GENERAL INFORMATION

Novi Sad – short history
 

Novi Sad is the second largest city in Serbia and only an hour’s drive from Belgrade. Although it has never entered any competition for the most beautiful town in the country, if such a contest existed, it could easily win the Grand Prix. Novi Sad also owes its beauty and grace to its inhabitants who in this era of fast communications have preserved the tranquility of lowlanders and natural kindness. Under the Petrovaradin Rock, a little Pannonia hill of Mt. Fruska Gora, a young town on the Danube was born – Novi Sad, in existence for a little bit over 300 years. The first references to it date from 1694, two years after the construction of Austria’s Petrovaradin Fortress had begun. There, at the ”Gibraltar of the Danube”, on the 1,255th kilometer of this river, the medieval Hapsburg monarchy had risen from the ashes by building this Fortress, after the Turkish siege of Vienna in 1683 had been fought off. In the place where the three rivers meet – the Danube, the Tisa, and the Sava, and so do three civilizations – those of Christian East and of Christian West and of Islam, many ethnic and religious communities found shelter and sanctuary. The place saw the Gepids, Huns, Avars, Slavs, Germanic peoples, Magyars, Byzantines, Turks… On the Petrovaradin Rock, Romans had erected a fortress, which was later rebuilt by the Hungarians and kept by the Turks. After the Turks had been expelled at the end of the 17th century, the Austrians built a bridgehead facing the fortress, on the left, marshy bank of the Danube, around which a settlement of soldiers, merchants, and tradesmen developed. In the beginning, the settlement was named Racko Selo (’Serbian Village’), and later Petrovaradinski Sanac (’Petrovaradin Trench’).

As the town grew, after the wars had ended in the early 18th century, the townspeople, eager to get their freedom, succeeded in gaining the status of a FREE ROYAL CITY, after paying a buy-off amount of 80,000 Forint. The status was granted by Empress Maria Theresa, and the name acquired was, in Serbian version, NOVI SAD. The date was February 1, 1748.

From the very beginning, Novi Sad was a multiethnic town. Serbs have always made the majority of its population, but there were others, too: Germans, Hungarians, Croats, Slovaks, Ruthenias, Greeks, Tzintzars, Jews, Armenians, Romanians, Roma people and others. This multicultural image has not changed. In the 18th century, a traveler wrote about Novi Sad: ”The town is a remarkable example of what tolerance and trade can result in.” From 1748 onwards, a freely elected Magistrate ruled the town. At the said time, Novi Sad had 4,620 inhabitants. According to an agreement made between the Serbs and other citizens, Orthodox and Catholic representatives alternately held the main offices in city administration. In early 19th century, Serbian educator and a language reformer Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic said that Novi Sad was the largest Serbian opscestvo (Serbian municipality) worldwide.

During the 1848-49 Revolution, the town was bombarded and devastated. With marvellous strength, its citizens rebuilt it and, combining the Baroque with other architectural styles, turned it into a ”Serbian Athens” in the second half of the 19th century, After the First World War and the breakdown of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Novi Sad – with the rest of Vojvodina – made a historic decision, one to become part of Serbia, which implied entry into the newly-founded Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, renamed as Yugoslavia in 1929.

In the 20th century, Novi Sad continued its unpretentious cultural and economic growth along the Danube’s banks, to develop into a modern European city with boulevards and huge buildings, such as the magnificent Banovina Palace (government building), one of its landmarks. After the tragic events of the Second World War and great human loss, Novi Sad grew rapidly and expanded in all directions.

Main attractions

At this intersection of waterways, land routes and commercial channels, at this meeting place of different cultures and civilizations, of European-style and Oriental style trade, fairs have been organized since the 19th century. It was on this tradition of a market-centre that the Novi Sad Fair Company was founded and has been organizing fairs of European wide reputation throughout the years. The city life of Novi Sad would be lacking in events without cafes and parties, but also without some cultural traditions. The atmosphere of famed old coffeehouses is still felt in Novi Sad. However, modern ways of life have introduced new traditions. Novi Sad hosts the Theatre Festival “Sterijino Pozorje”, “Zmaj” Children’s Festival (“Zmajeve decje igre”), Poets’ Encounters “Brankovo kolo”, the Novi Sad Musical Festivities (NOMUS), “Vojvodjanska tamburica”, and, of recently, the international EXIT Festival on the Petrovaradin Fortress, as well as the Street Musicians’ Festival. The citizens of Novi Sad have been engaged in sports activities from the time their hometown was founded. The oldest popular sports are horse-riding, shooting and rowing. In modern times, the people of Novi Sad began practicing new, Olympic sport disciplines, and have won a large number of medals. The ”Novi Sad Marathon” is held every autumn, while late spring features the Fruska Gora Marathon on the right side of the Danube. The locals usually spend summertime on the bank of the Danube, particularly at them well-known beach called Strand.

