Belgrade, Serbia | Pros & Cons of Living in this Big Bad Balkan Capital

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Today we talk pros and cons of living in Belgrade, Serbia.
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[@dekipet]

6:09 "it is not western Europe, but..." Belgrade (Serbia as a whole) is west for east, and east for the west. That is how both sides are watching us.

[@duerandaggi]

Also, south for north and north for south :-)

[@legendarymoviescenes1926]

as a Belgrade resident I absolutely love our weather. You get to feel the summer vibe for 2 months, you also get 25 days a year when its more like Siberia, not Serbia. And the rest is just functional, solid weather. I love it.

[@hi-gj2qi]

Lol it never gets as cold as Siberia and summer vibe isn't 2 months only.

[@RG.......]

Guys is end of December a good time to visit with family? Belgrade, Zlatibor etc? How's the situation otherwise regarding daily no of cases? Any talk of lockdown

[@legendarymoviescenes1926]

@@RG....... It all depends on how lucky you get with weather. It can be fine but it can also be really cold. The worst time to visit would be January or early February, cuz it will be cold then. Number of cases you can check online but its not all that bad. However if you wanna go to any cafe, restaurant or club after 20h you will need covid certificate. And btw Zlatibor is really overpriced. If youre looking for a skiing place 'Kopaonik' is superior (but expensive as well), and 'Divcibare' are a good, cheaper alternative. If you really wanna see the best of Serbia I recommend March October period. Especially if youre looking for a relatively cheap and cool place to stay at for a bit longer like 30 days kinda digital nomad style, then Belgrade is perfect, especially during/around summer. Great parties, lake beaches, riverwalks, events, and an overall great vibe. I know many people with good budget wanna reserve peak summer days for super cool places like Barcelona or Paris for example, in my opinion Belgrade is a perfect place to stay at for some time before or after 'the main attraction'. Just in case I didnt make myself clear enough: Belgrade is good enough to be the 'main dish', Im jsut saying if you have some other plans for summer, consider putting Belgrade in there.

[@SerbAtheist]

For taxis, the situation is simple: make sure the meter is on, make sure they have a TX extention on their plates and if you're a foreigner who's staying here long-term, make sure that you indicate the route you want to go through which will indicate to them that you are familiar with the layout of the city and cannot be scalped by the taxi taking a roundabout route.

[@magdalena3167]

Don't use the taxis at the airport!!!! Call a cab via application or via phone, ask a local at the airport to help you with this, but under no cost don't you go with taxis waiting at the airport! A friendly advise from a Serbian girl🙂❤

[@yourmajesty1630]

there is 3 dollar bus that will take you to slavia square called the A1. take that. then it easy to find a cab in slavia square or easy to find public transporation or even walk to your destination depening on where you are staying.

[@user-wy5wq5cg6i]

I do not agree about most of the cons. Taxis are generally (very) safe and only some of those at the airport might rip you off but it is easy to avoid unless you are very naive. Many will actually argue that there are too many of them, though it may happen after big events, sudden rain or late at night when clubs are closing that it is hard to get one. A ride on public transport is most expensive if you buy a ticket from the driver. When bought at a kiosk it is 90 dinars and is valid for next 90 minutes without paying anything after validated in the first bus/tram/trolly. You can change transport as many times as you need within 90 minutes, which is enough to take you anywhere in the city and even back.

[@duerandaggi]

I heard that was no longer the case, now you have to pay each ride, thank Vesic and his termites.

[@user-wy5wq5cg6i]

@@duerandaggi Only in the night shift, after midnight, when the number of lines and the frequency are reduced and it would be anyway hard to change. Day rides are 90 dinars, 90 minutes.

[@gary8306]

@@user-wy5wq5cg6i thanks very much for that useful information😊🇬🇧

[@pat2row]

I felt the wind 🌬 kosаva when I was riding a bike in Zemun back in November 2020. It’s not best time to visit, but Serbia was a rare country allowing 🇺🇸 passport holders to enter during Covid. Heading to Hungary 🇭🇺 in October and debating whether to cross border on bike to Subotica. It’s a wonderful place.

