Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, sits along the banks of the Danube River and has long served as a cultural meeting point in the Balkans. Its centerpiece is Petrovaradin Fortress, a massive 18th-century stronghold nicknamed the "Gibraltar on the Danube." The fortress is known not just for its historic architecture but also for its network of underground tunnels and the iconic clock tower where the hands are reversed, meaning the large hand shows the hour, a quirk designed to help fishermen see the time from the river below.

The city’s streets offer a relaxed mix of Austro-Hungarian architecture, pedestrian boulevards, and colorful facades. Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska Streets in the old town are lined with cafés, bookstores, and artisan shops. The Museum of Vojvodina provides a deep dive into the region’s multiethnic past, from Roman relics to traditional folk costumes. Novi Sad’s cultural scene is further elevated each summer by the EXIT Festival, held inside the Petrovaradin Fortress and drawing global artists and thousands of visitors from over 60 countries.

Surrounding Novi Sad is the Fruška Gora National Park, a forested mountain known for its walking trails and over a dozen working monasteries dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Many of these monasteries still host daily services and house centuries-old frescoes and icons. Just outside the park, local wineries offer tastings of Bermet, a sweet, spiced wine that was reportedly served on the Titanic and is still made using secret recipes passed down by Serbian families in the town of Sremski Karlovci.