Is Serbia Safe for Solo Female Travellers? My Honest Experience (as a Black Woman)

Is Serbia Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

I was recently asked, “Is Serbia safe for solo female travellers?” a fair question that I am often asked via my DMs Instagram when I share something about Serbia. And my answer was and will always be yes, Serbia is safe for solo female travellers. The people are so kind friendly and super welcoming and everyone just minds their business. All things I love about people. I didn’t once feel unsafe, nor did I ever feel that people were rude or even watching me. It’s like I was just a Black woman travelling and exploring the world (I talk about this a little more below and in my Serbia itinerary, which I have linked below).

In fact, I would say that Serbia is so safe that you can even go solo as a Black woman walk around at night by yourself and feel really welcomed if you go and do a Serbia solo travel week or weekend there.

Not many people I know have Serbia on their bucket list. However, I am seeing more and more people go and do a Serbia solo travel week or weekend there and I love it. Now I know that not everyone will be expecting to do Serbia solo, but honestly, going to Serbia solo is truly a dream; it has the most stunning views I have seen, and if you love nature, I would highly recommend it. Being able to go up to the mountains to experience the snow was just the perfect end to my trip.

This post is my honest, detailed answer to the safety question, specifically walking alone at night, getting transport, how I was treated as a Black woman, and practical safety Serbia travel tips. If you want the full Serbia itinerary, or are looking for an adventure in Serbia then you have come to the right place. This post includes where I stayed, what I ate, and how to get around, that’s all in my Solo in Serbia Winter Travel Guide.

So, Is Serbia Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

Yes. I felt genuinely safe the entire time, in Belgrade solo travelling and in Zlatibor. I even took the bus by myself for three hours from Belgrade to Zlatibor and everyone was friendly. Serbia doesn’t see huge numbers of tourists compared to somewhere like Croatia or more now Montenegro, and even fewer Black tourists, which is exactly part of why I wanted to go. I wanted to see Serbia for myself rather than go off travel assumptions, which is what a lot of people do when they don’t go and see it for themselves.

People were curious about me at times, but never in a way that felt unsafe or rude. A child introduced himself and waved at me with pure genuine innocence. Which makes me smile when I write this to you now. A woman told me I was beautiful, like actually came up and said it directly to me.

Hotel and restaurant staff were consistently kind and helpful and I wasn’t stared at, nor was I ever followed, and I will be very honest and say that I didn’t once receive a single comment that made me uncomfortable.

While getting the coach from Belgrade to Zlatibor, I left my camera and selfie stick on the coach and actually thought I would never see it again like if that was in most places I would fully except to never to see my items again. However all my items were returned to me the next morning with everything intact. That single moment should tell you a lot about how safe the country truly is.

Is It Safe to Walk Alone at Night in Belgrade?

Yes, Belgrade solo travel as night and walking around central city of Belgrade alone at night is super easy and I personally felt on several occasions that I was completely comfortable doing it. The streets felt well used, the architecture is super modern, well lit in the central areas, and I never had a moment where I felt on edge. As with any city, I’d still say stick to central, populated areas late at night rather than wandering into quiet residential streets you don’t know. And I wouldn’t even walk really early hours at night in London let alone anywhere I haven’t been before.

Is Serbia Safe for Black Women Specifically?

This was genuinely one of my own questions for myself before going, and as it says in the title of this page or blog post it’s a question that is fair to ask and one that I hope I have answered with my own experience already and will continue to do so below;

Serbia isn’t a country where Black travellers are common, so I do get it when people do have concerns. I mentioned earlier that I did get looks of curiosity, it was never hostile, and I never once experienced the latter. No stares that felt uncomfortable, no racial slurs, which I have experienced in many countries including the UK and certainly no negative comments. What I got instead was warmth, genuine interest, kindness, and a few really sweet interactions with locals which I have already spoken on, including children.

