Car & Van Hire - Belgrade

The best time to visit Belgrade is in summer and spring when everything blossoms. During the sunny months, the streets and squares have outdoor cafes. You can also stop for a drink in the floating Belgrade clubs on the Danube and Sava rivers. Aside from being a vibrant city with exciting nightlife, Belgrade is the ideal place to start your journey in the Balkans.

History lovers will be fascinated by the Kalemegdan Fortress. It is one of the remnants of the old city located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. If you have a car hire in Belgrade, find a parking spot and take your time to explore the upper and lower fortress. Aside from marvelling at the history, you can walk around Kalemegdan Park and enjoy the beautiful vistas.

If you would love to explore the city on foot, walk down Knez Mihailova Street. It’s the main pedestrian lane between Kalemegdan Fortress and Terazij, lined with impressive architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. The street is always vibrant in the afternoons, with people shopping for souvenirs and chilling in the outdoor cafes. Downtown Belgrade also has hidden gems you can find when wandering the backstreets near Kneza Mihaila Street.

Belgrade brings to life a combination of different Serbian cultures through art. For instance, you can experience the Bohemian side of Belgrade in the Skaradlija neighbourhood along Skadarska Street. The 400-metre-long cobbled lane allows you to experience Bohemian culture through art galleries, antiques and restaurants.

If you love art, Belgrade has the best street art scene in the Balkans. You will find numerous works when driving round the city. Some are random graffiti on walls, but you can also find impressive murals. One of the renowned arts is on Pop Lukina Street, painted by famous artists from Italy. Some street art commemorates local football teams and notable people in society. If you want to explore the painted walls in the city centre, visit the Savamala and Dorcol areas.

The Balkans are known for café culture and good food. Serbian cuisine is meat-oriented, with tasty options to try out. A must-taste is Burek, a local pastry with various fillings like cheese, spinach, meat and potatoes, served all over Belgrade. You can find it in bakeries or small shops specialising in making Burek. Visit the farmer's markets for an assortment of fruits and vegetables from the locals. You will find wild mushrooms, fresh figs and olives in the Pijaca Skadarlija and Pijaca Zeleni Venac.

Getting around Belgrade is easy since you have numerous transport options. In the city, you can walk to most attractions but use public transport to explore the outskirts of Belgrade. Since you need advance tickets for public transport, you can’t make impromptu trips. For convenience, van hire in Belgrade is hard to beat.

Like driving in most of Europe, you should keep to the right side. While Belgrade doesn’t have a lot of traffic congestion, avoid rush hours. If you are a first-timer, getting used to aggressive local driving habits takes time. The roads are in relatively good condition, but the local roads may lack sufficient signs. Thus, it is crucial to have a detailed map.

You need an international driving licence and insurance to drive on Belgrade roads. You don't have to worry about the speed limits since they follow international standards. On highways, be careful not to exceed 120km/h; on city streets, keep your speed below 50 km/h. Traffic police are known to wait in areas where drivers are likely to exceed the limit. When driving around Belgrade, keep your headlights on both day and night and keep your seat belts on.

The allowed blood alcohol level is 0.03%. If you visit the floating bars and have more than one drink, consider using the Safe Driver service. They pick you up on a folding motorcycle, put it in your trunk and drive you back home in your car. Police issue fines instantly for driving above the alcohol limit, and you may even get arrested.

When navigating the city, plan your trip to find free parking spaces on the streets. The duration for parking on the streets depends on the road markings. You can stay for three hours in green zones, two hours in yellow zones and one hour in red zones. When the parking time is up, you have to re-park to avoid paying a fine. Parking is free on Saturday afternoons to Monday mornings in marked areas. Avoid parking violations in the city since they attract fines and are dealt with swiftly by parking enforcement officers.