Serbia by train and bus: how to buy tickets and what it costs

Train or bus

Between larger Serbian cities the train is more convenient: on the fast line it is quicker and does not sit in traffic. Buses help where the railway does not reach: mountain resorts, spa towns and smaller places. On short distances there is little difference; on long ones the train wins on comfort.

Trains: what works

The state carrier is Srbijavoz. The main routes are Belgrade — Novi Sad — Subotica to the north, Belgrade — Nis to the south, plus lines west towards Valjevo and Uzice. Novi Sad on the fast line is the most popular route: the train takes under an hour, which makes it more convenient than the bus. Tickets are sold at stations and online, and on longer routes seat reservations exist. Prices change, so go by the current tariff: after the July revision, the Belgrade — Petrovaradin trip in the regional class costs about 549 dinars, and in intercity with a reservation about 679 dinars.

Buses

The coach network in Serbia is dense: services run from Belgrade to every city and most resorts. Tickets are bought at the bus station or through carrier apps, and on popular routes it is better to buy ahead. The price depends on distance and vehicle class; on short routes it is a few hundred dinars, on longer ones over a thousand. Buses from Belgrade leave from the main station, but there are private terminals too — check exactly where your departure leaves from so you are not late.

How to buy tickets

Buying online is the most convenient: the ticket arrives on your phone and there are no queues at the station. Buying on the spot requires photo ID. On the railway it is worth taking a seat with a reservation on longer trains, especially at holidays and on Friday evenings. Refunds and exchanges depend on the ticket type: non-refundable tickets have no options, while ordinary ones can be returned before departure, sometimes with a deduction.

What to keep in mind on holidays

Before holidays and long weekends transport fills up days in advance, and on the holiday days themselves timetables can be reduced. If you plan a trip for 1 and 2 January, the May holidays or Easter, buy tickets early and check the timetable for that date: some departures are cancelled on those days. On ordinary weekdays there is almost no problem with seats, apart from morning departures from Belgrade and evening ones back.

Small things that help

Keep the timetable app handy: information at stations is not always updated quickly. Pay by card, but a small amount of cash is useful — not every ticket office or terminal takes cards. On short routes in Vojvodina it is better to choose the train: once you add the ride into town by bus, the time difference becomes noticeable. And remember that an international ticket requires separate booking and checks if the route goes beyond Serbia.