When you think about traveling to Serbia, the first what comes to your mind is visiting Belgrade. It is Serbian capitol, the biggest city in the country and the tourist brochures you may see say it has the best night life in the region of southeast Europe. But my favorite is not Belgrade, it is Novi Sad.
Novi Sad (Neoplantae is the ancient Latin name) is capitol of region of Vojvodina (The Duke’s Land) and the second largest city in the country. It is situated about ninety kilometers north from Belgrade, on the border of Srem and Bachka, two Vojvodina’s sub-regions. The location of the city is on the Danube River bank and very close to northern slopes of Fruska Gora, the only mountain in the region of Panon Lowland.
The special and unique offer of Novi Sad is the annual EXIT Music Festival, which was established in 2000 with the primary aim to connect young people from Europe with young people in Serbia in the time when Serbia started to open itself towards Europe and the world. For past nine years of EXIT Festival, the number of visitors is increasing every year and is to be more than half a million in 2010.
Another famous item on the Novi Sad map is Petrovaradin Fortress which is dominating over the city from the south bank of Danube River, while the most, modern part of the city is located on the opposite, north bank of the river. Unlike the EXIT Festival, The Petrovaradin Fortress is very old, dating from the end of seventeenth century. The scenic views from The Petrovaradin fortress are just fabulous.
The Old Town is also to be mentioned with its numerous museums, church, theatres, restaurants and shops. It is unbelievable, but once you step on the corridors of The Old Town you have to feel the time reversed back in the mid nineteenth century. And it literally challenges people to explore it to the late night hours.
The two banks of Danube are connected with three bridges, but the most effective and the most beautiful is Varadin Bridge, a new built structure which you would love at the firs sight. It is bridge that was built in 2000, after NATO bombing in 1999.
When you get to the south bank of Danube, by the Varadin Bridge, you are at half way to Fruska Gora Mountain which is also a National Park. Some people call it The Jewel of Serbia, and they are right. The highest peak is Crveni Chot at about 540 meters. Fruska Gora can offer something for everyone. Beautiful nature is at the top of its offer and one should never come to Novi Sad without visiting Fruska Gora with its beautiful vineyards on every slope.
Beside what was mentioned, Novi Sad has so much to offer that can’t be placed in one story. Like people there often says: When you come here for the first time, you leave your heart here.
