Important info for Gooners traveling to Belgrade
Posted on September 2, 2010 by Martin @ thegoonblog.com

I was approached by a writer who works for a popular travel comparison site wanting to give Arsenal fans information ahead of their ventures into Europe for the Champions League. I thought it would be a good idea and something quite unique. Your feedback is appreciated and I hope this is of help..

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Arsenal travel to Partizan Belgrade in the Champion’s League group stages on September 28th, and to save you spending time looking for flights and local information, we’ve done it for you!

Most people’s knowledge of Belgrade will extend as far as knowing it is in Serbia, but not much else. Luckily, there are flights direct from Heathrow to Belgrade on a daily basis, if however you are flying from elsewhere in the country; there are only direct flights from Heathrow airport so you may have to make your way to Heathrow first, or look into flying to a another major European city.

There was the option to fly to cities Moscow, Kiev, Bucharest or Munich and jump on a train to Belgrade, but it costs around £120-150 for the flights, which starts becoming expensive when you add on your train tickets which can range from € 40-€ 120, along with the increased travelling time.

Depending on which day you fly out on (and how soon you book); you can get return flights for under £100. Flying out on Sunday 26/9, and returning on Wednesday 29/9 is currently around £99 (at time of writing), whilst the flights on September 27th and 28th can be booked for under £200 return. Below is a list of flight details from Heathrow to Belgrade:

Heathrow to Belgrade

Date Depart Arrive Flight operator
26/9/10 1735 2125 Wizz Air
27/9/10 0820 1200 British Airways
27/9/10 1340 1725 JAT
28/9/10 1340 1725 JAT
28/9/10 0820 1200 British Airways
Return
29/9/10 2155 2330 Wizz Air
29/9/10 1300 1500 British Airways
29/9/10 1035 1240 JAT

Accommodation

There are many hostels and hotels in Belgrade, using a price comparison site such as travelsupermarket.com can help you find deals on your stay in Serbia. Prices can start at around £30 per night, depending on what star accommodation you require; if you’re after something a bit more luxurious you could be paying around £75 per night.

Additional Information

Tap water in Belgrade is perfectly safe to drink; so there’s no need to spend money buying bottled water.

Nightlife – Belgrade is recognised as having a decent nightlife, and is renowned for having barges on the banks of the Sava and Danube rivers. The main clubs are Akademija and KST (Klub Studenata Tehnike), whilst the liveliest street is Strahinjića Bana which is home to many trendy bars and cafes.

Should you want to get a taxi in the area, please be aware all licensed taxis are required to have two signs on their roof: a company specific sign, and a blue one with a 4 digit number on.

Any taxi without the smaller sign on is probably an illegal driver trying to rip you off. Your best bet is to ask at your hotel reception to book a taxi for you, or use a reputable company such as:

  • Pink Taxi
  • Beogradski Taxi
  • Lux Taxi
  • Plavi Taxi
  • Beo Taxi

Always look for the 2 signs on the top of the car before agreeing any fare. Please be aware, some drivers may try it on and ask for the fare on the meter per person; refuse this as this is an illegal practice, however charging extra for luggage is not illegal.

Average temperatures in September – High: 23°C, low 13°C

People in Belgrade can speak English as they learn it in school a young age, so you shouldn’t struggle when ordering food & drink, but don’t start swearing at hotel/bar staff – they will understand you.

UK Embassy contact details: Resavska 46 11000 Belgrade, +(381)(11)2645 055,

Finally, the Serbian currency is Serbian Diners (RSD), below is a brief comparison between RSD and GBP

  • £5 – 627.157 RSD
  • £10 – 1,254.19 RSD
  • £25 – 3,135.78 RSD
  • £50 – 6,271.57 RSD

Written by Tony, part of the car rentals team at travelsupermarket.com

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