City new garden serbia what's up. Novi Sad, Serbia: first impressions and photos. Fruška Gora National Park

In order to get a complete impression of Serbia, it is worth visiting at least three places: Belgrade, Novi Sad and Zlatibor. Someone else would add Šumadija - central Serbia, rich in vegetables, fruits and delicious home-cooked food. I’ll talk about it some other time, but today I want to mention the city of Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, a region that is becoming more and more autonomous and is already expressing timid assumptions about a possible secession from the country.

Novi Sad is not like the rest of Serbia. The influence of the near west is strong here: a significant part of the population are Magyars, or Hungarians. There are no ethnic differences between the Serbs and Hungarians living here: two cultures are organically intertwined into one - generous and plentiful in the Serbian way and at the same time bright, spicy and musical in the Hungarian way. Old Town music originates in Novi Sad - a special type of urban chanson performed in coffee houses and restaurants. The people of Novosad are freer and more relaxed people than the inhabitants of central Serbia. They love to chat, argue and easily make new acquaintances.

The architecture of Novi Sad also experienced great Hungarian influence. In addition to the Hungarians, other minorities also contributed - including the Croats, of whom there are quite a few here. Therefore, next to the ancient Orthodox churches, majestic churches stand quietly here, and even Protestant missions have found a friendly home here.

The most famous poet and songwriter of modern Serbia lives in Novi Sad - the iconic Djordje Balasevic, incredible... read more

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Weather in Novi Sad by months:

Month Temperature Cloudiness Rainy days /
Precipitation		 Number of solar
hours per day
During the day At night
January 2.7°C -0.3°C 52.0% 4 days (49.9 mm.) 9 o'clock 11m.
February 5.2°C 1.1°C 51.2% 5 days (47.7 mm.) 10 o'clock 25m.
March 11.7°C 5.6°C 41.6% 3 days (45.1 mm.) 11 o'clock 56m.
April 18.2°C 10.0°C 36.2% 4 days (41.0 mm.) 13:00 32m.
May 22.2°C 13.4°C 34.9% 7 days (95.7 mm.) 14h. 53m.

Novi Sad is the capital of the autonomous region of Vojvodina and the second largest city in Serbia.
It is considered its cultural capital - there are various museums here, numerous international festivals are held: the Novosad Jazz Festival (http://novisadjazzfestival.rs/), the international festival of alternative and new theater and others.

Novi Sad is located 75 km north of Belgrade on the main road and railway route towards Budapest. You can go here for a day from the capital of Serbia, Belgrade.
The train station and bus station are located 1 km north of the center on Jase Tomica Boulevard. To get to the center, walk along Bulevar Oslobodenja and at the market turn left onto Jevrejka Street, you can take bus 4 or 11 from the station square to Uspenska Street.

The tourist information center is located on Mihaila Pupina street 9 (http://www.turizamns.rs/)
You can (pdf format, 14M), containing both a general plan of the city and bus routes (right-click on the link and select “Save link as...”).

Freedom Square(Trg Slobode). The central square of the city. Here is the City House (city hall building) - a building from 1895 in the neo-Renaissance style and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Roman Catholic Church. The annual Cantat choral singing festival takes place here.

Past the cathedral the path leads to pedestrian zone of the city. Streets J.Y. Zmaj (Zmaj Jovina) and Danube (Dunavska) have been the main shopping area almost since the very foundation of the city. Here you can find both famous brand stores and small artisan shops, as well as souvenir shops. From time to time, exhibitions of honey and beekeeping products are held here, as well as summer festivals of folk and children's art.

