Niš (pronounced Neesh) is the third-largest city in Serbia and a fun day-trip destination both from Sofia, Bulgaria, and Belgrade, Serbia. This humble city will take you on a historical merry-go-round and, if you scratch just beneath the surface, is full of fun things to do.

Here are the best attractions and unusual activities in Niš, as experienced during our last trip (you’ll find a map with all the locations at the end of the article).

#1 Look over the city from the walls of Niš Fortress

Niš Fortress | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Niš Fortress was built by the Ottoman Turks and, despite its historical significance, remains free to visit. Nowadays, families amble along the fortress’ paths, shaded by an abundance of greenery. Children (and sometimes adults) ride the tourist ‘train’, while hip young people wash down beers and chat in cafes. Climb the stairs to get to the top of the main gate, then enjoy views over the city from between the stones. There’s an archaeological hall at the fortress too.

#2 Explore the summer villa of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (who was born in Niš)

Mediana, the summer villa of Emperor Constantine the Great (the handsome guy on the right) in Niš, Serbia | Photos: © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com and WikiCommons

Niš happens to be the birthplace of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (if you skipped this history class, he was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and the one who proclaimed tolerance to Christians in the Roman Empire with the Edict of Milan in 313). Constantine’s journey from Niš to the throne was complicated.

Challenge: trace the chain of political events that lead to Constantine’s ascension to the throne of the Roman Empire. 

What you can see today is Mediana, Constantine’s huge summer villa. Most of the findings are not exhibited in situ, so you’ll mainly see floor mosaics and wall foundations. The guides are very friendly and super talented at transferring you back to the fourth century.

#3 Remember the horrific past at Crveni Krst, a Nazi concentration camp

The Nazi concentration camp in Niš, Serbia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Red Cross Concentration Camp (Crveni Krst) is one of the few Nazi camps that remains completely intact. Communists, Jews, partisans and Serbs were all held here during the Nazi occupation of Serbia in WWII. During your visit you’ll see lines etched into the cell walls by desperate prisoners counting the days of their captivity, as well as photos, stories of prisoners and floors covered in barbed wire.

Counting the days | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

#4 Sit at a table with legendary local writer Stevan Sremac

The monument of Stevan Sremac and Kalča in Niš | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

This lovely urban sculpture is one of the photo hotspots of Niš. Here you can figuratively share shots of rakija (the local highly alcoholic spirit) with Serbian writer Stevan Sremac, his character Kalča the hunter, and Kalča’s faithful dog. From this monument you will see a narrow street branching off from the main pedestrian boulevard – it used to be the main street for the city’s artisans. Today it’s full of cafes and traditional restaurants (kafana) where you can try grilled meat and spicy salads.

#5 See the tower made of skulls

The Skull Tower, Niš | WikiCommons

The Skull Tower (Ćele-kula in Serbian) is a monument to a major battle during the Serbian uprising movement (1804-13). When the 40,000-strong Ottoman army engaged in fighting with 12,000 Serbian revolutionaries, the tragic result was predestined. The dead Serbs were decapitated and their heads were built into the walls of a roadside tower. Only about 50 out of almost 1,000 skulls remain today, because many of the dead people’s relatives risked their lives to steal the skulls and bury them.

#6 Have a glass of wine while soaking in the mineral pools of Niška Banja

Niška Banja (literally Niš Spa) is where your hectic day of galloping through history should end. The spa resort is 10 km away from the center of Niš and is extremely popular in summer thanks to its hotels, swimming pools, and wide range of luxury therapies. There’s even a popular Serbian song about the hot water in Niška Banja (if you have Serbian friends, they’ll be extremely impressed with your local knowledge when you mention this song).

>>> Read more about Serbia

Useful information:

If you visit Niš for a day, you can tour all four of these paid attractions (the Skull Tower, Red Cross Concentration Camp, The Archaeology Museum and Mediana) with a single ticket costing 200 Serbian dinars (around 1.50 euros). Alternatively, you can visit each site separately for 150 dinars per attraction.

Map of the main attractions in Nis:

Tip: 

If you like cycling, Niš is one of the best cities in Serbia to do it. You can see all of the mentioned attractions by bike stopping here and there for a portion of grilled meat, or join a group bike tour. Bicycle rentals and tours you can find at Eco Bike Tours Nis. 

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But it’s not all bass and bling. Belgrade also offers a ludicrous selection of places to enjoy an afternoon beer overlooking the river(s), or a quiet evening drink with friends. So grab your BusPlus card – we’re heading to some of the White City’s best and most relaxed watering holes.

