Belgrade
Belgrade scams: what to watch for
Belgrade is a low-risk city for violent crime, but the standard tourist scams run here: unmetered taxis, inflated restaurant bills, and pickpockets on tram 2 and Knez Mihailova. Use a taxi app or a marked meter, check the bill before paying, and keep your phone out of your back pocket. Nothing here should change your trip.
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GuideBelgrade
Key facts
- Biggest risk
- Unmetered or 'broken meter' taxis from the station and airport
- Second risk
- Pickpockets on tram 2, bus 95 and Knez Mihailova crowds
- Restaurant bill
- Check the itemised bill; service is usually included, tip about 10%
- Taxi from airport
- Roughly 2,000–3,000 RSD by app or meter (2026 estimate)
- Emergency numbers
- 112 general · police 192 · ambulance 194
- Wallet stolen
- Report at the nearest police station (policija) for an insurance or card claim
- Night safety
- Central districts are busy and walkable late; take a registered taxi after midnight
Top picks: the scams that actually happen
Most visits to Belgrade pass without incident. The problems that do occur are the same handful repeated: transport, bills and pockets. Sort those three and you have covered almost everything.
Taxis are the classic one. Drivers at the airport and the main station may quote a flat price well above the meter, or claim the meter is broken. Order through a ride-hailing app or a taxi rank with a printed tariff, and agree the meter is on before you get in. If a driver refuses, get out and take the next car.
Restaurants and bars in the old town occasionally add items you did not order, or bring bread and a 'cover charge' you did not ask for. Ask for the itemised bill, check it, and pay what is listed. Service is usually already included; a 10% tip on top is normal but not compulsory.
Pickpockets work the busy tram lines and the Knez Mihailova pedestrian street, especially in summer and around New Year. Keep phones and wallets in a front pocket or zipped bag, and be alert when someone bumps you in a crowd or at a door.
| Scam | Where it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Unmetered taxi | Airport, main station, late night | Use an app or insist the meter runs |
| Inflated bill | Old-town restaurants and bars | Ask for the itemised bill and check it |
| Pickpocketing | Tram 2, bus 95, Knez Mihailova | Front pockets, zipped bags, no phone in hand |
| Fake 'helpful' change | Small kiosks and market stalls | Count your change before leaving |
| Overpriced club entry | Splavovi on the river | Ask the entry and drink price first |
Prices and tactics change; treat this as a pattern, not a fixed list.
Prices and hours
You do not need to pay much to be safe. A metered taxi across the centre is cheap by Western European standards, and the airport run is the one fare worth checking before you arrive. Ride-hailing apps show the price up front, which removes the argument entirely.
Police stations are open around the clock for reports. Pharmacies keep late hours in the centre; the main ones near Knez Mihailova and Slavija are open into the evening, with a 24-hour rota published locally.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi, centre to centre | 500–900 RSD | Meter or app price |
| Taxi, airport to centre | 2,000–3,000 RSD | App or official rank |
| Tram or bus single ticket | Under 100 RSD | Buy and validate on board or by app |
| Coffee in the centre | 200–350 RSD | Menu price is fixed |
| Restaurant tip | About 10% | Often already included; check the bill |
Fares and ticket prices change; confirm on the day.
How to get around without trouble
Use the ride-hailing apps that operate in Belgrade, or a taxi from a marked rank with a visible tariff card. At the airport, ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a car; walk to the official rank or order the app and meet it at the designated point.
On public transport, buy and validate a ticket. Inspectors do fine passengers without one, and the fine is far more than the fare. Keep your bag in front of you on tram 2 and bus 95, the two lines most often mentioned for pickpockets.
After midnight, take a registered taxi rather than walking long distances through empty streets, and stay in the central districts where bars and clubs are busy. The river clubs (splavovi) are a normal night out, but agree the entry and drink prices before you sit down.
- Order taxis by app or from a marked rank; never accept an unsolicited ride.
- Ask for the itemised bill in restaurants and check it before paying.
- Keep phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag in crowds.
- Validate your tram or bus ticket; inspectors do fine.
- Agree club entry and drink prices before ordering.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What scams target tourists in Belgrade?
Unmetered or overpriced taxis, restaurant bills with items you did not order, pickpockets on tram 2 and Knez Mihailova, and overpriced river-club entry. Use a taxi app, check the itemised bill, and keep valuables in a front pocket or zipped bag.
Is Belgrade safe at night?
Central districts are busy and generally walkable late, including the river clubs. Take a registered taxi after midnight rather than walking long distances, and stay where bars and people are. Violent crime against visitors is rare.
What should I do if my wallet is stolen in Belgrade?
Report it at the nearest police station (policija) and get a written report for insurance and card claims. Call your bank to block cards. Emergency numbers: 112 general, police 192. Keep a photo of your passport and cards separately.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialSerbia – Ministry of Tourism
- officialBelgrade – official city tourism site
- secondaryWikivoyage – Belgrade