Nearby, on Dunavska street 35, is located Vojvodina Museum dedicated to local life. In its halls there are interesting collections of Serbian national clothing, as well as beautiful icons on glass. Website http://www.muzejvojvodine.org.rs

Toy Museum. The only one in Serbia, founded in 2008 by Radmila Velbabović. There are more than 5,000 toys here: dolls (celluloid, composite, porcelain, dough, wood, rag, as well as folk dolls made of corn leaves, reeds and straw); zinc, tin, composite soldiers; cars, chess, plush toys and many others. The exhibition changes every 30-60 days.
Museum address: Šafarikova 27, Novi Sad

Danube Park. It is located in the very heart of the city and is probably the most favorite vacation spot for city residents. Children will undoubtedly enjoy the pond, where almost tame swans Isa and Bisa live, ducks and turtles, which can and even need to be fed. During the summer, on weekend evenings, a variety of concerts are held on the outdoor stage in the park.

Novi Sad is a city where many sights from the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire have been preserved. The city developed along with a huge Petrovaradin fortress on the southern bank of the Danube. Fortifications have existed here since ancient Roman times, but the fortress acquired its current appearance in the 18th century, when the Austrians turned it into a barrier against the Turkish invasion.
But the fortress was never attacked by the Turks, but served as a prison for a long time. Its construction lasted a hundred years, resulting in a grandiose fortress with four underground levels and tunnels with a total length of 16 km.
The fortress is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can walk along the walls of the fortress, look at the views of the city and rural surroundings, and also visit the art workshops located in the former stables.
Every year in early July, for four days, the Petrovaradin Fortress hosts the EXIT Noise Summer Fest, a notable music event in South-Eastern Europe, attracting major rock, hip-hop and techno artists.

Danube embankment. A three-kilometer green embankment overlooking the Petrovaradin Fortress on the opposite bank. Along the entire embankment there are numerous children's and sports grounds, a mini-golf course and cozy cafes.

Strand Beach. A place where you can spend a wonderful summer day. Waters of the Danube, a well-equipped recreation area (showers, toilets, retail outlets where prices do not differ from prices anywhere else in the city), numerous playgrounds, the opportunity to participate in various competitions with prizes.

Monasteries around Novi Sad

Also, the city of Novi Sad is an excellent base for mountain walks, there is a ridge nearby Frushka Gora(Holy Mountain). Here you can see seventeen monasteries, the most interesting of which are located in the southeast of the region.

In front of the village of Irig, 15 km south of Novi Sad, is the largest Staro-Khopovo monastery in Byzantine style. It is decorated with an elegant twelve-sided dome, and the inside is painted with frescoes from the 18th century.
8 km southeast of Khopovo rises Krušedol Church XVI century. The frescoes date back later, since the original building suffered fires.
West of Khopovo is Vrdnik Monastery, where the remains of the holy great martyr King Lazarus were once kept.

The best way to visit these ancient Orthodox monasteries is to rent a car. By public transport, you need to take a bus from the Novi Sad bus station to the town of Sremski Karlovci, which is located not far from Fruska Gora.
You can sign up for an organized excursion here at the Magelan agency (http://magelan.rs/)

Novi Sad is the capital of the autonomous region of Vojvodina, the second largest city in Serbia and the second most popular tourist destination in this country. In general, the situation between Belgrade and Novi Sad is somewhat reminiscent of the situation between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Until the end of World War I, Novi Sad was the administrative and cultural center of the Vojvodina Serbs, who were one of the many minorities of Austria-Hungary at the time. Since the level of development of culture and education in Serbia, which was an appendage of the Ottoman Empire until 1830, and in Austria-Hungary were incomparable, many Serbs from the “mainland” also gravitated to Novi Sad, which at that time was called “Serbian Athens” . With the liberation of Serbia and the annexation of Vojvodina after the First World War, Novi Sad gradually lost its leading role, but to this day it remains an important cultural center of the country.
Novi Sad has everything that tourists love: the gingerbread architecture of the Austro-Hungarian town, an old fortress, beautiful nature (the Danube and Fruška Gora), and the historical center can be explored on foot in about half an hour. At the same time, an abundance of cafes with live music and a fairly rich cultural program will not let you get bored.
I decided to divide the story about Novi Sad into two parts. In this post we will “walk” through the city center, and in the next we will look at the Petrovaradin Fortress.