[@serbiatiapleteniceafricanb6508]

I Love it here! Serbia is Beautiful!

[@VoiceOfVoorhees]

Taxies are fine if you call a company and request a vehicle, don't get into any random taxi on the street. Also, rates are higher at night, that much is true.

[@hi-gj2qi]

The summers, yes they are very hot but it really depends, this summer has been really hot while the last one really wasn't. As for the winters, they keep getting warmer and warmer. The coldest temperature we got this year was minus 7 and last year minus 4 degrees which isn't bad at all.

[@erniesulovic4734]

A friend of mine in Nis said, you can guarantee by the calendar that every 12 (i think she said 12) years they get a very cold winter, and the rest are pretty ok.

[@yourmajesty1630]

very perceptive. i liked this vid and thought it was very thoughtful.

[@amineelamraoui3046]

Just subscribed .. I like your content. feels authentic and putting out good content. Keep it up!!

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

I appreciate that!

[@bingo737]

Really nice!

[@McVeljko]

Sometimes I wonder how do people travel and don't even know the name of the place they're visiting. The city is called Belgrade (Bell + grade) not Bell+grad. If you're trying to pronounce it as the locals do then it's Beo+grad. Cheers!

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

No one calls it Bel GRADE mate. cmon

[@McVeljko]

@@TalesFromTheRoad okay at first I just though it was a innocent mistake but now you`ve shown me ur just stupid. Google is free, maybe you should use it.

[@veljkoristic1027]

@@TalesFromTheRoad The city in English is called Bell + grade, sorry you are not right.

[@jonathang.3472]

@@TalesFromTheRoad You are right in American English it's pronounced Bell-grad in British English it's pronounced Bell-grade. Love the channel.😀

[@Brave2standalone]

U Americi se zove: BELGREJD - ako se pise foneticki. Znaci dosta PREPUCAVANJA glupostima!

[@slavakaza]

I really like your way of talking respectfully about things. Hard to believe you're American after watching all those ignorant American vloggers all over YT.

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

I try

[@Majorfatal1]

If you don't like airbnb you could use halooglasi and teke a flat for few days or month ...

[@marebalvan7963]

i really liked your videos about the macedonia and albania, i hope you enjoy your stay in serbia as well.

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

Thank you!

[@markovujanic3195]

I was in Serbia 3 years ago in February it was around 10-15 Celsius. I am from Maine, where during the day it can be 1 Celsius at night it can be -8 Celsius. I think Serbian winter is no problem for me lol.

[@vaguelyvagrant9694]

I really like Belgrade for all of the same pros. I didn't really have a problem with the taxi app. I think my biggest con would be that if you are a non-smoker you might be somewhat unhappy here. The smoking here seems much more noticeably pervasive (especially indoors) than almost any place I've been.

[@yourmajesty1630]

oh yeah, i forgot about the smoking. i wish that would change, but really change like less people did something so freaking crazy. i think the cigarettes they smoke are less toxic than in the west. but that will change. part of the war happening at all was about the west being able to bring their products like cigarettes to serbia and that will end up killing more people. hopefully more people stop and more people never start smoking.

[@yourmajesty1630]

i was surprised he did not mention smoking as a con. you can be bothered by smoke even in outdoor cafes depending on the direction of the wind. i know i was.

[@cipiripi7029]

Only I don't agree for a taxi. I have traveled all over Europe, currently living in England. I have never seen more taxi drivers than in Belgrade. Easy to stop on the streets, if called in 2-3 minutes they have already arrived. Relaxed atmosphere, music, always a good discussion in the car ... while in other countries with taxi drivers is strictly "business". No joking,no relaxation and everything is too sterile and by "law".

[@JoseBoy-ve5kb]

Serbia is very expensive nowadays! Nothing similar to what it was before. Jobs are very hard to find and low paying so if you don’t have money or work online this country is tough to survive in.

