Overview
Serbia sits at the crossroads of Central and South-East Europe and rewards travellers who look beyond the usual city-break shortlist. Belgrade brings riverside bars, Habsburg and Ottoman history and a famously lively night scene; Novi Sad offers a gentler pace and a grand hilltop fortress; and the south and west open onto mountains, medieval monasteries and the dramatic Danube gorges. Flights from the UK are short, and a growing number of routes help keep fares competitive for much of the year.
Best time to fly to Serbia
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September) are the sweet spot: warm days, cooler evenings and thinner crowds. July and August are hot inland and coincide with the EXIT festival in Novi Sad, so demand and prices climb. Winter is cold, with a proper ski season at Kopaonik and Zlatibor from December to March. Check the When to book chart above to see how fares move across the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is the principal gateway, around 18km west of the city centre and roughly 25 to 30 minutes away by taxi or the A1 minibus. Niš Constantine the Great Airport (INI) in the south is a handy low-cost alternative for central and southern Serbia.
Airlines and routes
Air Serbia, the national carrier, flies direct from London Heathrow and London Gatwick to Belgrade, with seasonal service from Manchester. Wizz Air links London Luton with both Belgrade and Niš, and Ryanair serves Belgrade from London Stansted. From other UK cities such as Edinburgh or Birmingham you will usually connect through a hub like Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich or Istanbul. Typical direct flight time is about 2 hours 45 minutes from London and just under 3 hours from Manchester.
Popular places to visit in Serbia
- Belgrade: Kalemegdan Fortress, the Sava–Danube confluence and one of Europe's best-value nightlife scenes.
- Novi Sad: elegant streets, riverside cafés and the Petrovaradin Fortress, home to the EXIT festival.
- Niš: Roman ruins, an Ottoman fortress and the sobering Skull Tower, with spa trips to Niška Banja nearby.
- Đerdap National Park: the Iron Gates, where the Danube narrows between towering cliffs on the Romanian border.
- Zlatibor & Tara: highland resorts for hiking, viewpoints and the Šargan Eight heritage railway.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Serbia
- Compare Belgrade and Niš – a low-cost fare into Niš can undercut Belgrade for trips to the south.
- Fly midweek and avoid the July festival peak; use the price charts on this page to spot the cheaper dates.
- Set a fare alert and book roughly two to three months ahead for the best balance of price and choice.
- Weigh a one-stop European connection against a direct flight, as it can cut the cost from regional UK airports.
Travel essentials
British passport holders can visit Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 360-day period, and your passport should be valid for the length of your stay. The currency is the Serbian dinar (RSD); cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some cash for smaller towns, markets and taxis. To time your booking, see the When to book chart above for how prices typically shift through the year.