Here’s a map of all the venues to help you plan your route:

Samo Pivo

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Takav dan. #samopivo

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Samo Pivo means ‘only beer’. Remember that Serbs can be very literal; you really can only get beer here. But what a selection of beer it is! Samo Pivo’s beer bible has more than 100 options from all around the world, as well as an ever-changing selection of brews on tap. The spacious, industrial-style terrace is one of the best places in Belgrade to begin a boozy afternoon.

Blaznavac

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This moustache-themed bar in the old neighborhood of Dorćol has it all: beer, wine, rakija (a traditional Serbian spirit), food, barbers’ chairs and even a horse-drawn carriage. The unusual seating and eccentric décor make Blaznavac seem like some kind of incredible, acid-trip-induced other world that you’ll wish you never had to leave.

Dorćol Platz

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Naar de rommelmarkt in Belgrado

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The sketchy, post-industrial streets of lower Dorćol are undergoing a revitalization, and Dorćol Platz is leading the charge. This former wasteland has been converted into a super cool courtyard that is now home to regular events and performances. You can juggle your drink while playing table tennis, attend a craft workshop, or simply relax under the sun.

Zaokret 

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Nedjelja u Zaokretu #36mountains #zaokret #silkscreen #exhibition

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Zaokret just drips hipster. Spilling out into the inner-city nightlife hub of Cetinjska, this trendy bar is all about craft beers, designer beards and DJs playing underground Scandinavian electro from the late ’90s on vinyl. Oh, you’re not into Röyksopp? How mainstream…

Ljutić

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Eden like 🌺 #vscocam

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You’ll think you’ve somehow discovered Wonderland when you step into this cute courtyard bar. Floral designs, colorful graffiti and even a treehouse(!) create a fairytale-like atmosphere that makes Ljutić perfect for a date or a lazy afternoon. Enjoy the ambiance with a glass of homemade wine, a cocktail, or even just a cup of tea.

Villa Maska

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Plan za ovu nedelju u Masci je više nego zanimljiv i potrudili smo se da kao i svake nedelje provod počinje već utorkom kod nas, uz sjajan program, najbolje koktele i najukusnija jela👌🏻 Utorak: ❤LOVE DAY ON TUESDAY -Cocktail night ❤Za mix pultom DJ Goran Starčević od 21h Sreda: Sjajan DJ Nebojša Intruder koji se nalazi za mix pultom od 21h i vrti najveće hitove 👌🏻🎶 Četvrtak : DJ Sale Groovyman i back to the 80s od 21:30h 🎶 Petak: 🎶Electric Funx🎶- najbolja žurka na petak 13ti, ovaj bend uvek donosi sjajnu energiju i odličan provod🎶❤️ Subota: Sjajni De Puta Madre- uvek fenomenalni provod sa njima, garantuju najbolju subotu u Villa Masci od 22h ❤️🎶 Osmeh i dobro raspoloženje obavezni, rezervacija poželjna na broj: 062221873, Vaša Villa Maska

A post shared by Villa Maska (@vilamaska) on Oct 10, 2017 at 10:52am PDT

Maska is one of a kind. Located in the fancy neighborhood of Vračar, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Sveti Sava temple, this bar/restaurant might just be the most elaborately decorated drinking establishment you’ll ever see. Paintings and artifacts from all corners of the globe decorate every inch of space on the walls, and most of the furniture looks like it cost several thousand bucks a pop. Try not to think about how the owners can afford all this and just enjoy your surprisingly affordable meal and cocktail combination. You’ll know you’ve reached Maska when you see the grass-covered car out the front.

Brodić

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#brodic #savariver #wood #sun #brodicnasavi

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Never was there a better place to while away a sunny afternoon than this floating oasis of tranquillity on the Sava. Brodić literally means ‘little boat’, and this bar is indeed an old wooden boat – with a shaded floating deck added on for good measure. Grab a seat at an outdoor table, order a handmade pizza and a frosty Paulaner, and settle in for the city’s finest sunset view.

Stenka

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MatOranti. #ig_belgrade #most #stenka #nightlights #bridge #mostnaadi

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Just down the river from Brodić – hidden away behind Belgrade Fair – is a traditional Serbian gem. Stenka is part fish restaurant, part kafana (a traditional Serbian tavern), all fun. Share a bowl of riblja čorba (fish soup), order a plate of girice (bite-sized fried fish) and try the homemade wine. Make sure you have a couple of hundred dinars on hand to tip the sweaty tamburaši band, who will serenade you with traditional Serbian songs until you just have to get up and dance on the table.

