Best Day Trips From Belgrade by Car (With Driving Times and What to See)

Why Belgrade is the Perfect Base for Road Trips

Belgrade gets a lot of attention as a destination in its own right, and fair enough — the fortress, the nightlife, the food. But what most visitors don’t realise is how good the country is outside the capital. Serbia has mountain national parks, medieval monasteries, riverside fortress ruins, and wine country, all within a couple of hours by car.

The problem is that public transport to most of these places is slow, infrequent, or both. A hire car changes everything. You can leave at 8am, spend a full day somewhere brilliant, and be back in Belgrade for dinner. Car hire in Belgrade is straightforward — pickup at the city centre or the airport, plenty of reputable companies, and roads that are generally in decent shape once you get out of the urban sprawl.

Here are five day trips from Belgrade that are genuinely worth doing — with real driving times, what to see, and the tips you’d only get from someone who’s actually been.

1. Novi Sad — 90km, About 1 Hour

Novi Sad is Serbia’s second city and honestly the easiest day trip from Belgrade on this list. You jump on the A1 motorway heading north, pay a small toll, and you’re there in about an hour depending on where you’re staying in Belgrade.

What to See

The main attraction is Petrovaradin Fortress — this thing sits up on a cliff above the Danube and the views back over the city are excellent. It’s where the EXIT music festival happens every July, which tells you it’s a pretty dramatic setting. Walk around the tunnels, visit the city museum inside, and grab a coffee at one of the cafes on the ramparts.

Down below, the Novi Sad old town is pleasant and compact. The pedestrian street (Zmaj Jovina) has good cafes and restaurants. The city has a reputation for being more relaxed and cosmopolitan than Belgrade, with a big student population and a noticeable Hungarian influence (it’s close to the Hungarian border).

If you’re into wine, the Fruška Gora hills between Novi Sad and Belgrade are covered in wineries. Route 95 through this area is one of the nicer drives in Serbia — stop at a winery for a tasting on the way back to Belgrade in the afternoon.

Best Season

Good year-round, but summer is peak season (EXIT Festival runs in July — book accommodation way ahead if visiting then). Spring and autumn are lovely for the Fruška Gora wineries.

Tips

• Petrovaradin Fortress is on the east bank of the Danube — the old town is on the west. Most people park near the old town and take a short walk or taxi up to the fortress.
• If you combine with Sremski Karlovci (see below), they’re only 12km apart — easy to do both in one day.
• Fuel up in Belgrade before you go — prices are similar, but good to start with a full tank.

2. Sremski Karlovci — 80km, About 1 Hour

Sremski Karlovci is smaller and quieter than Novi Sad, but in some ways more interesting as a day trip because it feels less touristy. It’s a small baroque town on the Danube — pretty main square, historic wine cellars, and a famous honey shop that’s been operating for generations.

What to See

The Four Lions Fountain on the main square is the postcard image of Karlovci, but the real reason to come is wine. The area produces some of the best Serbian wines — Bermet (a local sweet wine) is the speciality, and has been since the 18th century when it was served on the Titanic (yes, really). Visit Rajska Pivnica or one of the small private cellars to taste and buy.

The town also has a nice little Orthodox cathedral, a couple of small museums, and a riverfront promenade. It’s easy to walk the whole thing in a couple of hours, which is why combining it with Novi Sad makes sense.

Best Season

Autumn is ideal — harvest season, the vineyards are active, and the weather is still good. But it’s a pleasant stop any time of year.

Tips

• Sremski Karlovci is tiny — you won’t need more than half a day here. Perfect for a morning stop before heading to Novi Sad.
• Buy a bottle of Bermet to take home. It’s not expensive and it travels well.

3. Golubac Fortress — 110km, About 1.5 Hours

This one is a bit further and a different kind of trip — more dramatic, more remote, and genuinely impressive. Golubac Fortress sits right on the bank of the Danube where the river enters the Iron Gates gorge. The fortress walls literally rise from the water, medieval towers reflected in the river, with the gorge stretching off into the distance behind it.

What to See

The fortress itself is the thing — it was recently restored and you can walk through the towers and along the walls. The setting does a lot of the work: the Danube is wide and fast here, and the views into the Iron Gates gorge are dramatic. If you have binoculars, you can sometimes see the Romanian side of the river.

The drive there is also worth doing for its own sake. The road follows the Danube south-east from Belgrade through Smederevo (another old fortress town, 40km from Belgrade) and then along the river into increasingly wild countryside.

Best Season

Spring and autumn are best for this one — summer gets very hot in the gorge, and winter can be grey. April and October are ideal.

Tips

• Stop at Smederevo Fortress on the way — it’s right off the road and takes only 45 minutes to walk around. One of the largest medieval fortresses in the Balkans.
• There’s a good restaurant at the Golubac fortress itself, but it gets busy on weekends. Go early or bring your own lunch.
• The road from Belgrade to Golubac (via Smederevo) is not a motorway — two lanes most of the way. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.

