TaipeiAccommodation
Good · #36 of 62
7.5/10
A reasonable range of apartments is available across Airbnb, but the influx of people to the city as a result of the war in Ukraine may have reduced the supply somewhat.
SerbiaVisited May 2021 · 2 months
Belgrade
Unquestionably the Balkans most dynamic city.
Top ratedGreat valueGreat for a holidayWould return
This guide was written 5 years ago
Prices, opening hours and recommendations may have changed since my visit, so double-check anything important before you book.
Serbia's largest city and former capital of Yugoslavia.
The city lies at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers and is famed for its rich history and vibrant nightlife. Post-Yugoslavia, Belgrade has emerged as a captivating regional hub in the heart of the Balkans.
Without a doubt, one of my favorite cities in the Balkans, along with Tirana. Would highly recommend it as a destination for work or for a city break.
At a glance
Coworking
Great · #25 of 62
8.1/10
A solid selection of dedicated coworking offices throughout the city, as well as numerous coffee shops suitable to work from.
Value
Good · #32 of 62
7.6/10
Belgrade remains great value compared to most other major European cities yet is more on the expensive side compared to other neighbours in the Balkans.
Excitement
Great · #14 of 62
8.1/10
I found Belgrade to be comfortably the most exciting city in the Balkans, on par with some of the larger capitals in Europe. The approximately 300 splavs offer a unique array of nightlife options, with nothing quite like it elsewhere on the continent. The city centre, particularly in the Old Town, is bustling throughout the week, with its bars and restaurants packed on weekends.
New Belgrade, on the other hand, tells a different story. There’s little reason to spend much time there unless you’re living in that area.
Plan
Summary
I visited Belgrade as part of a tour of the Balkans in the first half 2021 with Belgrade being the undisputed highlight of the trip.
Cost of living
$928a month, before rent
Basic living costs, rent not included
Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.
Very Affordable- Meal in a casual restaurant$8.43
- Speciality coffee$2.64
- Pint of local beer$2.64
- Cocktail$6.32
- Taxi for 2 miles$4.22
- Men's haircut$11
- Women's haircut$26
- Gym membership, monthly$32
- Coworking, monthly$158
Prices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: medium (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, novaiskraworkspace.com. Always check locally before planning around them.
Duration & season
I arrived in early May and experienced some of the best spring time weather I can recall. All around the city I found the most distinct aroma of Cherry Blossom with the heat of full summer arriving by the end of the month.
I could fully recommend a month in Belgrade with more than enough to do both in the city and outside it to comfortably fill several weekends.
By month
| Month | Low °C | High °C | Rain mm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 7 | 34 | |
| February | 2 | 11 | 15 | |
| March | 4 | 19 | 65 | |
| April | 6 | 24 | 35 | peak season |
| May | 11 | 25 | 95 | wet month · peak season |
| June | 19 | 34 | 38 | peak season |
| July | 20 | 36 | 73 | wet month · peak season |
| August | 19 | 35 | 14 | peak season |
| September | 13 | 30 | 64 | peak season |
| October | 8 | 20 | 51 | peak season |
| November | 2 | 14 | 80 | wet month |
| December | 2 | 7 | 36 | peak season |
Wettest months Peak season
Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.
- Visitors a year
- 1.2M2024
- Crowds
- Medium
- Peak season
- Apr–Oct, Dec
- Low season
- Jan–Feb
Remote work visa
Digital nomad visa coming soon
While Serbia's digital nomad visa is still in development, the country welcomes remote workers. Those earning $3,500 or more per month can apply for an extended stay visa.
Working hours
Serbia operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with the rest of Western Europe
Live & work
Where to stay
To minimise the amount you'd need to take public transport, I'd recommend being close to one of the two areas mentioned below.
Dorcol
Only ten minutes walk from the centre but the area has a more relaxed, local feel. Plenty of good food and drink options in the neighbourhood.
New Belgrade
There's nothing inherently bad at all about New Belgrade but the west side of the river is predominantly just rows of communist era tower blocks. If only in the town for a short period, you're better off on the other side of the river.
Stari Grad
RecommendedContaining some of the most historic parts of the city and best dining options, the centre is a lively destination you can't go wrong with.
Where to work
A solid selection of dedicated coworking offices throughout the city, as well as numerous coffee shops suitable to work from.
ICT Hub Kralja Milana
Top ratedTop locationQuality fit-outOutdoor spaceCommunity
One of my favourite destinations of the past couple of years to work from. High ceilinged open plan seating, plenty of natural light and generous desk spaces. There are plenty of phone boots for private calls and areas with beanbags and sofas to relax from. Monitors are available to rent also. The surrounding area of Devojački park provides plenty of greenery and a calm area to unwind during the day.
Situated in the heart of the city centre, the office is easily reachable via public transport and there are a number of great food and coffee options easily reachable on foot.