[@blackarow73]

It is not brutal winters in Belgrade. Summer are brutal, it is more then 40 Celsius in the shade.

we are a Orthodox not Catolic ...that is Church men

[@VojvodaSloboda]

Brother St. Sava is a Cathedral. Cathedral has nothing to do with Catholicism specifically.

[@pudnbug]

Very interesting comments. My approach to Serbia is that it has a very interesting folk culture, music and dancing. I can't imagine being interested in Serbia without being interested in that. But I can understand people being attracted to it because of the (comparatively) low prices.

[@erniesulovic4734]

Serbia unlike many other countries, from a foreigner looking in and moving there soon, is they have kept their culture largely intact. Australia, where i live now has lost its culture with all the immigrants from 3rd world countries having moved here in such large numbers to where the white person hardly exists in comparison. It has become so bad in Oz that they want to move Australia Day and the list just goes on and on and now with lock-downs, Sydney is one of the worst-hit cities in the world, not by the pandemic yet rather by the politicians and the taking away of our freedoms. Re weather, again, come to Australia to know what hot means.......Serbia's heat is very different. It is a less direct heat and not as strong as the Aussie hot summer. The winters in Serbia are colder than Sydney yet we also have parts in Oz where it snows. Whether it is the ozone layer, which apparently is repaired over Oz that makes a difference, I don't know. My experience with taxi's in Serbia are that they are safe yet will rip you off if they know they can get away with it, so make sure you ask a few cabbies first for an approx amt. If they wont give you an approx amt to your destination, say, no worries and move to the next one. If you know the price and they give you one that is vastly different, move to the next one and repeat until you know you have an ethical cabbie. I call it doing your research. I once got a taxi in Belgrade to a hotel to which the hotel told me was to cost 300-400 dinars and I ended up paying literally 10x. From then on, I worked out how to sus them out. The once bitten, twice shy worked hehehe So just ask a few drivers first, even if you know the approx price to ensure you have a good taxi driver.

[@boodog4023]

Great post. I went to school in Oz and am grateful for the experience, but though I often wondered over the years what it would have been like if I had somehow stayed--I am now glad I didn't. I think when the gun confiscation took place my intuition told me to move back where I could still be armed.

[@Ben_____777]

Would you move back to Belgrade? I’m looking to leave Sydney for the political reasons you mentioned.

[@erniesulovic4734]

@@Ben_____777 I was born in Sydney and am moving to Nis, not Belgrade.. My Mrs is in Nis and love the city :-)

[@yourmajesty1630]

the white people in australia are the immigrants so in all fairness they should be a minority.

[@Komentariram]

That is not center of Belgrade, its 3 km from center, as you said your self on 1:09 that area is called Vračar, and its not in city center at all :)

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

its very close. cmon.

[@Komentariram]

@@TalesFromTheRoad I do agree that Belgrade historic center has a wide range, but trust me NO ONE says lets meet at city center and than meets at St. Sava Church :) That is like 20 minutes walk or 6 bus stops from the center. City center in Belgrade is Republic square called Trg Republike or as people here call it ,, at the hourse "

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

@@Komentariram fair point

[@Komentariram]

@@nicosoren294 Horse*

[@duerandaggi]

The eternal civil war between Vracar and Stari Grad about who gets to be the "real" center :-) One is historic and the other one is geographic, due to the city's position on two rivers. PS Mnogo ste bre naporni, narode.

[@goransukovic8703]

Well... To me, all sounds like a pros.

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

cmon man, its the center. its not knez mihalova, but close enough

[@zoki.to974]

well, i find it that you got 3 pros and 2 cons... we all agree on taxi, there is scumbags who rip off people, but last one i cannot accept as a con.

[@leneekay1]

Great to know the pros, and cons, thanks. How hot is hot may I ask? Because if coming from Malaysia (S.E.A) we have very HOT weather...😁

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

Not hotter than Malaysia of course

[@leneekay1]

@@TalesFromTheRoad Thanks 😄🙏

[@duerandaggi]

On a hot day, and especially evening, it is remarkably cooler down by the rivers. One more reason to go down and enjoy. (I am usually there in summer, that's how I know. I've been there a couple of times in winter, it can be really cold but it can also be surprisingly mild.) Great video, I can tell you are expert in figuring out a new place and giving a very honest and realistic view, thank you!

