Well-preserved architectural masterpieces, a busy calendar of concerts and performances, and a world-class annual festival make Serbia’s second city a must-visit. Plan your trip with amazing things to do in Novi Sad such as trying some Vojvodianian food at traditional kafanas, visiting the towering Petrovaradin Fort, and exploring the mountains of Fruska Gora.
Novi Sad | Serbia
Novi Sad, a name that rolls off the tongue like a sip of strong Serbian coffee, is beckoning me with whispers of undiscovered charm. This city, Serbia’s second largest but often overshadowed gem, promises an intoxicating blend of history, culture, and architectural beauty. I can practically feel the energy of a young, university town buzzing with life, a stark contrast to the stoic presence of the ancient Petrovaradin Fortress guarding the Danube like a watchful giant.
Everywhere I turn, whispers of the city’s rich heritage seem to echo. Grand squares like Freedom Square, lined with colourful Austro-Hungarian buildings, speak of a bygone era. The scent of incense from the Serbian Orthodox churches mingles with the murmur of prayers, transporting me to a time of deep faith and tradition. Museums brim with stories, from the grand collection of international art within the City Museum to the more intimate displays showcasing the unique tapestry of Vojvodina’s culture.
But Novi Sad isn’t just a museum under the open sky. Stepping off the cobblestone streets, I can almost hear the lively chatter spilling out of cafes and the infectious rhythm of Balkan music. Outdoor markets overflowing with fresh produce and local crafts promise a feast for the senses, while trendy bars and hidden courtyards beckon with the promise of lively evenings.
Did you know that Novi Sad was voted European Capital of Culture in 2022?
The architectural beauty of Novi Sad is a captivating story in itself. Walking down Zmaj Jovina Street, the city’s pedestrian heart, I am greeted by a kaleidoscope of styles. Elegant 19th-century buildings with their wrought-iron balconies stand proudly beside remnants of Novi Sad’s Ottoman past. Modern glass and steel structures peek through the historical tapestry, a testament to the city’s dynamism. But the crown jewel of Novi Sad’s architecture is undoubtedly the Petrovaradin Fortress. This sprawling complex, perched high on a cliff overlooking the Danube, whispers tales of battles fought and empires defended. Exploring its tunnels, ramparts, and hidden corners will be like stepping back in time, a thrilling adventure for any history buff.
Novi Sad seems to be a city where the past and present coexist in perfect harmony. I can’t wait to wander its streets, soak up the vibrant atmosphere, and lose myself in the captivating charm of this hidden gem on the Danube.
HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD I SPEND IN NOVI SAD: Aim for at least two days in Novi Sad as we recommended in our 7 days in Serbia itinerary. Two days will give you enough time to see all the major attractions in Novi Sad, visit Petrovaradin, and also do a half-day guided tour of the monasteries of Fruška Gora.
Things to do in Novi Sad
- Wander Around Novi Sad Old Town
- Visit Novi Sad’s Churches
- Soak in the Sun at the Štrand
- Stroll through Dunavski Park
- Enjoy a Concert at Novi Sad Synagogue
- Shop at Futoška Pijaca
- Visit during the EXIT Festival
- Indulge in Vojvodina’s Local Cuisine
- See the Murals of Novi Sad
- Visit the Museum of Vojvodina
- Explore Petrovaradin
- Visit Petrovaradin Fortress
- Go on a Day Trip to Sremski Karlovci
- Join a Wine and Honey Tasting Tour
- Tour the Ancient Monasteries in Fruška Gora
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Things to do in Novi Sad
There are lots of things to do in Novi Sad and there’s something for everybody from urban explorers and gastronomic enthusiasts to wine lovers and history aficionados.
Wander Around Novi Sad Old Town
At the heart of Novi Sad is Trg Slobode. Surrounded by handsome buildings reminiscent of its days as an important centre of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the pedestrian-only square bustles with visitors and locals. The most well-known building is the Church of the Name of Mary which faces the Town Hall. We spent some time here admiring the colourful Zsolnay tiles that adorn the roof of the church and the gorgeous flourishes on the buildings all around us.
The town square leads into Zmaj Jovina, the main pedestrian-only street in Novi Sad. It is bursting with eateries and bars, and on sunny days, it is absolutely bustling with people. The pastel-painted buildings are a treat for the eyes. Take a seat outdoors, have a drink or enjoy an ice cream.