Vox

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Belgrade’s original blues club looks like an abandoned house from the outside, but open the wobbly gate and you’ll find an unexpected slice of Americana. This smoky, cabin-style bar nestled on the hill in Banovo Brdo hums with live gigs most nights. Don’t be intimidated by the long-haired bikers and beardie music nerds; they’re usually up for a chat and a beer.

Gavez

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🌳

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Bonus points for finding this secluded forest bar on your first attempt. Hidden away in a peaceful corner of Ada Ciganlija, Gavez is a hippie hangout offering cheap drinks, home-cooked meals and a beer garden shaded by leafy green trees. If it starts to rain, grab your drinks and find a table inside the quirkily decorated wooden house.

Paradoks

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#refreshing #cocktails #friday #aperitivorosato #aperitivorosatoramazzotti #rosatomio

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Hop on a water taxi from Ada across to New Belgrade, then turn left. You’ll soon reach Paradoks, a floating bar that not only offers fruity cocktails and comfortable lounge chairs, but also serves as the perfect place to take a dip in the river. Park yourself on one of the bar’s rubber rings and let it do the floating for you.

Srpska Kuća Piva

Наточи, понеси и другима однеси! 🙂 Ми смо се потрудили да за све наше драге госте издвојимо неке од најбољих домаћих занатских пива из Србије! Добродошли! #српскакућапива #пивозапонети

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A micropub in the old socialist blocks of Belgrade? Yep, that’s a thing. This tiny, cozy bar’s name literally translates as ‘Serbian House of Beer’, which should be a good sign in anyone’s book. You can choose from around 20 Serbian craft beers, all on tap and all for insanely low prices. After all, you are in Studentski Grad: the neighborhood built to house Belgrade’s thrifty student community.

Lakat

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Štek bašta. Ako ne želite da vas primete tu smo mi! #gdenapivo #pivo #beer

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The old Austro-Hungarian town of Zemun – now incorporated into Belgrade’s urban sprawl – offers some great spots to grab a drink. Nestled among these cobblestone streets, Lakat’s stylish design contrasts with the filthy but fun ex-Yugoslav punk rock blasting from the stereo system. Even if the loud music is not to your taste, the range of artisan beers and the unbelievably tasty BBQ ribs definitely will be.

BONUS: Magic Garden

Okay, this last bar isn’t so much of a bonus as a punishment, or a last-ditch attempt to get a drink. We’re assuming after your bar crawl that you’ve somehow made it back to the city center and are looking to finish off your night with one last 4am tipple. Magic Garden is the place for you, assuming that you no longer have any standards. Make your way across from Republic Square, through the passage and into this unbearably smoky den, where you’ll laugh, cough and drink the night away, only to pay for it all the next morning…

***

So, there you have it: a tour of Belgrade and a hangover to remember! Tell us if you’ve found any other amazing bars on your Belgrade travels.

Nick Johns-Wickberg is an Australian traveller/writer/digital nomad/lost cause. When he’s on the road, he assumes his alter ego: The Tragic Traveller. Nick currently lives in Belgrade, Serbia, where he spends his time eating, drinking, wandering and – very occasionally, when he absolutely has to – working.

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Adventure Outdoor Fest | © Adventure Travel Network/Igor Đorđevic

Why is the Jerma Canyon so memorable?

The steep limestone slopes of two mountains guard the Jerma River as it runs between Greben Mountain – a large karst ridge with sharp peaks and stone figures on one side – and Vlaska Mountain, which features a rocky facade that turns into a fairytale beech forest on the other. Hiking, walking, climbing, off-road mountain biking trails and caves beg to be explored by active souls, while more mellow visitors will find a feeling of pure joy when immersed in the pristine nature, which is perfect for yoga and meditation.

Adventure Outdoor Fest | © Adventure Travel Network/Igor Đorđevic

The festival activities

A team of adventurers, experienced guides and instructors will introduce you to the landscape and take you on a series of adventures, including:

Mountaineering – Hike up the mountains that guard the Jerma River to enjoy astonishing views of the canyon from great heights.

Sky running – Explore the landscapes of Jerma in trail shoes and experience the magic of running in a completely pure environment. Trail and sky running is guided by Nevena Rajovic, the winner of Skyrunning League Serbia in 2016. You‘ll get a chance to familiarize yourself with the region, as well as learning new techniques, stretches and power exercises in the midst of the incredible landscape.