Kralja Milana 10, Beograd 11000
Food & drink
Coffee
Hotel Beograd Café
Top rated
AMAZING croissants and top quality espresso. Popular early in the mmornings.
Food
Dreams Ćevapčići Restoran Voz
Top rated
Home made traditional Serbian food, with a rotating daily menu. Loved every meal which I ate there.
Hanan Shawarma Jerusalim
High quality Shawarma & Falafel wraps, with large portions at reasonable prices.
Kobasica
Maybe one of the best hot dogs I've ever had? Numerous varities of sausages, paired well with a cold Nikšićko.
Drinks
Dogma Brewery & Tap Room
Top rated
Impressive location for Serbia's largest craft brewery. Live TV for Sports and excellent food available on site also. Highly recommended.
Gunners Pub
Impressive selection of local and international craft beers, reasonably priced with digital menus adorning the walls.
Off the clock
Off work
Spend a morning at Zemun Market
Lively market with a wide range of fresh local produce on offer during the weekend, around an hours walk along the Danube from Brankov Most.
Visit Belgrade Fortress
This large site features the remnants of an ancient walled city, the Belgrade Zoo, museums, and other archaeological sites. Fantastic panoramic views are offered of the confluence of the two rivers.
Ada Ciganlija Lake
Often referred to as "Belgrade's Sea," Ada Ciganlija Lake is a large green recreational hub in the heart of the city. Feautirng sandy beaches, lush parklands, and a wealth of water sports activities. Ideal for escaping the heat in the city during the summer months with bars and restaurants along it's easterly bank.
Exercise
Cycle
Loop around the Sava river
Following the river Sava to the south west of the city, the cycle path takes you to some small villages with plenty of sheep along the way.
Cycle
Belgrade → Pancevo
The Eurovelo route to Pancevo is poorly marked in places but makes for a good mornings cycle out of the city.
Run
Belgrade Marathon
Would strongly advise against the full marathon route here, where the duration of the second half is spent in a seemingly never ending lap of the new portion of the city.
People
Belgrade felt like it had the most international demographic of any of the Balkan cities which I visited, with a noticeably number of North Americans. The city acts as something of a regional hub, with the coworking spaces populated with neighbours from Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
I found the Serbian people to be nothing but warm and welcoming, often showing incredible forms of generosity. One evening an elderly gentleman insisted on paying for my dinner, on the only condition that I shared a glass of Rakia with him afterwards, an offer I all too gladly accepted.
Most of the younger generation speaks English fluently, while it's less prevalent among the older population.
Notes
Positives
A large bustling city making it a great place to work from.
Compared to other neighbouring Balkan destinations, Belgrade felt like a busy working destination.
Great local cuisine.
Some of the best local food I had in the region, with international options also available.
A great place to explore on foot.
Some places are just interesting places to walk around, Belgrade is certainly one of them.
The spring time Cherry Blossom.
One of the most distinct and vivd memories still to this day from the trip.
Friendly and warm people.
I don't believe I'd met a Serbian in my life up until this trip and they showed remarkable warmth and generosity.
Outside of the Schengen Zone.
If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, Serbia is an alternative.
Negatives
Outside of the EU.
This has it's strengths and benefits, but there are large import taxes on certain items making some items particularly prohibitive. If for whatever reason you need high end electronics, you are best off purchasing elsewhere and then reentering.
Tips
Be careful if intending to enter Serbia from Kosovo.
To avoid any complications in arrival and departure dates, you are best advised to enter and leave Serbia through their border control.
If looking for nightlife, head to the Splavs.
These barge boats line the Sava river, with clubs open until the morning.
You will be offered Rakia!
An incredibly popular, strong alcoholic spirit. Families often produce their own with much pride.
The UŠĆE Shopping Center is great.
If you need to pick up any items, I would suggest heading here.
Planning a trip to Belgrade?
Partners I recommend. Some of these links give you a discount, and I may receive a referral reward.
SafetyWing
Specialised, flexible insurance for prolonged trips away.
- Buy while abroad
- Global coverage
- Simple, online claims process
- 24/7 human support
For trips exceeding 30 continuous days, seek dedicated travel insurance. Most holiday policies or credit card offerings become invalid after 30 days, despite advertising year-round protection. SafetyWing provides medical and travel coverage specifically designed for remote workers.
Having successfully claimed through their platform with impressive speed, I confidently recommend their service.
Sign up and get $20 off
Learn more
Airarlo
Easy access to data on your phone wherever you are in the world.
Get $2.50 off your first purchase
Learn more
Western Union
A convenient alternative to high ATM fees or carrying around cash.
Register and earn £10
Learn moreWhere next
Suggestions or improvements?
If there's anything you feel that could make these guides more useful, let me know.
Leave a comment
Say hi!
If you've got any questions on any of the destinations or in remote work in general, give me a shout on LinkedIn.
Get in touch
Take every guide with you
The free iOS app has every guide offline, live weather and local time, costs in your currency, and bookmarks for your shortlist.