[@Imhim247]

Hey! There's anyway I can reach out to you? I want to talk with you one on one about Serbia. Wonderful video!

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

you can contact me on _talesfromtheroad_ instagram

[@Imhim247]

@@TalesFromTheRoad Thanks! I will send you a message today. My name is Steven. Just to make sure you got this contract from me

[@tavon.]

I found this summer to be hotter than normal in Belgrade. There are definitely hotter places tho in the region. What’s next on your to cover plans for Serbia?

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

Golubac, Novi Sad, Subotica and Sombor

[@tavon.]

@@TalesFromTheRoad great choices. Be sure to get to the top of city hall for the view in Subotica. And also add in Palic with Subotica.

[@Brave2standalone]

Belgrade is getting to be a metropolitan European city, however, it's still 'walkable' place so why would you ever need a cab? And wherever you reside in BG almost everything is practically 'down the street' from you. Did you ever try living in LA - if you have you would appreciate the quality of life in BG? I prefer living in a smaller town with some natural attractions (Serbia has many) over large metropolises, like LA, NYC, Chicago, or most European capitals, including Belgrade - and I'm BG native. Once I retire I will avoid big cities like a plague!

[@yourmajesty1630]

if you were older and had bad knees you would understand needing taxis sometimes.

[@pinetworkminer8377]

Has Belgrade changed tremendously over the past few years/decade? In other words, are the changes very noticeable?

[@DeusVeritas2]

Belgrade is actually not in 'the heart of the Balkans' - it's actually on the northern edge of the Balkan Peninsula. Danube river is the borderline between Central Europe and the Balkans stretching from the Black Sea to the confluence with river Sava at Belgrade. River Sava then continues the Balkan's border westward for a while.

[@PetarMi]

Saint Sava is not a cathedral, it is an Orthodox church. Cathedrals are Catholic religious buildings

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

its a big church cmon

[@peraperic9936]

it is not a church, it is temple.

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

@@peraperic9936 tomatoe tomato

[@duerandaggi]

The usual bitch is that it's not a church but a temple :-), so it's funny how cathedral gets "corrected" to church :-) Temple, church, cathedral, whatever, let's try to relax.

[@redflower2827]

Acually it is true that in Serbian word "katedrala" is used only for big and special type of Catholic churches and "saborna crkva/hram" for big and special type of Ortodox churches but in English word Cathedral is used for any big Christian church.

[@blackarow73]

Sveti Sava cathedral is not a centar of Belgrade

[@voskreglavincevska3651]

I await the end of this pandemic ! My Belgrade , wait for me !

[@lindalinda3131]

Belgrade will forever in my heart.. the first time i saw snow was in Belgrade. I was so excited for my first winter because i come from tropical country Indonesia. the city is so beautiful. esp the old buildings. hope someday i can visit Serbia again. in a different season

[@coughforme21]

Which area is the cool bar / cool cafes / cool clubs area of Belgrade? I want to live there.

[@yourmajesty1630]

there are hundreds of cool cafes and etc there. almost everyplace feels cool depending on what part of the city you are in and if you like what you ordered and are in good company, or make good company for yourself. the cafe bar club scene is very hopping, it is hopping everywhere where the town is energized by population. you will have a good time

[@coughforme21]

@@yourmajesty1630 Thanks, man. Any idea which is the busiest cafe, with the most energy on or near the main shopping promenade in the center? I want the one with tons of beautiful women, always busy etc.

[@koolihgaydaquigan4208]

❤

[@kentprince4851]

Wouldnt public transport be cheaper than taxi, just asking

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

Sure of course

[@yourmajesty1630]

if you have wifi you can just type in the address you are going to and you will get the number of the bus/busses or trams and where to get them. going around the city can be really cheap this way. and the trams and busses are frequent

[@kentprince4851]

@@yourmajesty1630 Thanks. What is living in novi sad like? What are the most popular areas to live? Close to the centre? Close to university, shopping?

