Published 13 Oct 2026 · Updated 14 Oct 2026
Five days is enough for Belgrade’s fortress, riverside barges and food, plus a day in Novi Sad on the Danube. Indians usually need a visa for Serbia, but you can enter without applying if you already hold a valid Schengen, UK or US visa, and a mid-range trip costs roughly ₹62,000 to ₹98,000 per person.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Ordinary Indian passports need a visa for Serbia, unless you hold a qualifying visa from somewhere else. The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ page for India, checked on 13 October 2026, says visas are required for ordinary passports.
- Visa-free with a Schengen, UK or US visa. The ministry’s visa requirements page says holders of national passports with a valid Schengen, EU member state, UK or US visa may enter, transit and stay up to 90 days in a six-month period, within the validity of their visa or residence permit. Residence permits in those areas also qualify.
- Everyone else applies. Applications are made in person at a Serbian embassy or consulate, or online through a registered account on the Electronic Identification Portal, reached from welcometoserbia.gov.rs.
- What you must show: the ministry lists funds for accommodation (or proof of accommodation), means of subsistence during the stay and funds for the return journey.
What we could not verify: the ministry page lists a visa fee but not its amount, and neither it nor the portal landing page gave a processing time, so we have not stated either. Border officers may ask for a return ticket and hotel booking, so carry them. Apply only through the official government channels, since look-alike sites charge extra for the same service.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, two sharing a room, mid-range, five days and four nights. These are our estimates, not quoted fares. The Serbian visa line is zero if you enter on a Schengen, UK or US visa, and unconfirmed otherwise.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flights, India to Belgrade, one stop | ₹38,000 – ₹58,000 |
| Serbian visa (₹0 if exempt, check the fee) | ₹0 – ₹6,000 |
| Hotels, 4 nights (half the room cost) | ₹9,000 – ₹16,000 |
| Food, about ₹1,400 – ₹2,200 a day | ₹6,500 – ₹10,500 |
| Local transport, Novi Sad train, airport taxi | ₹2,500 – ₹4,000 |
| Entry fees, river cruise, guided walk | ₹2,500 – ₹4,500 |
| eSIM, travel insurance, tips | ₹3,000 – ₹4,500 |
| Total | ₹62,000 – ₹98,000 |
The low end uses a Schengen visa you already hold, a three-star hotel and cafes. The high end adds a paid visa, a central four-star hotel and peak-season flights in summer.
Getting there
Flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Belgrade generally take one stop, often through Istanbul, a Gulf hub or a European city. We have not listed carriers because schedules and fares change, so compare airline sites for your dates. The airport is a short taxi or bus ride from the centre.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: arrive and walk Knez Mihailova
Check in near the centre, then walk the pedestrian street Knez Mihailova to Kalemegdan park and fortress. Sunset at the confluence of the Sava and Danube, the view in our photo, is the best first evening.
Day 2: old Belgrade and Zemun
Visit the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, then walk through the Skadarlija quarter for lunch. Take a bus or taxi to Zemun, an old Austro-Hungarian town on the Danube, for a riverside walk and the Gardos tower.
Day 3: museums and the river
Spend the morning at the Nikola Tesla Museum, which shows his inventions in a small house, and book ahead since visits run at set times. In the afternoon walk the river promenades or take a cruise, and have a late dinner at one of the floating restaurants called splavovi.
Day 4: Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci
Take the train from Belgrade to Novi Sad, under an hour on the fast service, and check timetables on the day. Walk the old town, cross to Petrovaradin Fortress for views over the Danube, then continue by bus or taxi to the baroque town of Sremski Karlovci for wine and a quiet afternoon.
Day 5: markets and departure
Visit a city market for fruit, cheese and kajmak, pick up ajvar to carry home (check your airline’s liquid and food rules), and leave for the airport.
Eating in Serbia as an Indian traveller
Serbian food is built on grilled meat, so vegetarians should plan. Look for kajmak (a creamy dairy spread), ajvar (roasted red pepper), gibanica (cheese pie), burek with cheese, prebranac (baked beans) and grilled vegetables. Soups and beans often use smoked meat, so ask. Belgrade has Indian restaurants for Jain or strictly vegetarian meals.
Best time to go
May, June and September are mild and sunny. July and August are hot, but the river and its splavovi come alive in the evenings. October is pleasant with autumn colour. December to February is cold and grey, with cheaper rooms.
Practical tips
- Money: Serbia uses the dinar, not the euro. Cards are widely accepted, UPI is not, so withdraw from a bank ATM and avoid street exchange booths.
- Visa dates: if you rely on a Schengen visa, check that it stays valid for your whole stay in Serbia.
- SIM: an eSIM bought before you fly saves queueing at the airport.
- Plugs: Serbia uses the two-round-pin Type C/F plug at 230 V, so pack an adapter.
- Taxis: use a ride-hailing app or a taxi booked by your hotel, and agree the fare first.
- Registration: keep the registration slip your hotel gives you, since foreign visitors are registered at their accommodation.
Related guides
Serbia pairs well with a Schengen trip, so see our Budapest 5-day plan, the Croatia 7-day plan the Romania 6-day plan or the Bosnia 6-day plan. For a cheaper Balkan option, read the Bulgaria budget trip, or head to the coast with the Montenegro 6-day plan. All facts for Serbia are on the Serbia hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Serbia?
Yes, as a rule. The Serbian Foreign Ministry's page for India, checked on 13 October 2026, says ordinary passport holders need a visa. The exception is a separate decision that lets holders of a valid Schengen, EU member state, UK or US visa, or a residence permit there, enter, transit and stay up to 90 days in a six-month period, within the validity of that visa or permit.
Can I go to Serbia with a Schengen visa from India?
Yes. A valid Schengen visa (or a UK or US visa) lets you enter without applying for a Serbian visa, for up to 90 days in a six-month period and only while that visa is valid. Check the visa's dates before booking, because the stay cannot outlast the visa you are relying on.
How much is the Serbia visa fee for Indians?
We could not read an amount. The ministry's visa-requirements page lists a visa fee among the requirements but does not state it, so confirm the figure with the embassy or the e-visa portal before paying. If you enter on a Schengen, UK or US visa, no Serbian visa or fee is involved.
How many days are enough for Serbia?
Five days covers Belgrade properly and a day trip to Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci. With three days, stay in Belgrade and do Novi Sad as a half day. Add two more days if you want mountains such as Tara or Zlatibor, which this plan does not cover.
Is Serbia expensive compared with Western Europe?
No. Food, local transport and rooms cost noticeably less than in Paris, Vienna or Prague, and a hearty restaurant meal is a fraction of a Western European one. Flights remain the biggest cost, so Serbia works well as an add-on to a Schengen trip.
Is Serbia good for vegetarians?
Manageable with care. Serbian cuisine is meat-heavy, but you can eat kajmak with bread, ajvar (roasted pepper spread), gibanica (cheese pie), prebranac (baked beans), grilled vegetables, salads and cheese burek. Ask about meat stock and lard, and Indian restaurants in Belgrade help for Jain or strict vegetarian meals.
Can I use UPI or Indian cards in Serbia?
Do not plan on UPI. Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants, but smaller cafes and markets prefer dinars. Withdraw from a bank ATM and avoid street exchange booths. Serbia is outside the euro area, so carry dinars rather than euros.
