Getting from Belgrade Airport (Nikola Tesla) to the City Center

Getting from Belgrade Airport (Nikola Tesla, code BEG) to the city center is straightforward, and you have four main options depending on your budget and how much luggage you carry. The airport sits about 18 kilometers west of the center, and a transfer takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes in normal traffic. Here is what each option costs and how it works.

The A1 minibus is the dedicated airport shuttle. It runs to Slavija Square in the center every 20 to 30 minutes and takes around 30 to 40 minutes. A ticket costs about 400 RSD (roughly 3.5 EUR), paid in cash to the driver. Note that although regular city transport is now free, the A1 is an express service and is not part of the free network, so you still pay for it.

Two regular city lines also serve the airport: bus 72 to Zeleni Venac near the old town, and bus 607 to Novi Beograd. Since January 2025 these are free, like all city transport, but they are slower, make many stops and have little room for large suitcases. They are a fine choice if you are traveling light and in no hurry.

For a door-to-door ride, use the official taxi desk. Pick up a fixed-price voucher from one of the e-kiosks in the baggage-claim and arrivals area, which sets the fare by zone before you get in the car. A trip to the center (the zones covering most of the old town) usually runs about 2,200 to 2,800 RSD (roughly 19 to 24 EUR). The driver may charge only the amount printed on the voucher, which protects you from overcharging.

Ride-hailing apps are popular and often cheaper than a taxi. CarGo is the main local app, and Yandex Go also operates in Belgrade. Both give you an upfront price, usually in the 12 to 25 EUR range to the center, though surge pricing can push fares higher at peak arrival times, on holidays or in bad weather. You meet your driver in the designated pickup area outside arrivals.

If you are on a budget and travel light, the free city bus is unbeatable on price, just slow. For most visitors with luggage, the A1 minibus to Slavija is the best value, cheap and direct. If you want a door-to-door ride, an app such as CarGo is usually the cheapest way to your exact address, while the fixed-price airport taxi voucher is the safest set-price option if you would rather not use an app. Late at night, when buses thin out, a taxi or app is the practical choice.

Airport arrival tips

• Ignore drivers who approach you inside the terminal offering a ride, and use the official taxi desk, the voucher kiosks or an app instead.
• You do not need to change much cash at the airport, where rates are poorer; withdraw from an ATM or exchange at a licensed menjačnica in town.
• Keep about 400 RSD in coins or small notes if you plan to take the A1 minibus.
• A local SIM or eSIM makes app-based rides much easier straight off the plane.