Getting to Belgrade for the football

Fly into Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG), about 18km west of the centre. London has direct flights of roughly 2h45; from Manchester you connect through a European hub such as Vienna or Munich, or reposition to a London airport. City transport is free, so ride bus 72 in, then tram 9, 10 or 14 out to the ground. Away fans sit in the South Stand, and for England games that means blocks 6-7 (Football Ground Guide, Stadium Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

London has daily direct flights to Belgrade of under three hours, so from the south it is a simple nonstop (Wizz Air). Manchester has no direct service (KAYAK), so northern fans weigh a one-stop through a European hub against repositioning to London for the nonstop. Every route ends the same way: free bus 72 into the centre, then tram 9, 10 or 14 out to Trg Oslobodenja by the ground. Costs are estimates and swing hard with fixture dates.

Getting into Belgrade from the airport

Belgrade has one airport, Nikola Tesla (BEG), roughly 18km west of the centre. The free option is public bus line 72, which runs to Zeleni Venac near the centre. It is part of the city network and, since January 2025, free. It runs from around 04:00 to just after midnight and takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic (Nomadic Backpacker).

The faster public option is the A1 express minibus, which runs to Slavija Square near the centre in about 30 minutes. It is not part of the free network, so pay 400 RSD in cash to the driver (Belgrade Card).

For taxis, use the official airport taxi desk in the arrivals hall to get a fixed-price voucher for your zone before you leave the terminal, and avoid drivers who tout inside. There are ATMs in the arrivals hall for dinars on landing (Belgrade Card).

Arriving by train

The main station is now Beograd Centar, known locally as Prokop, in Savski Venac about 3km south of the old town. All Belgrade trains have used it since the old Orient Express station closed on 30 June 2018 (Seat61).

Prokop sits away from the centre and is not an easy walk. City bus 36 runs a circular route linking Beograd Centar with the old station roughly every 20 minutes, and is free. A taxi to the centre, for example Hotel Moskva, is about 11 minutes and roughly 600 RSD (Seat61).

Getting around the city and out to the ground

All Belgrade buses, trams and trolleybuses have been free for everyone since 1 January 2025, with no tickets or passes needed. The match ticket makes no difference because the whole network is already free. The only paid exceptions are the E-line express minibuses and the A1 airport shuttle (EU Urban Mobility Observatory).

The Rajko Mitic stadium is about 3.5km south of the centre. Trams 9, 10 and 14 all run towards Banjica. Get off at Trg Oslobodenja (Oslobodjenja) just after the E-75 motorway, then walk a few minutes to the ground. Tram 9 starts at the main railway station, tram 10 from the historic centre, and tram 14 from Tasmajdan Park (Stadium Guide).

Alternatives are trolleybus 40 from Takovska west of the centre, or 41 from Studentski trg in the centre. In good weather it is a walkable roughly 25-minute stroll from St Sava church (Stadium Guide).

Where to stay

Most visiting fans base themselves centrally around Republic Square (Trg Republike) and the Stari Grad old town, the busiest part of the city and dense with bars and places to eat, an easy tram or walk from the ground (Football Ground Guide). Savamala and the area around St Sava also put you within a short tram ride of the ground and close to the nightlife, without paying the top old-town rates.

At the ground and the away end

Red Star's home is the Rajko Mitic Stadium, nicknamed Marakana, opened in 1963. Domestic capacity is around 53,000, dropping to about 49,000 all-seater for UEFA matches. Its record crowd is listed as 116,000 against Ferencvaros on 23 April 1975 (Wikipedia).

Visiting supporters are housed in the South Stand, and for England games in blocks 6-7, close to the home fans, with steep seating and heavy use of flares, smoke bombs and fireworks. The address is Ljutice Bogdana 1a, Dedinje (Stadium Guide). Get there early, expect thorough searches, and note that beer inside the ground is typically low or zero alcohol.

Where to drink

Belgrade is cheap for a pint. A beer in a normal bar runs around 250 to 330 RSD, roughly £2 to £2.50, with craft and imports a little more (Expatistan).

• Three Carrots (Kneza Milosa 16): Irish-style pub popular with visiting supporters, shows the football, English spoken (Football Ground Guide).
• Spasicev Pub (Nikole Spasica 1): central, close to Republic Square, a reliable pre-match meeting point for away fans (Football Ground Guide).
• The United Pub (Stari Grad): sports bar in the old town, big screens and a crowd on matchdays (Football Ground Guide).
• Tri Sesira (Skadarska, Skadarlija): traditional kafana with live folk music, rakija and hearty food, good for a slower afternoon (Culture Trip).
• Dva Jelena (Skadarska, Skadarlija): the other landmark tavern on the cobbled bohemian street, food and music, a short walk from Republic Square (Culture Trip).

Keep colours discreet near the ground and around the home end. There is a history of tension around visiting supporters, so avoid drinking right by the stadium in obvious away kit and stay with your group.

