Sprawled

Sprawled
on the banks of the Danube, Novi Sad is a city of
intrigue. Hours can be spent wandering down Dunavska Street – the
town’s oldest and most beautiful – and Zmaj Jovina, a
pedestrianised area stretching for 500m, while chocolate-box houses
will draw you down sideways filled with cafés, restaurants and
kafanas (traditional Serbian taverns).

Nicknamed the “Athens of Serbia”, Novi Sad is known for its
vibrant creative culture. Founded during the Habsburg Monarchy in
the late 17th century, it has since become something of a magnet
for arty types. Visit the city’s collection of museums and
galleries, or catch a show at the Serbian National Theatre. Spend
evenings at the central square Trg Slobode, where you can tuck into
local food and drink surrounded by beautiful 18th-century
architecture. Set to be the European Capital of Culture in
2021, Novi Sad’s beguiling charm won’t be a secret for long.

Don’t miss…

The Petrovaradin Fortress. Known as the “Gibraltar on the
Danube”, this fortress was built by the Habsburg dynasty in the
17th century as a form of military defence. Explore 16km of
underground tunnels running deep below the fortress floor, dug to
provide a quick escape route if it were to come under attack. Built
on a 40m-high rock, the Petrovaradin Fortress towers over the city
and is hard to miss. Don’t leave without admiring the Clock Tower
or “Reversed Clock”, in which the minute and hour hand are reversed
to allow fisherman floating down the Danube to tell the time more
easily.

Who to take with you

Someone who appreciates interesting
wine. Try cevapcici, a Balkan delicacy of grilled, minced meat.
Wash it down with Serbian wine from the nearby town of Sremski
Karlovci, the self-proclaimed wine capital of Serbia. Roman Emperor
Probus is said to have first planted grapevines on this mountain
some 1,700 years ago, and today the Fruška Gora wine route produces
some of the world’s best bottles.

When to go

If you’re into music, head there in July
to join over 150,000 music lovers at EXIT
festival, held in the Petrovaradin Fortress. If you need a
break from the music, head to Štrand, a beautiful beach along the
Danube, which is lovely throughout summer.

Where to stay…

Hotel Leopold I for old-school
glamour at the top of Petrovaradin Fortress.

Most likely to bump into…

Hardcore music lovers.

Essentials to bring with you

With lots of exploring to be done on foot, these Golden Goose Deluxe Brand’s
sneakers will make for easy strolling and bring a hint of
metallic chic.

How to get there

Fly to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport in under three hours. From
there, you can get a transfer straight to Novi Sad.