The first thing you notice in Novi Sad is the low-rise buildings. The second is bicycle paths. We will see bicycles again.

On Jewish Street, which leads to the center, there is a grandiose synagogue. Before World War II, Novi Sad had a large Jewish community, but now there is practically no one left.

On the way to the main square we will pass the National Theater (if you didn’t know, the theater is called “pozorishte” in Serbian; it’s a place for laughter). Despite the new building, the Novi Sad theater is older than the Belgrade theater. The first troupe of the National Theater in Belgrade consisted of Novo Sad actors.

And here we are on the main square. The cathedral rises to the left. Since the Catholic community in modern Novi Sad is also small, it is almost constantly closed. At least in 7 years I visited it once. The hotel from the period of socialist Yugoslavia (on the right) spoils the overall impression a little, but overall the architectural ensemble of the square is very good.

There is even a building with knights.

Opposite the cathedral stands the city hall, now the city hall. For some reason I didn’t have a photo of her, so in this picture you can also see my brother with the national fast food - pljeskavica.

Vojvodina has many national minorities - a legacy of the Habsburg patchwork. That's why there are signs at City Hall in several languages. And nearby there is a list of sister cities of Novi Sad.

The central pedestrian street is Zmaj-Jovina.

It abuts a building called Vladicanski Dvor (the residence of the ruler), and in front of it stands the bronze Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj, a poet of Serbian romanticism, after whom the street is named. On the left you can see the dome of the Orthodox Church. Because of its architecture, many people mistakenly consider it Catholic.

There are cafe tables along the entire length of the main street.

Other streets branch off from Zmaj-Jovina.

Like Belgrade, Novi Sad has a complex system of courtyards. In such courtyards or passages between streets, which are called passages, there are hidden a huge number of clothing stores, souvenir shops, photo studios, hairdressers, and sometimes, it happens, an entire cafe is “lying around.”

A whole square is hidden behind the cathedral.

Laza Telečkogo Street, dotted with cafes, is a trendy place, like Strahiniča Bana Street in Belgrade.

Graffiti on one of the houses helpfully suggests that Laza Telečki was a Serbian stage actor and a prominent member of the Serbian National Theater troupe in Novi Sad.

Summer veranda of one of the cafes, I liked the design.

In general, in Novi Sad, in my subjective opinion, there is a rather creative atmosphere. Walking along the streets, you can see this.

And so on.

And even that.

There is also a lot of handmade stuff here. For example, in this store they offer to look, find out/learn something and buy something.

Several still lifes with bicycles from the streets of Novi Sad.

In the center of the city there is also Matica Serbian - the oldest cultural and scientific organization in Serbia, founded at the time when Vojvodina was part of Austria-Hungary. At that time it was a miniature academy of sciences, but today Matica Srpska is engaged in the humanities and remains an extremely authoritative organization.

This church is interesting because of its gilded dome, which is completely uncharacteristic of local architecture. It represents a tribute to Russia and its culture. The fact is that the parishioners here were Russian emigrants who fled the October Revolution. This church was shown to me by a Serbian friend, a Russian specialist by training, unfortunately, I can’t tell you more about it and don’t even remember the name, if someone who knows can tell me, I’ll be glad.

Danube Street leads us to the Danube Park.

On the site of the current Danube Park there was once... a swamp. The swamp was drained (all that remained was a lake in the center of the park), the surrounding area was improved, and a pleasant green island in the center of the city was created.

Two swans live on an island on the lake. True, they have to share their home with hordes of turtles.

On a hot day there is simply no crowding.

You can often meet newlyweds in Danube Park; apparently, this is a mandatory part of their wedding photo shoot.

The stone sculpture on the left represents Sergius of Radonezh. A gift from a Russian sculptor.

A couple of hundred meters from the Danube Park there is a bridge over the Danube leading to Petrovaradin. This is the view from the Petrovaradin Fortress to the center of Novi Sad. As you can see, it is quite small. And about the fortress itself next time.

