Is Serbia safe?
Do people carry guns? Is there still a war going on? But isn´t it dangerous? Aren´t they racist? These are the top questions people ask me about safety in Serbia. ´Is Serbia safe?´ is still a question many people who have never been to Serbia wonder.
After living many years in Serbia to me these questions seem absurd. But I also didn´t know what to expect before moving here, so I hope that in here I can shed some light on these questions.
The 90s wars, subsequent NATO bombing of Belgrade and other major cities, and ongoing Kosovo tensions have all contributed to a shady or even bad reputation of Serbs and Serbia.
I have been living in Serbia for nine years and can tell from my own experience how safe Serbia is. Additionally, there is an article about things I learned in Serbia as a black male here in the blog.
Table of Contents
How dangerous is Serbia?
Serbia scores low on violent crime. Belgrade is safer than most other European capitals such as London, Brussels, or Paris. Still, Serbia has a somewhat shady reputation.
I can assure you that Serbs are one of the nicest and most welcoming people I met in my travels. Since the public system still lacks some organization and efficiency, Serbs are used to help each other out. Whatever issue you may encounter while staying there, you can be sure to receive help from locals.
Mafia-style crime
There is organized crime in Serbia but tourists are not affected by it. Revenge among different family clans or groups can happen. Innocent bystanders may get hurt but it´s very rare.
My partner was once in a beauty salon getting my nails done while hearing an explosion. She ran out of the salon to see an exploded car. These things do happen but usually, the mafia makes sure that innocent people are not hurt.
One day, I was working out with a friend and heard gunshots. Initially, I thought those were fireworks because of some football match, so I didn’t pay much attention. A few minutes later, after leaving the gym, we saw a car in front of the gym with a dead man. The car was with several holes from gunshots. The mafia arranged another crime; later on, my Serbian friends told me the dead man was involved with the mafia in some criminal activities.
Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen on public transportation, around bus stations, or at popular tourist hot spots like Knez Mihailova street. After all these nine years it happened to me once, when I went to work.
I took a bus to the city center with my backpack, and I put my wallet inside the smallest front pocket. After 3 stations I left the bus and only a few minutes later I realized the pocket was open. I went back to the same spot where I took the bus and asked people working in the small shops if they have seen a wallet, no luck there.
It happens many times that these people take the money out of your wallet and drop it with your documents/cards somewhere close to these small shops. Walking around the city you can see some ID cards glued to the windows of these small shops.
It’s always a good idea to check around if that happens. You might get lucky and find your belongings there.
Besides my experience, luckily I don’t hear about many pickpocketing cases. Be cautious when you are in crowded places. Watch your belongings at all times and you should be fine.
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Is Serbia safe for tourists?
Serbia is not a well-known tourist destination. When I moved to Serbia, many friends came to visit me from other European countries. They were intrigued by this mysterious country in the Balkans.
However, things are changing. More and more tourists seem to be interested in Serbia. Belgrade has surely gained popularity among digital nomads and tourists in general. A cheap capital, with friendly and welcoming people, great nightlife, and being so safe makes it an interesting destination for tourists.
People are friendly and welcoming here, and crime rates are low, so there is no danger whatsoever for tourists.
Taxi scams
What I warn tourists about are taxi drivers, especially if you need to take a taxi from the airport. The usual price from the airport to the city center is roughly 20-25 EUR. I have heard and seen cases of taxi drivers charging 600 EUR to tourists! This is shameful and many locals are very upset about these stories, too.
While taxi scams happen anywhere, it seems that it´s getting more and more absurd in Belgrade.
Some quick tips on how you can prevent getting scammed by taxi drivers:
- Download the following apps through which you can order registered taxis: Yandex, Naxis Taxi, Pink Taxi, or Cargo (something like Uber)
- Naxis Taxi, Pink Taxi, Lux Taxi, and Beogradski Taxi are all registered and well-known taxi companies. They will run the taximeter and the chances of getting scammed by one of their drivers are very low
- Don´t take taxis with white taxi lights. These are not registered and you will get into a lot of trouble, so avoid those!
