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Public Transport & Parking

HOW IT WORKS?​

Belgrade has a well developed public transportation network formed by buses, trolleybuses, trams and trains. The network covers 4 zones but it is most likely you will only use the zone 1 for the city center and maybe zone 2 if you want to go to the outskirts. The other 2 zones are suburb areas far away from Belgrade.

The public transport around Belgrade has the same unified ticket system which makes it easier and faster, although trains and some private bus companies work differently.

BUSES, TRAMS AND TROLLEYBUSES​

There are 176 bus lines (27 night lines), 12 tram lines and 8 trolleybus lines. Buses, trams and trolleybuses run daily from 4.00 am until 12.00 pm. After this time the night bus service takes place but night routes differ from daytime ones and also run less frequently.

These public network operates with the BusPlus system.

MINIBUSES​

There is also a network of express minibuses that are more expensive, but also more comfortable and quicker as they have less stops. You can buy the ticket only from the driver and it costs 145 dinars. The minibuses don’t operate at night, or Sundays and neither bank holidays.

The lines that have an “E” prefix are not part of the BusPlus system and tickets are also purchased directly from the driver (like the Airport A1 line).

MOVING AROUND BELGRADE​

The bus and tram stops don’t have an electronic panel to show the lines and the frequency. Majority of the stops have a map showing the route of the lines stopping there.

However to inform you of the waiting time, a new information system has being developed:

  • From your Serbian phone, you dial 011XX# (XX being the number of the station at the information panel). This text is free of charge.
  • You will receive an instant SMS with the following format:
  • Line 7 – 3 (10); 9 (22) (3 stops for the 1st tram in 10 min; 9 stops for the next one in 22 min)

Have a look to the following apps where you can check which lines you need to take, where is the nearest stop, timing of the trip and ticket prices:

TICKET SYSTEM BUSPLUS​

BusPlus is a modern electronic ticket control system for public transportation which was implemented in 2012. The system follows the same principle as the Oyster from London. It consists in an electronic smart card that you recharge with money and validate it in the reader devices next to the vehicle doors.

BusPlus smart cards can be used on all public transport services – i.e. tramway, trolley, bus, Belgrade train (BG voz), within the Belgrade region. You can recharge these cards at the majority of Kiosk or newsstands around the city and they are valid for a period of 3 years.

TYPE OF CARDS​

There are different types of cards and also different types of tickets.  card types: personalized, non-personalized, paper cards and electronic tickets.  And different ticket types: a single ticket, a 90 min time ticket, 1 day, 3 days or 5 days tickets and a group ticket.

Normal BusPlus card​

This is the most common card. It is a “pay as you go” plastic smart card which only costs 250 dinars plus the money you decide to recharge it with. It works as a time ticket which enables you to change between lines and different public transport as many times as you want within a period of 90 minutes. Time ticket costs 89 dinars for the zones 1 and 2, 179 dinars for 3 zones and 269 dinars for 4 zones.

You can use this smart card for a group of people also instead buying extra cards. During the validation process, you can choose the option “GRUPA” (group), select the number of people you need and then validate the card. The system will charge the total amount for the number of people selected.

Paper BusPlus card​

This option is good if you are visiting the city for a few days or some friends come around for a short time. The paper smart card can be charged only once for the 1, 3 or 5 day journey around Belgrade.

The card is valid from the moment it is charged at a kiosk and it expires at the end of the desired ticket period. You must validate the card when you enter the vehicle and the reader will register it and display the ticket information.

Personalized BusPlus card​

This is a prepaid card that contains personal information and the photo of the owner. It cannot be transferred to a third person. Depending on the amount you recharge it with, it will be valid for 15 days or the whole month. You can use it for unlimited number of rides during daytime service.

If you want to get one of these cards, you can find a list of places where they sell it here, BusPlus web. You will need to bring the following documents:

  • Confirmation of registered residence address (white card or bela karte)
  • Photocopy and original passport
  • 250 dinars for the fee
  • One picture

PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONTROL​

Ticket control in public transport vehicles is quite frequent and fines can be expensive. Controllers are dressed in normal clothes and have their device hidden in a bag so you never know who is a controller or a normal passenger.

Once they entered the vehicle, they block the card reader and by doing so disable the passengers to validate their card afterwards.

Controllers use a special portable device that reads the information of each card: if it has been validated, which station and the number of people and amount charged from the card.

If you don’t have a ticket for the ride and want to continue the journey you need to pay a fine of 2.000 dinars. Otherwise, the controller will write you a higher fine which has to be paid within 15 days and you need to get off the vehicle in the first station. Your BusPlus card will be also put on the blacklist.

PARKING IN BELGRADE​

Just like  any other capital or big city, finding a parking spot can be a bit tricky in Belgrade. Especially during working hours but you can always find garages around the city center with very affordable prices comparing to other capitals in Europe.

Belgrade is divided into three different zones with 25.000 on-street parking. Parking working hours apply Monday to Friday 7-21h, Saturday 7- 14h and Sundays are free.

  • Red Zone (1st) – 60 min
  • Yellow Zone (2nd) – 120 min
  • Green Zone (3rd) – 180 min

After the parking time expires, the vehicle cannot be parked in the same zones mentioned above in the next 30 minutes.

  • Blue Zone: Zone without time limit. It can be paid per hour or multi-hour parking ticket. Monday to Friday 8-21h and Saturdays from 8-14h.

Traditional parking tickets can be purchased at kiosks all around the city. The time of arrival should be written on the ticket and it should be displayed on the inside of the windscreen.

There is also the possibility of paying by sending an SMS including the registration number of the vehicle (for example BG123456, without spaces in between) to 9111 for Red Zone, 9112 for Yellow Zone, 9113 for Green Zone and 9119 for Blue Zone from any mobile network.