Is Belgrade safe?
With its rich history, excellent food, vibrant atmosphere, and famous nightlife, Belgrade is a magnet for tourists from all over the world, especially for the young. The capital of Serbia is a city of millions, with a central area that can be explored on foot. But is Belgrade safe for foreigners?
Is Belgrade a dangerous place, full of dangerous people lurking in dark alleys? How often do terrorist attacks, kidnappings, scams, and thefts occur? What do foreigners who have already been to Belgrade say?
Belgrade: Is it safe?
Belgrade often surprises even visitors from Europe. It is the cradle of many ancient cultures and bears the heavy burden of a turbulent history, making it a true gem for any tourist. However, precisely because of this turbulent history, Belgrade, Serbia, and particularly the former Yugoslavia, are often associated with war and potential safety risks.
If you are considering a visit to Belgrade, it is important to know that things have changed significantly since those times, and today Belgrade is one of the safest cities in Europe. It is particularly known for its hospitality and openness towards foreigners.
The city hosts numerous events, music festivals, conferences, and other cultural and artistic happenings. The high attendance at these events only confirms its reputation as a safe destination. Compared to other capital cities, Belgrade is very safe for both locals and foreigners.
Although Belgrade is usually a safe city, it’s important to follow basic safety tips. Keep your valuables safe, especially in crowded places and on public transport. It’s also a good idea to use official taxis or trusted transport apps to avoid scams. Here’s more information about it.
Public transportation in Belgrade
Public transportation is generally safe for both locals and tourists, including solo female travelers. It consists of trams, trolleybuses, and buses that go all over the city.
Like in any big city, especially in crowded places, pickpockets may try to steal from you. Although pickpocketing is not very common, street crime is the biggest risk when we talk about whether Belgrade is safe.
It’s important to note that pickpockets are very skilled and take advantage of moments when you are not paying attention, so you might not even notice that you’ve been robbed. Besides public transport, thefts most often happen at events with large crowds, like concerts, shopping centers, and bus stations.
The Zeleni Venac bus station is known for this risk. If you stay extra alert and carefully keep your personal belongings and valuables, you will probably be fine.
The locals are known for their hospitality and willingness to help visitors if they find themselves in a difficult situation. They are also helpful with giving directions, restaurant recommendations, and event suggestions, or just having a friendly chat.
Men in Serbia still often see themselves as protectors, so if you are a woman, you can count on their help at any time.
Taxi Transportation in Serbia
In Serbia, there are many unregistered taxis, so be careful. We recommend using only registered taxis; otherwise, you might be charged double the fare. How can you avoid this scam?
To make sure you don’t get scammed, instead of hailing a taxi on the street, it’s better to call a taxi service’s call center and book a ride. Most operators speak English, so not knowing Serbian won’t be a problem.
It’s also important to know that Uber is not available in Serbia, but there is a similar service called CarGo.
Is Belgrade safe at night?
In Belgrade, unlike other large capitals, there are no parts of the city that are unsafe to walk through at any time of day or night. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t encounter someone who’s drunk, especially on a Saturday night.
In practice, there is little reason to worry because the chances of being attacked by a drunk local are very small. Statistics show that incidents of harassment on the streets of Belgrade are very rare.
Still, to avoid unnecessary stress and fear, it’s best to avoid unlit and deserted streets. Safer options are taking a taxi or using public transport, which operates late into the night and covers both central and wider areas of the city.
In Serbia, drugs are still illegal, so there are severe penalties for possession and trafficking. Because of this, you won’t encounter people lying unconscious on the ground or using drugs in the middle of the street, which is a common sight in countries where drugs are legalized.
Is tap water in Belgrade safe?
When you’re in Belgrade, there’s no need to buy bottled water. Tap water is regularly tested for chemical and bacterial analysis and is known for its high level of purity.
If you’re not sure about the quality of tap water or if you find it easier and safer to use bottled water, it’s always available in numerous stores.
Is Belgrade safe to visit: Terrorist attacks, kidnappings, natural disasters, fights...
- Extreme weather conditions in Serbia, such as fires and floods, are rare, as are earthquakes.
- Serbia’s cautious and neutral foreign policy has resulted in a peaceful political situation, so the likelihood of political unrest is very low.
- Regarding terrorist attacks, the probability of them happening is much lower compared to larger and more popular European capitals. Despite the low likelihood, active protective measures are in place. Carrying any type of weapon requires a special permit issued by the competent authority.
- Serbia is known as a free, family-oriented country where children play freely in parks, often without parental supervision. Kidnappings of children or adults are very rare and usually related to debt disputes between rival criminal organizations. However, members of these organizations are rarely encountered among the general population.
- Although there are LGBT+ friendly clubs in Belgrade, displaying affection in public may attract unwanted attention.
- The only potential risk of a fight is at stadiums during sports events. Fights most commonly occur at football matches, but even that is becoming less frequent.
When it comes to different types of security risks, respondents on the Numbeo website stated that they are most concerned about corruption and bribery, but this issue is not very relevant to tourists. All other risk factors are at a relatively low level.
Source of the graphics: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/in/Belgrade May 2024
Is Belgrade safe for american tourists?
If you’re planning a visit from America or any other country and wondering if Belgrade is safe, we have good news for you. All tourists are welcome in this city. Regardless of where you’re from, Belgrade will greet you with open arms and provide you with unforgettable hospitality that will surely stay with you for years to come.
In the video below, one tourist openly spoke about prejudices and his experience visiting Belgrade:
Whether you’re looking for a good time, rich history, delicious food, or interesting architecture, Belgrade will meet all your expectations. The warmth and openness towards foreigners are something that will certainly contribute to the unique experience of staying in this city.