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Novi Sad located on the banks of the Danube River, in the northern part. It is the capital of the Vojvodina region, as well as the industrial, financial and cultural center of the country. In addition, the city has great historical significance and is of considerable tourist interest. NATO bombing in 1999 caused serious damage to its infrastructure, but over the following years it has recovered, and today it welcomes guests again.

Peculiarities

Novi Sad, whose name translates as “new plantation”, houses the cultural treasures of the region, including interesting museums, art galleries and unique architectural monuments. Manufacturing enterprises, large financial and shopping complexes, educational and administrative institutions also serve as an integral part of the city’s external appearance. All this makes it similar to typical Central European cities, with developed infrastructure and convenient transport links. In addition to its elegant architecture and rich cultural heritage, Novi Sad is famous for its festive events, among which stands out the annual State of Exit music festival, which takes place over several days and attracts a lot of fans of various musical genres. In the vicinity of the city, replete with vibrant natural landscapes, the majestic Fruška Gora mountain range stands out, carefully protecting the provincial capital from strong winds.

general information

The territory of Subotica covers an area of ​​more than 129 square meters. km, with a population of over 200,000 people. The official languages ​​here are Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak and Ruthenian. Local time lags behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer and 2 in winter. Time zone UTC+1 and UTC+2 in the summer. Telephone code +(381) (0) 21. Official website www.novisad.rs.

A brief excursion into history

The city was founded in the middle of the 18th century, and the Empress Maria Theresa gave it its name. Orthodox Serbs became the inhabitants of Novi Sad, and on the opposite bank of the Danube was the Catholic Peterwardein, surrounding the impregnable fortress of the same name. In the 20th century, settlements united, forming a single city. Peterwardein is connected to the central part of the capital of Vojvodina by the Varadin Bridge, which appeared in 2000, on the site of a bridge destroyed by NATO bombing a year earlier. After the end of World War II, the city became part of socialist Yugoslavia, and during its collapse it sharply increased its economic level, accompanied by effective industrialization and significant population growth. Since 2006, Novi Sad has been part of independent Serbia.

Climate

A temperate continental climate reigns on the banks of the Danube. Winter here is cool, but not too frosty, with an average temperature slightly below 0. Spring is characterized by heavy rainfall and sometimes drags on until early June, after which sunny summer sets in, when the thermometer confidently surpasses +20 - +22 degrees. September-October continues the warm summer days, followed by cool November. The most preferred time of year to visit here is from May to October.

How to get there

The nearest international airport is 70 km from the city, in the capital. From there you can get to the place by bus in less than an hour and a half. By motorway, Novi Sad is also connected with Hungarian. In addition, taxis operate on the roads of Vojvodina and surrounding regions, and there are also good railway connections.

Transport

Within the city limits, the most popular means of transportation are buses and minibuses.

Attractions and entertainment

One of the cult objects of modern Novi Sad is the Petrovaradin Fortress, founded in 1692 and representing a massive fortification structure, often called the Hungarian Gibraltar. Under the fortress there are many kilometers of tunnels, preserved from the times of medieval wars. The interior of the building houses the city museum, observatory and planetarium. The famous State of Exit music festival, which marks the beginning of July, also takes place on the territory of the fortress. While walking around Novi Sad, special attention should be paid to the religious buildings of the city, including the Orthodox Church of the Great Martyr St. George and the Catholic Church of the Holy Virgin Mary.

Among the city's many museums, the Vojvodina Museum and the Brvnar ethnic complex stand out, the Novi Sad Museum in the Petrovaradin Fortress, with a unique collection of foreign art, the Vojvodina Theater Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Živanović Cultural Museum. In May, the Novi Sad Exhibition Center hosts a large-scale agricultural regional exhibition, the number of visitors of which amounts to hundreds of thousands of people. In the dark, the doors of numerous nightclubs, bars and discos are open for fans of active pastime. A few tens of kilometers from the city limits stands the magnificent Dundzher Castle, as if straight out of the pages of medieval novels. Fans of fabulous natural landscapes should definitely visit the Fruska Gora National Park, located 20 kilometers from the provincial capital.

