"A Garden of Earthly Delights" Novi Sad by mikey_e

Novi Sad Travel Guide: 400 reviews and 1,161 photos

Worth the trek

Novi Sad literally means “New Garden” in Serbian, and when I first arrived from Budapest, the city looked nothing like anyone’s concept of a garden. The train station is in the new part of town, which features the very standard Socialist-era concrete ugliness typical of so many outskirts in Eastern Europe. I was lucky in that I arrived at about 8:30 or so and needed to find somewhere to stay, so I was pushed into wandering away from the train station into the concrete mess in order to look for a hotel. Hotels were incredibly hard to find and, unlike in other cities, where the main road leads from the train station to centre, in Novi Sad the main road runs from the train station parallel to the centre. Needless to say, I spent a long, long time wandering until finally, exasperated and sweaty, I happened upon the main square in the centre of the city and almost cried for joy that I could stop wandering (and use a washroom!).

Multiculturalism at its best

The Municipal Library - in every language

After a decent meal and a good night’s sleep, I was able to explore what promised to be an interesting city. Although Novi Sad is pretty solidly Serbian, Vojvodina (the region of which Novi Sad is the capital) is composed of a variety of different historical regions that once belonged to other countries. The population is a mix of Serbs, Hungarians, Romanians, Croats, Ukrainians, Germans, Romani, Jews and a few smaller nationalities, all of whom have left their mark on the city, and Novi Sad itself was under Hapsburg rule for a long time (unlike Belgrade) which gives it a more Central European, rather than Balkan, feeling. Modern culture in Novi Sad is really not very different from what it is in places like Budapest, and there is no shortage of shops featuring the latest Western trends. Indeed, the atmosphere is much more relaxed and less political than Belgrade. Still, the traditional heritage of the region is palpable, from the dozens of churches (each, it seems, belonging to a different sect) to the government signs that appear to be in twenty different official languages, to the richness and variety of the cuisine on offer.

Gluttons away!

Novi Sad's happening centre

Speaking of food, another thing that I rather enjoyed about Novi Sad was its great flare for relaxation and leisure. Many times, smaller towns and cities seem rather, well, provincial when it comes to enjoying yourself during the evening. Not Novi Sad. Indeed, the entire town comes alive at night, with massive outdoor cafes, ice cream shops, bars and lounges that feature a variety of music, drinks and food to cater to all tastes. It is amazing to think that a town in between two cities you would imagine would attract all the young people (Budapest and Belgrade) could manage such a vibrant and fun youth culture. But there it is – if Novi Sad doesn’t impress you during the day, it is sure to do so at night!

Last visit to Novi Sad: Aug 2008
Intro Written Dec 21, 2008
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Reviews (21)

The Socialist Standard Hotels (2)

Hotel Vojvodina is Novi Sad’s standard socialist-style hotel, although the building itself, I believe, was erected in... more travel advice

Multilingual sign on the Town Hall - Novi Sad

Local Languages and Cultures Local Customs (2)

Novi Sad is the capital of Vojvodina, an autonomous region of Serbia that, rather than being an historic region, is in... more travel advice

Architecture Local Customs (2)

Architecture in Novi Sad varies greatly, although the vast majority of it dates from the mid-19th century onward (the... more travel advice

Park on the Quay Off The Beaten Path (1)

This park is, it seems, not so much a park as it is a quay. That is, it has the trappings of a park – the trees, the... more travel advice

Things to Do (16)
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Comments (2)

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Odiseya Nov 24, 2012 at 10:47 AM

Interesting page with many useful information! Thank you for sharing your travel experiences with us! I looking forward to read more!
Greetings, Aleksandra
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  mikey_e Nov 24, 2012 at 1:36 PM
  
  Thanks, Aleksandra! I'm glad you liked the Novi Sad page. I've lots more pictures to post (unfortunately, not of Serbia), so please do check in from time to time!
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BillNJ Dec 31, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Very interesting and helpful tips. I don't know much about Novi Sad -- but, based on your page, it definitely looks like a travel destination that deserves more attention. Happy New Year!