At one end of the street is the three-storied terracotta pink Bishop’s Palace, one of Novi Sad’s most iconic buildings and the residence of the Bishop of Bačka Eparchy. In front of the building is a statue of the Serbian poet, Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj, who was born in this city.
TIP: Duck down a few passageways you will discover quaint courtyards full of cafes, boutiques, and bookstores. Don’t forget to look up and admire their pastel ceilings often decorated with intricate plaster designs.
Visit Novi Sad’s Churches
Serbia has some of the most beautiful churches we have ever visited and Novi Sad is no exception. Orthodox churches have an ornate wall called an iconostasis that separates the nave from the sanctuary. The iconostasis features icons and religious paintings, often framed by elaborate carvings and gilded ornamentation. Walking into an Orthodox church felt like walking into a museum of religious art. Despite having little to no understanding of the religion, we were mesmerised by the magnificent interiors and the immaculately preserved artwork. If you are visiting Serbia, we recommend that you visit at least a few. Entry is free.
Soak in the Sun at the Štrand
The Štrand is a sandy beach on the banks of the Danube River. This is where locals come to soak in the sun and party. You can rent a chair and relax with a drink under one of the umbrellas that crowd the stretch. There are bars and restaurants along the stretch and some, like Piknik and Discont, are highly recommended by locals. We visited on a cloudy afternoon and while there weren’t many people sunbathing, the park bordering the Štrand was full of families having a good time.
Stroll through Dunavski Park
Located near the Museum of Vojvodina is Dunavski Park, an urban sanctuary popular with locals who come here to escape the blazing sun. The park features several species of trees such as hazelnut, birch, chestnut, poplars, and pines. In spring, you can see cherry blossoms adding a touch of whimsy to the greenery. At the heart of the park, there is a pond where you can sometimes spot a pair of swans. A stroll through the park makes for a lovely break from all the hustle and bustle of Zmaj Jovina.
Enjoy a Concert at Novi Sad Synagogue
Novi Sad Synagogue is one of one of the city’s iconic buildings. Built between 1906 and 1909 and designed by Hungarian architect Lipot Baumhorn, the exterior facade of the synagogue features yellow clinker bricks and the interior is known for its stucco decoration. It is no longer used primarily for religious activities as the Jewish population in the city dwindled since the Holocaust when it was used as a prison for the Jews of Novi Sad who were imprisoned there before being deported to Nazi death camps. It is used as a concert hall, thanks to its excellent acoustics. If you are in town and there’s a concert at the synagogue, book a ticket!
Shop at Futoška Pijaca
If you know us, you know we love markets– we have included a visit to Kalenic Pijaca in our 3 days in Belgrade itinerary— and therefore when we found that we were staying just a few minutes away from Novi Sad’s largest market, Futoška Pijaca, we had to go! This is where you go if you want to buy a Futoška kupus, Serbia’s famed cabbages whose leaves are used to make sarma. There are shops selling jars of ajvar and homemade pickles, bottled fruit juice, olives, cheese, and cured meat such as kulen – all great edible souvenirs to buy in Serbia.
TIP: If you are vegan, there’s a food stall outside Futoška Pijaca called the Rekalibracija Veganski. Rekalibracija Veganski is one of the best vegan restaurants in Novi Sad. They make excellent tofu burgers, tempeh hot dogs, and various other items.
Visit during the EXIT Festival
Held in the Petrovaradin fortress in the brilliant heat of summer, the EXIT festival is one of Europe’s largest music festivals. An interesting lineup featuring famous bands and musicians such as Black Eyed Peas and Carlita means that hotels get booked far in advance and the city is brimming with a dazzling fervour. If you are planning to visit, book early because this is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Novi Sad.
Indulge in Vojvodina’s Local Cuisine
One of the best things to do in Novi Sad is eat! Due to its geographical proximity to Hungary and its history as part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the cuisine of Vojvodina (where Novi Sad is located) is unique and displays Hungarian influence. Dishes such as goulash and fis paprikas are popular here, and so are fresh fish from the Danube that feature on the menus of restaurants such as Fish e Zelenis and Carda Aqua Doria. The city has some excellent traditional kafanas such as Sokace and Kafanica where you can taste some traditional Serbian food such as sarma and roštilj, and drink rakija.
