Organize your stay Serbia
Money Serbia
The currency is the Serbian dinar, which is abbreviated to RSD. Its exchange rate is about 115 RSD for 1 €
The Serbian dinar is available in the country only (except in Kosovo where the euro has already been adopted, even though it is not part of the euro zone). In recent years, the country has developed an incredible and competitive network of deposit banks. Add to this the restructuring of older banks, and you will see that there is no shortage of opportunities to get money. In every small town, all banks offer Western Union money order service or over-the-counter cash withdrawal with MasterCard, Visa® and Diners®. In addition to banks, other means of exchange are available. A multitude of exchange agencies, the menjačnica, open from 9am to 9pm, will convert your euros into dinars at a more attractive rate. The post office, open in the city center until 7pm in general, also offers all the services of a bank. Finally, traveler's checks are accepted in most agencies.
As for the euro, the European currency is always accepted in Serbia, but if you are rarely refused to fill up your car with euros, you should not abuse it, as the dinar is still the official currency
An advice: do not come back to France with your dinars, they will automatically become museum objects, because nobody will take them back.
Budget & Tips Serbia
The standard of living in Serbia is generally 50% lower than in Western Europe. Count on a budget of about 500 € for one person for one week (including airfare).
We can say that Serbia remains a very economical destination for Europeans. But with some drawbacks. On a daily basis, everything is much cheaper: restaurants, bars, cigarettes and transportation (whether by bus, train or even cab). Hotels, if you want a good level of service, are dangerously close to French rates, especially in Belgrade, even if they are cheaper. If you do your own shopping for food, the situation is more contrasted: it is globally a little cheaper, but it all depends on the product. On the cultural side, everything is fine. Whether it is museums, cinemas, theaters or concerts, culture remains very affordable for a French person: 250 to 400 RSD for the cinema, from 80 RSD for museums and from 250 to 3,000 RSD for concerts, from small local bands to international stars. Finally, if you wish to rent an apartment for three months (maximum duration of your stay as a tourist), the rates are at least three times cheaper than in the big French cities.
Passport and visas Serbia
From the European Union and most Western countries, a visa is not required for a visit that does not exceed 90 days. A passport is required. The French embassy in Serbia is located in Belgrade, in a beautiful building at 11 Pariska street.
Be aware of the entry conditions for your pets. Find out before your departure how they can accompany you. For more information, you can consult the website: amivoyages.jimdo.com
Tip. Before you leave, remember to photocopy all the documents you take with you. You will take one copy of each document with you and leave the other one with someone in France. This will make it much easier for you to renew your documents with the consular authorities if they are lost or stolen. You can also keep copies on the official website (mon.service-public.fr). All you have to do is create an account and scan all your identity documents and other important documents in the confidential area.
Health Serbia
Pharmacies(apoteka) are quite numerous and their density is even higher than in a big French city. As in France, you will know the address of the pharmacist or the doctor on duty by consulting the list in a pharmacy and in the last pages of the newspapers. If you are currently taking a medical treatment, you should carry a large stock of medication because it is not certain that your medication exists there under the same name. On the other hand, you can buy over-the-counter medicines in many, but not all, pharmacies. The water in Belgrade is safe to drink, as in the larger cities, but foreigners still prefer bottled water.
In case of illness , contact the French Consulate. They will help you, accompany you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In case of a serious problem, the consulate will also inform the family and decide on repatriation. To find out about emergencies and establishments that meet international standards, consult the websites www.diplomatie.gouv.fr and www.pasteur.fr.
Mandatory vaccination Serbia
No vaccine is required, but if you plan to enjoy nature, consider getting vaccinated for Central European Tick Encephalitis. This disease is transmitted to humans by ticks, which are very present in forests in summer. Two weeks after the bite, the symptoms are similar to those of a summer flu. The disease can lead to neurological complications of varying degrees of severity, with balance problems and reduced intellectual capacity. In 1 to 2% of cases, it is fatal. There is a vaccine but no specific treatment, so if you are not vaccinated, wear long, light-colored clothing when walking in the woods and inspect your body thoroughly after any hike. If the stung person develops the flu within three weeks of the sting with stiffness in the neck, seek urgent medical attention.
Spoken languages Serbia
With twenty-six different nationalities, almost as many languages are spoken in this small country! A good example is the debates in the Vojvodina parliament: they are held in Serbian and Hungarian, and Romanian, Ruthenian and Ukrainian can be requested. More practical for us, foreign languages are the strong point of the Serbs. With a strong diaspora abroad that keeps frequent contacts, the inhabitants of this country are open to languages and handle them with ease. It must be said that the numerous diphthongs and the Serbian grammar allow these southern Slavs to learn languages easily. English is obviously, especially since a few years, the language of communication and negotiation par excellence: sometimes, one is surprised by the accent and vocabulary of some, especially the youngest. But French remains for the Serbs the preferred language of contact and culture. Even when they don't really master it, people approach you differently from the moment you speak French to them; a tourist speaking English is often perceived as a German or an Italian. Accustomed to languages, at least in Belgrade, Serbs immediately recognize a Frenchman speaking English... It is true that this almost idyllic picture does not correspond to the whole territory. The countryside is still far from the two languages mentioned above, and if you don't want to resort to the sign system, old Russian remains can sometimes help you.
Communication Serbia
Roaming is theoretically over in Serbia with European operators since 2021.
Electricity and measurements Serbia
No difference. The 220 volts is used everywhere, and the abbreviations and labels of weights and measures are the same as in the rest of Europe. So you can recharge your cell phones and other devices with complete peace of mind!
Luggage Serbia
In the off-season, a shirt and a jacket are enough.
In the winter, you need to pack everything you need to fight the cold. This is the time to put on the cold weather clothes you had at home and to put on the boots. Snow falls continuously on some days. The Siberian košava wind can blow for several days, so it is necessary to cover yourself seriously. It is a dry and invigorating cold: after a few brisk strides, you will not feel it anymore and will even enjoy walking through the towns and villages under the snow. In case you are missing one of these essential clothes, you can find everything in Belgrade: sports and luxury stores in Knez Mihailova street, ski equipment in Kralja Aleksandra, starting from Sveti Marko church. Throughout the country, leather jackets are an interesting value for money because most come from Turkey with a small margin
In the summer, swimwear, shorts and sandals without socks are sufficient. Always bring a bottle of water - several brands of mineral water are sold everywhere - because it is getting hotter and hotter due to global warming. You won't really need a first-aid kit, but if you are undergoing medical treatment, it's best to bring a full supply of medication.
