1 Belgrade. Serbia. IMPORTANT NOTE: This guide is written in ‘Basic English’, designed to communicate basic information in the simplest way possible, and to be used, if necessary, to copy-and-paste to a Translate program. It’s not written by a non-English speaker, it’s deliberately made this way to get the important ideas across in a way that’s easy for almost anyone to comprehend. For an essential guide to any city, I don’t see the point of writing a Shakespeare Play or the Next Great Novel. Also, I use the word ‘possible’ to describe overcharging or theft; these things are not common or usual in Belgrade, but as anywhere, are exactly that: ‘possible’: ‘not impossible’. It is assume anyone travel has mobile or device with Map Application for GPS and location. It is assume small hand luggage/backpack. See Bus maps at end! Cost will increase!!!! Things change! Language: Many Serbian speak only Serbian, and ​ ​ ​ some of other language. Many Serbian understand ​ other language but cannot have fluent conversation. 1 2 Many signs in Cyrillica (Cyrillic: Serbia, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, alphabet). Recommend learn Serbian basic words, necessary, and speak them very simple, clear. Say, tell, one is not Serbian: ‘Nisam Srpska’: ‘Nee-sahm Surp-skah’. One will ​ ​ find other language ability in many places, but do not expect. Arrive Transport: - From Airport Nikola Tesla is Airport Express A1 BUS, outside Arrival Gate. Price 300 dinars (cash only!) to bus station city center. ATM/Bankomat/Exchange at airport. - Taxi from airport is +/- 20 Euros. At Arrival Gate, many Taxi drivers. There is Official ‘ticket’ purchase from Tourist/Taxi Desk in terminal, passenger hand to taxi driver for ride payment. Without Official ‘ticket’, overcharge is possible. ​ ​ - Train stations in city Center. - International Bus station in city Center. - Taxi in city Center is easy to find, many Taxi driver speak other language. - From center, walk/all CITY BUS access. - Belgrade Center is not large, can walk to places with small luggage, backpack. 2 3 City Transport: - Is possible to buy ticket from driver on ​ ​ CITY BUS, but exact cash only: 150 dinar. ‘Nobody does this!’ and driver is confused, irritated, possible refuse to sell. ​ ​ - Passenger on CITY BUS needs ‘BusPlus’ plastic card, money loaded for ride cost. - NO BusPlus card sold anywhere at airport. - Belgrade City Tourist Information Center sells special type ‘Tourist BusPlus’ card, no limit use for 1/3/5 days. Keep receipt! These cards cannot be reloaded, time limit only. ​ ​ - For regular BusPlus plastic card go to 00:00-24:00 ‘Moj Kiosk’ or other name ​ ​ kiosk, and ask; if no language communication, use mobile to show card image; first cost is 250 dinars for card, more cost for rides; 500 dinars first recommended. - Not all kiosk sell BusPlus card. If no, try other kiosk until a kiosk sell BusPlus card. - DO NOT ride CITY BUS with no pay! Belgrade has ‘Control’ officers, disguised, to test passenger card, and no pay can result in fine/arrest!!! 3 4 - On entering CITY BUS there is no ‘fare box’, any entry door is used. Go to any electronic box and press card on lower part of box; 4 blue lights, cost will be taken from card, and card value displayed. Display available in Serbian and English. Sometimes box will not work. Continue effort when on bus. If completely not work, is ‘free ride’. But try when on CITY BUS. When card value is low, go to kiosk, give card and money to recharge. There will be paper receipt/record. Keep receipt! - CITY BUS ride from time of use of electronic box, is 90 minutes on any route. When change to new bus, press card on electronic box. In 90 minutes no cost. After 90 minutes is again new ride and there will be cost. - Serbian have PASS CARD/ID and don’t use electronic box; don’t think all else are ‘ride free’! Always use BusPlus card on electronic box! - BusPlus card works on bus, local train, trolley-bus, tram (streetcar), all surface transport. Mini-Bus (E#) use BusPlus but are more cost. - CITY BUS runs 04:30-22:30; 24:00/00:00-04:00 there are Night Lines 4 5 Bus, NO BusPlus card on Night Bus, cash only: 150-200 dinars. Night Lines are different routes than Day Lines. - Taxi, almost anywhere. Usual cost 400-700 dinars. NOTE! ‘Hailing’ a moving Taxi (waving arm, etc.) is NOT usual; Taxi is parked, stopped, in certain places, look, go to one and tell driver destination. It is custom to ride in front seat. - Taxi driver often know some languages; driver will often give mobile number to call for Taxi at other time. If share language, driver is good, good to call that Taxi when need. - Driving car: ‘Good Luck’! Link: http://www.tob.rs/tourist-organization-of-belgrade/a bout-us/tourist-information-centres Link: http://www.tob.rs/useful-informations/basic-inform ation/city-public-transport Link: http://www.gsp.co.rs/naslovna.aspx 5 6 Return Transport: - To airport, reverse; A1 BUS, Taxi (overcharge possible), CITY BUS 72. ​ ​ - Train Stations and International Bus Station are same as Arrive. While Tourist In Belgrade: - Walk! Serbs walk very much. It is normal, common. Explore by foot. - Surface transport, bus, tram, often VERY crowded. - Cash accepted everywhere, some places Card accepted, if not clear, ask first! Small bills, denomination, best; large bill (+500 dinar), many place have no change. - Street Name signs are not common and in Serbian. Mobile and Map App is important! - Number Addresses often not seen, missing. 