4. Tara National Park — 180km, About 2.5 Hours

Tara is the furthest trip on this list but it’s worth the drive if you want to see Serbian countryside at its most impressive. The national park covers forested mountains in western Serbia, and the viewpoint above the Drina River canyon — Banjska Stena — is one of the most photographed spots in Serbia. It’s the one with the tiny wooden house perched on a rock in the middle of a river bend. You’ve probably seen it in photos.

What to See

The Drina River canyon viewpoints are the headline act. Banjska Stena is the famous one, but there are several others along the ridge road through the park. The forests here are old-growth spruce and fir — if you’re visiting in summer, it’s noticeably cooler up here than in Belgrade.

The nearby town of Bajina Bašta is the main base for the area — pleasant small town on the Drina, good place for lunch. The river here is exceptionally clear and fast.

Best Season

Late spring (May-June) and autumn (September-October) are the best times. Summer is popular and the roads through the park can get busy. Winter is beautiful but the mountain roads can be icy — check conditions before you go.

Tips

• This is a long day if you’re doing it from Belgrade. Leave early (7-8am) and plan to drive back in the evening.
• The road through the park is narrow and winding — budget extra time for the last section.
• It pairs well with Mokra Gora (the Sargan 8 railway is nearby) if you want a two-day trip and are willing to stay overnight.

5. Studenica Monastery — 200km, About 2.5 Hours

Studenica is Serbia’s most important medieval monastery — UNESCO World Heritage listed, founded in the 12th century by Stefan Nemanja, the founder of the Serbian medieval state. It’s not a tourist attraction in the flashy sense; it’s a working monastery in a quiet valley, and the experience of being there is genuinely moving for most people who make the trip.

What to See

The monastery complex has two main churches — the Church of the Virgin and the King’s Church. Both have 12th and 13th century frescoes that are considered some of the finest medieval painting in the Balkans. The marble walls of the Church of the Virgin are unusual and beautiful. Monks still live and work here — be respectful of that.

The valley around Studenica is peaceful and pretty. The road in follows a small river through forested hills.

Best Season

Good year-round, but avoid visiting on major Orthodox religious holidays if you want a quieter experience — it gets packed on feast days. Weekdays are generally quieter than weekends.

Tips

• Studenica is 200km from Belgrade but the last 15km are on a narrower road into the valley — allow 2.5 to 3 hours total.
• Dress appropriately for a monastery visit — shoulders and knees covered. There are scarves available at the entrance if you forget.
• Combine with Čačak or Kraljevo for lunch on the way back — both are pleasant small cities with good local restaurants.

Practical Tips for Day Trips From Belgrade by Car

A few things that will make these trips go more smoothly:

• Fuel: Serbia uses unleaded 95 and diesel — both widely available. Fill up in Belgrade before heading out, especially for the longer trips. Prices are roughly similar to most of Western Europe.
• Tolls: The A1 motorway (Belgrade-Novi Sad direction) has tolls — bring cash (Serbian dinars) or check if your hire car has an electronic toll device. Most day trips don’t involve major toll roads.
• Roads: Main roads are generally fine. Secondary roads can be rougher — a standard saloon car is fine for all destinations on this list, though some mountain roads to Tara are narrow.
• Navigation: Google Maps works well in Serbia. Download offline maps before you go in case of patchy signal in rural areas.
• Driving licence: Your home country driving licence is valid in Serbia. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended but rarely asked for.

If you’re planning multiple day trips, it often makes sense to hire a car for several days rather than single-day rentals. Check out our Belgrade car hire page for current rates and available vehicles. If you’re also considering Croatia for part of your trip, crocarhire.com covers cross-border rentals from Serbia into Croatia and back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an international driving licence for Serbia?

Your national driving licence is technically valid in Serbia if it’s in the Latin alphabet. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended as a backup, especially for police checkpoints on rural roads, but in practice most visitors drive without one without any issues.

How far is Novi Sad from Belgrade by car?

Novi Sad is about 90km from Belgrade via the A1 motorway. The drive takes around 1 hour in normal traffic — it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Belgrade.

Can I hire a car in Belgrade and drive to other countries?

Many car hire companies allow cross-border travel to neighbouring countries (Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, North Macedonia) but you need to declare this at pickup and get the right insurance documentation. Always confirm with your hire company before you go. Some companies restrict or charge extra for cross-border rentals.

What is the speed limit on Serbian motorways?

130 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 80 km/h on other roads outside built-up areas, and 50 km/h in towns. Speed cameras are common on major routes — stick to the limits.

Is it safe to drive in Serbia?

Serbia is generally a safe country to drive in. The main hazards are the same as most of Europe: rural roads can be narrow and winding, overtaking trucks on two-lane roads requires patience, and some local drivers are enthusiastic. Stick to well-lit urban areas at night if you’re not confident on unfamiliar roads. The A1 motorway network is modern and well-maintained.