Hotels in Novi Sad

Novi Sad: Serbia's Second City on the Danube

Novi Sad sits on the left bank of the Danube, 80 km northwest of Belgrade in the Vojvodina plain. Founded in 1694, the city grew around the massive Petrovaradin Fortress, which rises 40 metres above the river on the opposite bank. That fortress hosts Exit Festival each July, one of Europe's larger summer music events, drawing 200,000 visitors across four days. The old town core — Zmaj Jovina Street and Freedom Square (Trg slobode) — concentrates neo-baroque and Habsburg-era architecture built when the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Where to Stay in Novi Sad

Most hotels cluster in the city centre around Freedom Square and along Bulevar Mihajla Pupina, within walking distance of the main pedestrian zone. A smaller selection of guesthouses operates in Petrovaradin, across the river, offering direct fortress access. Budget options line the streets north of the Serbian National Theatre, opened in 1861.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Direct trains run from Belgrade Centar station; journey time is approximately 1.5 hours.
• Exit Festival dates: Reserve accommodation 3–4 months ahead for the July festival window.
• Currency: Serbian dinar (RSD); card acceptance is common in central hotels and restaurants.
• Language: Serbian; Hungarian is widely spoken in Vojvodina villages outside the city.