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After spending over two weeks in Belgrade, we headed north to Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city. Located on the banks of the Danube, Novi Sad offers a more relaxed atmosphere than the capital and makes for an enjoyable stop while travelling through northern Serbia.
We only spent a few days here, but enjoyed exploring the old town, visiting Petrovaradin Fortress and discovering some great cafés and restaurants along the way.
This is our short guide to Novi Sad.
Visit Petrovaradin Fortress
Petrovaradin Fortress is Novi Sad’s most famous landmark and definitely worth a visit. Perched above the Danube, it offers fantastic views across the river and over the city.
We visited during winter, when the fortress was quiet and easy to explore. The grounds are large enough to spend a couple of hours wandering around, and there are plenty of viewpoints where you can stop and take in the scenery.
Today the fortress is best known as the home of the EXIT Festival, but even outside festival season it’s one of the highlights of Novi Sad.
Explore the Old Town
Novi Sad’s old town is compact, walkable and easy to explore in a day.
The city centre is filled with cafés, restaurants, churches and attractive squares, making it a pleasant place to wander around without any particular destination in mind. We spent much of our time simply walking through the centre, stopping for coffee and enjoying the slower pace of life.
Compared to Belgrade, Novi Sad felt quieter and more laid-back, making it a nice change of pace after the Serbian capital.
Where to Eat in Novi Sad
Loft Downtown, Coffee & Food Bar
This was a great café in Novi Sad. Located in the heart of the city, it’s a great place to stop for coffee, breakfast or a light lunch while exploring the old town.
The atmosphere is modern and relaxed, making it easy to spend an hour or two watching the world go by.
Restoran Kafanica
For traditional Serbian food, we can recommend Restoran Kafanica.
The restaurant serves generous portions of local dishes in a welcoming setting and was one of our favourite meals in Novi Sad. If you’re looking to try Serbian cuisine before leaving the country, this is a great place to do it.
Final Thoughts
While Novi Sad may not have the energy or size of Belgrade, we really enjoyed our time here. The combination of a relaxed city centre, good food and impressive fortress makes it a worthwhile stop while travelling through Serbia.
For us, Novi Sad was a pleasant place to slow down for a few days before continuing our journey north.