Kitchen

The city's culinary traditions combine Serbian, Hungarian and Romanian cuisine. Here you can try the most delicious dishes, as well as appreciate the taste of Balkan wines and locally produced sweets. In many restaurants, the meal process is accompanied by the performance of folk songs and melodies.

Shopping

The city's shops and shopping centers offer a wide selection of goods for every taste, from souvenirs and clothing to luxury cosmetics and various jewelry.

Novi Sad seems to be an extremely interesting city, where behind the openwork gloss and shine of neon signs of business and entertainment complexes hides the rich cultural heritage and long-standing traditions of the Serbian people.

Novi Sad is called the “cultural capital of the Balkans” and the “Serbian St. Petersburg”. To me, the historical center of this city seemed more like Prague or Vienna. And this is understandable, because Novi Sad is the administrative center of Vojvodina, an area that for a long time remained part of Austria-Hungary. At the same time, the new areas of this city, built during the period of Soviet Yugoslavia, are similar to the residential areas of Russian cities. Which is also not surprising, because the USSR authorities borrowed the idea of ​​​​standard urban development from Tito. This sharp contrast is very surprising and at first glance even a little repulsive, but literally after the first long walk the city begins to fall in love with itself.

Novi Sad, like other cities in Vojvodina, is significantly different from the rest of Serbia. And it’s not only about the architecture, but also about the local cuisine, mentality and even music. But the nuclear Balkan hospitality and cordiality of the locals will quickly remind you what country you are in.

How to get there

You can get from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Novi Sad by plane, train, bus and car.

By plane

There is a Ceney airport a few kilometers from Novi Sad, but as far as I understand, it only serves the needs of military aviation. By the end of 2015, the Vojvodina government decided to use it for civil transport, but so far I have not found a single flight, not only from Moscow, but even from Belgrade. By the way, you can also read an article about him on our website.

From Moscow

The easiest way to fly from the Russian capital to Serbia is with airlines Aeroflot or AirSerbia(by the way, advice: choose the latter, the food is tastier there and they even serve alcohol). The plane takes off from Sheremetyevo. Round-trip tickets for both airlines cost from 200 EUR; you can find and compare ticket prices for your dates on well-known search engines or, for example,. Travel time is just under three hours.

From Saint-Petersburg

To be honest, I don’t know about hotels in Novi Sad, but I liked the hostels. In general, hostels have the same name: they are rather mini-hotels or guest houses with rooms designed for two or three people. Hostels are marked with red icons on the map. As you can see, they are in any of the four areas I noted, so it’s very easy to find an option for yourself. You can try to compare prices for different hostels or hotels.

What are the prices for holidays?

Accommodation

Prices for holidays in Novi Sad are even lower than in Belgrade (and in Belgrade, believe me, they are quite acceptable). If you are traveling as a couple, you can easily rent a double room in a hostel in the city center for 20–25 EUR per night. In Petrovardin you can find cozy apartments for similar prices.

Nutrition

Restaurants are also quite affordable for the budget traveler. In the city center you can have lunch for 500 dinars per person (about 4 EUR). In a restaurant with live music, a romantic dinner for two with wine will cost about 2,500 dinars (about 20 EUR).

Directions

To be honest, I don’t even know the prices for travel on public transport, because I haven’t used it. Taxi prices are reasonable: from the center of Novi Sad to the town of Sremski Karlovci (about 10 kilometers) we spent 900 dinars (about 7.5 EUR).

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub Serbian Dinar, Din.

Main attractions. What to see

As I already said, Novi Sad is a rather small city. Most of its attractions can be seen in a day, even if you walk.

But my advice to you: if you have at least three days left, don’t rush, it’s better to enjoy the leisurely Balkan rhythm of life!

