Novi Sad

Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city on the Danube River in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, has emerged over the past decade as one of the Balkans' most enjoyable cultural destinations — a city of Austro-Hungarian elegance, excellent kafana (tavern) culture, a massive summer music festival and a relaxed pace that contrasts pleasantly with Belgrade's intensity. The fortress of Petrovaradin, perched on a limestone bluff above the Danube across from the city, is one of the finest Baroque fortresses in the Balkans — it took 88 years to build and contains 16 kilometres of underground tunnels. Every July it transforms into the site of EXIT Festival, one of Europe's largest and best-regarded music festivals, drawing 200,000 visitors over four days. The Danube views from the fortress walls are exceptional. The old city below contains the pleasant pedestrian Zmaj Jovina Street, Trg Slobode (Freedom Square) with its Catholic Cathedral and City Hall, and a dense network of café-filled streets. The Museum of Vojvodina and the Gallery of Matica Srpska (strong Serbian art collection) are excellent. Novi Sad's multi-ethnic Vojvodinian character — with significant Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian and Croatian minorities alongside Serbs — is reflected in its cuisine and cultural life. The nearby Fruška Gora mountain with its 16 Serbian Orthodox monasteries is an excellent half-day trip. Novi Sad is European Capital of Culture 2022.