Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina

Novi Sad is the second important town in Serbia and one of the nicest ones, sited on the river Danube. Have a walk through the car free old town – just renovated in view of the Basketball championship in 2005 – with its gothic catholic cathedral. While life in Belgrade is more hectic and pulsing, in Novi Sad you may relax in the cleaned historic streets; sit down in one of the many coffee shops; visit the city park (a plaque at the entry informs you in Serbo-Croatian that it’s a “second category” park; however it’s a little bit better than that…) with the pond. You will recognise easily the very different style of architecture than in Belgrade, as Novi Sad until WWI was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. After having visited Belgrade, you will feel like if you missed the street, left Serbia and unexpectedly arrived in a German or Austrian country town. And if you stay overnight, you will find all kinds of clubs for going out.


On the south side of the Danube, next to the town centre, visit the “Petrovaradin” fortress but don’t get cheated at the fortress museum – avoid paying an astronomic price for the entry, it’s not worth it…


In the summer, half the town takes sunbaths on the sandy beach next to the newly rebuilt motorway bridge, and swims in the Danube, even if the water is incredibly dirty. But there are showers…


In the early days of July, the Petrovaradin hosts the magnificent and gigantic Rock festival “EXIT” that attracts visitors from all around the Balkans to listen to domestic and foreign music stars and many different styles of music.


Trains from Belgrade (every 2 hours) or busses (twice an hour) reach Novi Sad in about 1 ½ hours. The daily train and the night train to Budapest-Vienna both stop in Novi Sad.

novi sad
photo by Sroown

Go back

Add a comment