Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, will become Europe’s first major city to offer free public transportation starting January 1, Mayor Aleksandar Sapic announced in a press conference on Wednesday. The move positions Belgrade ahead of other European cities by eliminating fares for all users, aiming to ease traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.
“This measure makes Belgrade the only European city with a population of over one million to offer public transport free of charge,” Sapic stated. He emphasized that the decision was designed to modernize infrastructure, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life in the city.
Belgrade, home to 1.7 million residents, has struggled with severe traffic congestion and high pollution levels. According to Swiss air quality firm IQ Air, it is ranked among the top ten most polluted cities globally.
The free public transport initiative aims to encourage more sustainable urban mobility by reducing reliance on private vehicles. Officials hope this step will lower carbon emissions, cut traffic bottlenecks, and improve air quality.
While Tallinn in Estonia, Montpellier in France, and Luxembourg have already implemented free public transit, these cities have populations below one million. Belgrade’s decision makes it the largest European city to adopt this approach, setting a new precedent for urban mobility in major metropolitan areas.
Mayor Sapic, a former professional water polo player and vice president of Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), also unveiled plans to modernize the city’s fleet of buses, trams, and trolleys.
By 2025, no bus in operation will be more than two years old, and by 2027, the entire fleet will be upgraded to meet modern efficiency and environmental standards.
“Our goal is to create a reliable, eco-friendly public transport system that sets an example for other cities in Europe,” Sapic said.
Sapic, elected mayor in 2022 and 2023, leads a city facing economic challenges but sees this initiative as an investment in sustainability and public welfare. Critics have questioned how the city will fund maintenance costs without ticket revenue, but supporters argue the benefits—improved air quality and less traffic congestion—will offset expenses.
The project is also part of broader efforts to modernize Belgrade’s infrastructure and align it with European Union standards as Serbia pursues EU membership.
