The Balkans' breakout capital: Nikola Tesla at a record 8.9 million and its first million-passenger month, a €915-million driverless metro under contract, the Budapest high-speed line about to open — and EXPO 2027 pulling €18 billion of investment behind it. Five studies, one hub.
Belgrade enters the TIO metropolis series as Southeast Europe's compounding hub: Nikola Tesla Airport closed 2025 at a record 8,912,349 passengers (+6.5%), crossed one million in a single month for the first time, and flies to 116 destinations in 40 countries — nearly double its 2018 map — under VINCI's €730-million concession.
The city is being rebuilt around the event decade: the specialized EXPO 2027 in Surčin anchors ~€18 billion of follow-on roads, rail, museums and venues; Alstom signed the €915-million turnkey contract for Belgrade's first metro — a driverless 15-km, 15-station Line 1 — and the Chinese-built high-speed railway has already carried 12.5 million passengers to Novi Sad, with Budapest services launching imminently.
The hotel market is graduating to international luxury: InterContinental returns to Serbia after twenty years with 203 rooms beside the rebuilt Sava Centar, the St. Regis rises in the Kula tower at Belgrade Waterfront, The Bristol has re-emerged as a five-star, and foreign tourism revenue runs at €2.5 billion — up 96% on 2019, Europe's fastest post-pandemic climb.
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