Novi Sad is the second biggest city in Serbia and the capital of Vojvodina, a region in the north of the country. It has approximately a population of 350,000 and is located on Danube River. Most of the town is north of the river, but the historical centre is in the south. There you can see Petrovaradin Fortress. Novi Sad is also a very compact city, so you can easily walk around and don’t have to take the bus.
How to get to Novi Sad
All people on public transport will arrive at the train station, because the bus terminal is located directly next to it. Novi Sad is currently only accessible by train from the north (Budapest, Subotica). Normally, there’s also a railroad to the south (Belgrade), but it’s currently under renovation, so the only option from Belgrade is the bus. When you take a bus you have to be attentive to take a trustworthy company which takes you to either city on a direct way. These are for example Lasta or Nis ekspres.
How to get to the city centre
You can either go by taxi, bus or simply walk when you don’t have too much luggage as it’s not too far from the city centre. Buses can be tricky, because they’re only in Cyrillic. So you have to check the bus numbers and when you’re not sure about the direction try to ask. Every bus in Novi Sad costs 55 RSD and you can ride it for as long as you want.
What to see in Novi Sad
The city has a beautiful small old town which is split into two different parts. A newer part north of Danube River, and the other one in Petrovaradin in the south. Petrovaradin’s old town is currently getting renovated, so hopefully you can see the full beauty of the district soon.
The highlight of Novi Sad is Petrovaradin Fortress on a hill overlooking the city and the Danube. It was built by the Austrians in the 17th century as defence against the Ottoman Empire. It offers beautiful views of the surroundings. You can easily spend an hour up there exploring the vast area of the fortress. The clock tower next to the entrance might be the most famous building of Petrovaradin and Novi Sad overall. What’s special about the small tower is the clockwork which was specifically designed to show the time to sailors on the Danube.
North of Danube River is the centre of Novi Sad. There’s a beautiful pedestrian area with many small restaurants and shops, so the perfect spot for lunch or dinner. It’s called Dunavska Street and along its way are many more sights of interest. For example Trg Slobode Square in the southern end of the street. You can see the beautiful town hall there. On the other end of the street is the Bishop’s Palace from the late 19th century. Another astonishing building in the old town of Novi Sad.
