Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

SERBIA 561

coverage almost everywhere
in the country. Public tele-
phones use Halo cards, which
can be purchased from news-
paper kiosks and post offices.
Internet cafés are widespread
in Serbian towns and cities,
and an increasing number
of hotels and restaurants in
Belgrade offer free wireless
Internet to guests carrying
their own laptop.
Post offices stay open
from 8am to 7pm Monday to
Friday and from 8am to 3pm
on Saturday.

ARRIVING BY AIR

Coming from the UK, there
are several direct flights from
London to Belgrade operated
by both British Airways
and JAT Airways, Serbia’s
national carrier.
Currently, the only low-cost
airline flying to Belgrade is
Germanwings, which operates
direct services from several
German airports. There are
no direct flights from North
America or Australasia to
Belgrade, although most travel
agents will offer a one- or
two-stop flight to Belgrade,
changing at a major European
airport such as Amsterdam,
Frankfurt, London or Vienna.
Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla
Airport is 20 km (12 miles)
north of the city at Surčin.
Local bus number 72 runs
from the airport to the city
centre every 30 minutes from
about 5am until 11pm. There
is also a comfortable JAT shut-
tle bus to the centre running
approximately every hour.

RAIL TRAVEL

Rail travel in Serbia is slightly
cheaper than bus travel, but
journey times are slower and
departures less frequent. There
is a useful international serv-
ice from Belgrade to Zagreb,
with four departures per day.
The 8-hour train trip from
Belgrade to the Montenegrin
capital Podgorica is one of
South Eastern Europe’s classic
journeys, taking in breath-
taking mountain scenery and
spectacular viaducts. Train
carriages on international serv-
ices are clean and plush. The
rolling stock used on domestic

journeys is often old and less

comfortable, and toilets may

be filthy. As few domestic or

international trains include a

buffet car; passengers should

purchase provisions before

travelling. Both local and

Intercity trains are crowded

and can be late. Tickets and

infor mation on rail travel

throughout the country is

avail able on the Serbian

Railways website.

TRAVELLING BY BUS

Bus travel is the most popular

form of public transport in

Serbia. The Belgrade Bus

Station is the central bus

station that serves most desti-

nations in the country. Fast

Intercity services link the

main centres as well as rural

destinations. Many buses may

be old, especially in the rural

south of the country, and are

unlikely to be air conditioned.

Each town or city has a

central bus station with clearly

displayed timetables (polasci

means departures, dolasci

means arrivals). Tickets should

be purchased in advance and

usually include a seat reserva-

tion. When buying a ticket,

passengers are also given a

zěton (token) which provides

access to the relevant depar-

ture platform. Both Belgrade

and Novi Sad have daily inter-

national services to Zagreb,

Sarajevo and in the summer

months, to Dubrovnik. The

Bulgarian capital Sofia can be

reached twice a day from Niš.

TRAVELLING BY CAR

A valid international

driving license is required

to drive legally in Serbia.

Insurance policies from coun-

tries that have signed the

Vehicle Insurance Convention

are valid. However, citizens

of other countries must pur-

chase an insurance policy

when entering Serbia. The

European Green Card vehicle

insurance is now valid in

Serbia. Well-maintained

autoput (highways) run from

Belgrade to Niš, Novi Sad and

Subotica. Tolls are paid on

these roads. Cars can be hired

from service pro viders such

as Budget and Hertz.

DOCUMENTATION

Serbian Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

http://www.mfa.gov.rs

VISITOR INFORMATION

National Tourism

Organization of Serbia

http://www.serbia-tourism.org

Tourist Organization

of Belgrade

Tel (011) 263 5622. http://www.tob.rs

EMBASSIES

Australia

8th floor, Vladimira Popovića

38–40, Belgrade. Tel (011) 303

400. http://www.serbia.embassy.gov.au
     Canada
     Kneza Miloša 75, Belgrade.
     Tel (011) 306 3000.
     http://www.serbia.gc.ca
     United Kingdom
     Resavska 46, Belgrade.
     Tel (011) 264 5055.
     http://www.ukinserbia.fco.gov.uk
     United States
     Kneza Miloša 50, Belgrade.
     Tel (011) 361 9344.
     http://www.belgrade.usembassy.gov

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Ambulance, Fire & Police

Tel 112.

ARRIVING BY AIR

British Airways

Knez Mihailova 30/IV, Belgrade.

Tel (011) 328 1303.

http://www.britishairways.com

Germanwings

http://www.germanwings.com

Jat Airways

Kralja Milana 18, Belgrade. Tel

(011) 264 6755. http://www.jat.com

Nikola Tesla Airport

Beogradska 59, Belgrade.

Tel (011) 209 4000.

http://www.airport-belgrade.co.yu

RAIL TRAVEL

Serbian Railways

http://www.zeleznicesrbije.com

TRAVELLING BY BUS

Belgrade Bus Station

Zeleznicka 4. Tel (011) 263 6299.

TRAVELLING BY CAR

Budget

http://www.budget.rs

Hertz

http://www.hertz.rs

DIRECTORY