Adventure Outdoor Fest | © Adventure Travel Network/Igor Đorđevic

Climbing festival (August 18-20) – Try 20 new, challenging routes and compete for one of the delightful traditional prizes on offer. These unique prizes are typical of the Pirot region of Serbia and are made specially for the event.

Sport climbing and abseiling for kids and adults – Take your first steps up the mountainside with the experienced instructors and trainers of Tribe, whose expertise and focus on safety will make sure you’re well looked after. Sport climbing is one of four basic sports on offer for kids in Jerma.

Mountain biking – The only thing you need is a bike and you‘re ready for the off-road adventure. You‘ll be riding through the narrowest gorge in Europe, with the trail even snaking through the famous Cira train tunnels along the way. You can ride along the trail – which is also the route for the upcoming Caribrod mountain biking marathon – at your own leisure.

Adventure Outdoor Fest | © Adventure Travel Network/Igor Đorđevic

Wild caving – Vetrena Dupka, the cave at the slopes of Vlaska Mountain, is ready to reveal the secrets of the priest Martin’s treasure. You’ll learn the story of the treasure and explore the cave with experienced speleologists, who will introduce you to the basics of caving and explain what to do (and what not to do) when you’re deep underground.

Yoga – Here you can learn the basics of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga in a breathtaking setting. Simply spending time in nature can relieve stress, improve mood, reduce anger and aggression, boost happiness and improve the immune system. When you add yoga asanas under the sky, pranayama and meditation, you have a recipe for pure bliss.

Slacklining workshop – Slacklining is the art of walking and balancing along a suspended length of flat webbing. It’s the kind of activity you can use to relax after a long day, or you can take it more seriously and commit to practicing your balance and technique over several hours. Slacklining can be viewed as a metaphor for life: balance is the core, but falling occasionally helps you master the art of rising and persisting. The mountainous landscape of Jerma provides the perfect setting for learning to slackline.

Extra activities – Art workshops, music, gastronomy, movies, chats by the fire, horror stories in the dark, reading, storytelling, dreaming, holding hands, eyegazing, stargazing… what you get up to in this magical part of the world is entirely up to you!

Adventure Outdoor Fest | © Adventure Travel Network/Igor Đorđevic

Useful information:

Festival dates: August 16–20, 2017.

Location: Jerma Canyon, 50 mi (82 km) from Sofia, Bulgaria, and 60 mi (95 km) from Nis, Serbia (see map below).

Tickets: a five-day pass costs 30 euros and includes access to all activities, on-site camping and a T-shirt.

Ticket for the climbing festival only costs 10 euros and includes access to the climbing festival, on-site camping, T-shirt, yoga, slacklining and some extra activities.

Deadline for registration: July 30, 2017.

Accommodation: you can camp (campsite access is included in the ticket) – just bring your equipment. Alternatively, you can find guesthouse accommodation in the nearby village.

Register: here.

The post Get your adrenaline pumping at Adventure Outdoor Fest in Jerma Canyon appeared first on 203Challenges.

A friendship forged on the road

Courtesy of The Tragic Traveller

I expected my first ever hitchhiking trip to be fun and provide an interesting story, but I didn’t expect it to be life-changing. It was.

My plan was to thumb it directly from Guča festival in southern Serbia to Sofia, Bulgaria, where I was hoping to buy a cheap car and embark on a European road trip. After two luckless hours in the baking sun my patience was waning, until an unassuming hero named Vesko picked me up in his trusty (air-conditioned!) Mitsubishi steed. Vesko not only drove me all the way to Sofia, but then invited me to stay with him and his family in their beautiful house. The family fed, boozed and sheltered me, and even helped me buy the Citroen that would eventually take me to England and back.

Fast-forward seven months and I found myself standing outside the Bulgarian embassy in London, dressed in a borrowed suit and preparing to perform the best man duties at Vesko’s wedding. Now, several years on, I’ve visited Vesko and his family in Sofia too many times to count and, exactly a year from now, will become godfather to his first-born son on the day little Lubtcho turns three.

Nick Johns-Wickberg from The Tragic Traveller (Facebook)

Puppy with a catch in Slovakia

Courtesy of Girl Astray

In the summer of 2016, I was hitchhiking to a hippie festival in Slovakia when a car pulled over and offered to drive me to the next city. It was a man with the cutest puppy ever, which I got to hold on my knees for the ride. It was one of those huge white shepherd breeds – the dog was about three months old, but was growing fast! He was white and fluffy and was destined to guard his owners’ workshop when he was fully grown. There was, however, a catch to his cuteness. It was the first solo trip for the puppy and he was obviously feeling car sick: after a few hairpin bends on the road, the car filled with a putrid smell. We stopped and examined the snow-white fur, but fortunately, they were just farts. We rode the rest of the way with the windows down while the pup whined a little each time he let his noxious gas escape.

