Novi Sad is the main administrative centre of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the second largest city in the Republic of Serbia. About 300,000 residents of Novi Sad get their life energy from the Danube, the river which has shaped both their temperament and the outline of their city. Furthermore, in contrast to many other European destinations, Novi Sad has the reputation, by full right, of a multinational, multicultural and multi-confessional metropolis in which all differences are seen as advantages. The position of Novi Sad at one of the continent's true crossroads of history has left it endowed with historical and cultural sites that even much larger cities have difficulty matching. The city of Novi Sad is an industrial and financial centre of the Serbian economy, as well as a major cultural centre.

Cultural development and events

One of the most prominent features of Novi Sad is its peculiar mixture of cultures. Both the distant and more recent past have shown that the residents of Novi Sad have always respected the enduring values of knowledge, work, devotion, peacefulness, tolerance and moderation as the foundations of progress. All this sets Novi Sad apart as a unique place notable for its hospitality, multilingualism and openness. Moreover, Novi Sad is a city of numerous cultural events and festivals, such as: Sterijino Pozorje, the Zmaj Children Games, the Novi Sad Music Festivities, the International Jazz Festival, the Cinema City Film and Media Festival, Street Music Festival, the International Alternative and New Theatre Festival – INFANT, the Videomedeja International Video-Art Festival, the International Tourist Danube Regatta, the International Agricultural Fair, the LORIST International Fair of Hunting, Fishing, Sport, Tourism and Science, the Novi Sad Spring horticultural fair, the Tunnels of Light, Night of Museums and EXIT – the largest music festival in Southeast Europe.

The continuity of the city’s cultural development is reflected through the duration and development of nationally important institutions, such as Matica Srpska (the oldest cultural and scientific institution of Serbia) and the Serbian National Theatre.
The Novi Sad City Museum which houses the Department of Cultural History exhibition (a permanent display showing the city from the first half of the 18th century to the mid-20th century) and the Planetarium with its observatory are located at the Petrovaradin Fortress. Novi Sad also has extensive collections of art housed in the Museum of Vojvodina, the Novi Sad branch of the Institute for Nature Conservation (the collection has 60,000 exhibits), the Matica Srpska Gallery (with more than 7,000 works of art) and the Gallery of Fine Arts – Gift Collection of Rajko Mamuzić (which includes a collection of Serbian fine art from the second half of the 20th century). Novi Sad is also home to the Collection of Foreign Art, the Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection (with some of the finest examples of Serbian painting from the first half of the 20th century) and the Heritage Collection in Sremski Karlovci as well as the “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Memorial Collection in Sremska Kamenica.

Tourist attractions

The Petrovaradin Fortress is a fortress in the town of Petrovaradin, which is located on the right bank of the Danube River. The impressive fortress overlooks the city across the river. It was built in the 17th century to protect Novi Sad from the Ottoman forces. Today, the Petrovaradin Fortress is a popular tourist destination and visitors can explore its walls as well as its buildings. The most stunning part of the Petrovaradin fortress is the Clock Tower on the Ludwig’s bastion area. The clock is peculiar for its reversed hands: the large hand is showing the hours and the small one is showing the minutes. About 20 km of underground corridors and catacombs are among the hidden treasures of the Petrovaradin Fortress and definitely a must-see for tourists.

Danube Park is located in the city centre and covers an area of over 33,000 square meters. The park is under the protection of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia. The park also features some of the most beautiful sculptures, such as: the statue of Đura Jakšić by Jovan Soldatović, a statue of the Venerable Sergije Radonješki, a bust of Branko Radičević by Ivanka Acin and a bust of Miroslav Antić by Pavle Radovanović.

Zmaj Jovina Street in the centre of Novi Sad is named after our famous poet- Jovan Jovanović Zmaj. Zmaj Jovina Street is one of the oldest streets in Novi Sad, as well as the main pedestrian and shopping zone in Novi Sad. It gained its today's appearance in the second half of the 19th century, during the rebuilding of the city after the bombing. Today, Zmaj Jovina Street is one of the symbols of Novi Sad, an important meeting point and a popular promenade.

Due to excellent grape growing conditions, the vineyards of Fruška Gora have been amongst the most important in Central Europe since the Middle Ages. In the region of Fruška Gora there are three winemaking centres: Petrovaradin with Sremski Karlovci, Irig and Erdevik.

Not far from Novi Sad, there is the Fruška Gora National Park, which harbours habitats of a large number of animal species. In Fruška Gora, besides forests, valuable ecosystems and geological features, there are also the famous Fruška Gora monasteries and a large number of picnic sites, including Iriški Venac, Zmajevac, Andrevlje and Koruška, as well as Međeš and Borkovac lakes.

On the shoreline of the Danube near Novi Sad there is a complex of marshes called the Kovilj-Petrovaradin marshes, which is a significant bird habitat and home to some rare and endangered species. Each year, at the beginning of June, a photo-safari is organized here.

The sandy beach on the Danube is the focal point of entertainment for all ages during the hot summer days. As many as 15,000 people come daily to the lido. Set against the background of a large park with deep shade, this 700 meter-long lido has all the usual beach facilities, including toilets, showers, 700 changing booths rented out for the entire season, security and lifeguard services, emergency paramedics, several cafés and restaurants. In summer, Štrand hosts numerous events and sports competitions.