We’ve written about how much we love Belgrade — the chaotic, soulful Balkan capital that draws you in with its contradictions. But real travel isn’t about falling for a place blindly. It’s about seeing it whole. And to tell the full story, we need to talk about the things we don’t like about Belgrade.

This isn’t a complaint list, and we’re not here to tear the city down. It’s more like an open conversation with a place we keep coming back to, despite the noise, the smoke, and the bureaucracy. These are the parts of the Belgrade experience that challenge us — and maybe make us love it a little more for not pretending to be perfect.

Smoking Indoors Is Still a Thing

One of the first things we don’t like about Belgrade is also one of the most noticeable: people still smoke indoors. While most European countries banned smoking inside restaurants and cafés long ago, Belgrade feels stuck in another era.

Walk into a café and chances are someone’s lighting up at the next table. There might be a non-smoking section, but enforcement is half-hearted and ineffective. It’s not just about comfort — for non-smokers or people with health concerns, it can be downright unpleasant.

We understand it’s part of the culture, but it’s one aspect of Belgrade that feels hard to adjust to.

No Laptops in Cafés

Belgrade’s café culture is one of the best things about the city — cozy interiors, strong coffee, and stylish spaces. But bring out your laptop, and you might be asked to pack it away. Many cafés now prohibit laptops during certain hours, or altogether.

We get it — cafés here are social hubs, not coworking spaces. But with Belgrade branding itself as a destination for digital nomads, the laptop ban feels counterintuitive. One of the more frustrating things we don’t like about Belgrade is that there’s a lack of spaces where working quietly with your coffee is actually welcome.

Prices Are Rising Fast

Once known as an affordable gem in the Balkans, Belgrade is no longer the budget travel secret it used to be. Prices have risen dramatically over the past few years — in restaurants, bars, and especially accommodation.

Dinner out now often costs as much as it would in Western Europe. Trendy neighborhoods are packed with expensive cafés. And while it’s still cheaper than Paris or Berlin, Belgrade no longer feels like a “cheap” city. For both travelers and locals, this is one of the growing things we don’t like about Belgrade — especially when local wages don’t keep up.

Public Transport Is Outdated and Confusing

We always try to use public transport in the places we visit. In Belgrade, that’s not always easy — or pleasant. The system of buses and trams feels stuck in the past, and figuring it out without speaking Serbian is a challenge in itself.

There’s still no metro, despite years of promises and half-starts. Trams are slow and noisy. Bus stops aren’t always marked clearly, and information in English is sparse. If you’re new to the city, this is one of those things we don’t like about Belgrade that adds stress to your stay, even if you’re otherwise loving the experience.

Crumbling Infrastructure

Belgrade has soul, but it also has a lot of cracked sidewalks, potholes, broken benches, and derelict buildings that look like they’ve been abandoned mid-renovation.

Some of this decay adds character, sure — it’s part of the city’s rough charm. But when it starts to affect mobility or safety, it stops being charming and becomes an issue. The state of public spaces is definitely among the things we don’t like about Belgrade, especially because we know this city deserves better.

The Noise and Pollution

Belgrade is a loud city. There’s traffic at all hours, motorbikes revving through narrow streets, car alarms, and construction that never seems to end. Add to that a general disregard for noise limits, and you’ve got a city that rarely sleeps — in every sense.

Then there’s the pollution. During winter, air quality dips dramatically, and even on clear days, the smog can hang low over the city. If you’re used to fresh air and green zones, this can be one of the most jarring things we don’t like about Belgrade.

Bureaucracy Can Be Brutal

Ask any local and they’ll tell you — Serbia’s bureaucracy is something special. Confusing, slow, and full of contradictions, it makes even simple administrative tasks feel like running an obstacle course.

For tourists, this might not be a big deal unless you’re staying long-term. But for expats, digital nomads, or anyone dealing with paperwork, it’s one of the most difficult things we don’t like about Belgrade. It’s not just frustrating — it’s exhausting.

Globalization Is Changing the Soul of the City

Another one of the quieter but noticeable things we don’t like about Belgrade is how globalization is reshaping its identity. International chains are creeping into formerly local neighborhoods. New shopping malls rise where old warehouses and street markets once stood. Hipster cafés look more like Brooklyn than the Balkans.

Some might see this as progress — and in many ways, modernization is welcome. But there’s a cost. Belgrade risks losing some of the rough edges, the quirky contrasts, and the realness that made it special in the first place. The fear is not change itself, but sameness — the risk that Belgrade starts to look and feel like everywhere else.

We hope it doesn’t forget what made it different.

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