Where to eat

The dishes to try are cevapi, small grilled minced-meat sausages served with flatbread, onions and kajmak, and pljeskavica, a large spiced meat patty like a Serbian burger. Both are cheap, filling and everywhere (Beyond Belgrade).

• Sarajevski cevap "To je to": family-run grill known for generous, affordable cevapi and cevapcici, a solid quick feed (Restaurant Guru).
• Republic Grill (central): pljeskavica cooked fresh to order, one of the better burger patties in the centre (Beyond Belgrade).
• Bela Reka: Serbian country cooking in the centre, recognised by Michelin for national cuisine, a good sit-down option (Michelin Guide).
• Manufaktura (near Republic Square): modern takes on traditional recipes, Serbian ingredients, small plates and grills, lively terrace (Jetset Times).
• Tri Sesira (Skadarlija): the classic kafana experience, grilled meats, sarma and live music (Culture Trip).

What to do

• Kalemegdan and Belgrade Fortress: the historic fortress at the meeting of the Sava and Danube, with a big free park, ramparts and river views (Serbia Travel).
• Temple of Saint Sava: one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, free to enter, the dominant landmark on the skyline (Humbo).
• Skadarlija: the cobbled bohemian quarter of kafanas and street art, a ten-minute walk from the fortress (Culture Trip).
• Nikola Tesla Museum: personal items and interactive exhibits on Serbia's most famous inventor, central and worth an hour (MIR Corp).
• Military Museum: inside the fortress, tracing Serbian and Yugoslav military history, with hardware displayed along the ramparts (Serbia Travel).
• Knez Mihailova street: the main pedestrian drag from the fortress to Republic Square, shops, cafes and buskers, the spine of the old town (MIR Corp).
• Republic Square and the old town: the central meeting point, close to the bars, the National Museum and the National Theatre (Football Ground Guide).

Common questions

How do I get from Belgrade airport to the stadium?

Take free bus 72 or the paid A1 minibus into the centre, about 30 to 40 minutes, then switch to tram 9, 10 or 14 towards Banjica and get off at Trg Oslobodenja, a few minutes' walk from the ground (Nomadic Backpacker, Stadium Guide).

Which airport do I fly to, and is there a direct flight?

Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) is the only airport. London flies direct in about 2h45 with Air Serbia, Wizz Air and airBaltic (Wizz Air). Manchester has no direct service, so connect through a European hub such as Vienna or Munich, or reposition to a London airport for the nonstop (FlightsFrom).

Where do away fans sit?

In the South Stand, close to the home fans. For England games this means blocks 6-7, with steep seating and heavy pyro around you (Football Ground Guide).

What is the away allocation?

Expect the UEFA standard of about 5 percent of capacity, roughly 2,400 seats, though the exact number varies by fixture. Always confirm the figure and collection details with your own club before you book (Football Ground Guide).

What time should I get to the ground?

Aim to arrive at least an hour before kick-off. Searches are thorough, the away section fills from the home end side, and the trams get busy close to kick-off. Getting in early also lets the atmosphere and the pyro build (Stadium Guide).

Can I drink inside the stadium?

Anything on sale inside the ground is typically low or zero alcohol, so do your drinking beforehand in the centre. Serbian stadiums are strict on alcohol and searches are thorough on the way in (Football Ground Guide).

How much is a beer?

Cheap. A normal bar beer is around 250 to 330 RSD, roughly £2 to £2.50, with craft and imports only a little more. Supermarket cans are far less again (Expatistan).

Is Belgrade safe for away fans?

The city itself is fine for tourists, but there is a history of tension around visiting supporters, especially English fans. Keep colours discreet away from the ground, stay in groups, avoid the home end and don't wander off the main tourist areas on matchday (Football Ground Guide).

Where are the away-friendly bars and areas?

Base yourself around Republic Square and the Stari Grad old town. Three Carrots, Spasicev Pub and The United Pub are the usual away haunts, and Skadarlija is good for a traditional kafana afternoon (Football Ground Guide, Culture Trip).

Does my match ticket get me free transport?

It makes no difference, because all Belgrade buses, trams and trolleybuses are already free to everyone, with no tickets or passes needed. The only paid exceptions are the E-line express minibuses and the A1 airport shuttle (EU Urban Mobility Observatory).

How far is the ground from the city centre?

About 3.5km south, in the Dedinje district. That is a 10 to 15 minute tram ride on the 9, 10 or 14, or a walkable 25-minute stroll from St Sava church in good weather (Stadium Guide).

Can I pay in euros?

No. The currency is the Serbian dinar and euros are not legal tender in shops, bars and restaurants. Cards work in hotels and larger venues, but public transport, kafanas, small shops and tipping are cash. Use city-centre exchange offices for the best rates and choose dinars at ATMs (Serbian Private Tours).

Where should I stay?

Around Republic Square and Stari Grad puts you in the busiest, best-connected part of the city, an easy tram to the ground. Savamala and the St Sava area are slightly cheaper and still close to both the nightlife and the trams out to Dedinje (Football Ground Guide).