Belgrade on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Belgrade is one of the best budget capitals in Europe, with free public transport and free main sights. A realistic minimum is about RSD 6,800 (roughly €58) per person per day: bed RSD 3,500, food RSD 2,500, sights RSD 600 and transport RSD 200.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | RSD3,500 | RSD6,000 | RSD13,000 |
| Food & drink | RSD2,500 | RSD4,500 | RSD8,000 |
| Sights & tickets | RSD600 | RSD1,500 | RSD3,000 |
| Local transport | RSD200 | RSD800 | RSD2,500 |
| Per person, per day | RSD6,800 | RSD12,800 | RSD26,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Belgrade day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Kalemegdan fortress park and the Victor monument viewpoint over the rivers
- The Temple of Saint Sava and its marble crypt
- Walking Knez Mihailova and Republic Square
- The Danube quay walk from Ušće park to Zemun
- Ada Ciganlija lake beach in summer
- Kalenić and Zeleni Venac markets
Cheap eats
- Pljeskavica from a late-night grill in Zeleni Venac or Dorćol: about RSD 400-700
- Burek with yoghurt for breakfast from a pekara (bakery): a few hundred dinars
- Ćevapi portion in a simple grill: about RSD 600-900
- Riblja čorba (fish soup) in a Zemun quay restaurant: part of a RSD 1,500-2,500 meal
- Lunch-time dnevni meni in a local restaurant: often under RSD 1,000
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Dorćol and Savamala, where hostels and apartments are close to the fortress, the bars and the river; doubles run RSD 5,000-8,000, and dorm beds in hostels much less. Vračar has good-value apartments too.
Getting around cheaply
City buses, trams and trolleybuses are free for everyone, and the centre is walkable. From Nikola Tesla Airport, the A1 minibus to Slavija costs a few hundred dinars, or take city bus 72 to Zeleni Venac.
A sample budget day
- Morning: burek and yoghurt, then Kalemegdan fortress (free)
- Lunch: dnevni meni near Republic Square (about RSD 900)
- Afternoon: Temple of Saint Sava (free) and the National Museum (about RSD 500)
- Evening: pljeskavica and a beer in Dorćol (about RSD 1,200)
- Total: about RSD 6,800 including a shared room
More ways to save
- Take bus 72 from the airport, which is free like other city buses.
- Visit the Tesla Museum early to secure an English tour without waiting.
- Picnic at Ada Ciganlija in summer with market food instead of eating at beach cafes.
- Drink local beer and rakija rather than imported spirits in bars.
- Skip the river-club cover charges on weekdays, when many splavovi are free to enter.
- Ask for prices before ordering fish in Zemun, as it is often priced by weight.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day in Belgrade on a budget?
About RSD 6,800 per person, roughly €58, with a shared room, cheap grills and free transport.
Is public transport really free in Belgrade?
Yes. GSP city buses, trams and trolleybuses have been free for everyone since January 2025.
What are the best free things to do in Belgrade?
Kalemegdan fortress, the Temple of Saint Sava, Knez Mihailova, the Danube walk to Zemun and Ada Ciganlija in summer.