[@pexonifikacija]

🇷🇸❤️☦️✝️🙏🏻

[@heyheyhophop]

Getting mugged in taxis?! Local folks, can someone shed a bit of light on this practice?

[@Bokicazver]

Totaly NOT TRUE! Some of the taxis will try to take advantage of you, but DEFINITELY, they are not criminals! You are safe in a taxi, no need to worry...I never heard that somebody is mugged in a taxi. You have here on KZbin many videos about safety in Belgrade and Serbia, and you will not find anything about mugging anywhere...

[@heyheyhophop]

@@Bokicazver Thanks a lot, cheers from St Petersburg! Hope we'll visit one day

[@tipr8739]

Craziest thing about Serbia… everyone speaks SPANISH ?!? wtf? Yeah they used to get Spanish telenovelas in the 90s and 2000s lol. Blew my mind speaking to people in spanish in sombor serbia lol

[@severforever6251]

I speak português because i was lived in Brazil 😁

[@pinetworkminer8377]

Huh? One of the comments on a Nomad Capitalist video about Eastern Europe said Serbians are very fluent in English. Did I get the wrong idea or what?

[@s.obilic8830]

Belgrade ♥️🇷🇸💯🍻

[@blackarow73]

Five to ten beautiful cities 3-4 hours driving. Which 5 - 10 cities!?!?!?

[@Bokicazver]

Take look at the map...

[@mikevarga6742]

Just ask that your fries are well done. They always make fries pretty limp llol

[@aliy986]

I hear in serbia you will see men 6'8/2m+ tall every day. is this true?

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

Very very tall people here!

[@aliy986]

@@TalesFromTheRoad Wow.. so you see 2m+/6ft8 or taller every day? 2.10m/7ft?? I am curious

[@SerbAtheist]

Average male height in Serbia is 5ft 11in, i.e. 180cm. You see a lot of men around 190cm or so. Men over 2m are relatively rare, but definitely not unusual or unheard of, like in places where the average height is lower. There's certainly enough of them to form a decent basketball team.

[@aliy986]

@@SerbAtheist Oh interesting.. which towns would you see lots of 2m+ then? You dont see 1-2 a day?

[@aliy986]

@@janakolasinac1686 Is Prijepolje a tall town?

[@worldeater1498]

Serbians aren’t fat because most of our food is locally sourced and not GMO or riddled with chemicals. Also we as a people are very active, walk everywhere and are taller so it’s harder to get fatter.

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

That’s very fair!

[@sifeij]

wearing a baseball hat backwards, ha, definitely Americans. 😄

[@MYZTICTRAVLER]

I have watched nearly a dozen videos about this country at this point. They all say the same thing about the lack of diversity in Serbia as compared to other major cities. To hear and see that (I have only seen white people in each video) is a warning and not a "Con." Or maybe I just need to watch a couple hundred videos to finally see some actual diversity in Serbia????

[@TalesFromTheRoad]

Look, the Balkans are very diverse but if your looking at diversity only in the basis of skin color, you’re not going to find it as immigration is not super high from other parts of the world. If you go to Nigeria and China you’ll also see the same situation. Diversity is much deeper than skin color.

[@SerbAtheist]

What the hell do you want from us? Serbia simply never had any substantial contact with sub-Saharan nations. So now it's our fault we never enslaved and colonized enough Africans to make the streets of Belgrade look like an American college brochure?

[@richardm893]

"schlep it"? Oy Vey!

[@socprmbo1321]

Knez Mihajlova street is not representing Belgrade, Belgrade is not representing Serbia but Serbia is my Country and i love it because Serbia is much more than this . People should know the History, so they can better understand Our Nation and give final judgement.

[@SteveRadich1928]

Beat thing out of beograd is the road to Croatia.