Belgrade / The verdict
Belgrade airport to the city: which way?
For most arrivals the A1 minibus is the pick: 400 RSD in cash, about 30 minutes to Trg Slavija. On a budget or heading to Novi Beograd, the city buses 72, 72N and 600 are completely free since January 2025; taxis at the terminal use a fixed-zone voucher system.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Belgrade story
Belgrade runs on kafana culture: grilled meat, rakija and conversations that outlast the meal. The fortress above the Sava-Danube confluence is one of Europe's great free sights, Zemun and Dorcol each feel like their own town, and the nightlife on the river barges is as loud as its reputation. What it lacks in polish it returns in energy and prices that still feel a decade behind Western Europe.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: A1 minibus (runner-up: Free city buses (72, 72N, 600))
For most arrivals the A1 minibus is the pick: 400 RSD in cash, about 30 minutes to Trg Slavija. On a budget or heading to Novi Beograd, the city buses 72, 72N and 600 are completely free since January 2025; taxis at the terminal use a fixed-zone voucher system.
Go if
- You want the fastest public ride into the center for a small cash fare
- You arrive during the day when the A1 runs every 15 to 30 minutes
- You are staying in Novi Beograd or Zemun, where bus 600 or 607 drops you closer
- You are happy to hop on a free city bus and accept the slower, crowded ride
Skip if
- You land in the small hours, when only the 72N night bus, a taxi voucher or a pre-booked transfer works
- You carry no Serbian dinars and want the A1, which takes cash only
- You have heavy luggage and a stay far from Slavija or Zeleni venac, where a car saves a second leg
The options
A1 minibus Go
Daytime arrivals who want the fastest public ride into the center for a small fare.
Good
- 400 RSD, about 3.40 EUR, paid to the driver; the cheapest paid way in.
- About 30 minutes to Trg Slavija per the airport, with few stops.
- Runs roughly every 15 to 30 minutes in the daytime per the operator timetable.
- Small van format means a quick turnaround at the terminal curb.
Watch out
- Cash in dinars only, no card, and it is not part of the free city scheme.
- Evening service thins out; one report put the last airport departure around 20:00.
- Ends at Slavija, so many stays still need a second leg on foot, trolley or taxi.
- Reports flag limited luggage space when the van fills.
Free city buses (72, 72N, 600) Go
Budget travelers and anyone heading to Novi Beograd or Zeleni venac, with a night fallback via 72N.
Good
- Completely free since January 2025, no ticket or app needed.
- Bus 72 covers Zeleni venac near the center, 600 covers Beograd centar station and Novi Beograd.
- 72N keeps three overnight departures at 00:30, 01:30 and 02:30 for late arrivals.
- Officially about 30 to 40 minutes on each line.
Watch out
- Real-world rides run longer: reports put the 72 near an hour or more through 31 stops.
- Little dedicated luggage space and crowded at peak times.
- The Zeleni venac terminus is a busy interchange; reports describe hunting for the right stop.
- No departures between about 02:30 and 04:00.
Airport page for lines 72, 72N, 600 and 607Line 72 timetable, airport direction
Taxi with e-kiosk voucher It depends
Groups splitting one fare, late arrivals and stays far from the bus corridors.
Good
- Fixed zone price bought before you step outside: 2,300 to 7,400 RSD depending on the destination.
- Voucher covers up to 4 passengers with luggage, and the driver must charge exactly that amount.
- Door to door at any hour from the official rank.
- Removes the meter-and-route anxiety reports used to describe with curbside drivers.
Watch out
- The priciest option per trip: about 3,000 RSD to the historic center.
- Reports still describe queueing and arguments when the voucher system is not used.
- Traffic at rush hour can erase the speed advantage over the A1.
Pre-booked transfer It depends
Travelers who want a driver waiting in arrivals and the fare settled in advance.
Good
- Fixed prepaid fare with a named driver meeting you in arrivals.
- The smoothest option for very late landings, kids, or heavy luggage.
- Booking pages show roughly 26 EUR to the center, comparable to a zone 2 voucher taxi.
Watch out
- Costs more than the A1 and far more than the free buses.
- Overkill for solo travelers with light bags on a daytime arrival.
- Same road congestion as a taxi once you leave the terminal.
See fixed transfer pricespartner site
| Criterion | A1 minibus | Free city buses (72, 72N, 600) | Taxi with e-kiosk voucher | Pre-booked transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official price, one way | 400 RSD cash | Free | 2,300 to 7,400 RSD by zone | From about 26 EUR prepaid |
| Time to the center | About 30 min to Slavija | 30-40 min official, up to about an hour reported | 20-40 min depending on zone and traffic | 20-40 min depending on destination |
| Where it drops you | Trg Slavija, with a stop at the Novi Beograd side | Zeleni venac (72), Beograd centar and Novi Beograd (600), Trg Republike (72N) | Your door | Your door |
| Payment | Cash to driver, dinars only | Nothing, no ticket needed | E-kiosk voucher before boarding | Prepaid online |
| Runs late at night | No, evening runs are sparse | 72N at 00:30, 01:30 and 02:30 | Yes, around the clock | Yes, arranged in advance |
| Luggage and groups | Limited space when full | Little luggage space, crowded stops | Up to 4 passengers plus luggage included | Sized to your booking |
What it costs
- A1 minibus, single: €3.40 (400 RSD paid in cash to the driver; not part of the free city transport scheme). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- City buses 72, 72N and 600 to and from the airport: €0 (all city bus, tram and trolleybus lines are free for everyone since 1 January 2025). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi voucher, zone 2 (Stari Grad, Vracar, Savski Venac and most central stays): €25.50 (3,000 RSD fixed at the e-kiosk, covers up to 4 passengers with luggage; zones run 2,300 to 7,400 RSD). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi voucher, zone 1 (Novi Beograd, parts of Zemun and Surcin): €19.60 (2,300 RSD fixed at the e-kiosk). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Metered taxi flag fall, tariff 1: €2.30 (270 RSD flag plus about 96 to 192 RSD per km depending on tariff; only outside the voucher scheme). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 13 traveler reports (Jan 2025 to Sep 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- Reports love that the ride into the city can be completely free on the 72 and 600 since the 2025 fare reform.
