“Why would you want to visit Novi Sad!?” That’s what my Belgrade hosts asked me when I mentioned that I was contemplating a day trip to this city, about an hour’s drive north of Belgrade. “Why don’t you just go to Zemun? It’s much prettier!”
Their reaction completely took me by surprise! Novi Sad is a popular day trip from Belgrade – I had seen some beautiful pics of the old town and, well, I just wanted to get out of the city for a bit. So, why on earth not!?
Zemun vs. Novi Sad
But, after some reflection, I came to understand Belgrade citizens’ bias towards Zemun. It is a mixture of simple logic and pride! You see, both Zemun and Novi Sad are situated on the banks of the Danube and both exude the wonderful Central European charm and architecture that is the happy by-product of once having been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. (Yes, the empire stretched that far south!)
Furthermore, both Zemun and Novi Sad are being watched over by imposing fortresses: the Belgrade and Petrovaradin fortresses, respectively.
The big difference, however, is that Zemun is situated just 6km from Belgrade’s centre (you could walk there along the Danube) whereas Novi Sad requires a trip by bus, train or car.
So, for a Belgrade citizen it makes perfect sense that a visitor invests extra time in their beloved city by visiting beautiful Zemun, instead of going somewhere else.
In my defence, though, I had already visited Zemun, which admittedly is a really gorgeous little town. It used to be an independent town until it was absorbed into Belgrade in 1934. (If I ever had to move to Belgrade, I would probably choose to stay in Zemun.)
Novi Sad, the perfect day trip
Anyway, I digress. The tourist in me was really curious to explore the world beyond Belgrade’s city boundaries, so I did the ‘unthinkable’ and travelled to Novi Sad for the day!
If you are feeling equally ‘rebellious’, here are a few things you can expect to find on your visit to Novi Sad:
‘Serbian Athens’
Novi Sad (which means ‘new garden’ in Serbian) is Serbia’s second largest city and the capital of the province of Vojvodina.
The pretty old town centre is compact and all the main sights can be reached comfortably on foot. It is fun to explore and there are many little cafés where you can treat yourself to a drink or a snack.
Novi Sad is set to be the European Capital of Culture in 2021, a rather fitting title as it was the centre of Serbian culture in the 18th and 19th century (during the reign of the Habsburg Dynasty) and even earned itself the nickname of ‘Serbian Athens’. Most of Novi Sad’s buildings date after 1848 as much of the city was heavily damaged during the 1848 Revolution.
Petrovaradin Fortress
Novi Sad’s top attraction is the imposing Petrovaradin Fortress. Called the ‘Gibraltar on the Danube’, it has been keeping a watchful eye over Novi Sad for centuries and witnessed many important chapters in history. Once a year, it lets its hair down for EXIT, one of Europe’s largest summer music festivals.
A visit to the fortress is a must. Your leisurely walks along the fortress walls will reward you with magnificent views across the Danube to Novi Sad!
Don’t miss the quirky Clock Tower – famous for having its hands the wrong way around (the small hand shows minutes and the big hand shows hours) to help distant fishermen on the Danube read the time more easily.
Within the fortress walls, you will also find the Novi Sad City Museum where you can learn a bit more about the city’s history.
And, if you have always dreamed of sleeping in a fortress, you’ll be happy to learn that there is a 5-star hotel where you can check in!
The heart of Novi Sad – Freedom Square
From Petrovaradin Fortress, cross the Danube, via Varadin Bridge, to reach the heart of Novi Sad, Freedom Square (Trg Slobode) within a comfortable 15-minute walk.
In the centre of the square is a statue of Svetozar Miletić, a 19th-century politician and city mayor who championed the political rights of the Serbs.
Freedom Square is flanked by two beautiful 19th-century buildings: the neo-Renaissance Town Hall and the neo-Gothic Name of Mary Catholic Church with its 72m-tall tower, stained glass windows and colourful ceramic-tiled roof.
Freedom Square extends into the city’s charming pedestrian zone with nice little cafés, shops and more historic spaces to explore.
Bishop’s Palace
On the opposite side of Freedom Square, past the Catholic Church along the pedestrian zone, you will find another beautiful building – the Bishop’s Palace (Vladicanski Dvor), which is the residence of the (Serbian Orthodox) Bishop of Backa. In front of this residential palace is a statue of Jovan Jovanović Zmaj, a famous Serbian doctor and children’s poet, who is especially known for his nursery rhymes.
Orthodox Church of St George
The Orthodox Church of St George is just behind the Bishop’s Palace. The present-day church was built in 1905, on the ruins of a church built in 1734 and destroyed in 1849. I was lucky to arrive at the church shortly after a wedding. There was such a lovely atmosphere with a few musicians making music, while the bridal couple still posed for a few more wedding pics. inside the church.
In the church courtyard, there is an Orthodox cross of red marble, said to be Novi Sad’s oldest public monument.
Danube Park
A few minutes’ walk away from the pedestrian zone, you will reach the Danube Park (Dubavski Park), a nice green space where you can relax next to a small lake. I discovered the park by chance. It is built on marshy land, close to the bank of the Danube (and Varadin bridge). While the park did not wow me (maybe because I visited early Spring and not much was flowering), I enjoyed the small collection of sculptures. And, if you are a fan of Sisi (the Austro-Hungarian Empress Elisabeth, who was killed in 1898 in Geneva), there is a small island in the lake named in her memory (‘Erzsébet Island’) with a single weeping willow tree on it …
Synagogue
Last, but not least, there is the Synagogue – a beautiful Art Nouveau-style building built in 1909 by Hungarian architect Lipót Baumhorn for the once-large Jewish community. It used to form the centrepiece of a trio of buildings by Baumhorn, the other two buildings having been the Jewish school and Jewish community building.