Karin from Girl Astray (Facebook/Instagram) 

Getting from Tripiti port to Ouranoupolis, Greece

Courtesy of The Magic of Traveling

Fruit and fish pick-up truck in Belize

Courtesy of Becky the Traveller

Whilst in Belize, I stayed in a cute (although a bit strange) little town called Crooked Tree. The town was 3 miles from the main bus route down a dirt track. My guesthouse had offered to drop me at the bus stop but as we were leaving decided to charge me $15 for the short journey. Since they overcharged me a kayak hire on a lake with no water, I declined to give them any extra money.

So with my heavy backpack in the middle of the day (it was about 40C/104F), I started walking to find a good hitchhiking spot. I was now thinking maybe I should have just paid! But after 10 minutes I reached the main road out of town and saw a pick-up truck. He stopped and I jumped into the back. There wasn’t much room as it was full of boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables – and some fish! But hey, it was a free lift. And the breeze was amazing as we whizzed along the bumpy dirt road.

Becky Angell from Becky the Traveller (Facebook/Instagram) 

A truck roller coaster experience in Cambodia

Courtesy of Curls and Coconuts Blog

A hot summer day. Or since it is Cambodia and the summer is eternal I should just say: a regular tropical day. Me and him standing on the road – sunburned faces licked by the heat, scarfs around heads, a big sign reading “Rattanakiri” in my hands. We drew it 5 minutes ago with the watercolor pencils whose main purpose is always the same – to create hitchhiking signs.

15 minutes on the side of the quiet road and there it is – the first vehicle. A huge, roaring truck. As trucks usually do, it stops in the middle of the Cambodian heat to take the weird looking boy and girl. On the front seats – three men and a woman. Wide smiley faces. They know no English and we know no Khmer. But one thing is clear – they like the watercolor sign and they are going to our destination. Moreover, they have space for 30 hitchhikers in the carriage on the back of the truck. Before we know it we are enjoying a free roller coaster experience, conveniently hidden from the noon sun.

This hitchhiking trip was one to remember – starting with travelling in an open-air carriage and ending with a lunch stop with our friendly hosts at a local restaurant. A fresh coconut, please!

Maria from Curls and Coconuts (Facebook)

Canada is not as big as you think

Hitchhiking in the Rockies | Courtesy of A Broken Backpack

I’ve accumulated many cool hitchhiking stories over the years! But my favorite by far was in the Canadian Rockies. My friend and I were pretty keen on going to Calgary Stampede. An old man picked us up. He was going all the way to Calgary, so it was a win-win. He told us about his wife and how they fell in love. This man was lovely and super interesting. He asked us what was our plan in Calgary and we told him about the stampede, which is a big rodeo event. It turned out his wife had free tickets that she wasn’t planning on using. He said he could actually go home to pick up the tickets and then drive us to the stampede.

Normally I would have said no, but we had a good feeling about this. We met his wife, we had a snack at their place and then we left for the stampede with free tickets in our hands. He was a bit worried we wouldn’t be able to find a ride back later on that night and gave us his business card so we could call him if we were desperate for a lift later, but in the end we didn’t need to call him. However, the best part of this experience was still to come!

Two weeks later, we were hitchhiking in another direction altogether. We were in the middle of a pretty remote town in British Columbia when an old lady started yelling at us. We were wondering what was going on and then she ran in our direction to talk to us. It was his wife. She recognized us and they invited us for lunch. What were the chances of seeing them again in another Canadian province! Bless them!

Melissa Giroux from A Broken Backpack (Facebook/Instagram)

The hitchhiking grannies in Bulgaria

Hitchhiking in the mountains of Bulgaria | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

As much as I love hitchhiking, I also enjoy earning good karma by picking up hitchhikers when I’m driving. One of my favorite such stories happened when I was in a small town in the mountains of Bulgaria, struggling to find the road to a nearby mountain lodge.

While I was wondering whom to ask for directions, I saw three grannies waving by the roadside. I stopped to ask them, only to realize that they were actually hitchhiking, not waving, and in mere seconds all of them had already crammed into my car. It turned out they owned potato fields high in the mountains and they hitchhiked every single day to get there and take care of the crop. One of them took a particular shining to me and spent the whole journey trying to set me up with her grandson – with the aim of marrying me off to him, of course!

