How to get from Belgrade Airport to the City Centre
Posted: July 10, 2024 | Tagged: The Balkans
I flew AirSerbia from Malta to Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Yes, I know I have been here before. Twice in fact. 2011 and 2020.
In 2011, I travelled from Istanbul to London. I had arrived on a bus from Nis and left by bus to Sarajevo.
In 2020, Beograd was my first stop having served my sentence in Kenya on Covid lockdown. Serbia had been one of the few countries open at that time for travellers coming in from Africa. And after a 3 week stay, I had taken a bus to Pristina, Kosovo.
This time, I needed to escape the clutches of the EU and the Schengen Zone. So Serbia provided me with refuge once again. The fact that hostels were a 3rd of the price compared to Malta, Spain and Gibraltar was also a factor in my logic.
In 2011, I travelled from Istanbul to London. I had arrived on a bus from Nis and left by bus to Sarajevo.
In 2020, Beograd was my first stop having served my sentence in Kenya on Covid lockdown. Serbia had been one of the few countries open at that time for travellers coming in from Africa. And after a 3 week stay, I had taken a bus to Pristina, Kosovo.
This time, I needed to escape the clutches of the EU and the Schengen Zone. So Serbia provided me with refuge once again. The fact that hostels were a 3rd of the price compared to Malta, Spain and Gibraltar was also a factor in my logic.
Serbia is not in the EU, not under the Schengen Agreement and it does not use the Euro. The currency of Serbia is the Dinar. The Republic of Serbian Dinar. RSD.
There are plenty of ATMs at the airport but my preferred mo is to change 10 or 20 Euros when arriving, just enough to get me downtown and then some.
They have these money changing machines, just before the baggage carousels:
There are plenty of ATMs at the airport but my preferred mo is to change 10 or 20 Euros when arriving, just enough to get me downtown and then some.
They have these money changing machines, just before the baggage carousels:
The rate for the Euro was 115. The rate at the only money changer that I saw, was 114.50 (In town later, I saw 117).
You can check out the Belgrade Airport guide.
From the Nikola Tesla Airport to Belgrade City Centre is 17 km.
Cheapest Option for getting from the Nikola Tesla Airport to the City Centre in Belgrade
Bus 72
I used Bus 72 back in 2020. It was and still is, bar walking/hitchhiking, the cheapest way to get from Belgrade Airport to the City Centre.
In fact it is cheaper than it was 4 years ago. The fare now is 50 RSD. In 2020 it was 150 RSD.
But you can no longer pay with cash. You must pay with a credit card.
And the thing is, none of the locals were paying. And I asked later at the hostel and was told that nobody pays. No one seems to care, except the ticket inspectors who randomly board the buses and the trick is to stand by the doors and get ready to alight as soon as you see them. Follow the locals. If you see a mass exodus, follow suit.
In fact it is cheaper than it was 4 years ago. The fare now is 50 RSD. In 2020 it was 150 RSD.
But you can no longer pay with cash. You must pay with a credit card.
And the thing is, none of the locals were paying. And I asked later at the hostel and was told that nobody pays. No one seems to care, except the ticket inspectors who randomly board the buses and the trick is to stand by the doors and get ready to alight as soon as you see them. Follow the locals. If you see a mass exodus, follow suit.
Travelling on Bus 72:
There is no longer a timetable shown. Just an electronic departure board:
Nomadic Backpacker taking the bus 72 to Belgrade City Centre back in 2020:
The final destination is Zeleni Venac.
Yandex Go, Serbia's Uber Alternative
Yandex Go is one of Serbia's Uber Alternatives. And is a great option if you don't want the hassle of dealing with the bus but I couldn't set up the account, I am assuming it was an issue receiving a confirmation SMS on my UK sim.
You need to download the Yandex Go app. Good luck.
