Novi Sad competes with Belgrade as Serbia’s capital of art, architecture and culture. Visit the city’s churches, galleries and museums and a national park laden with centuries-old monasteries. Enjoy the youthful energy at beautiful parks, open-air bars and riverfront beaches. After the first settlement in the Stone Age, Celts, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Habsburgs have all influenced the city’s history.
Find major attractions within a short walk of Zmaj Jovina Street, a lively pedestrian-only precinct lined with cafés, pubs and restaurant terraces. Visit the neo-Renaissance City Hall and the neo-Gothic Church of the Virgin MaryOpens in a new window (Name of Mary Church) on Liberty Square. See the 18th-century Baroque Uspen Church (Church of Holy Mother's Ascension) and Serbian-Byzantine-style Bishop’s Palace. Dunavska Street is home to the Museum of Vojvodina and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Relax and enjoy some people-watching while sitting on the lush lawns of Danube Park. Cross the Danube via Varadinski Bridge to the 17th-century hilltop citadel, Petrovaradin FortressOpens in a new window. Within the fortress are artist workshops, superb viewpoints, the City Museum of Novi Sad and the Church of St. George. In July the fortress welcomes big-name bands and musicians for the Exit Festival.
Explore the alternative galleries, nightclubs and studios of the Chinese Quarter. Nearby Limanski Park is one of the main venues for June’s Cinema City film festival. Sunbathe on the shore and swim in the Danube during the summer months at the Štrand beach. Watch ballets, dramas and operas at the Serbian National TheatreOpens in a new window.
Go walking or biking amid the stunning countryside of Fruška Gora National ParkOpens in a new window, a 20-minute drive south of the city. Tour some of the 16 monasteries, including Krusedol Monastery, Novo Hopovo Monastery and Velika Remeta Monastery. Hike through lush vineyards, spot colorful birdlife and meet beekeepers.
Located in the Vojvodina province, Novi Sad is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Belgrade. Get here by taking a train from Belgrade and enjoy a scenic journey with views of the Danube’s piercingly blue waters.