If you’re a Black woman weighing up whether Serbia solo travel is worth it the (admittedly slightly nervous) leap, my honest answer is: it’s worth it. Serbia is an underrated destinations that as Black women we deserve to be in because in my opinion we need to see ourselves in places we haven’t grown up seeing ourselves in, and take up more room and space around the world and in particular countries we are not expected to.

If you want more destinations with real, honest safety experiences from a Black woman’s perspective, I’ve also written:

• 16 Best Countries for Black Women to Solo Travel (Safe & Real Experiences)
• Solo in Serbia Winter Travel Guide for 6 Amazing Days in Belgrade, Zlatibor & More 
• A Braver Solo Traveller: 10 Books for Solo Travellers
• Kosovo Travel Guide: 4 Days, What to Expect, Where to Stay, Eat & Travel Safely
• A Travel Guide: Dubrovnik, Croatia
• 6 Top Tips for Crossing Borders Around the World

Is Public Transport Safe in Serbia?

Yes, I mentioned earlier that public transport is easy to navigate and it’s also refreshingly easy to use. Buses in Belgrade are free, trams are simple to also navigate, and Google Maps works reliably for most routes. It’s worth noting again that there’s no Uber, but there is a metered taxi that you can use (I rarely used these, only when going back to the Belgrade airport) but they are inexpensive and easy to flag or book. Travelling between cities, I went from Belgrade to Zlatibor, which was around three hours away, by coach felt straightforward and safe, with clean, well run stations.

Is Serbia Safe for Solo Female Travellers Doing Day Trips?

Yes. I booked a few guided day trip and would say that there are a lot of day trips from Belgrade Serbia that you can actually do through Viator. This amazing set of day trips from Belgrade Serbia was a trip to Eastern Serbia which included Resava Cave, Krupaj Springs and the Lisine Waterfall. A key Serbia travel tips I can share is to do one where you will meet other people.

This day trip in Serbia felt completely safe travelling with a small group of strangers I’d never met. Guided day trips from Belgrade Serbia are a good option if you are looking for adventure in Serbia and you want a built in company that you can rely on with structure and without giving up your independence.

Practical Serbia Travel Tips

• Entry requirements: British, American, and Canadian citizens can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in 180 days, making logistics simple. Always double check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website if your nationality isn’t covered.
• Cash and cards: Cards are accepted almost everywhere, especially in Belgrade, but carry some Serbian dinar (RSD) for taxis or rural areas.
• Language: Serbian is the main language, but English is widely spoken, especially in Belgrade, so communication isn’t a barrier.
• Solo-friendly accommodation: I stayed in central, well-reviewed hotels in both Belgrade and Zlatibor, which made a real difference to how safe and comfortable I felt getting around, especially after dark.
• Government travel advice: Before any trip, I always check the UK Foreign Travel Advice page for the latest updates specific to your nationality.
• Trust your instincts: As with anywhere, general solo travel safety rules apply, share your location with someone, avoid flashing valuables, and keep your usual street smarts switched on. Serbia felt safe, but “safe” doesn’t mean “switch your brain off.”

Final Views: Is Serbia Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

The whole point of me going on a trip to Serbia was really for me to travel to Serbia and just see how it really was and one thing I can honestly share with you is that it was one of the most comfortable, welcoming solo trips I’ve had, and I say that as a Black woman travelling somewhere with very little representation or first-hand accounts online of Black people going and saying I’m going to travel and have an adventure in Serbia.

I wasn’t stared at, and I am so happy now that I can share Serbia travel tips with you so that you can decided if you actually want to go yourself. All the day trips from Belgrade Serbia I did were truly amazing and I would do them again in a heart beat.

If you’re on the fence about your adventure in Serbia solo, take it from me: just go. It’s affordable, easy to get around, and full of hidden gems most people overlook.

Want the full breakdown of where I stayed, what I ate, and my complete 6-day itinerary? Read my Solo in Serbia Winter Travel Guide next.

What questions do you have about visiting Serbia solo? Drop them in the comments, or DM me on Instagram or TikTok happy to help.

Debs MBV x