When I stopped to let them out, another threw a banknote into the car and dashed away. At my perplexed look, the third granny explained that the runaway hitchhiker had just received news of a newborn grand-grandson that morning and wanted me to drink a coffee to his health. So I did. Then I called my mom and told her that obviously hitchhiking is not as dangerous as she thinks – after all, these three ladies do it every day and they’ve reached a ripe old age!

Maria from 203challenges.com (Facebook/Pinterest)

Warm meeting during the cold winter in Sorrento

Winter. It was getting dark. My husband and I were near the railway station of Sorrento, Italy, not even on the outskirts of the city, trying to catch a ride to Naples. My hands were buried in warm black gloves and nobody could see I was hitchhiking, so I decided to take them off. But then my hands turned blue from the cold, like a real-life Facebook “like” button. We spent more than an hour waiting in the cold, until finally an elderly couple stopped and picked us and immediately offered us some candies. They spoke only Italian, while we didn’t speak a word, so our conversation consisted entirely of gestures and mimicry. When we reached our destination, we took their address and later sent a small present to our saviors.

Ivalina from 203challenges.com (Facebook/Pinterest)

Hitchhiking with my mom

Hitchhiking with my mom | 203challenges.com

My mom and I were on a vacation in a small village in the Rhodopes Mountains in Bulgaria and had to get to a bigger town, Smolyan, 30 mi (50 km away). It was Saturday and there were no public buses running to our destination, so we hopped on a bus to the next village where, the locals swore, there was some kind of transport going to our destination. After having arrived in this other village, we were approached by a local elderly man who informed us that there were actually no buses for the next few hours. “So, let’s hitchhike,” my mom said (my mom is not the kind of person who would usually say this, so I was pretty surprised and amused). She raised a thumb by the road while I was taking photos of her. No car stopped. Then we swapped roles and I managed to stop the local bread delivery truck. It turned out that the driver had seen us in the first village and, with a slightly offended tone, asked us why we didn’t ask him to give us a lift. All the way I was holding a box of eggs so they didn’t break. The best part: when we hopped out of the truck, our suitcases smelled like freshly baked bread!

Marina from 203challenges.com (Facebook/Pinterest)

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It’s summer. You feel like you want to go somewhere and have a great time but you have trouble figuring out where? Well, we have a solution. Novi Sad, Serbia, might not be the first place that comes to your mind but what started off as a student movement for democracy in 2000 is now one of the biggest summer music festivals in Europe!

Location

The festival is hosted at the Petrovaradin Fortress that overlooks the city of Novi Sad. The fortress is placed on the right bank of the Danube river (Sziget is another music festival that takes place on the banks of the Danube). You can visit museums and the old city center in Novi Sad but you won’t get bored if you stay inside the fortress, as a museum of the city of Novi Sad, the Academy of Arts, and an observatory are located there.

A view to the the Petrovaradin Fortress

Line-up

Lots of different genres and renowned world artists perform on several stages. The main stage has all the big names while the dance area with its capacity of 25,000 people has gained as much attention as the main stage in recent years. The party there does not stop until dawn! Most of the metal/punk bands perform on the Explosive stage. The fusion stage provides a stage for a lot of alternative and pop-rock Serbian and World bands.

Stage view of the crowd during a DJ set

Accessibility

The festival is fairly easy to reach. The city of Novi Sad doesn’t have a big airport so the easiest way to get there is through Belgrade and then 55 miles/90 km to the north. If you rent a car, the trip will last for about an hour. Buses to Novi Sad leave from Belgrade every 20-30 minutes. Tickets can be bought 1-2 hours before departure.

A view of Novi Sad in the evening

Money cost

Serbia is an affordable country so the costs for the stay are modest. A night at a guesthouse ranges from 25 to 40 euros per night. The five-day festival ticket costs 125 euros per person, and resepctively 160 euros per person if it includes camping. Food and beverage prices in the festival area are modest. Have in mind that spirits stronger than beer and wine are prohibited inside the festival grounds. There’s a token system to reduce lining for beer, wine, energy drinks or juice.

Exit Festival 2018 Edition: The line-up for the 2018 Exit festival includes The Killers, Years & Years,  Rag’n’Bone man, Alan Walker. The 12th to 15th of July is all the time you need to visit Serbia and this amazing festival!

More information about the festival here!

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