Top 5

There are several places that you must see if you come to Novi Sad for at least two days. Here are the top 5 attractions chosen in my subjective opinion:





Beaches. Which ones are better

If you come to Novi Sad in the heat, first of all go to Strand beach. This is the largest beach on the Danube.

Entrance to it is paid, but the price is very small - less than 1 EUR (50–100 dinars). For this money you are provided with all the necessary beach infrastructure: sun loungers, changing rooms and umbrellas.

True, there are a couple of problems. Firstly, the Danube is a navigable river, and therefore quite muddy. And, secondly, at the end of July - beginning of August it is quite shallow there. But it is safe for children.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary

The church is located directly opposite the town hall. The temple was built in the neo-Gothic style. In my opinion, there is nothing particularly remarkable about it, except perhaps that its spire sticks out significantly higher than the rest of the buildings in the historical part of the city.

How to get there and visit: st. Catholic Porta, 1. The church is active, admission to it is free.

St. George's Cathedral

I found the cathedral much more interesting from an architectural point of view St. George's Cathedral. This is an Orthodox church, but it was built in the Austrian Baroque style typical of Vojvodina. The building itself is white and quite austere, but the stunning carved dome changes everything. I never had a chance to go inside, but they say that there is a stunning cross made of pink marble.

How to get there and visit: st. Nikola Pasic, 4. The temple is operational, admission to it is free.

Synagogue of Novi Sad

One of the most beautiful religious buildings in Novi Sad is the synagogue. The capital of Vojvodina was once home to many Jews, but everything changed during World War II. Now literally several hundred Jews live in Novi Sad.

The synagogue hosts cultural, not religious, events and is therefore off-limits most of the time. But, if you still decide to inspect the building at least from the outside, then look for it at the address: st. Jewish, 11.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are many museums in Novi Sad that are worth visiting, but I will focus on four of them.





Parks

If you walk from Freedom Square along Jovan Zmaj Street and then turn onto Danube Street, you can get to the Danube Park. Locals sometimes jokingly compare it to Central Park in New York. The scale is, of course, not the same, but the essence is similar - a green area in the very center of the city.

A great place for walking in summer and dangerous for walking in winter. The fact is that there was once a swamp on the site of the park. In winter, the damp Vojvodina climate and the previous fact make themselves felt, so it is very easy to catch a sore throat.

Tourist streets

Almost the entire historical center of Novi Sad is a pedestrian zone. Main streets for the promenade: Jovana Zmaya And Danube.

The first is named after one of the most beloved poets in Serbia, Jovan Jovanovic, known under the pseudonym Zmej (in Serbian: Zmaj). With the second street, I think it’s clear. Cozy European streets with many restaurants and shops. This is where most of the city's attractions are concentrated.

What to see in 1 day

If you arrive in Novi Sad in the morning, then at the bus station take bus No. 3A or No. 69 and go to Petrovaradin. Travel time will be 10–15 minutes. There you can have breakfast on the fortress overlooking the Danube and explore the catacombs and museum. I think a couple of hours will be enough for you.

Afterwards, you can walk across the Varadin Bridge, which I wrote about above, and go to the Danube Park. If the weather is warm, you can walk along it and feed the swans. If it’s cold, it’s better to go straight to the Vojvodina Museum. It will take you 1.5 hours.

Next door to it is the Museum of Modern Art. If you look there, it will be for about another hour. Afterwards, take a walk through the pedestrian zone: go along Dunajska Street, then turn onto Jovan Zmaj, along which you will reach Liberation Square. Along the way you can have a snack in one of the cafes, fortunately there is a large selection.

Next you can go to Nikola Pasic Street, where the Cathedral of St. George is located. If you go higher, you can reach the Matica Srpska building. I repeat, the historical center is quite small; the walk, including lunch, will take you 2–2.5 hours.

