Updated info - please feel free to ask questions
Currency: RSD Serbian Dinar.
VISA Application: Was around R1250 or so, if you have a Schengen you can enter without a new VISA. If you must apply for VISA – DO NOT BOOK WITH AIRBNB. In Serbia your “host” needs to declare you to the local police station some hosts will do this others wont. It cost us a denied application extra time to redo it and yes you pay again. Hotels do this automatically and are the safest route.
Cash/card: many places have card machines but many places only accept cash. Highly recommend that you carry ZAR1000/RSD7000 at all times. Also important to note Mastercard is the provider of choice with Visa not even accepted everywhere. All online sources that say you can just use card have never gone to any of the local spots - I don't mean a market I mean local bakery for example.
Sim card: The easiest method is just obtaining an MTS sim card upon arrival no passport or “RICA” info needed. Less than R100 gets you 15gb for about 5 days. R250 10gb for 30 days. Easy to top up via the website too. You can leave the airport this way being connected to the web. HIGHLY recommended.
Language: local language is Serbian. As with all our travels learn the basics, please, thank you, sorry etc. The language barrier is real. A few people will speak English but that’s 1 in 20. I have found with all my travels just be friendly patient etc and language is not a problem. I don't learn more than the basics as language is not my strong point anyway. Everything is in Cyrillic and Latin alphabet in Belgrade but in Nis for example 95% of everything is in Cyrillic.
Transport: Belgrade has no metro but has loads of trams, buses, electric buses and taxis. For about R100 you can get an unlimited three day pass for all standard public transport. Taxis, there are a few to use just stick to pink taxi though in Belgrade or download Car Go similar to Uber in Serbia to avoid the scam taxis. Novi Sad and Nis do have an extensive bus network and using Google maps you can get anywhere you need to.
Car rental: We used Budget car rental. Booked via the SA site. Obtaining the car and returning it was as seamless as using any Avis/Budget in South Africa. Also there is a petrol station located right outside the return at the airport. International drivers license was not needed for rental but was noted that it was needed for the police if pulled over. Was never pulled over so I am not sure but I did have it anyway.
Safety: if you are a South African just use your basic safety logic. One massive difference here is that you can pretty much walk all over the main city no issue. We were out walking midnight and the streets and restaurants etc were busy and packed to capacity.
Spending money: if you have ever done any European holiday especially the likes of France you will feel rich here. It's so cheap it's scary as previously mentioned we went for a three course meal at Michelin guide (non starred) restaurant with drinks and ended with local dessert wine and a 15% tip for less than Zar 1000. Most attractions are free entry for example the fortress, museums cost around Zar100 per person. If you wanna feel like you are in Europe on a South African budget this is the place for you. It's prices are on par if not cheaper than South Africa.
Recommended cities: Belgrade and Novi Sad. We did Nis too but this is the least touristy city and if you are short on time one I would skip. If you have more time and you want to see nature have a look at Western Serbia DYOR though as I cannot provide any comments on that side.
Recommended time: 1.5 weeks to 2 weeks minimum. An equal split between Belgrade and Novi Sad would be good to experience a bit of everything.
Locals: The locals are very friendly and we did not have any unpleasant interactions. We even had a police officer close to Fruska Gora help us with some charades to the correct spot for the hike. Key here is always - don’t be an ASS!
Ill post some pics over the next few days in categories.
@MaisonP detailed post above and pics below.
