Currency & Payment

Serbia uses the Serbian dinar (RSD, дин.), divided into 100 para. The dinar is the only official currency, and by law most goods and services are priced and paid in dinars. Some hotels, tour operators and larger businesses may quote or accept euros, but you should not rely on euros for everyday spending.

You can change money at banks and licensed exchange offices (menjačnica), which are common in cities. Euros are the easiest cash to exchange, and US dollars are also widely handled. Rates at licensed offices are usually fair; compare a couple and check for any commission. Avoid unofficial street changers, and keep small amounts of cash for rural areas.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities, in hotels, restaurants and larger shops, and contactless is common. In smaller towns, markets, taxis and family-run places, cash in dinars is often preferred or the only option. Carry some cash as a backup, especially away from tourist centres.

ATMs (bankomat) are plentiful in Belgrade and other cities and dispense dinars. Watch out for foreign-card fees charged by your own bank and by some ATM operators, and always decline dynamic currency conversion (DCC) so you are charged in dinars for a better rate. Prefer ATMs attached to banks and withdraw larger amounts less often to reduce fees.

Contactless card payments and phone wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work at most card terminals in cities. Serbia also has a national instant-payment QR system called IPS (run by the National Bank of Serbia), which locals use through their banking apps by scanning a QR code. As a visitor you will mostly rely on contactless cards and phone wallets, keeping some cash for smaller places.

Tipping is customary but modest in Serbia. In restaurants and cafes it is usual to leave around 10%, or to round up the bill for good service. Tips are appreciated by taxi drivers, hotel staff and guides but are not obligatory. Cash tips are safest, as adding a tip to a card payment is not always possible.

Serbia is generally more affordable than Western Europe. Coffee, casual meals, local transport and museum entry are inexpensive, while Belgrade nightlife, imported goods and upscale restaurants cost more. A simple meal out or a few coffees are easy on the budget, making Serbia good value for food, drinks and getting around.

Serbia charges value-added tax (PDV/VAT) at a standard rate of 20%. Non-resident visitors can reclaim VAT on goods above a minimum purchase amount when they take the items out of the country. Ask the shop for a tax-free form, get it validated by customs on departure, and claim the refund. Rules and thresholds can change, so confirm the current process before shopping.