Journey
New Year on the Danube, Christmas in Serbia: Budapest to Belgrade
Ten private winter days from Budapest to Belgrade: New Year's Eve on the Danube, Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci, and the Orthodox Christmas of 6–7 January
- No payment now
- Private, on your dates
- Planned by our own team
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Travel style
- Private
- Pace
- Relaxed
- Stays
- Superior
- Starts · ends
- Budapest → Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
- Guiding
- EnglishAll languages on request
- Group
- 2–12 guests
- Price
- On requestWritten offer first, no payment now
What you’ll see
Highlights along the way
Route & days
Day by day
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Day 1 · 30 Dec Arrive in Budapest
Meet your driver at Budapest airport. Evening walk along the Danube and through the lit-up centre.
- Budapest
Included: Private arrival transfer; orientation walk.
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Day 2 · 31 Dec Budapest and New Year's Eve
A morning walk with a local guide in Buda and Pest. Evening free for the city's New Year's Eve celebrations.
- Budapest
Included: Local guide (half day).
Easier or optional: A New Year's Eve dinner or river cruise (book early).
-
Day 3 · 1 Jan New Year's Day in the baths
A slow start and an afternoon in one of Budapest's historic thermal baths.
- Budapest
Included: Thermal bath entrance.
-
Day 4 · 2 Jan Subotica and Novi Sad
Cross into Serbia at Tompa–Kelebija and stop in Subotica for its Art Nouveau City Hall and synagogue, then on to Novi Sad.
- Budapest
- Subotica
- Novi Sad
Included: Private transfer; Subotica walk; dinner.
Planning time for a minibus; border waits are not included.
-
Day 5 · 3 Jan Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci
A walk through Novi Sad and Petrovaradin Fortress, then Sremski Karlovci, the old seat of the Serbian Patriarchs, with a tasting of bermet wine.
- Novi Sad
- Petrovaradin Fortress
- Sremski Karlovci
Included: Local guide; bermet tasting.
Planning time for a minibus.
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Day 6 · 4 Jan To Belgrade
Morning drive to Belgrade. Afternoon walk through the old town to Belgrade Fortress.
- Novi Sad
- Belgrade
- Belgrade Fortress & Kalemegdan Park
Included: Private transfer; guided walk; dinner.
Planning time for a minibus.
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Day 7 · 5 Jan Belgrade
A free morning and an afternoon visit to the Temple of Saint Sava and the Museum of Yugoslavia.
- Saint Sava Temple
- Museum of Yugoslavia & House of Flowers
Included: Private car and guide (half day); entrances.
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Day 8 · 6 Jan Badnji dan, Christmas Eve
Morning at a Belgrade market to see the oak branches and straw on sale. In the evening, join the crowds at a church as the badnjak is lit, followed by a traditional fasting dinner.
- Kalenić Market
- Belgrade
Included: Guide; Christmas Eve dinner (fasting menu).
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Day 9 · 7 Jan Christmas Day
Morning liturgy (optional), then a drive to Šumadija for a Christmas lunch with česnica bread in a traditional setting, returning to Belgrade in the evening.
- Belgrade
- Topola
Included: Private transfer; Christmas lunch.
Planning time for a minibus.
-
Day 10 · 8 Jan Departure
Transfer to Belgrade airport.
- Belgrade
- Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
Included: Private departure transfer.
Planning time for a minibus.
Driving times are approximate and don’t include stops. Every day can be adjusted: tell us what you’d change when you enquire.
What’s included
Included and not included
Included
- 9 nights in hotels (Budapest 3, Novi Sad 2, Belgrade 4), breakfast daily
- Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas lunch and 2 more dinners
- Private transport with driver from Budapest to Belgrade, and in Serbia
- Local guides in Budapest and Serbia; a Travel2Serbia tour leader in Serbia
- Thermal bath, Subotica synagogue (subject to holiday opening on 2 January), Museum of Yugoslavia, bermet tasting
- Arrival and departure transfers; Travel2Serbia support throughout
Guiding in all languages available on request, subject to availability.
Not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- New Year's Eve dinner or cruise
- Meals and drinks not listed
- Tourist taxes paid locally
- Tips
Why this journey
Why you’ll love it
- New Year's Eve in Budapest on the Danube
- A thermal bath to start the new year
- Subotica's Art Nouveau and Novi Sad's old town in winter
- Sremski Karlovci, seat of the Serbian metropolitans and patriarchs from 1713 to 1920
- Badnji dan in Belgrade: the oak branches burned outside the churches
- Christmas Day and a festive lunch in Serbia
Signature moments
The oak fire of Christmas Eve
On the evening of 6 January, churchyards fill with people bringing young oak branches, their dry leaves still on (badnjak), to the fire.
Česnica, the Christmas bread
The Christmas loaf hides a coin; whoever finds it is lucky for the year.
Where you’ll stay
Your stays · 9 nights
9 nights in hotels (Budapest 3, Novi Sad 2, Belgrade 4), breakfast daily
Nights 1–3
Superior comfort, chosen for your dates
- Superior comfort
Nights 4–5
Superior comfort, chosen for your dates
- Superior comfort
Nights 6–9
Superior comfort, chosen for your dates
- Superior comfort
We name each stay, with its photos, in your written offer once availability is confirmed.
Before you choose
Is this journey for you?
A good fit if
Travellers who want a winter journey built around real traditions, couples and families, and anyone curious about how Serbia celebrates Christmas on 7 January, a week after New Year.
Maybe not if
Travellers who want snow sports, or who dislike crowds on New Year's Eve.
Pace and effort
Relaxed. Short travel days, with time for cafés, baths and markets. Winter weather can slow the roads. A private journey on request for 2–12 travellers, with no fixed group departure. Hotels are not held in advance, so the price and availability of every date depend on confirmation from the hotels and other suppliers when you enquire.
Tailor-made
Make it your own
Start on 28 December with an extra day in Budapest · A thermal bath on New Year's Day · A night on Zlatibor after Christmas.
Customise this journeyHow booking and payment work
From enquiry to voucher
We never ask for card details by email or on this website. Bank details are only sent in your personal offer or invoice.
- 1 You send an enquiry Free, with no obligation.
- 2 We send a written offer Availability and your final price, confirmed.
- 3 You accept the offer
- 4 You pay securely Card payment link (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro) or bank transfer.
- 5 We confirm your payment
- 6 You receive your confirmation and voucher
Booking terms for this journey: Price on request. This is a private programme, arranged on request for your dates; there are no fixed departures. The final offer, price and availability depend on confirmation of the services (accommodation, guides, transport and activities) after your enquiry. Nothing is booked and no payment is taken until you accept the written offer.
New Year on the Danube, Christmas in Serbia: Budapest to Belgrade
Tell us when you’d like to come
We’ll check availability for your dates with our local partners and guides, then send you a written offer with the confirmed price. Asking is free.
- WhatsApp us
- office@love2travel.rs
- +381 60 40 80 510
- We send your first proposal within 2 working days.
Request a quote
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Continue the story
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Short break
Belgrade & Novi Sad
Two Danube cities in four days, with Sremski Karlovci and a Fruška Gora monastery on the way
Individual services
Need something else?
For travellers who don’t need the complete journey, Travel2Serbia can also arrange individual services.
Tell us what you need- Airport & private transfers
- Hotels & accommodation
- Private guides
- Day trips & excursions
- Chauffeur / car with driver
- Activities & experiences