Nikola Tesla International Airport (IATA: BEG) is Serbia's largest airport, located 18 km west of Belgrade. The good news for arriving travellers: immigration is fast, customs rarely asks questions, and the city centre is only 25 minutes away.
📷 Sebleouf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Immigration: 3-5 minutes
It is a 3-5 minute walk from the gate to immigration, where there are two queues: EU/Serbian passports and all other nationalities. Most passengers clear the hall within 30 minutes of landing. Officers are friendly to visitors and rarely ask more than three questions.
Baggage and customs
Flight numbers are shown on the screens above the baggage carousels. After collecting your bags, choose a red or green channel: declare via red if you exceed the duty-free allowance (200 cigarettes, 1 L of spirits); otherwise walk through green. Tip: Chinese baijiu (Maotai, Wuliangye) counts as spirits and must be declared if you carry more than 1 L.
Four counters worth visiting at the airport
- Currency exchange: there are 4-5 exchange counters in the arrivals hall. Avoid Forex Bank (the airport counter) — rates are 5-8% worse than in the city. Change only 50-100 EUR at the airport for emergencies, then change larger sums at a Menjacnica around Knez Mihailova street downtown for the best rates.
- ATMs: to the right of the arrivals exit you'll find four ATMs (Banka Intesa, Raiffeisen, etc.) for withdrawing RSD (Serbian dinar, 1 EUR ≈ 117 RSD). Fees are a fixed 200-300 RSD per transaction.
- SIM cards: the three operators A1, Yettel, and mts all have counters. We recommend the A1 5 GB / 7-day card for 5 EUR, including local calls and EU roaming.
- Wi-Fi: free Wi-Fi throughout the airport ("BEG Free WiFi"), no phone-number registration required.
📷 Laslovarga · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
To the city centre: 5 options compared
| Option | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport taxi (Pink Taxi) | 2,800-3,500 RSD ≈ 24-30 EUR | 25 min | 1-3 people, light luggage |
| Bus 72 (public) | 89 RSD ≈ 0.8 EUR | 50-60 min | Tightest budget, no large luggage |
| Mini Bus A1 | 300 RSD ≈ 2.5 EUR | 30 min | To Slavija square |
| Bolt / Yandex ride-hail | 1,500-2,200 RSD ≈ 13-19 EUR | 25 min | If you have a SIM and can communicate in English |
| Mandarin-speaking driver-guide pickup | 30 EUR (sedan) / 50 EUR (van) | 25 min | First-time visitors / Mandarin support / heavy luggage / tight transit time |
Practical tips for first-time visitors
1. For a first trip to Serbia we strongly recommend booking a Mandarin-speaking pickup. BALKAN CHINA's airport drivers are long-term Chinese residents in Serbia, know the airport flow inside out, and will meet you at the arrivals gate with a Chinese-language name board. The price is fixed at 30 EUR per sedan and includes a 60-minute waiting grace period (no surcharge for delayed flights), bottled water, and hotel check-in support.
2. On landing, change 100 EUR to RSD cash and withdraw 5,000 RSD from an ATM. Restaurants, taxis, and kafanas in the city centre often prefer cash, even though card payment is widespread for larger purchases.
3. Use Wi-Fi at your hotel before deciding whether to buy a SIM. Wi-Fi coverage in central Belgrade is good, and a 3-5 day trip may not need a local number.
4. Connecting to Montenegro or Sarajevo? BEG has no frequent low-cost direct flights to Tivat. Take the 8-hour overland route with a night in Kotor — door to door it's faster than flying once layovers are counted.