Where to Stay for EXPO 2027 in Belgrade: Best Areas Compared

Quick answer

For most visitors, New Belgrade is the most practical base for EXPO 2027: it lies between the site in Surčin and Belgrade’s historic center. Zemun offers a more attractive setting for evenings, Surčin suits short stays and early flights, and the old town is the better choice for first-time visitors who also plan to see the city. We recommend reserving a room with free cancellation as soon as your dates are set, as demand is expected to be high.

Quick facts

Dates: 15 May – 15 August 2027
Site: Surčin, on Belgrade’s western edge
Distance from the airport: About 5 km
Distance from the city center: About 13.5 km
Recommended base: New Belgrade
Ticket prices: Not published yet
Last checked: 1 Nov 2026

Why location matters for EXPO 2027

EXPO 2027 will not take place in the city center. The 25-hectare site is being built in Surčin, next to the new National Stadium, about 5 km from Nikola Tesla Airport and 13.5 km from the center. Most of Belgrade’s hotels and main sights are concentrated closer to the center, so your choice of area will determine your daily travel time.

The organisers expect at least 4 million visits over the 93 days and have said they are preparing for up to 6 million. New hotels are being built with state support, but neither the number of rooms nor their prices have been published. For this reason, we recommend choosing your preferred area first and booking early.

The areas compared

Area	Best for	Location for EXPO	Watch out for
New Belgrade	Most EXPO visitors; business travellers	West of the Sava, between the site and the historic center	Modern and spread out; less pleasant for walking
Zemun	Couples; evenings by the river	West of the Sava, on the same side of the river as the site	Fewer large hotels; availability may be limited
Surčin and the airport area	Short stays; early or late flights	Closest to the site	Limited evening options; mostly budget accommodation
Stari Grad and Dorćol	First-time visitors combining EXPO with sightseeing	East of the Sava; requires crossing the city on EXPO days	Generally higher prices; some streets are noisy at night
Vračar	Quiet evenings; a residential setting	East of the Sava; requires crossing the city on EXPO days	Main sights are a longer walk or a bus ride away

New Belgrade: the most practical base

New Belgrade lies between the historic center and Surčin, which keeps both the EXPO site and the main sights within reasonable distance. The district has large modern hotels, wide streets and shopping centers, and parking is generally easier than in the center. It suits families, business travellers and visitors arriving by car.

New Belgrade has little historic character, so many visitors will prefer to spend evenings in the old town or Zemun.

Hotels in New Belgrade

Zemun: a historic riverside setting

Zemun was a separate town until 1934 and has retained its own distinct character. Its attractions include the historic center, the Gardoš lookout and the fish restaurants along the Danube quay. There are fewer large hotels than in New Belgrade, so we recommend booking early.

A Zemun–Airport–EXPO rail link is included in the fair’s infrastructure budget, but we have not found a confirmed opening date. We therefore advise against choosing Zemun on the basis of this link alone.

Hotels in Zemun

Surčin and the airport area: best for short stays

This is the area closest to the site, and it is well suited to stays of one or two nights or to travellers with an early flight. The current selection is limited and mostly budget, although new hotels are being built for the fair. Evening options nearby are limited, so we do not recommend it for longer trips.

Hotels in Surčin

Stari Grad and Dorćol: best for first-time visitors

These districts place Kalemegdan, Knez Mihailova and Skadarlija within walking distance, in exchange for a longer journey on EXPO days. They work best if you plan to spend one or two days at the fair and the rest of your stay in the city. Check the exact address before booking, as lower Dorćol can be noisy at night. For more detail, see our guide to where to stay in Belgrade.

Hotels in the old town

Vračar: a quieter central option

Vračar is a green residential district around the Temple of Saint Sava, with a good choice of restaurants and quieter evenings. The journey to EXPO is similar to that from the old town. It is a good choice for visitors who prefer a residential setting, and apartment rentals make it suitable for longer stays.

Getting from your base to EXPO

Transport arrangements have not been finalised, so we recommend keeping your plans flexible:

Taxi or ride app: CarGo and Yandex Go currently operate in Belgrade. Expect high demand and possible traffic restrictions around the site.
City transport: city buses, trams and trolleybuses have been free since January 2025, but EXPO routes have not yet been published.
Rail and river: a rail link and a dock on the Sava are planned, but no timetables have been published.
Parking: parking and drop-off arrangements at the entrances have not yet been announced.

Our EXPO 2027 visitor guide will be updated when official routes are announced. For your arrival, see how to get from the airport to the city.

Booking advice

Reserve a free-cancellation rate early, then compare prices again as more rooms become available.
Avoid non-refundable rates until tickets, opening hours and transport have been confirmed.
Allow for weekends and major events. The programme has not been finalised, and availability on popular dates may fall quickly.
Confirm police registration for apartments. Foreign visitors must be registered within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels handle this as standard; in private accommodation, the host is responsible for it.
Verify the exact location. A listing described as “near EXPO” may not be close to the site, so check its position on the map.

Compare places to stay for EXPO

Filter for free cancellation and check the location on the map before booking.

See hotels for EXPO

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to stay near the EXPO site or in central Belgrade?

If the fair is the main purpose of your trip, New Belgrade or Zemun will be more convenient. If this is also your first visit to Belgrade, the old town offers more for the rest of your stay, in exchange for a longer journey to the site.

How early should I book?

We recommend booking as soon as your dates are set, provided that free cancellation is available. The organisers expect at least 4 million visits over three months, so central and highly rated properties may sell out first, especially on weekends and during major events.

Can I walk to EXPO from a hotel?

We do not recommend relying on this yet. Entrances, walking routes and road closures have not been published, so please check with your hotel closer to the date.

Will public transport be free in 2027?

City buses, trams and trolleybuses in Belgrade have been free since January 2025. It has not been confirmed whether this will continue or apply to any dedicated EXPO services, so please check closer to your trip.

Can I stay in Novi Sad and visit EXPO from there?

Yes. The Soko high-speed train reaches Belgrade in about 36 minutes, but you would still need onward transport to Surčin. This option is better suited to a single visit than to several consecutive days at the fair.

Sources

Checked 1 Nov 2026. EXPO arrangements may change, so please confirm the details before you travel.