Novi Sad is the second largest city in Serbia, but it’s one that I enjoyed more than Belgrade. Its pedestrian only area was a delight to explore, the fortress offered great views of the city and Danube River, and it was just a beautiful city. While you could take a day trip to Novi Sad, I opted to spend the night to give myself just a little more time in the city.
One Day in Novi Sad, Serbia
Whether you visit as a day trip from Belgrade or explore the city after spending the night, my recommendations for how to spend your time are the same. The only difference is how long you have in the city. I believe that you can comfortably do everything on this list on a day trip from Belgrade, but if you’re spending the night and have more time, you can go more slowly. There’s loads of cafes and parks that make a great place to relax.
Morning – Petrovaradin Fortress
I recommend starting your day at the Petrovaradin Fortress. Why? Because the city just gets busier as the day goes on and when it’s busier, it’s so much more fun wandering the lively streets in central Novi Sad. So while you wait for the streets to fill, head over to Petrovaradin Fortress to explore without any crowds.
Note that I got here around 9:30 and didn’t start to notice tourists until I was getting ready to leave (around 10:30), so while I recommend starting early, you don’t have to start super early. Grab some breakfast and take your time in the morning before you start your sightseeing.
It’s a bit of a walk to the Petrovaradin Fortress, depending on where you’re starting. From my hostel, it was nearly 45 minutes, but from Danube Park and the center of Novi Sad, it’s only about 20 minutes. Just cross the bridge and head up to the fortress.
For me, the highlight was climbing the stairs and walking up to the top of the fortress. From here, you can walk around the walls of the fortress taking in views from every side. The views are great, though I think the views of the Danube and looking back at central Novi Sad are the best.
This part of Serbia has a lot of history as archeologists have been able to determine that people have been in this area for thousands of years. But if you focus on the more recent history, what you see today comes from the 1700s.
One thing I didn’t do here is take a tour of the Petrovaradin Catacombs. These tunnels run beneath the fortress and can be visited, but it’s highly recommended to go with a guide so you don’t get lost. Also keep in mind that you’ll be underground and if you’re here in summer, you will likely need to add a layer or two to keep warm underground.
Late Morning – Danube Park
When you’re done at the Petrovaradin Fortress, head back toward the center of town. We’re not in a rush so stroll through Danube Park. I loved this area just because of the greenery.
The more I travel, the more I like finding parks and gardens that can take me out of the city for just a little bit and Danube Park did a great job. Find a bench or grab a seat on the grass and just relax for a bit. There is a coffee shop nearby if you’re interested, but I was content to just sit, relax, and read for a little bit.
Lunch
I know we just got done relaxing, but we’re going to take a break for lunch. Where you eat is up to you, but you should know that all of those nice looking cafes lining the pedestrian only street are more expensive than you’ll find elsewhere in the city. By all means, eat there and enjoy, but just know that you’ll be paying an upcharge to eat here.
While I’m not one to typically recommend restaurants (since I’m not a foodie traveler), I have to include one here. I asked the owner of my hostel where to eat and he recommended Olive Verde which was very close to my hostel. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the center of town but the food was delicious and so well priced that I have to recommend it.
Afternoon – Churches and Museums
There’s no set route for your afternoon in Novi Sad, but there are a few things that you should look out for as you explore. The first is to make sure that you stop by and see the Bishop’s Palace. It’s a nice building, though you can’t go inside.
Right nearby is St. George’s Cathedral, a beautiful Orthodox cathedral. Or so I’m led to believe. The interior of the cathedral was undergoing massive renovations during my visit so all I could really see was scaffolding. Based on other photos I’ve seen online, and what they had displayed on their banner, it’s a gorgeous interior.
The Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church is nice, but in my opinion, the interior isn’t too spectacular. Make sure to look up when you’re outside and appreciate the tiled roof of the church. It reminded me of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. The church is right across from City Hall and the two are separated by a large square that’s lined with beautiful buildings on all sides.
For museums, try Matica Srpksa which houses a gallery of modern Serbian art.
Evening – Strolling the Pedestrian Streets
Spend the rest of your day strolling along the pedestrian streets in Novi Sad. I was here in summer and it was hot. As the day went on and the evening got just a tiny bit cooler, so many people were out walking and just enjoying the atmosphere.
So stop and grab an ice cream cone and enjoy the area as you cap off your day in Novi Sad.
Is One Day in Novi Sad, Serbia Enough?
I think one day in Novi Sad is the perfect amount of time. I’m sure you’d be able to find a few other things to do if you’re in Novi Sad for longer, but for nearly all visitors, I think one day in Novi Sad is sufficient.
If you do have more time, consider visiting the nearby Fruska Gora National Park.
Can You Visit Novi Sad as a Day Trip from Belgrade?
Yes, you can visit Novi Sad as a day trip from Belgrade. In fact, this is probably the easiest day trip you can take from Belgrade, if you want to do something yourself.
While I took two day trips from Belgrade (one to eastern Serbia and one to western Serbia), both required the use of guided tours. Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of guided tour options to Novi Sad, but the trains make it easy to visit on your own.
How to Get to Novi Sad, Serbia
If you’re coming from Belgrade, the easiest way to reach Novi Sad is to take the train. Trains depart every 20-30 minutes from Belgrade and arrive in Novi Sad about one hour later. Buses also exist, but the trains are cheap and easy, so I’d recommend taking the train.
Likewise, you can also catch a train to and from Subotica. Trains between Novi Sad and Subotica are less frequent, but they still depart every one to two hours. The journey should take just under an hour.
As a note, when I visited Novi Sad, the main station was not accepting any trains from Belgrade or Subotica. Instead, everything was routed through the nearby Petrovaradin station. A free bus was provided to connect us from the station to the city center, but it was still annoying. I mention this because you were not able to buy a ticket to Novi Sad and that’s a bit confusing if you aren’t aware of what’s going on.
So, if you are trying to look up tickets to Novi Sad and are finding no results, try searching for Petrovaradin. The explanations on the website for these reroutes are entirely in Serbian so it wasn’t quite clear to me what was happening, why it was happening, or for how long it was happening.
How to Get Around Novi Sad, Serbia
I walked all over Novi Sad and had no issues. Once you get to Novi Sad, I don’t think there’s a huge need for public transportation because most of the places that tourists want to visit are all nearby. The exception is the Petrovaradin Fortress which I slightly out of the way (though you can still walk to it).
That said, there are buses that run throughout the city if you need them. Despite walking all over the city, I did take one bus, but that was because the main train station in Novi Sad was not seeing any trains from Belgrade or Subotica. Instead, all of those trains were routed through Petrovaradin. A handy, free bus was provided to take us between Petrovaradin Station and the Novi Sad city center.
I’m not sure how long this will be in effect for, but it’s a very nice system to have.
Final Thoughts
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Novi Sad. I thought Belgrade was ok and so I didn’t have the highest of hopes for Novi Sad, but I ended up enjoying myself much more than I thought I would. The vibe of the city is nice, the architecture is lovely, and it’s just a great place to stroll.
