Novi Sad Ultimate guide- Best Things to Do & Everything You Need to Know

Intro to Novi Sad

If you ever find yourself in Serbia, don’t forget to make your way to Novi Sad. It is such a quaint little town. The architecture is a mix of gothic Neo-Renaissance. The old dreamy colorful houses is often enough reason to convince people to visit.

How to get there

It is so easy to get to Novi Sad from Belgrade. You have two main choices. Either you can go to the old communist style bus station and catch the bus. This is a whole experience in itself.

Note that the bus takes 1.5 hr to 2 hrs from the capital. Now if you just want the most efficient and modern way, then you should make your way to the newer bus station. Over there you will be able to catch the train which only takes 45min to an hour.

How long should you stay

This question is always a bit hard for me to answer because I tend to be a slow traveler.

I am also aware that most people are short on time and have very limited vacation time. Therefore time is of the essence.

Of course you can stay for as long as possible but generally speaking, you can comfortably see everything in 2 days.

Or at least make sure that you stay a full day, two nights. That way, you will still have the time to check things out but also enjoy a meal somewhere and do some people watching.

Where to Stay in Novi Sad

I recommend staying in the old town for a full immersive experience. Of course, this does not have to be right smack on Dunavska street. As long as you’re in the outskirts and walking distance, you’re good.

Events & Festival Calendar

For such a small town, Novi Sad packs a bunch. Always make sure to do a quick research for the local calendar. This way you can see what is happening on your visit dates.

That said, I can tell you that right off the bat, there is a huge electronic music festival happening every year called the Exit festival and it is usually at the beginning of July. On the other hand, if you’d rather avoid the extra crowd, do plan accordingly.

Best things to do in Novi Sad

Dunavska Street

Welcome to one of the oldest streets of Novi Sad. I like referring to Dunavska Street as Novi Sad’s heartbeat. It is right smack in the middle of the old city and best of all it’s pedestrian.

Ok I need to be honest. Yes it is pedestrian but not totally voided of transportation machines. You will find lots of bicycles which really only adds to the charm and authenticity.

Enjoy the extensive Cafe Culture

Cafe culture has taken the entire world by storm. And your girl’s here for it 🙂

This really allows us to slow down and take a breather and enjoy a slower pace once in a while. Novi Sad has so many cute cafes everywhere. I recommend allowing for some time in your schedule for you to enjoy them a bit.

Look for some Street Arts

This is another thing that has been really popular around the world. What started as a solution to curb illegal graffitis has blossomed into beautliful art murals all around the world.

The Bishop’s Palace

Depending on which way you’re coming from, the Bishop’s palace will be at the beginning or end of the Zmaj Jovina Street. This place is still being used as a private residence so it’s not possible to go inside. The outside is plenty and make for beautiful pictures.

Novi Sad H&M

Why am I telling you to go to an H&M?

Except this is not just any H&M. It is believed to be the prettiest of them all. It’s more like walking into a museum.

Ever been to Versailles in Paris? The Sistine chapel? or at least seen pictures?

Yes exactly! This H&M has one of the most elaborate old world ceiling painting.

Danube’s Park

I really like that Serbia is so green and there is just so much greenery everywhere. As you can probably expect, the park isn’t exactly located in the old town but in greater downtown Novi Sad.

Yes of course, you should check it out. You could go for a stroll or even have your own little picnic there.

Go to the ” Beach” ( The Danube River)

Ok, fine!

It’s not a real beach but who cares?

Sometimes, you need to do what you have to do and use the resources given to you. In case you didn’t know Serbia is a landlocked country. I find that interesting because they still manage to find ways to give themselves the “beach setup” at so many different places.

Belgrade does the same with Ada lake and its beach during the summertime.

So yes, back to the Novi Sad beach. It’s a lake but still totally worth it. The perfect place to cool off during a hot summer day.

Petrovaradin Fortress

Calling out all my history buff with this one.

Before arriving to Novi Sad, I did not know they had a fortress. Yes, it’s safe to assume that they would have one since most of these old towns tend to.

It’s an Austria-Hungarian fortress and is deemed as one of the most important historical building in Novi Sad. It was very critical for the city military’s defense.

Svetozar Miletic Square

Every old city has a Square and often many squares. Thankfully, Novi Sad is no different and this one is located right across Novi Sad city hall. I was also told the name actually means ” freedom square”. This area really comes alive and is a nice plaee to do some people watching.

Come on now, I know I’m not the only one who enjoys this 🙂

The name of Mary Church

I won’t lie to you, I am not really one for churches when I travel. But because I really love architecture, I often find myself admiring their intricate exterior.