- The A1 gets praised as a fast 30-minute hop to Slavija for the price of a coffee.
- Travelers like the taxi e-kiosk vouchers because the zone price is fixed before you step outside.
- Several reports call a long layover worth it since the free buses make a cheap city dash easy.
What people complain about
- The A1 is cash-in-dinars only and not covered by the free scheme, which trips up card-only arrivals.
- Bus 72 is slow in practice: reports put the real ride near an hour plus, with 31 stops and little luggage space.
- Late-night coverage is thin: three 72N departures, sparse evening A1 runs and reports of taxi queues after disruptions.
- The Zeleni venac terminus confuses first-timers, with reports of circling the interchange to find the right stop.
How to do it right
- Decide before you exit arrivals: the A1 boards by the terminal, the free buses stop on the departures-level curb, and the taxi e-kiosks are inside the baggage and arrivals halls.
- For the A1 carry about 400 RSD in cash per person; the ride to Trg Slavija takes around 30 minutes and departures run roughly every 15 to 30 minutes in the day.
- For a free ride take bus 72 to Zeleni venac, bus 600 toward Beograd centar station and Novi Beograd, or after midnight the 72N, which the airport lists at 00:30, 01:30 and 02:30.
- For a cab, buy the fixed-price voucher at one of the e-kiosks before going outside; the driver must charge exactly the voucher amount for up to 4 passengers with luggage.
- If you want the fare settled before you land, pre-book a transfer and meet the driver in arrivals.
The trap to avoid
Guides and forums still describe taxi haggling at the curb. Skip it: the airport runs a fixed-zone voucher system from the e-kiosks in the terminal, and the A1 minibus is a separate private line that does not take the free-fare scheme, so have dinar cash ready if you ride it.
Why this verdict
Belgrade’s airport puzzle is simpler than it looks, because the answer splits on budget versus clock. The A1 minibus takes the pick: 400 RSD in cash to the driver, about 30 minutes to Trg Slavija, running every 15 to 30 minutes through the day. Reports back the speed, with the caveat that the little van has no real luggage hold and stops well before midnight.
The runner-up is free. Since January 2025 every city bus is free for everyone, which turns lines 72, 72N and 600 into a zero-cost transfer. The 72 ends at Zeleni venac near the center, the 600 angles toward Beograd centar station and Novi Beograd, and the 72N keeps three post-midnight departures. The trade for free is time and comfort: reports put the real 72 ride near an hour through 31 stops, standing room and thin luggage space included, and the terminus itself confuses newcomers.
For cars, Belgrade has quietly fixed its airport taxi problem. E-kiosks in the terminal sell a fixed-price voucher by zone, 3,000 RSD to the historic center, covering up to four passengers and luggage, and drivers must charge that amount. Reports of curb haggling persist when people skip the kiosk. Pre-booked transfers add predictability rather than value: around 26 EUR prepaid for a driver waiting in arrivals, worth it for late landings and groups. There is no Uber or Bolt, and no train yet; the rail link is under construction for EXPO 2027.
Pick and practicalities
Ride the A1 by day for speed, take the free buses when money or Novi Beograd points that way, and use the e-kiosk or a pre-booked car when you land in the 72N gap. The one thing to prepare is cash: the A1 and many airport counters run on dinars.
Book or check times
Airport A1 minibus pageAirport page for lines 72, 72N, 600 and 607Line 72 timetable, airport directionAirport taxi zones and faresAirport taxi service page
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Where to stay
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Questions
What is the cheapest way from Belgrade airport to the city?
Free. City buses 72, 72N and 600 cost nothing since January 2025. The 72 runs to Zeleni venac near Republic Square, the 600 serves Beograd centar station and Novi Beograd, and the 72N covers three post-midnight departures.
How much is the A1 minibus and where does it stop?
400 RSD in cash to the driver, around 3.40 EUR. It runs to Trg Slavija in about 30 minutes with a handful of stops, the fastest public option into the center.
How much is a taxi from Belgrade airport?
Fixed by zone through the terminal's e-kiosks: 2,300 RSD to Novi Beograd and parts of Zemun, 3,000 RSD to the historic center, and up to 7,400 RSD for the farthest zones. The voucher covers up to 4 passengers and luggage, and the driver must charge that amount.
How do I get to the city late at night?
Bus 72N links Trg Republike and the airport at 00:30, 01:30 and 02:30, free like all city lines. Outside those windows use an e-kiosk taxi voucher or a pre-booked transfer; the A1 thins out in the evening and does not run overnight.
Do Uber or Bolt work at Belgrade airport?
No. Neither operates in Serbia; local apps CarGo and Yandex Go cover the city, and reports say CarGo does not officially serve the airport. The e-kiosk voucher taxi or a pre-booked transfer is the app-free equivalent.
Is there a train from Belgrade airport?
No. A rail link toward the airport is under construction for EXPO 2027, but today the options are bus, minibus, taxi and transfer.
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