Today, the Synagogue is frequently used as a concert hall, because of its fine acoustics, while the old Jewish school is home to a ballet school.
To reach the Synagogue, walk away from Liberty Square past McDonald’s and the (rather ugly – no town is perfect!) National Theatre onto the busy Jevrejska (Jewish) Street. After a five-minute walk along this street, you’ll reach your destination.
Not a shabby way to spend a day trip from Belgrade, right? To learn even more about Novi Sad, visit the city’s official website.
Have you ever been to Novi Sad? Did you enjoy it as much as I did?
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Central Europe is always an interesting region to visit. So thanks a lot Birgit for this very comprehensive yet detailed and historically enlightening tour of this Serbian city. Such beautiful photos, I enjoyed it.
Thanks Edward. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 And apologies for my very late response. I have not been very active on WordPress lately. I hope you are well!
What a great day trip! You certainly made a great decision to go here. I don’t know too much or have read much about Serbia so this was all very interesting. Novi Sad looks beautiful. I love all the different attractions and all that great history and architecture. Thanks for a fantastic virtual tour!
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted…Exploring the Ollantaytambo Ruins in Sacred Valley Peru
Thanks Mary. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s such an interesting country to visit … I’d love to explore more!
Although a little further out than Zemun, it seems like Novi Sad is a great day trip as well. I personally would like to see the clocktower (the swapped hands is such a fun fact!) as well as the Synagogue!
Bryna | Dotted Line Travels recently posted…Temples of Angkor: Preah Khan
Yes, the clocktower was such a quirky discovery! And the views from there across the Danube are stunning…
I think you chose well Birgit, definitely looks like a delightful day out. I love the hustle and bustle on the main square – and the beautiful buildings! Thanks for sharing a little of a region I don’t know very much about and I’m intrigued about Zemun now as well! #FarawayFiles
You’re welcome 🙂 I had a lot of fun exploring a city I also knew very little about beforehand. And I can definitely recommend Zemun too!
I’m glad to know after reading some of the comments that I’m not the only one who has never heard of Novi Sad before! But it sounds delightful, and good thing you didn’t listen to everyone else. That clock is way too funny! Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles
It was such a lovely day trip and there’s still so much more to see in the area. I’d love to go back and explore more one day. I hope you get to do so too 🙂
After visiting Eastern Europe, I fell in love with the area. Now, I want to visit as many countries and cities in the region as possible. The only difficult thing is that my husband needs a visa to visit Serbia. Anyway, Novi Sad is a place where I can see myself exploring the streets and stopping by different cafes. Hope I can visit one day! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Ruth recently posted…Petite France Strasbourg: Fabulous Walking Tour
I know the pain of having to get visas all too well… with my South African passport it’s an ongoing problem! I hope that you and your husband will get to visit this beautiful part of the world one day.
I would have opted to visit Novi Sad if I had a choice between the two. It looks prettier than the small town of Zemun. #TheWeeklyPostcard
There’s definitely more to see in Novi Sad! And Zemun could be explored in a few hours as part of a visit to Belgrade. Thanks for your comment!
Novi Sad looks beautiful! Actually, I want to visit because I now live in Norwich England and Novi Sad is our sister city. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
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That’s interesting. I didn’t know that! Now you have another reason to visit Novi Sad 🙂
Looks like you were right in sticking to your guns and going to Novi Sad. It looks absolutely beautiful and full of wonderful trinkets like the clock.
Thanks, Karen. It was a very enjoyable day out!
yes, I visited Novi Sad:)
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels recently posted…Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna
Ah, that’s great to hear 🙂
We had thought about going to NS last year but headed straight to Timisoara instead. It looks lovely so will have to go another time. Thanks for the tip about Zemun too. Wilbur #citytripping
Wilbur recently posted…Sunday Photo – Bosporus, Ferry View
Oh, and I would’ve loved to visit Timișoara just across the border. Looks so beautiful. I hope we both get our wish on a future trip!
What a beautiful city – I had never even heard of it before! Thanks for teaching me something new. I would love to visit that synagogue – so pretty! #citytripping
Thanks Caity 🙂 It really is pretty. And don’t worry, before travelling to Serbia, I also had never heard of Novi Sad… not even of their famous music festival! For me, that’s one of the great joys of travelling: discovering new places and their wonderful stories.
Belgrade is high up my city break wishlist, so I love the idea of adding Novi Sad as a day out – I knew of it in relation to the festival but hadn’t realised it was so lovely. I’m sure I’d have at least one panic misreading that clock though! Thanks for linking up with #citytripping
Cathy (Mummytravels) recently posted…Porto travel tips: my travel lessons from Porto with kids
Thanks. Yes, I can highly recommend a trip to Belgrade and Novi Sad. I hope to go back to Serbia myself as there is still so much more of Serbia to discover!
I haven’t been to Novi Sad yet, even though I’ve had it on my list for a while now. It really looks beautiful .
I hope you get chance to go! You won’t regret it 🙂
What a lovely post, I really enjoyed a virtual trip to this cosy town!
Thanks for your lovely comment, Antonina. Glad you enjoyed the virtual trip!
What a pretty town and well worth taking the risk to visit! That clock would mess with my mind! 🙂 #MondayEscapes
Claire at Tin Box Traveller recently posted…Where to find the best Easter egg hunts in the UK 2018
Ha ha, yes! It did totally mess with my mind! I had to remind myself that I visited the fortress around lunchtime, because looking at the photo just confused me all over again!
Thanks for introducing this exquisitely beautiful town of which I had only heard the name before. What a gem to discover!What’s next?
Thanks for the visit, Raphefo. Glad I finally got a chance to write about this beautiful place!