Apartments in Serbia: where to find them, what they cost and how to choose

Published: 02/08/2026

An apartment has quietly become the default choice for a holiday in Serbia, and for good reason. For a family of four it is rarely worth paying for two hotel rooms and full board when a single apartment with a kitchen, its own bathroom and a balcony does the job. The offer has grown so much that in some places it is hard to choose, so here is how the market looks, what it realistically costs and what to check before you pay a deposit.

What „apartment" means in Serbia

The word is used more loosely than it should be. Here an apartment usually means a self-contained space with its own kitchen or kitchenette, a bathroom and at least one separate bedroom. A studio, which owners sometimes also call an apartment, is a single room where the sleeping and living areas share the same space. The difference matters with children or in a group: in a studio everyone sleeps together, in a real apartment the parents get their own room.

The key feature is the kitchen. That is what sets an apartment apart from a room, where you pay only for the night and perhaps breakfast. Being able to make your own coffee and cook dinner for the children changes both the budget and the rhythm of the trip, especially on longer stays.

Where the apartments are

The largest choice is, unsurprisingly, in Belgrade — from Vračar and Dorćol to New Belgrade and around Ada Ciganlija. Novi Sad follows, overwhelmed with guests during the Exit festival and trade fairs, when prices jump and free dates all but disappear.

The mountains are a different story. Zlatibor is today the biggest apartment building site in the country; whole blocks of rental units have gone up around the centre. Kopaonik is pricier and tied to the ski season, while Tara, Divčibare, Stara Planina and Golija offer a quieter version, often cheaper. Anyone after a mountain without crowds usually finds the best value there.

Spa towns are a world of their own. Vrnjačka Banja has the most apartments among Serbian spas, followed by Sokobanja and Banja Vrujci, which have been building fast. By the lakes — Srebrno, Palić, Vlasina, Zlatar and Perućac — apartments fill up over summer, and the best ones, those with a view of the water, are booked months ahead.

You can browse the full offer by place on the apartments page, and if you are still undecided, where to holiday in Serbia will help.

What it costs, roughly

Prices in Serbia are quoted per apartment per night, not per person, which is a real advantage for groups. The ranges below are for a two- to four-bed apartment; off season they are lower, and for holidays, New Year's Eve and big events they can double.

In Belgrade and Novi Sad an apartment for a short stay usually costs between 40 and 90 euros a night, depending on location and fittings. On Zlatibor it runs from 40 to 100 euros in season, while Kopaonik in winter is dearer, typically 60 to 150. Spa towns and smaller towns save you the most: an apartment in Vrnjačka Banja, Sokobanja or Vrujci often goes for 25 to 55 euros a night.

Add the tourist tax, charged per person per day, which in most municipalities is between one and two hundred dinars. It is a small item, but better known in advance than a surprise on arrival.

How to choose the right one

The first mistake is to look only at price and photos. Photos are taken with a wide lens from the best angle, so a room looks larger than it is. It is more reliable to check the floor area and, more importantly, the exact address or at least the district. „Near the centre" means nothing until you see on a map how near that really is.

Second, read the reviews, but sensibly. One bad rating among thirty good ones is usually a misunderstanding. The same complaint repeated — noise, poor heating, an unresponsive host — is a signal not to ignore. For new places without reviews, rely on the conversation with the owner: a quick, clear answer is a good sign.

Third, match the type of place to your group. For two, a studio is plenty and cheaper. For a family, ask for a separate bedroom. For a larger group wanting a whole property with a yard, holiday cottages or log cabins are the better choice, and for peace in the countryside, rural tourism.

Fourth, check what is actually included. Air conditioning, parking, a washing machine and wi-fi are standard for some and extra, or absent, for others. If you are heading to the mountains in winter, heating is the single most important question — and check the weather forecast so you know what to expect.

Booking without commission

The big platforms are excellent for seeing what exists and comparing, but they charge a commission on every booking that ends up in the price one way or another. Once you have found a place, contacting the owner directly often brings a lower price, or at least an early check-in and late check-out.

On this portal you send an enquiry for accommodation straight to the owner, with no guest commission. The price you see is the price you pay, and everything else you arrange with the host directly — from the number of beds to whether a pet is welcome.

What to watch before you pay

A few rules save both money and nerves. Never pay the full amount up front to an unknown owner; a deposit of twenty to thirty percent is normal, with the rest on arrival. Ask for written confirmation of the dates, price, number of guests and what is included — a paper trail helps if there is a dispute.

Be wary of offers that are strikingly cheaper than all the rest, especially if you are asked to pay through a money-transfer service or into a private account with no confirmation. A genuinely low price for no reason is usually bait, not a discount. And keep the host's phone number and a picture of the entrance — arriving tired after six hours on the road, it helps to know exactly where you are going.

Apartment or something else

An apartment is the best choice when you want independence, a kitchen and privacy at a reasonable price, travelling as a couple or a family. If you want service — breakfast, cleaning, a reception desk — a hotel makes more sense, though it costs more. For larger groups and celebrations, a whole property through houses for rent usually works out cheaper per head. And if the goal is total quiet, a mountain or a village with no neighbour behind the wall gives what no apartment in a block can.

Whatever you choose, it pays to book early. The best apartments, the ones with a view, a balcony and a quiet location, go first — and that holds both for a summer by the lake and a winter on Kopaonik.