Elegant and easy going, Novi Sad is Serbia’s sassy second city. As a university town, it’s as lively and energetic as its big sister, Belgrade, but much more compact and accessible. The city is at its most lively during the annual EXIT music festival but fun can be had all year round at any of the city’s famous kafanas – traditional Serbian taverns.
Set on a strategic bend of the beautiful Danube river, the city has an elegant and refined side. During the 1700s and 1800s, the city blossomed into an unofficial capital for Serbian culture, and many of the city’s most impressive buildings, like the ones around Tg Slobode (Freedom Square) date from this time. The city centre is also jammed with beautiful baroque, Neo-Renaissance and Bauhaus buildings.
Just beyond the city lies Fruška Gora National Park, a gorgeous expanse of pasture and woodland, dotted with ancient fortresses and Orthodox monasteries and braided with vineyards. Easy to explore by foot or by bike, the region is famous for its salaši – traditional farmsteads where you can enjoy hearty rustic meals or even stay the night.