outside the Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed corridor, intercity buses are typically faster, more frequent, and similarly priced. The exceptions are the scenic Belgrade-Bar line and the heritage Šargan Eight, which are attractions in themselves.

Sources

Authoritative references for the facts on this page. Last reviewed 31 May 2026.

  1. New working hours for public administration srbija.gov.rs (opens in a new tab) Official
  2. REPUBLIC OF SERBIA parlament.gov.rs (opens in a new tab) Official
  3. Nightlife in Belgrade - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab) Official
  4. Live in Serbia - Razvojna agencija Srbije ras.gov.rs (opens in a new tab) Official
  5. Republic of Serbia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs mfa.gov.rs (opens in a new tab) Official
  6. INFO - Tourist Organization of Belgrade, visit top attractions, places tob.rs (opens in a new tab) Official

Last checked: . For corrections, contact us.

Reviewed by editorial team led by Patrick. Researched and fact-checked from on-the-ground travel guides.

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