See the Murals of Novi Sad
Bright murals adorn several walls in Novi Sad and you can spot them as you stroll through the city. Here you can see some photos of the murals that we spotted in Novi Sad.
Visit the Museum of Vojvodina
If you are a history buff or take an interest in the past, visit the Museum of Vojvodina. The museum’s extensive collection includes famous paintings such as ‘Vulcan’s Mint’, by Peter Paul Rubens and ‘Madonna with Child’, by Paris Bordone, ceramics, traditional clothing, Roman armour, and more.
Explore Petrovaradin
The streets of Petrovaradin are choc-a-bloc with candy-coloured houses with red-tiled roofs that make for the perfect Instagram photo. Most visitors go straight up to the fort without exploring the town of Petrovaradin but we recommend you take some time to stroll through the streets of Petrovaradin. Both the churches were closed when we visited but we wandered through town, stopping to admire the ornate decorations that adorn the houses. If you are hungry, we recommend the riverside Carda Aqua Doria to try Danube catfish or Le Klok Bistro for French-inspired food.
Local buses to Petrovaradin: 3B, 3AA, 9A, 9AA, 60A, 61A, 62A, 63A, 64A, 69A, and 71VMČA will bring you to Petrovaradin. Petrovaradin Fortress is a 15-minute walk uphill from the bus stop.
Visit Petrovaradin Fortress
A visit to Petrovaradin Fortress is a must on any list of things to do in Novi Sad. It is the second largest fortress in Europe and is nicknamed the “Gibraltar on the Danube.” To go up to the fortress, you have to ascend a winding stairway, and then walk through a dark tunnel but the views of the city of Novi Sad all the way to Fruska Gora are gorgeous! Petrovaradin has two levels, an upper and lower section separated by a moat and connected by arched gates, drawbridges, uphill paths, and underground tunnels. We circumambulated the ramparts while enjoying a cool breeze from the Danube and stopped by to see the unique clock that has a longer hand for hours and a shorter hand for minutes to help boatmen on the Danube tell the hour.
Go on a Day Trip to Sremski Karlovci
This little town, 8 km from Novi Sad, was the spiritual, political, and cultural centre of the Serbs in the Habsburg Monarchy. The Karlovci Gymnasium is the oldest secondary school in Serbia. In the late 1790s, the Orthodox seminary of Sremski Karlovci was founded here. It was the second-oldest Orthodox seminary in the world and it still operates. We spent some time here listening to our guide explain the history of the town and the buildings that surround the town square and marvelling at the beautiful pastel-coloured buildings that reminded us of the Art Nouveau buildings of Subotica.
HOW TO GO TO SREMSKI KARLOVCI FROM NOVI SAD: From the Novi Sad city centre, bus 61 will get to you Sremski Karlovci. You can also take the train from Novi Sad to Sremski Karlovci.
Join a Wine and Honey Tasting Tour
The Museum of Beekeeping and Winery Živanović is located in Sremski Karlovci and we stopped here on our tour to Fruska Gora. It is a short 10 min walk from the centre of Sremski Karlovci. Here you can taste Srem wines such as the legendary Bermet, bottles of which are said to have been discovered in the wreck of the Titanic. The wine tasting included six locally produced wines. They also do a honey tasting where you taste three types of wine: regular, floral, and sesame. We loved the sesame wine so much that we bought a small bottle home to Scotland!
Tour the Ancient Monasteries in Fruška Gora
The mountains of Fruška Gora are as famous for their wineries as they are for their ancient monasteries. It is Serbia’s oldest national park and its hidden valleys were once home to 35 Serbian Orthodox monasteries, only 16 of which still stand today due to various wars and lack of maintenance. The monasteries are known for their frescoes, some of them dating back hundreds of years and a visit to them is one of the top things to do in Novi Sad. There is no public transport in this region, so you either have to drive to visit the monasteries or join a tour as the Tour of the Monasteries at Fruška Gora with Viator. For less than £100, we went on a private tour through valleys lit with the spring sun and cherry blossoms and visited three monasteries: Novo Hopovo, Grgeteg, and Krušedol. The tour also included a stop at Sremski Karlovci, and wine and honey tasting at the Museum of Bee Keeping.
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