Among the many tourist attractions we would like to single out:

THE DANUBE is one of the distinguishing features of Novi Sad from the aspect of tourism, especially the famous ‘corso’ the “Belgrade Quay”, as well as numerous beaches along the shore, especially the most beautiful and well maintained “Shtrand” («Štrand») which stretches on a 10ha surface with all the supplemental content. The riverside, is also a significant habitat for birds, some of which like the Kovil-Petrovaradin («Коviljsko-petrovaradinski») Isle, are special nature reserves, and are of international significance.

THE PETROVARADIN FORTRESS: Covering an area of 122ha, built in the 17th and 18th century, it represents a cultural-historical monument. Located within the fortress are the Museum of the City of Novi Sad, the Academy of the Arts, the Observatory as well as the Archives of the City, also it is at this very place, traditionally, in the month of July, that the EXIT Music Festival takes place, proclaimed to be the best in Europe.

THE OLD CITY: The architecture of the city represents a mixture of several different styles. The oldest house “At the White Lion” was built in long ago 1740. The city streets boast several beautiful palaces from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century: “Tanurdziceva”, “Menratova”, “Vatikan”, “Klajnova”, etc. as well as sacral architecture belonging to different confessions.

CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUE: Novi Sad has a picturesque centre, and its old streets with the orthodox, catholic, protestant churches, as well as the synagogue, testify of cultural and religious diversity in this region.

FRUŠKA GORA and the MONASTERIES: Fruška Gora with its national park of about 25.000ha, where 17 Orthodox monasteries can be found (founded in the period from the 15th to 18th century as pious endowments of Serbian despots), with forested areas, rare plant and wildlife, nature reserves, numerous lakes (14 in total), mountain trails (about 800km of marked paths), complete with mountaineers homes and a hotel, is located partly in the Novi Sad district and represents one of the tourist destinations with the most content in the out lazing areas of the Danube.

‘SALASHI‘: The “Salashi” with their authentic appearance remind us of past, romantic times, of rural hamlets of the Pannonia. Today they are keepers of time and a traditional way of life, and as such are attract the attention of tourists. Salash hamlets in the territory of Novi Sad are situated on “Cheney” («Čenej»), in Veternik, “Begech” («Begeč») and “Katchki atar” («Kački atar»).

Gastronomy

Serbian cuisine is a reflection of the historical circumstances this country has been exposed to throughout the centuries - a combination of various culinary influences prepared in an entirely unique and original way. Variety of cousin is present in Novi Sad due to its ethnic diversity. The most popular are traditional cooked or grilled meals in numerous of restaurants
(http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g295380-Novi_Sad_Vojvodina.html)

The food served in restaurants is healthy and completely organic - with no genetically modified products or artificial flavorings, and the portions tend to be large. Most meals are prepared with a considerable amount of meat, and served with a variety of vegetables. ‘Home-cooked’ meals tend to be spicier. For going out, very popular are fish-restaurants, charda, where various meals out of different sorts of river fish are served. Italian pizza restaurants are also frequently visited by young population, especially. There are also a number of restaurants with Chinese food and other national cousins.

Transportation within the city

Public bus: a number of public bus lines connecting every part of the city with the centre. Conference venue („Master“

Master Congress Centre) is by Novi Sad Fair and is served by the:

Line 11 (circle line): Railway/Bus Station – Novi Sad Fair – Liman 4 – University Campus – Fish Market - Railway/Bus Station.

