Northern Serbia: Novi Sad & Sremski Karlovci Full-Day Tour from Belgrade

An hour of our ride, we will spend enjoying the colorful landscapes of the Pannonian plain and hearing stories about the turbulent history of this area.

Home to more than 25 ethnic groups, with six official languages in use, Vojvodina represents a diversity unheard of in the rest of the country.

Fine chernozem soils make Vojvodina the agricultural heart of Serbia, and the region supplies much of the country’s wheat and corn (maize). They have a saying in Vojvodina: “If you drop a button into the ground, next spring, you will harvest a full coat.”

We reach Fruška Gora, the only mountain in this region, covered with woods and vineyards on the lower slopes, one of 5 National parks in Serbia, and one of the oldest and best wine regions. The thick Lyndon forests served as a perfect hiding place for 17 medieval Orthodox monasteries that have nested within it.

Fruška Gora, or “The Serbian Holly Mountain,” as it is often referred to, is home to 17 active Orthodox monasteries. The monasteries were founded during the period of wars and migrations caused by Turkish occupation. They became vital communities that ensured that Serbian identity and Orthodox religion would survive through difficult times. Founded in the early 16th century, Krušedol is probably the most important one. Despite the large-scale destruction on several occasions, some original paintings remain on the dome’s pillars, while frescoes and icons date back to the mid-1700s. The church contains the remains of many members of Serbian noble Branković family, as well as King Milan Obrenović (died 1901).

A quiet Baroque town where time has stopped will impress you with its small houses, Baroque churches, palaces, gardens, and fountains. It also has an impressive history: in 1699, a peace treaty between Christian European forces and the Ottoman Empire was signed here, putting an end to the Ottoman conquest of Europe.

The town was a religious and educational center of the Serbs for more than 250 years, which makes it one of the most critical places in Serbian history.

First, we will visit the Chapel of Peace, where the peace treaty was signed. Then we’ll stroll through the streets of Karlovci down to the main square. Here, we will see the Four Lions Fountain, The Karlovci Gymnasium (High School), the Town Hall, the Roman Catholic Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, the Patriarchy, and the Serbian Orthodox Theological Seminary. In one of the oldest wine cellars in the city, we’ll taste the most famous product of the area: the Bermet wine.

Our next activity will be Bermet wine tasting, for which this area is widely renowned. This picturesque town has a wine-making tradition that has lasted longer than 250 years, so it is a perfect chance for us to get acquainted with the Bermet, a Serbian wine that even made it to Titanic.

Bermet is a unique kind of locally-produced aromatic dessert wine. Its delightful sweet taste is easy to underestimate, although it holds around 15-18% alcohol! Mostly prepared as red wine, it was quite trendy within the European royal families in the 15th century and was exported to the United States in the late 19th century. Even mighty Maria Theresa was fond of it.

We’ll hear stories about the history of wine-making in Sremski Karlovci, discover the secrets about Bermet production that every family keeps for themself, and we will learn why they say that Bermet is “the best wine for men, but when ladies drink it.”

Next, we’ll visit the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, nicknamed ‘Gibraltar on the Danube.’ One of the largest strongholds in Europe, still preserved, covers the surface of 100 ha. Built by the Austrian Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries, it played a significant role in defending the Middle European countries from Ottoman attacks. We’ll walk through the fortress, pass through some of its gates, and see the most exciting places on the top of it, like the City Museum, Old Military Barracks, and the Clock Tower. We’ll enjoy the view over the Danube and the city of Novi Sad.

Novi Sad is the second-largest city in Serbia, with its typical Middle European appearance and proud history of being a cultural and intellectual center of the Serbs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, for which it earned a name – Serbian Athens. Here, we’ll see the most famous sights: the Museum of Vojvodina, Dunavski Park – the largest green area in the city, and the beautiful Neo-Romantic Serbian Orthodox Bishop’s Palace. We will not miss the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George from the 18th century, with its valuable iconostasis painted by famous Serbian painter Paja Jovanovic. We’ll walk through the main street further on, enjoying the 18th and 19th-century architecture and endless rows of cafes and restaurants until we reach Liberty Square, a central point in the city. Here, we’ll find The Town Hall, Roman Catholic Cathedral, Finance Palace, and the Neo-Classical edifice of the oldest city hotel called Vojvodina. Finally, we’ll pass by the Serbian National Theater and reach the city Synagogue, a beautiful Hungarian Secession-style building, one of the largest European synagogues to be preserved.

After that, we’ll take a break, and you can enjoy your free time in Novi Sad. Perhaps take your guide’s advice for a traditional Serbian lunch (at your own expense), go shopping, visit The Museum of Vojvodina, or wander around the streets of Novi Sad. At the arranged time, get back into the vehicle and head back to Belgrade.

Your tour concludes with transportation back to your hotel/accommodation in Belgrade, where we’ll arrive in the afternoon. End of services.