Novi Sad offers several possible focuses for a city break: cultural history, art, waterside routes and green spaces. You can stroll through the historic city centre, while institutions and buildings also shape the city’s cultural history. If you prefer to plan some activity, you’ll find a suggested cycling route as well as various paths and leisure options along the Danube.
Cultural History and Art
Matica srpska has been based in Novi Sad since 1864. Its library holds more than three million books and other publications. The Serbian National Theatre also has a long history: it was founded in Novi Sad in 1861 as the first professional theatre of the Serbs and has ensembles for drama, opera and ballet. Sterijino Pozorje has been held there since 1956.
The visual arts are represented by a range of different collections. The Gallery of Matica Srpska was founded in 1847 under the patronage of Matica srpska. Its permanent exhibition consists mainly of Serbian paintings and graphic art from the 16th to the 21st century and is divided into three sections. The core of the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection comprises important works of Serbian art from the first half of the 20th century. The Museum of Vojvodina houses valuable collections that bear witness to the region’s history.
Buildings and monuments also offer different historical perspectives. Novi Sad City Hall was built in 1894 in the Neo-Renaissance style, based on a design by Đerđ Molnar. The monumental complex of the Novi Sad Synagogue was completed in 1909; the synagogue is one of the largest in this part of Europe. The Svetozar Miletić Monument is a five-metre-high bronze statue created in 1939 by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Together, art collections, theatre history and architecture provide a broad cultural focus for planning your trip.
Cycling Routes and Activities by the Water
There are two different options to consider for a cycling tour through the city. The European cycling route EuroVelo 6 passes through Novi Sad, following mainly the embankment on the left bank of the Danube. The suggested Novi Sad city cycling route is separate: it is seven kilometres long and connects sights in the historic city centre with sights along the Danube. Allow one to two hours for this route, depending on how many breaks you take.
A footpath, running track and cycle path run along the entire length of the Novi Sad quay. Another specific recreational area is Trim Track 1 at the Novi Sad quay: it is two metres wide and 1,500 metres long, and has a tartan surface. The different paths and the designated city route offer various ways to incorporate activity into your stay, without assuming that they follow the same route.
Parks, Leisure and Market Traditions
Dunavski Park is designated a natural monument and has a lake at its centre. Limanski Park has a large children’s playground with a variety of equipment for outdoor play. The skatepark there can be used for skateboarding, BMX riding, roller skating and parkour. Štrand beach has cafés, sports courts and children’s playgrounds. These places offer different ways to spend time outdoors, from a stroll in the park to the activities mentioned above.
Riblja pijaca offers another glimpse of local life. It showcases traditions of producing food, handicrafts, wine and honey. The market thus complements the cultural collections and buildings with a look at craft and culinary traditions.
Choose Novi Sad as a Travel Destination
Whether you’re mainly interested in theatre and art history, a cycling tour, or parks and market traditions, you can plan your visit to Novi Sad around different themes. The information about the suggested city route provides a concrete guide to how much time to allow; you can choose the other places and themes according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Gložan, Čerević, Petrovaradin, Čenej, Kovacica, Temerin, Kać, Backa Palanka.
For the broader travel overview: Juzna-Backa.
