Today I had an amazing time visiting Petrovaradin Fortress and Novi Sad. I did this as a solo traveller and as a day trip from Belgrade. My recommendation is to take the train to Petrovaradin, walk through the Petrovaradin Fortress and over the bridge to Novi Sad. Then, walk through Novi Sad itself to get the train back from Novi Sad station.
Petrovaradin Fortress and Novi Sad – One Day or Two?
How long should you spend in Petrovaradin Fortress and Novi Sad? Although it is possible to see Petrovaradin Fortress and Novi Sad in one day, I thought that it was a lot to fit in – I should have taken it easy and spread this over two days. As a blogger, and due to health reasons, I must admit that I usually need more time than other people. Also, I thought that the city of Novi Sad was so beautiful, I would have loved to spend a night or two there.
But, if you have time constraints and are fit and healthy, do Petrovaradin and Novi Sad in one day. You can also make the visit easier by using taxis if your budget allows. Taxis shouldn’t be more than 300-400 Dinars. Make sure that they put the meter on. In Serbia, taxi meters are usually on the mirror!
Belgrade to Petroveradin by Train
Take the train from Belgrade, and buy a return ticket if you are going back. Get your ticket to and from Novi Sad, but get off at Petrovaradin – one stop earlier than Novi Sad to visit the Petrovaradin Fortress. Go out of the station and make a right when you get to the main road. Keep walking and Petrovaradin Fortress will be well signposted.
It’s about a 15 minute walk from Petrovaradin train station to the Fortress, so do book a taxi if that’s easier for you (no more than a couple of hundred Dinars).
You will pass another beautiful little Orthodox Church on the way…
When you see this sign, you will start to walk uphill to Petrovaradin Fortress.
If you get to the Fortress on foot, walk to the right – don’t follow the route for cars on foot, as it can be a bit of a tight squeeze! Taxi’s and cars can go right up to the Fortress itself.
Novi Sad Fortress – Visiting Petrovaradin
The Petrovaradin Fortress itself was Austrian built to protect them against the Turks – you can tell this from the red brick construction. It is the largest fully preserved C18th fortress in Europe (French 18th Century Fortress of Louisbourg is larger but partially reconstructed). Allow at least an hour or two to fully walk around and appreciate Petrovaradin Fortress.
No tickets are needed to explore the Petrovaradin Fortress – it’s completely free, unless there is a particular event being held.
In summer, the Petrovaradin fortress hosts the famous EXIT festival – the most famous summer music festival in Eastern Europe. EXIT festival 2016 will take place on 7th-10th July and headliners include Ellie Goulding and Bastille. Find out more and buy tickets here.
City Museum Novi Sad
When you have finished exploring the fortress, I recommend a visit to the City Museum Novi Sad. Entrance to the Novi Sad Museum is just 300 Dinars and all of the exhibitions can be seen in half an hour.
I got a personal tour from the wonderful Miloje at no extra charge. He was very knowledgable and informative. If the museum is not busy, Miloje is happy to show you around.
First of all, we went into one of the underground tunnels of the fortress, which led to a well that was used as a water supply for soldiers, particularly under siege. There are 16km of tunnels within Petrovaradin Fortress, across 4 floors in total. The museum was cleverly built around this so that visitors could be taken underground.
The first main exhibition displays World War artefacts including pistols and artillery.
You can also see Nazi Propaganda…
The upstairs exhibition displays recreated 18th and 19th Century rooms of the upper-middle class, with traditional and Art Deco furniture. In the 18th and 19th Centuries, Novi Sad was a town of wealth that grew around the fortress. Sadly, that is not the case today, as much of Serbia is going through a tough economic time).
I loved these Grammophones…
Novi Sad Museum is well worth a visit. You can check out their website here.
From the City Museum, I headed past the famous Novi Sad Clock and over the river Danube to Novi Sad old town. To follow my route to Novi Sad from Petrovaradin on foot visit my next blog.
You might also like to read about Underground Belgrade with Travel Time Collection.