TL;DR — Direct overnight buses run every summer from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš to Athens and Thessaloniki. Book on Bookaway, then ferry-hop the islands from Piraeus or Rafina. It's cheaper than flying and you keep both vacation days.
Plava Grobnica — the Blue Grave that binds two nations
The friendship between Serbia and Greece runs deeper than most realise. During World War I, tens of thousands of Serbian soldiers retreated across Albania in a devastating winter march. Survivors were evacuated to Corfu, where thousands more died of exhaustion and disease and were buried at sea near the island of Vido — waters Serbs forever after called the Plava Grobnica (Blue Grave). It's why so many Serbian travellers still make a pilgrimage to Corfu today.
Why Greece is Serbia's favourite summer destination
- ☀️ 300+ sunny days a year
- 🌊 Crystal-clear Aegean and Ionian waters
- 🏛️ 3,000 years of history — Acropolis to Byzantine Thessaloniki
- 🤝 Shared Orthodox tradition and warm hospitality
Getting there — book your bus from Serbia
Whether you depart from Belgrade, Novi Sad or Niš, buses to Greece are affordable, direct, and mostly overnight — you don't lose a vacation day. Top destinations:
- Athens (Atina) — the cradle of civilization.
- Thessaloniki (Solun) — Serbia's beloved second city abroad.
- Kavala & Alexandroupoli — gateway ports to the Aegean islands.
Compare operators and book on Bookaway — one interface, secure payment, instant e-ticket.
Island hopping the Greek way
Once you're in Greece, the ferry network unlocks everything:
- Santorini — caldera views, volcanic beaches, iconic sunsets.
- Mykonos — beaches, boutique villages, legendary nightlife.
- Corfu (Krf) — home to the Plava Grobnica memorial and the lush Ionian.
- Rhodes — medieval walled city meets crystal Aegean water.
The scenic detour: Belgrade → Tirana → Greece
Adventurous travellers can break the trip in Tirana, Albania — colourful, cheap, and just a few hours further from northern Greece. Stack it with a stop in Niš for one of the most memorable Balkan-summer routes going.
Greek food Serbs already love
Walk into any Serbian town and you'll find gyros next to ćevabdžinice. Look out for real horiatiki salad with authentic feta, tzatziki on grilled meats, honest Greek yogurt, and cold-pressed olive oil worth bringing home.
Book it in one place
Start planning on Bookaway — buses from Serbia and ferries between the Greek islands, all on one platform.