This church is Roman Catholic and it is actually very hard for you to miss it. It is the biggest church in Novi Sad and towers over the city center in the Svetozar Miletic Sq.

Novi Sad Synagogue

I was not able to go inside as they had some cultural events going on. From my understanding, one needs to submit a request for visit. Honestly even if I was not able to go in, I still recommend making a quick stop. The building was completed between 1905 and 1909 and has a very intricate old baroque style architecture.

Once you admire the Synagogue, I recommend going through the main gates and make your way out via the parking lot. This will lead you to a tiny little back street with some beautiful street arts and romantic residence buildings.

Fruska Gora & its Monasteries

I guess we can also see this as a mini day trips. Fruska Gora is a national park. I was able to go there for a hike and it was absolutely stunning. This place is a bit popular with the locals during summer to enjoy the outdoors.

I went there in late October and it was perfect. I wrote an entire guide for Fruska. Don’t forget to check it out. Now that I think about it, fall is actually a great time to visit the Park. You still experience the lush setting in warmth but you also get to see the seasonal change of leaves with its striking color hues.

Join me on my small Serbian curated Tours

I fell in love with Serbia so much and this place continues to inspire me everyday. To the point that I also organize small curated tours for ladies. We’re talking super intimate groups of around 12.

Where to eat / Drinks / party

There’s so many gastronomic gems in Novi Sad for you to explore. I couldn’t try everything on my list as each time they were fully booked. So if there is a place you’re determined to try, as usual, you should make reservation.

Here are a few recommendations

Trčika

This little quirky coffee shop automatically captured my attention from the second I stepped into the square. I couldn’t stop looking at it in awe. The design is very striking and not quite what you see every day.

What makes is so unique is that it is housed in an old Tram carriage. Now how cool is that? and how often do you get to see a coffee shop like this?

Cafe Restaurant Masha (Kafe Restauran Maša)

This place was jam packed and we were barely able to secure a last minute reservation. I ended up getting the lamb shank and oh my goodness, I still think about that juicy meal. Prices were good and the portions quite massive. When I checked after, I was pleasantly surprise to see their high rating.

Fish & Zeleniš

This little restaurant was right across my accommodation rental. It was beautifully decorated with colors that transport you to an enchanting fisherman village. If you are a seafood aficionado like yours truly, make sure to check them out.

DV

DV Caffee was the cutest little bar. Think ” hole in the wall” type. We were heading back to our rental when we saw it. It was so adorable that we couldn’t stop ourselves from going in. I had an Aperol Spritz and my friend who wasn’t drinking was able to get some tea.

If you choose to go there, please note that it is very tiny with limited tables. It also seemed to be quite popular and I totally see why. It was unpretentious, had great cocktails at a great price. All this whilst being super cozy.

Night Life

There’s also lots of places for the night owls. I was surprised to stumble upon the “party district” that was packed with pubs and bars. It is located around the Novi Sad cultural center, in the small internal streets. If that’s what you are looking for, you can enter Shamrock bar or Cactus bar into your GPS and it will lead you there.

Where to go shopping

–Misha Concept store

My all time favorite store in Novi Sad is a cute little place called Misha Concept store. This is the coolest little place to go shopping in Novi Sad. They also have an Ig page by the same name @mishaconceptstore. They have some of the cutest girlie things, from clothes, bags, shoes, unique jewelry… I only stumbled on that store because it was right across my rental once again.

I went there and easily spent 2+ hours inside and ended leaving with so many unique jewelry pieces. I must say that before my first trip to Novi Sad, I’ve never really been one to go shopping while traveling but this experience totally changed my travel style. Now I actively look for unique places to shop when I travel abroad. I think they make for cool souvenirs that you can also use.

-The Manual Company

A favorite part of traveling to me is picking up unique souvenirs. The point is to get things that one can actually use in their every day lives.

Cue in The Manual Company which is the place to go for leather goods. All the products are made by local artisans. This way not only you get to pick up some beautiful gifts for you and your friends but you also support the local community.

Sometimes travel gets a bad rep, especially with mass tourism but I sincerely believe that sustainability can also thrive.

Must know / savvy tips

Novi Sad is very unique. I really like the fact that it felt like a real city with real locals living there. Sadly, most old towns around the world are packed with tourists shops and feel overrun by travelers.

Which I get it, hey I am also an outsider. I just believe that there should always be some sort of balance which is achieved in Novi Sad.

You would be sitting on the main old town street and see so many locals cycling. Like I said before, usually old towns are so packed with tourists that you barely see the locals anymore. Let along see them cycling and going on about their daily lives.

If You want to stay in the old town, which is where I recommend you stay, you should book your accommodation earlier rather than later. Please note that Novi Sad old town is on the smaller side, therefore there is limited offer.

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