What to see in the area

If you come to Novi Sad (especially in summer) it is definitely worth a visit Fruska Gora- the only hill of the lowland Vojvodina. The Serbs say that it was once an island in the middle of the Pannonian Sea. Now it is a natural reserve and the site of 17 Orthodox monasteries. The monasteries are really cool, but in my opinion, it’s better to admire the natural beauty in Šumadija, Zlatibor or Kopaonik.

How to get there: Buses run regularly from Novi Sad to Fruška Gora. You can get there by train, then you will need to get off at Sremski Karlovci station. A taxi ride will cost you approximately 8 EUR (1,000 dinars). Travel time will take you 20–40 minutes.

Another place worth visiting during your trip to Novi Sad is a very small town Sremski Karlovci. It is notable for the fact that excellent wine is produced and sold there, and also for the fact that General Wrangel set up the headquarters of the White Army in exile there. What remains from the White Army are memorial plaques, a monument to the “black baron” and an Orthodox church.

And you can taste the wine in any local winery - this is the name of small private wine cellars where you can taste and buy the best wine of Vojvodina.

Just keep in mind that you should go to Sremski Karlovci on a weekday and in the morning or afternoon. Once I had the imprudence to get there on a Sunday at five in the evening, and almost all the establishments and shops of the small town were closed.

How to get there: Buses leave every hour from Novi Sad. There is a train, which, as I wrote above, stops at the station of the same name. A taxi will cost 6-8 EUR (800–1,000 dinars). Travel time will be 20–40 minutes.

Food. What to try

If Novi Sad is the first Serbian city you stop in, then first of all pay attention to the Serbian national cuisine. Personally, I love most chorbu- thick soup made from beef, chicken or fish. It is noteworthy that this is one of the most inexpensive dishes in local restaurants.

Be sure to try it pljeskavica- a flat meat cutlet, which is prepared from at least two types of meat. It is served in two versions: restaurant and fast food.

In the first case, it is served on a plate with a side dish, in the second it is served like a burger. In the second option there is a small, medium and large pljeskavica. I beg you, don't be greedy! Even if you are very hungry, take at least a medium one: the portions are simply huge.

If you've already eaten all this in other Serbian cities, then pay attention to the Austro-Hungarian influence in Vojvodina cuisine. Perhaps the most popular dish in Novi Sad is goulash.

Those who have been to Hungary say that the goulash in Vojvodina is different, but no less tasty. I don’t know, I have nothing to compare with. I can only give advice: you should order one serving for two.

As in any more or less large Serbian city, in Novi Sad there are no problems with eating tasty and not very expensive. In my personal rating of catering establishments there is a restaurant serving local cuisine Kuća Mala, which is on the street. Danube, 17. Lunch for two will cost you about 10 EUR (1,200 dinars).

The most famous festival held in Novi Sad is Exit. The tradition of holding it was started in 2000 by students of the local university as a protest against Slobodan Milosevic, and since then it has been held every year in early July on the territory of the Petrovaradin Fortress.

In 2014, Exit was recognized as the best large festival in Europe according to the European Festival Awards. Guns N' Roses, Nick Cave, Motörhead and many others performed on its stage. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to attend this event yet, but I really want to fix that next summer.

The price of a one-day ticket ranges from 25 to 240 EUR.

A lesser known but amazingly cozy event is street performer festival. In early September, musicians, circus performers and actors from around the world gather in Novi Sad and perform on Freedom Square. You can visit it for free.

Safety. What to watch out for

Novi Sad, like almost any city in Serbia, is absolutely safe for tourists. Here you can safely walk at any time of the day, without fear of being robbed or even simply deceived by dishonest sellers.

The only danger for visitors from Russia is to meet former compatriots or big fans of our country. Then there is a high probability that you will not leave the kafana sober (as drinking establishments are called in Serbia). Once we looked into the famous Putin eatery - it ended in a morning headache. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it doesn't work right now.

