Public transport on holidays and non-working days
How Belgrade public transport runs on public holidays, New Year, Christmas and Easter: which timetable applies, what happens to night lines and when changes are announced.
- Updated: 25 August 2026
- 2 min read
- busevi.rs editorial team
Belgrade public transport does not stop for holidays, but it changes rhythm. The common mistake is assuming a holiday means “like a Saturday” — sometimes it does, sometimes it is closer to a Sunday, and New Year’s Eve has its own rules announced only days in advance.
This guide explains how the regime changes, where changes are published and what to check before you set out.
A holiday is not automatically a Sunday
Timetables are written for three day types: weekday, Saturday and Sunday. On a public holiday the operator picks one of those three, and that decision is made per holiday, not by a fixed rule.
In practice, major holidays usually run to the Sunday timetable, and bridging days between a holiday and a weekend to the Saturday one. But that is not a law — the only reliable check is the official notice for that specific date.
New Year’s Eve
The night between 31 December and 1 January is the only time of year when the network works differently from any other night. Some daytime lines run far into the night, night lines run more frequently, and temporary route changes apply around the centre because of street closures.
New Year’s Day then usually runs to the Sunday timetable, with a later start than usual. If you need transport early on 1 January, check the first departure of your specific line — it is not the same as on a weekday.
Christmas, Easter and religious holidays
For Orthodox Christmas and Easter the changes are mostly local, around churches and cemeteries. Lines to the larger cemeteries are reinforced, and in some cases temporary lines run for those few days only.
The same applies to memorial Saturdays — extra services towards Novo groblje, Bežanijsko, Lešće and Orlovača are routine and announced several days ahead.
May Day and the summer timetable
May Day is the day with the heaviest travel towards Ada, Košutnjak and the picnic areas, so those lines are reinforced. At the same time the rest of the network runs reduced, because the city is empty.
From mid-June to the end of August the summer timetable applies: less frequent departures on most lines, since schools and universities are out, with extra services towards Ada Ciganlija at weekends and on hot days.
Where changes are published
Official notices about holiday changes appear a few days before the holiday itself. On busevi.rs we track them on the Changes page, where each notice carries a date and the list of lines it affects.
For the day you are travelling, the fastest check is the line’s own page — it shows separate timetables for weekday, Saturday and Sunday, so once you know which regime applies, you know the exact departures.
Frequently asked questions
Does transport run on public holidays?
Yes, but on a modified timetable — usually the Sunday or Saturday one, depending on the holiday. A full suspension of service is not the practice.
Do night lines run on New Year’s Eve?
They do, and more frequently than usual, while some daytime lines extend their hours. It is the only night of the year with a special regime.
When are holiday changes announced?
Usually a few days before the holiday. Follow them on the Changes page — each notice carries a date and the affected lines.
Useful pages
All guides