Line 18:  City centre – Novi Sad Fair – Avijaticarsko naselje

For more details, please visit http://www.gspns.rs/?selected_lang=eng

Taxi in Novi Sad: available throughout the day/night and all over the town: (Start 100 RSD, City drive 54 RSD/km, Out of city drive 98 RSD/km, Pet transport 200 RSD, Waiting 580 RSD/hour).
Taxi stations are near hotels and all main city points, but more convenient is if it is ordered by phone:
Crveni and RED taxi (www.crvenitaxi.co.rs) +38166445577 (available through Viber also), +381695251500 (Viber only) and +381695251600 (SMS only)
Pan taxi ( www.pantaxi.rs) +38121455555 and +381642155555 (there is also android application available)
Delta taxi () deltataxins.com +38121553333 and +38163553333 (available through Viber also)
Vojvodjani taxi ( taxivojvodjani.rs) +38121522333 and +38163322333

How to get there

Airplane
International „Nikola Tesla“ Airport Belgrade is about 75 km apart. It has connections to/from all major European airports. Low cost airlines fly to Belgrade, also (https://beg.aero/eng)

        For plane schedule, please visit www.amadeus.net , www.skyscanner.net
       

Transfer from Belgrade Airport to Novi Sad
In order to transfer from the Airport to Novi Sad there are several options available for you. Currently, there is no public transportation from the Airport to Novi Sad (only to Belgrade city). We suggest using one of the following three options and arrange your transfer in advance:
1. Private airport transfer company, or
2. Rent-a-car, or
3. Public transportation to Belgrade.

Private airport transfer company
There are several local private companies that can provide you with the service of every-day transportation to and from the Airport. This is a door-to-door transfer (to the desired address in and from Novi Sad), with the professional drivers and different class vehicles (cars, minivans, buses). You can rent a vehicle with a professional driver at the time convenient for you (considering your arrival or departure time) for a private or shared transportation (you can share it with your colleagues). For this type of transportation we can suggest the following companies:
1. Autoturist-NS Offers the vehicles for up to 3 persons with the price of 4500 RSD (approx. 40 EUR). The price is given per vehicle for one-way trip. The reservation can be made online at www.autoturist-ns.com/en/online-reservation/airport-city-transportation/.
2. KI-KI Offers the vehicles for up to 4 persons with the price of 5000 RSD (approx. 45 EUR). The price is given per vehicle for one-way trip. The reservation can be made online at kiki021.com/rezervacije.php?lang=GBR.

Please note that more information and options for this transportation is available at the company’s website.
 

Rent-a-car services
At the airport there are several international rent-a-car services available for you to use if you chose this way of transportation. We can suggest using one of the following rent-a-car companies:
1. Europcar Offers a significant number of various class vehicles that can be reserved online at https://en.europcar.rs/
2. Sixt Offers a significant number of various class vehicles that can be reserved online at www.sixt.com/

Please note that both of the companies offer you the possibility to return the car in Novi Sad upon your arrival, however it is subjected to an additional charge of approx. 40 EUR. Additionally, if you want to use Rent-a-car service you have to have a valid driver’s license that is acceptable in the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, in order to use this service you have to poses valid credit card for the deposit payment at the site where you pick up the vehicle (depends on the vehicle class). The deposit returns once the vehicle is safely returned to the company.
Please note that extra charges may apply for special features and in some cases in case of young drivers (younger than 24).

Public transportation to Belgrade
From the Airport there is also the option of taking public transportation to the Belgrade Bus station from where you can arrange bus transportation to Novi Sad. If you decide to take this route we suggest that you take the public Bus line 72 at the Airport to Zeleni venac. This line should take you approx. 500 m from the main Belgrade Bus station (http://www.bas.rs/basweb_eng/redvoznje.aspx?lng=en). The one way ticket costs 89 RSD (approx. 0.8 EUR) at the corner shop or 150 RSD (1.3 EUR) in the bus. The driving time to Belgrade is approx. 30-40 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Belgrade Bus station you can find a bus to Novi Sad on every half hour. We suggest taking a direct bus (that is taking the A1 highway) since the commute time is the fastest (approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes). The ticket prices is approx. 850 RSD (approx. 7 EUR).

NOTICE: There is also a possibility of using taxi service for the transportation to Belgrade. However, if you chose this method of transportation please always use the registered taxi services (available on: https://beg.aero/lat/parking_i_prilaz/transport/taksi). We urge you to always check the price of your trip before you sit in the taxi and agree on the trip. The price for one way trip from the airport to Belgrade Bus station is approx. 1600 RSD (approx. 14 EUR) in the daily tariff and approx. 2000 RSD (approx. 17 EUR) in the night tariff.

Traveler tips:

-          Electricity supply: 230 V, 50 Hz, 2 round pin sockets.

-          Tap water is safe for drinking, although bottled water is available.

-          Vaccination against contagious diseases is not needed.

-          Telephone: area code for Serbia is +381 /  area code for Novi Sad is +21

Map of Novi Sad