6 7 - Directions from local people often not useful. WiFi/Internet: - Many cafe/restaurant has WiFi; ask key/password. Password usually Serbian language, staff can enter on device. Airport, train station, bus station, park, WiFi not reliable. May see public ‘WiFi’ sign; not reliable. - National Mobile WiFi often 3G or less; outside city sometimes not work at all. Mobile/Cell Phone: - If purchase Serbia SIM card, from store (MTS, VIP, Telenor), Passport, registration is requirement. SIM card is sold also at kiosk, no registration. This is ‘prepaid’ SIM ​ ​ card: ‘Pripajd’. One is MTS, easy buy at kiosk. SIM card cost 300 dinars, more cost for use; recharge/top-up at kiosk. Recommend purchase SIM card, install, activate, immediate buy 300 dinars 7 8 minimum. There is common selection ‘tourist’ and ‘promotion’ packages, these at carrier stores with Passport. Store staff often speak only Serbian, many words for mobile purchase, are technical, communication difficult. - No SIM card sold at airport. Purchase in city Center. Link: https://www.mts.rs/privatni/mobilna/pripejd/tarife Link: https://www.vipmobile.rs/privatni/ponuda/prepaid#f eatures1-z Link: https://www.telenor.rs/en/consumer/offer/tariff-pac kages/ Safety: - Belgrade is VERY safe city. Many places ​ appear ‘rough’ but truth are safe to walk any time day or night. There is much ‘graffiti’ and trash, but Belgrade is very physical safe. Is possible to encounter drunk or some loud ​ ​ people late, around bars, restaurant, but is not common, not dangerous. 8 9 - A person approach and talk is not ​ dangerous; it may appear strange but is ​ common. - Petty theft is possible. Keep valuable, ​ ​ mobile and computer close, always attended, no theft. Violent theft almost unknown, shocking, unbelievable, like Science Fiction. - Overcharge in bar or cafe is possible. Most ​ ​ place will have menu or cost list; if unsure look and see cost. Every place should provide paper ‘check/bill’. When ready to pay, wave for staff, say: ‘rachun’: ​ ​ ‘Rah-Tchoon’. - FOR WOMEN: Belgrade is very safe, any ​ time day or night. Women and men interact, talk, freely, very equal; is common. If there is unwanted touch react, yell, push, something, immediately! Such is totally ​ unacceptable and absolutely unaccepted. ​ ​ Serbian women and men do not accept such ​ ​ things, never. Note: transport often ​ ​ crowded; many people together. Contact ​ between men/women on transport. Don’t assume one is touched in wrong manner on transport, is almost always result of crowding. ‘Groping’ things are absolutely ​ unaccepted, NEVER!!! ​ 9 10 - Also for Women, alone: Is common for ​ Serbian women to do things alone, go to cafe, sit alone. Is common. No fear or discomfort doing social things alone. There may be approach, but usual by curious, interested people to meet ‘foreigner’. - Ethnicity/Race/Gender: Serbia is not ‘racist’ ​ ​ or other. Most ‘strange/rude behavior’ is result of curiosity, confusion, interest; many people don’t know tourist or stranger. Recent history of Serbia is kind of isolation, alone; and recent tourism of many people not-Serbian is still strange outside tourist area. Possible eyes-staring, strange approach, ‘rudeness’, like that, are confusion and interest. Serbian very direct, will ask, “What are you? Where are you from? Are you German/Chinese/English/etc.” Usual curious, fascinated. Very common. - Animals. Everywhere in Belgrade (and ​ ​ Serbia) is dogs and cats on street. These animals are not dangerous. If one has fear of dogs, this is understand, but Street Dogs are not dangerous. Possible will see chicken/rooster, goat/sheep sometimes around market on weekend; sometimes around market, horse/cow. 10 11 Food And Water: - Food and water is safe, ‘tap water’ is safe. Bottle water is everywhere sold, but not require for health. Ice: all; cube, etc. safe. - Supermarket, corner store, bodega, kiosk, is everywhere and safe. - Fresh market for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, eggs, are very good and cost low. - Market (Pijaca): Kalenic, Blok 44, Bajloni, ​ ​ Zeleni Velac, Zemun (Aman), and others. Internet Maps, enter title: ‘Pijaca Kalenic’; ‘Pijaca Blok 44’, etc. - These markets have ‘flea markets’, always in week and big on weekend.