Start Driving in Novi Sad / Нови Сад
Novi Sad / Нови Сад, Serbia’s second‑largest city on the bend of the Danube River, unfolds as a vibrant cultural and economic hub of about 350,000 residents whose baroque‑and‑modern streets, riverside parks and fortress‑top promenades bask under 27°C warm summers and 0°C snowy winters, long shaped by Habsburg, Austro‑Hungarian and Yugoslav influences since its 17th‑century refounding on the ruins of an older town. Must‑sees include the imposing Petrovaradin Fortress, a star‑shaped stronghold perched above the Danube with its underground tunnels, museums and panoramic views, the lively Danube Promenade (Kameni Most–Kej) buzzing with cafés, kiosks and street musicians, the historic Liberty Square in the city centre with the Town Hall, Serbian National Theatre and Trinity Church, the Štrand riverside beach area where locals gather in summer, and the nearby Fruška Gora National Park studded with vineyards and medieval monasteries. Culture thrives at the annual EXIT Festival held inside Petrovaradin Fortress, one of Europe’s largest music festivals drawing crowds from across the continent, alongside traditional folk events, Orthodox religious celebrations, contemporary art galleries and a strong student‑driven nightlife scene. Cuisine delights with grilled river fish such as carp and catfish, spicy čobanac stews, plump ćevapi served with somun bread, fresh kackavalj cheese, and sweet vanilice or mađarice pastries, often washed down with local wines from Fruška Gora vineyards or cold beer in riverside kafanas and pavement cafés.