Things to do

Novi Sad impressed me as a student city, noisy and party-oriented, so nightclubs and restaurants with live music immediately come to mind. Very often in local restaurants you can meet tamburashes (guitarists playing national music). By the way, they are a local feature of Vojvodina. Residents of Šumadija and Zlatibor, for example, prefer trumpeters.

Bars. Where to go

I already mentioned the Irish Pub. It is located at: st. Jovana Zmaya, 28. A glass of good Irish beer (Guinness or Harp) can be bought for about 2.5 EUR (300 dinars). I have never seen live music there, but excellent rock and roll sounds from the speakers.

If you want live rock, then go to the Queen of Spades cafe on the street. Mite Ruzhicha, 3 or to “Kriva Marta” on Laze Telechkog, 3. On the same street at number 16 there is an excellent place Lazino Tele.

Clubs and nightlife

Nightlife in Novi Sad is not as rich as in Belgrade, but it is also interesting. Perhaps the most famous nightclub is the “Museum”, located on the territory of the Petrovaradin Fortress. It features an original design that combines ancient fortress vaults and a futuristic interior made of metal, concrete and glass.

The club has face control and hosts both paid and free parties. Prices vary depending on who is performing on the club stage.

I would also recommend checking out the Two Galebs club on Fisherman's Island. It has no address and is located on a floating pier. The place is quite budget-friendly (cocktails can be bought from 2.5 EUR) and at the same time terribly colorful. There you can hear the famous Serbian turbo folk - a nuclear combination of folk and electronic music.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Most often, the strong alcoholic drink rakija is brought from Serbia as a gift. If you come to Vojvodina, bring wine. You can buy it in the wineries of Sremski Karlovci, which I wrote about above.

Another good gift option is a cream or ointment from local farmers. It can be made from honey, milk or herbs. Every time I bring several jars from Serbia for myself and my loved ones. This could be a moisturizer for the face and hands or a healing ointment for acne or minor scratches. In autumn and winter, such a gift can be bought at the fair, which opens on Freedom Square. The price is not high - from 2.5 to 10 EUR.

If you want to bring an inexpensive souvenir for a long-lasting memory, take the Broyanitsa. These are rosary beads that are worn on the arm like a bracelet.

They are usually made of strong threads and consist of 33 knots. The cost of such a gift is 1–2 EUR (100–200 dinars).

Taxi. What features exist

Unlike Belgrade, taxi drivers in Novi Sad have not yet gone completely crazy, so you can easily stop a driver with yellow checkers on the street and get to your destination for an adequate price. But I advise you to carefully look at the taximeter. The price for landing in the capital of Vojvodina is about 0.6 EUR (or 70 dinars). A kilometer of travel costs about the same.

Trams

There are no trams in Novi Sad, although they ran until 1958. Now the tram lines are closed, and the only reminder of this type of transport is the cafe car not far from Liberation Square.

Buses

If you suddenly decide to use Novi Sad city buses, you can buy a ticket directly from the driver. In this case, it will cost about 0.5 EUR (55 dinars). It is cheaper to buy a card for the day: in this case, for 2 EUR you can travel around the city during the day.

If you are traveling as a couple, you can buy this card for two. The trip is read when you touch it to the validator. By the way, ticket inspectors are rare in Serbia, so many simply do not pay the fare. If you do get caught, say that you just didn’t understand how to pay. In this case, you will simply be asked to buy a ticket from the driver.

Transport rental

To be honest, I did not rent a car in Novi Sad. It is not needed in the city itself, but it can come in handy if you are planning to explore the surrounding area (although here you can easily get by by buses and taxis, fortunately, the prices are affordable). But, if you suddenly decide to move around Vojvodina on your own, you can find prices for a car.

Novi Sad - holidays with children

To be honest, there is not much to do with children in Novi Sad. At least with the little ones. There is no large zoo, like in Belgrade, or a beautiful seaside, like in Montenegro. Unless you lure your child with the romance of the Petrovaradin fortress. Novi Sad is much more suitable for a romantic trip for two.

 

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