How safe is Serbia for travelers?

Crime

• Violent crime against visitors is rare and Belgrade is a comfortable city to walk at night by European standards.
• Pickpocketing happens in crowds and at the bus and train stations.
• Taxi overcharging is the standard complaint - see the airport section, and use CarGo in the city.

Sensitive subjects

• Kosovo is not a neutral topic. Serbs do not accept its independence, and calling it a country in conversation will land badly.
• The 1990s wars and the 1999 NATO bombing are living memory and the damaged buildings in central Belgrade are deliberately left standing.
• You are not obliged to have an opinion. Listening is fine; arguing is not useful.

Demonstrations

• Large protests occur in Belgrade and are usually peaceful. Walk away from any that is not.

Roads

• Serbian road safety is poor by EU standards and overtaking on two-lane roads is the specific danger.