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Is Serbia safe for solo female travelers?
I know a person that have lived in many European cities in Austria, Belgium, and Germany. She told me that she felt as safer in Serbia than in those cities.
She said she would never dared to walk alone outside a club late at night back home somewhere in western Europe but in Belgrade, this became normal to me. Of course, you should always avoid dodgy, dark, and abandoned places. Common sense should be applied everywhere but I can just say that nowhere I have felt safer as a female.
Walking past a group of men won´t make you feel uncomfortable (again, there are jerks everywhere) but I am speaking here about my general impressions after talking to women living in Serbia for many years. Even in clubs, most men are respectful.
The situation can be a bit different in public transportation though. Inside busses, trams, and around bus stations I have heard and experienced some creepy things. Men jerking off at the bus station or rubbing their genitals on you inside the bus are some of those creepy stories women told me(I never understood why this always happens in public transportation). My only advice would be to stay cautious on public transportation.
Is Serbia safe for people of colour?
Belgrade is not a very diverse city and Serbia is even less so.
However, it doesn´t mean that people are racist. On the contrary: Serbs encounter people from other countries with a lot of curiosity and will show frank interest in white or non-white foreigners.
Their curiosity will be higher the more exotic your home country is. Coming from a Latin country creates curiosity in Serbs, sometimes I think about how mind-blowing it is the type of attention that I get from people in Serbia.
Racism is not something common in the Balkans in general. Again, you have all kinds of people everywhere but it´s not likely that you will experience uncomfortable situations due to your different looks.
Having said all that, it´s not like it´s the perfect country where discrimination doesn´t exist. Roma people have been subjects of discrimination and hostility for centuries.
Is Serbia safe for members of the LGBT+ community?
As a heterosexual man I cannot speak from our my experience. I do have many queer friends, so I can tell what I know through them.
Unfortunately, it is not advised to show public displays of affection for people who identify as LGBT+. While homosexuality is not forbidden by law, it is not widely accepted in society and it is not safe to hold hands with your same-sex partner in public.
Society in Serbia is conservative and change hardly takes place. Belgrade is a little bit different but still, for your safety, be private about your sexual orientation. Outside of Belgrade, the situation is even worse.
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So, what is the truth about safety in Serbia?
Feelings of safety are subjective but the image that people have of Serbia being a violent, war-torn country is not true.
When you come to Serbia as a tourist you will be treated in the best way by locals. People are warm, friendly, and very welcoming towards foreigners. You will encounter hospitality that you would never have in western Europe because people here are genuinely positively surprised when people visit their country. Serbs will love to show you around, pay for your drink or invite you to their home.
I have many friends who are people of color who live in Serbia and also outside of Belgrade who has never encountered difficulties. On the contrary, many enjoy the positive attention they´re receiving.
Common sense should be applied to avoid uncomfortable situations but in general, it is safer in Serbia and generally in the Balkans than in most of Europe.
What was your experience in Serbia? Did you feel safe? Let me know in the comments below. If you are thinking about visiting Serbia or the Balkans, I created a list of things I believe you should know before traveling there.
See you all on the next article!! Bye!!
6 Responses
Are there any specific safety concerns for black males traveling in Serbia, and what are some things they should be aware of to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip?”,
“refusal
I feel there are no safety concerns for black males traveling in Serbia but some things to know instead. I wrote a blog post about that manner, you can check it out here: https://helpmezuka.com/17-things-that-i-learned-living-in-serbia-as-a-black-male/
I’ve always wanted to ask you about your experiences, so seeing you openly write about them made me very happy.
With all the negative connotations that often go with Serbia, especially online, it’s nice to hear something positive for a change.
It was a pleasure working with you, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying Serbia!
Much love
Thank you!! I’m very glad that you enjoyed the article. It was also a pleasure working with you, hope to see you soon around the globe 🙂
Very nice article. Welcome back to Serbia. And see you at the mountains ⛰️ 😊
Thank you a lot :)) I will see you very soon 🙂